Frontline Series - “It’s Bigger Now — But It Still Feels Like Family”

It’s Bigger Now — But It Still Feels Like Family

From the Frontline Series — Written by a Crew Member Who’s Seen the Company Grow

When I started here, it was different.

There were fewer trucks.

Fewer crews.

We all knew each other’s names.

Lunch breaks meant sitting on the trailer fender cracking jokes with the boss.

It felt small. In a good way.

But over time, things grew.

New divisions.

New people.

New buildings, more jobs, more expectations.

And if I’m honest, I was worried we’d lose what made it special.

But Something Surprised Me

We’re bigger now, no doubt about it.

I don’t see the boss every morning anymore.

He’s not standing in the shop handing out Gatorade or helping load wheelbarrows.

He’s in meetings, managing big stuff, building the next phase.

But somehow… he still shows up.

It’s 5:41 AM, and I Get the Text

“Temps are going to climb fast today, hydrate early.

That’s from the boss.

Not HR. Not a robot.

It’s him.

A few minutes later, someone replies with a photo of their crew in the yard, all geared up.

He responds with a fist bump emoji. Says, “You guys are legends.”

Then another text comes through, cookout next Friday.

He’s manning the grill.

We’re 120+ frontline now.

But somehow, it still feels like we’re on the same crew.

We All Have a Job to Do

Look, we’re not perfect.

Sometimes things still go sideways.

Stuff breaks. Weather changes.

There are days the workload feels heavy.

But when the guy at the top is still sending messages about heat stroke, or celebrating how hard we’ve been working, or reminding us to be safe when the sky looks sketchy?

You feel it.

You feel like you matter.

Not just because you’re productive, but because you’re part of it.

A Lot Has Changed — But Not Everything

We’ve got more systems now.

We’ve got CrewHero.

Assignments come in early, repairs get logged, team links stay organized.

But the best system we’ve got?

The one that makes all of it work?

A leader who actually cares about the people doing the work.

Final Thought

This company’s grown like crazy.

New trucks. New clients. New opportunities.

But the thing that matters most?

That hasn’t changed.

My boss still gives a damn.

He makes sure we get the weather updates.

He thanks us after a long week.

He checks in when we’re working in brutal heat.

He cooks the burgers himself.

And even though we’ve scaled up…

It still feels like he’s standing in the yard with us. just like he used to.

That’s why I stay.

That’s why I care.

And that’s why I show up ready to work.

— One of the guys who remembers the early days, and is proud of where we’ve gone