A Columbia Falls timber products company earned the first place award for medium-sized companies in Montana West Economic Development’s Best Places to Work program for 2014.

SmartLam is the first and currently only production plant in the U.S. that manufactures cross-laminated timber products. Founded in 2012, the company employs 33-34 full-time workers in two and sometimes three shifts.

General manager Casey Malmquist said the secret to a good workplace is to follow the Golden Rule.

“Treat someone the way you want to be treated,” he said.

Malmquist and production manager Jason Herman acknowledge and thank their employees for their work ethic. Herman makes the rounds, speaking with employees, giving them pats on the back — from the janitor on up.

“People are assets,” Herman said. “Machines do no good if they don’t have the right people doing it.”

Presently the company fabricates construction matting for the oil, gas, construction, pipeline and mining industries, but the laminated panels have applications yet to be explored. Demand has been so high for what they manufacture, they have had to turn away work.  

SmartLam offers traditional benefits to its employees but also has production and safety incentives. To date, the plant in Columbia Falls posted 547 working days without an accident.

Turnover is low, Herman noted — no one has quit since the SmartLam began operating in 2012. There is a waiting list to get hired, with hundreds of qualified resumes on file. SmartLam receives dozens of inquires from potential candidates every day, and the company expects to expand in the future, Herman said.

This is the second year MWED recognized the Flathead’s Best Places To Work. Results were based on research by Quantum Workplace. Companies that are recognized receive seven times the average number of resumes per open position than a typical company, Quantum says.