Investing in a better future
As president and CEO of Arro Crushing, Jared Kuepfer loves playing the long game
Tell us a bit about your job and your responsibilities.
As the president and CEO of Arro Curshing Ltd., my job is to think and create a plan for our company’s future. Currently, I ensure our crews maintain profitability by having the correct people and equipment within reach. Creating and managing systems to ensure our work is completed efficiently, safely and quickly, while maintaining the highest level of quality. Ensuring we have a full schedule of work ahead of use. I spend a fair bit of time building industry relations to continue the growth of Arro along with bettering the industry.
Describe your typical day on the job and how the work you do contributes to the company.
I like to spend my morning behind the computer, reviewing the past days reports and looking ahead to any issues that might affect our customer or the team. From there I try to visit a job site most days or meet with a client/vendor. The work I do daily is an investment into the future of Arro by building a better structure for the future.
What do you find most challenging in your work?
One of the most challenging aspects is leading people and ensuring they have the knowledge needed to operate safely and effectively. Along with managing a fleet of equipment that likes to break down, throwing a wrench in the gears!
What do you enjoy the most?
I love seeing people grow in our business, becoming strong leaders in their team and having their eyes opened to what this wonderful industry has to offer.
How did you become interested in this work?
I grew up exposed to quarry operations and always loved the big machinery. I wanted to be an operator, so I joined an excavating company, but I missed the production aspect of a pit operation. I noticed a need for a concrete crushing contractor in my area and jumped on the opportunity to fill that need.
Education and advancement
Is your current position the same as when you started in this company?
When I started the business with my business partners at the time, I was on the ground every day making the production happen as a foreman. Going from a foreman to a business operator was a big transition. One of the best things I have found to help further my career has been reading a lot of books on leadership. I highly recommend reading 10 pages a day; a lot can be learned, and it can be life changing both in your career and in your personal life.
Detail your past or ongoing education and how it is relevant to your job.
Most of my training was trial by fire, and I believe that to be a great way to learn. I’ve invested a significant amount of time into leadership training courses, and any practical experience courses I can find. Continuing to self-educate is crucial to growing within your career of choice. Without it, we lose touch with what could be.
If you could start over, would you change your career path?
The only thing I would change is I would have started in the aggregate industry the day I turned 18. There’s a lot of room for advancement in the industry if you’re willing to put in the hard work and grow yourself. This industry is starving for strong leaders, and strong people you can depend on.
Industry and advice
What advice would you give a high school student unsure of the opportunities in the aggregate industry?
I would suggest finding a company in the industry and asking to start in the lowest position. Even if it means sweeping the shop floors for a while, learn from the ground up and you’ll never regret it. If you aren’t ready to join the workforce, many companies would be happy to provide a student with an introduction tour of the operations where you can see firsthand what it might be like to join the industry.
What are some common jobs in the aggregate industry that you don’t need a formal education to apply for?
There are many: heavy equipment operator, ground person, scale house person, shop labour, maintenance person, crusher operator… the list goes on.
What hard or soft skills should someone in your field have?
Hard skills include learning how to operate equipment, how to cut and weld steel, and how to assist with general clean-up or maintenance. A lot of these skills are learned over time. In terms of soft skills: learn how to lead both yourself and others, take ownership when you make a mistake, be a friend, and learn how to ask good questions. A lot can be learned from asking the right questions.