Spec Rubber is proud to be recognized by Rubber News as one of the 2024 Best Places to Work. This esteemed honor highlights our dedicated team and the hardworking individuals who make our company outstanding.
With steady revenue and product growth, Spec Rubber strives to keep its team engaged and satisfied in their roles. This approach has resulted in low turnover rates and highly satisfied customers, according to Sales and Marketing Coordinator Crystal Humphreys. Here’s what she had to say about the company in the June 10th, 2024, issue of Rubber News.
What makes your company stand out in the rubber industry?
While it might sound cliché, our people and our team truly help Spec Rubber stand out in the North American rubber industry.
How does your company take care of people?
Spec Rubber prioritizes the safety, health, and well-being of our team, which is considered the heartbeat of our operations. Teams like the Workforce Solutionist and Operational Excellence teams are integral in driving a new era of appreciation, communication, growth, and productivity. These internal efforts ensure that teammates not only contribute to the company’s success but also grow professionally and personally, benefiting from a supportive and enriching work environment.
Spec Rubber provides a host of exceptional benefits, including an all-encompassing healthcare package, a solid 401k plan bolstered by company-contributed non-elective contributions, continuous service compensation, a profit-sharing plan, perfect attendance compensation, a healthy PTO program, and various celebrations and events throughout the year.
Spec Rubber is not only a leader in manufacturing but also a beacon of community engagement and social responsibility. The awards are nice, but the difference we’ve been able to make in the lives of our neighbors is far greater. Spec Rubber stays actively involved in the Shelby County communities. We are proud supporters of many community organizations, including but not limited to United Way (for more than 30 years and serving as a local Pacesetter company for nearly 10 years), Shelby County Chamber, Shelby Cancer Center, Safe House of Shelby County, Shelby Emergency Assistance, Alabaster City Schools, and more worthy organizations.
What makes your company a fun place to work?
While we question the word “fun,” we are, after all, in the rubber processing business. It is loud, hot, and repetitive. What we do is give our teammates voices in the process, provide them a seat at the table, and afford them the opportunity to create solutions and remove obstacles. We recognize them for participation and involvement, not just producing a product. While we do go to great lengths to celebrate and recognize our teammates, getting them engaged has proven to be part of our success. The following are some of the activities our teams celebrate annually.
Every March, we take a moment to celebrate the heart of our company – our dedicated teammates – by marking National Employee Appreciation Day with enthusiasm and creating a hullabaloo. Our Workforce Solutionist Team rolls out the red carpet and breaks out what we like to call the “Woot Woot” cart, weaving through the plant floor (safely, of course) and offices and delivering snacks and refreshing drinks directly to our teammates. It’s our way of saying a big, heartfelt thank you for their continued dedication and hard work.
Spec Rubber eagerly anticipates our annual tailgate party each August, a vibrant kickoff to the college football season. This event serves as a lively day for our team to unwind and enjoy themselves. The day is packed with delectable food, entertaining games, and exciting prize drawings.
In October, we celebrate our Annual Barracuda® Day, Breast Cancer Awareness, and the Imagine a Day Without Water Campaign. Naturally, this day wouldn’t be complete without food, refreshing drinks, fun games, and great company.
Most notably, Spec Rubber made a memorable appearance in the Annual Alabaster Christmas Parade, clinching the “Best Use of Theme” trophy in 2023, a testament to our team’s creativity and spirit!
Small companies have big impacts on the rubber industry. What does your impact look like?
At Spec Rubber, we’re not just committed to clean, safe drinking water; we’re passionate about it; it’s our mission. That’s why our waterworks components are NSF-61. Our NSF-61 certification isn’t just a badge we wear proudly—it’s a promise that our products are safe for your drinking water systems, ensuring peace of mind. As the leading gasket and sealing manufacturer, our pride doesn’t stop at safety. We go above and beyond, offering the industry’s best products with the customization customers need. It’s this dedication to quality and tailor-made service that sets us apart from other players. We don’t just produce; we innovate, ensuring every product that leaves our premises is a benchmark for quality, durability, and precision in any industry.
While we’re 55+ plus years old, our best days are in front of us, not behind us. We are a growing and thriving business as dictated by our recent acquisition of a 120,000 sq. ft. building on 16.5 acres, which we will be renovating and converting to our Finished Goods warehouse and raw material storage, along with the moving administrative personnel and our internal sales team to our new location.
At the end of the day, what does success look like?
While success looks different for many, on one level, we define success as profitability. As a for-profit business, success hinges on our ability to make a profit. However, it doesn’t stop there. Another key measure of success for Spec Rubber lies in the safety and well-being of our team. By prioritizing their welfare, we ensure that our team remains motivated and dedicated to delivering high-quality products and services that our customers have come to know and love.
If you are a subscriber to Rubber News, you can find this article in the June 10th, 2024, issue of Rubber News here.
Spec Rubber is hiring! Interested in joining a top-rated workplace? Visit our careers page to explore current openings.
