Meet Gary and Penny Kapp of Kapp Construction
Tell us about yourself and your organization.
Gary M. Kapp and his father, Jake Kapp, founded Kapp Construction & Development Co., Inc. in 1980 in Ogden, Utah. It began with a pickup, an old backhoe, and an old dump truck used to deliver topsoil. The company is a general licensed contractor specializing in underground utility work and site work with a separate self-haul concrete facility. In addition, in Malad, Idaho, the company owns a small gravel quarry. Gary and Penny Kapp, their oldest son, Jacob and his wife Monica, Colton Tanner, and Michelle Collins, currently manage the company. Kapp Construction averages a total of 55 to 65 employees, depending upon the season.
How did you and your organization get introduced to Rapport Leadership International?
Gary was nominated to attend the Rapport Leadership Breakthrough One class in June of 2004 by Jodi Cleveland of W. R. White Pipe Co., an Oldcastle company. He honestly did not want to go and told her to nominate Penny instead. Rob McInturf called Penny and gave her the “speech;” however, Penny told Rob that although she would like to attend the class, she would not do it unless Gary did it first. Gary went, and, contrary to his expectations, he was so impressed with Leadership Breakthrough One that he called Penny the first night before going to bed to tell her that she would be going next. The morning of the first Monday after graduation, Gary asked Mac to schedule Penny as soon as possible and she was on a plane two days later.
How has Rapport impacted your business?
The impact Rapport has had on our business is unfathomable. We are a small family business, and Rapport has given us more professionalism, guidance, and a better relationship between management and the field employees. It has also brought our management team into alignment. The year of 2007 was the best in the history of the company for growth and profitability. The spirit of the Kapp Team is also one of the greatest rewards we have seen. There are various weekly team meetings that the employees handle themselves and the company team has meetings every two weeks.
How many Rapport graduates does your organization have?
By March 2 of 2008, Kapp Companies will have sixteen Master Graduates, five Eagle Quest Graduates, two Life Mastery Graduates, sixteen Leadership Breakthrough One Graduates, and one Power Communications Graduate. Our company even offers to pay for the employee’s spouse or significant other to attend the Power Communication Class with them because that class enables the participants to take their relationship to a higher level. This support is Kapp Construction’s way of showing our appreciation for the support these special people give our employees for time on the job. Gary, Jacob, and Colton have each completed the Leadership Performance Coaching, as well. It is company policy that after one year of service, any employee wishing to attend Leadership Breakthrough One can apply for nomination and s/he will be sent. It is often the field employees’ enthusiasm and attitude that convinces a new employee to take this step.
Tell us about your Rapport experience?
Gary: One word…Emotional! I learned how to look at people and see what is inside, in their hearts, rather than just seeing what they appear to be on the outside. Each class gave me a reason to smile and laugh and a reason to shed tears. I realized that it is okay to show emotion and offer support to those who really need a hug or a pat on the back. I found that what I thought were major obstacles in my own life were nothing compared to the obstacles others sometimes face in theirs.
Penny: I agree with Gary. The Rapport experience also gave me the strength to understand that the values with which I was raised are shared by so many.
How has Rapport impacted you personally?
Gary: I live each day more fully. I understand how just one word or smile can influence another person, and it took Rapport to help me realize this. I really enjoy helping those less fortunate than myself and watching other people grow by giving them the opportunity (maybe with an extra little push) to experience Rapport. After attending Leadership Breakthrough One, my employees were definitely surprised to learn that I wanted to hear their ideas and would implement them. The total experience has been very rewarding for me.
Penny: Involvement in Rapport is the most fulfilling, rewarding experience I have had, other than giving birth to my sons. I have not been one to do challenging things or to step into the unknown, but Rapport has shown me, repeatedly, that I can do things I never even imagined being able to do. Rapport has also brought Gary and me closer together as a couple and has given us guidelines with which we may align our goals for our family, our business, and ourselves.
How has Rapport impacted your community?
One awesome impact of the Rapport experience would be the resulting relationship we enjoy with many other businesses in Northern Utah who have also participated in Rapport. Some of these companies are our competitors in bidding for jobs; however, as Craig Sorensen of SCI stated, “We like to refer to each other as business partners.” As a result, a group of us have formed a non-profit organization called Building Utah Youth, or B.U.Y., much like the Reno Recharge Challengers, with the purpose of raising monies to send teens through the Teen Leadership classes. Our group is still in the infant stage; however, we all have a great deal of enthusiasm and we are excited to watch these teens become our future leaders. We are currently planning a fund-raising dinner/auction for March 29 in Layton, Utah, which will include a formal Master Graduate Ceremony, a dinner dance, and a silent auction that will include some leadership classes being donated by Rapport.
What is the most surprising benefit you or your organization received from Rapport Training?
The most surprising benefits we have received, both as a company and personally, are all that are mentioned above, as well as the concept, IT’S OKAY TO HAVE FUN! None of these outcomes were anticipated when we were first introduced to the Rapport family, and we are so grateful for the continuing support Rapport offers.
How do you keep Rapport alive in your organization?
Keeping Rapport alive is not difficult because Rapport gives us the tools to do that very thing. Every graduate is required to sign up for an On Team opportunity. Individually, we have our mission statements, and, with input from all of our employees (not just from the Rapport graduates), we now have a company Mission Statement mounted on a wall in the shop, which reads: “At Kapp Companies, Leadership T.I.E.S. us together through Teamwork, Integrity, Excellence, and Safety. Our business family is committed to the progressive growth of our team members and clients. We believe in giving back to our community to help others grow and succeed.” It is read aloud at the beginning of each company safety meeting by a randomly chosen employee.
When you face a challenge in your organization, what tools from the training do you call on first?
Patience, Teamwork, and Support. GIVERS GAIN!! YES! YES! YES!
