O.W.N. It: The Values That Define Who We Are

As we celebrate Employee Ownership Month and look ahead to Erland’s 50th year in business, I’ve found myself reflecting on what has made our company successful for nearly five decades. While our projects, markets, and team have evolved over the years, one thing has remained constant: our people.

That reflection led us to revisit and redefine our core values—not to create something new, but to better capture what has always existed at Erland. The result is a simple phrase that reflects who we are and how we work:

At Erland, we O.W.N. It.

One Team.
Winning Results.
No Excuses.

These three principles represent the mindset that has driven Erland since 1977 and continues to guide us today as an employee-owned company.

One Team.

Construction is, at its core, a team sport. Every successful project requires collaboration between clients, design partners, trade partners, and our own employees. At Erland, we believe the best outcomes happen when individuals put the success of the team above personal interests.

Being employee-owned strengthens that commitment. We don’t work for shareholders somewhere else. We work for each other. Every employee-owner has a vested interest in the success of the company, which creates a culture built on trust, accountability, and shared purpose. Whether you’re in the field, the office, or meeting with a client, you’re contributing to something bigger than yourself.

Winning Results.

Our clients entrust us with projects that shape communities, advance innovation, and support future generations. We take that responsibility seriously.

Winning Results isn’t simply about completing a project. It’s about delivering exceptional experiences, solving problems before they become challenges, and creating value at every stage of the process. It’s about understanding that our reputation has been built one relationship at a time over the last 49 years—and that every project presents an opportunity to strengthen it.

As employee-owners, we approach our work with a long-term perspective. We succeed when our clients succeed, and we are committed to delivering results that earn their trust again and again.

No Excuses.

The construction industry is filled with challenges, unexpected conditions, and changing circumstances. While we can’t control every obstacle, we can control how we respond to them.

No Excuses means taking ownership. It means being proactive, accountable, and solution-oriented. It means doing what we say we’re going to do and stepping up when our team or clients need us.

Ownership isn’t just part of our ESOP structure. It’s part of our culture. Every employee-owner has the ability to influence outcomes, improve processes, and help move the company forward. That’s what separates great teams from good ones.

O.W.N. It isn’t a marketing tagline. It’s a reflection of who we are.

When we became employee-owned, we reinforced something that had always been true at Erland: our greatest asset is our people. Employee ownership gives every member of our team a direct stake in our future and creates a culture where accountability, collaboration, and pride in our work thrive.

As we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary in 2027, I’m incredibly proud of what our employee-owners have accomplished. The projects we’ve built, the relationships we’ve formed, and the reputation we’ve earned are all the result of people who embrace these values every day.

This Employee Ownership Month, we celebrate our team: the employee-owners who continue to live out One Team, Winning Results, and No Excuses. Thank you for your commitment, your hard work, and your belief in what Erland can achieve together.

Because when we O.W.N. It, there’s no limit to what we can accomplish.

For any questions regarding this topic, please contact Sean McDonald at spmcdonald@erland.com.