Like a surprising number of my teammates, I had no construction or manufacturing experience when I interviewed here. In fact, I hadn’t even heard of Simpson Strong-Tie before I was told their marketing department was looking for a copy editor. But after I read a little bit about the company on its website and talked to a few of the employees, I knew almost immediately I could be at home here.  

One of the things that sets Simpson Strong-Tie apart as a corporation is its close connection to its founder and his values. Our official company Values are taken directly from those Barc Simpson articulated in his Nine Principles of Doing Business. Among these values are commitments to customer service, quality products, growth and innovation, and also to the company’s people and communities. Thus principle #5, Everybody Matters: “The company dignifies the contribution of every individual at every level . . . We rely on each other to be successful, we show each other respect.” And principle #8, Give Back: 

The company feels an obligation to the system and the country that spawned it, as well as to humanity in general . . . We’re all connected in some way and are all part of a greater community . . . Look for small ways to give back every day. Help out your neighbor, make time for others, do what you can.  

Over the past several decades, the company has contributed millions of dollars in cash and products to nonprofits such as Habitat for Humanity and the Red Cross, with a concentration on giving in four areas of relevance to our business: housing construction and repair; disaster relief; disaster preparedness and community resilience; and education in the building trades (architecture, structural engineering, contracting, construction management).  

Company giving is by no means confined to money and goods. The company actively encourages and enables employees to volunteer in their communities in ways they find meaningful. Since I started working here in 2014, I’ve already had occasion to participate in annual blood drives; food drives; holiday toy drives; artistic activities with members of Girls Inc.; several Habitat for Humanity builds; and matched donations to local schools, the Red Cross, and companies such as Direct Relief. Opportunities to contribute are manifold.  

What We Do for the Holidays— Every Year  

Barc Simpson passed away November 8, 2014, two days before I started working here. In 2016, in honor of Barc, Simpson Strong-Tie inaugurated “Do What You Can Day,” a day in early November when employees throughout the company could participate in giving back to their communities as a team. On that day, Simpson branches from Riverside, California, to Ontario, Canada, choose a charitable activity — whether it’s packing meals for food pantries, delivering equipment and supplies to local schools, or painting murals for hospital patients — that employees can lend their hands to in shifts. You can learn more about our Do What You Can Day efforts here. 

Where Do We Go Next?  

As Barc knew, there’s always more to do:  

. . . No matter what each of our personal situations is, we know that there are many others in this world who will never have the opportunities we’ve had. It is our responsibility to reach out, in whatever manner we can, to support others.  

If you’re interested in learning more about Simpson Strong-Tie’s charitable donation policies, visit our guidelines page. If you’re interested in joining a company that cares about its people and their futures, check out our current career opportunities in the US and Canada.  

And don’t forget to look for ways to give back every day — and do what you can!