Company Profile
Company Overview
Great People – Building – A Great Company
Sundt is a 100% employee-owned company founded in 1890. We are proud to offer leadership and integrity in a collaborative environment on all of our projects to ensure we serve our customers, employees, community and industry.
Sundt provides self-perform work, general contracting, construction management, and design-build services for private and public sector clients with budgets ranging from $50,000 to more than $200 million.
What makes Sundt different is our People, and our Vision – Inspiring People to Go Beyond the Expected.
Company History
Sundt was founded in 1890 by Mauritz Martinsen Sundt, a Norwegian ship carpenter who immigrated to the United States.
The company’s early projects were homes and farms. Their first major project was the construction of the Agua Pura Dam outside Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1911.
By the 1920s Mauritz’s son Thoralf was designing buildings for the company, while son John opened and operated an office in Tucson, Arizona calling it M.M. Sundt Construction Co.
A New Generation Commands the Helm
In the 1930s John bought out his father’s interest and Tucson became the headquarters for M.M. Sundt Construction Co. while the operation in Las Vegas became the New Mexico Division.
Between 1940 and 1950, the company was well established as one of the leading general contractors in the Southwest. Gene Sundt, Mauritz’s grandson and head of the New Mexico Division was approached by the United States Government to build the top-secret community now known as Los Alamos. This was their first military project. By 1946, the New Mexico Division was closed and Albuquerque Gravel Products, Inc. was opened.
During the 1950s with yet another grandson, Robert, in the ranks, the company grew rapidly building schools, hospitals, retail stores and gained ground with the construction of sewers, water lines and utilities in and around Tucson.
In 1957, Robert’s brother, H. Wilson joined the firm and again the Sundt’s military expertise was called into action for the construction of the first underground ballistic missile launching facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California — which later became the prototype for all Titan I Missile installations throughout the country.
Sundt Goes International
The company ventured into the international arena in 1962 with the construction of sewage treatment facilities in Trinidad, West Indies. Sundt expanded the materials business, by purchasing an interest in Tucson Rock and Sand Company in 1964. The unexpected death of John Sundt in 1965 forced M.M. Sundt Construction Co. to find a leader who would assure the company continued success. William Naumann was named chairman of the Board of Directors and Duane Anderson, president and chief executive officer. Wilson Sundt was named executive vice president and Robert Sundt, vice president and manager of the Building Division.
The 1970s were explosive years for the company with more than 700 projects completed within the decade, including the relocation of the London Bridge to Lake Havasu, Arizona. Sundt also expanded its overseas operations, formed and acquired subsidiary companies and opened branch offices.
In 1972, after several successful joint-venture projects with the Novato, California-based C.R. Fedrick, Inc., the company was acquired as a wholly owned subsidiary.
A decade-long business relationship began with Saudi Arabia in 1975. First came a labor and management contract to build 485 condominiums for the Arabian American Oil Company; then came a second contract a year later for more condominiums, detached homes, schools, petroleum engineering facilities, and the first highway bridge ever built in that part of Saudi Arabia. In 1977, another contract was awarded to build a wide variety of needed facilities, including more schools and hospitals. This work lasted into the mid 1980s.
By the end of the decade, Sundt was formed as a holding company. Wilson Sundt was named president in 1980 and in 1983 he took on additional duties as chief executive officer, while his brother, Robert, replaced him as president. By 1983, C.R. “Dick” Fedrick was elected to the board of directors, and in 1989, Ninteman Construction Co., Inc., San Diego, merged with Sundt.
Venturing Into the New Millennium
The 1990s saw establishment of Sundt Corp. Building Division Special Projects Division, and Heavy Civil Division. By mid-decade, Sundt expanded into Northern California with the acquisition of Earl Construction Company. Sundt has remained active in the international market place with recent completion of projects in the Philippines.
After more than a century of operation, Sundt has emerged as a highly diversified construction company, consistently ranked in the top 100 firms by ENR magazine. The projects completed have taken the company to 21 states and 11 foreign countries.
The new century promises to be just as climactic with challenging projects all over the globe.
Benefits
Administrative Employee Benefits
The Sundt Companies has a very competitive and comprehensive set of benefits that are offered to its Administrative employees. Below is a summary of some of the major benefit plans included in our total compensation package:
Health Care/Vision/Prescription Benefits
The Sundt Companies has maintained a self-insured employee welfare benefit plan to provide medical benefits to its employees since 1981 — this plan is offered at no monthly premium cost for employees and their dependents. It also offers low deductibles, prescription and vision coverage, and a great Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network, which allows for additional cost savings on medical claims.
Life Insurance Benefits
Employees are provided basic life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Long Term Disability Insurance
Employees are provided long term disability insurance that pays to a disabled employee, 60% of their gross annual salary prior to a disability.
Short Term Disability Insurance
Employees are provided short term disability insurance, which is a salary continuation program that pays a portion of an employee's pay while off work due to disability. This insurance takes place prior to long term disability insurance.
Retirement Plan Benefits
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Sundt is an employee-owned company. Ownership is through the Employee Stock Ownership pension plan that has been in place since 1972. Annual company contributions based on a percentage of wages, as determined each year by company performance, are made to the accounts of eligible employees. Employees are generally eligible for participation after 1000 hours of credited service during their initial full plan year of employment.
401(k) Plan
Our 401(k) savings/pension plan offers employees the advantage to save on a before-tax basis for retirement. With a variety of investment options to choose from, an employee can contribute up to 80% of his or her taxable wages to the plan. Eligibility to participate is based on 1000 hours of credited service during an employee's initial employment year.
OTHER BENEFITS
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): Confidential counseling and referral service offered to employees and their dependents at no cost, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Paid Time Off (PTO) Program: Number of days given to employees based on years of service with the company to pay for: vacation time,sick leave, and personal days.
Holiday Pay
VOLUNTARY BENEFITS (employee pays):
Supplemental Life Insurance (employee and spouse).
Dental Insurance Plans
Long-term Care Insurance (employee, spouse and other family members)
Auto/Homeowner's Insurance
Some of the benefit plans listed above have a waiting period associated with eligibility.