Employee Ownership Month: Rian Owens

As we celebrate Employee Ownership Month this October, we are proud to highlight colleagues who have served on the ACRT Services Board of Directors. At ACRT Services, our independence as a 100% employee-owned company empowers every employee-owner to share in our success and play a role in shaping our future. This commitment reflects our mission: to engage the best people and make them better to foster resiliency, environmental stewardship, compliance, stakeholder partnerships, and safer communities. Those who step up to Board service embody the ownership, leadership, and collaboration that drive our culture forward.

Rian Owens, Operations Manager, ACRT Pacific

If you had to describe your board experience in three words, what would they be — and why?

Commitment, Strategic, and Transformative.

Commitment. I am honored to have been selected by my peers to serve on the Board of Directors, and during my two years of service, I had the opportunity to grow and experience. Commitment can be described as “Emphasizes the promise, obligation, or pledge to a person, cause, or activity, suggesting a binding decision or deeply rooted loyalty that sustains through challenges.” I was able to see firsthand the commitment of not only the internal board members, but also the commitment of the external board members. The collective commitment to always finding a path forward, even through difficult times, was encouraging and provided a level of security.

Strategic. The time spent in the board meetings is only a portion of the work put forth by the executive leadership, advisors, and company presidents. Planning and preparation were continuous, and the strategic focus was not lost. The strategic focus was not only at an individual company, but all operating companies as one. Often, we are only aware of the goals, challenges, and goals that are set for our own company, but being able to put those objectives together with the other operating companies and see the overall picture makes more of an impact on the decisions we make each day.

Transformative. The experience of serving as an employee board member has been a truly transformative experience. Serving in this position has provided me with a deeper understanding of our organization’s vision and challenges, while also providing a platform to represent the voice of employees in important decisions. The experience has enhanced my leadership skills, broadened my perspective on strategy, and strengthened my commitment to our company’s mission. Most importantly, it allowed me to contribute in a meaningful way that will have a lasting impact on my professional growth.

How did board service change how you view your role and voice as an employee owner?

Serving as an employee board member has profoundly changed how I view my role and voice as an employee owner. I gained a greater appreciation for the responsibility that comes with that ownership. Ensuring that I not only perform well in my daily work but also strive to actively contribute to the shaping of our company. This opportunity has shown me that every employee has a voice that matters, and when we bring our perspectives forward, we are strengthening both our culture and future. This experience has reinforced my sense of accountability, encouraged me to think more strategically, and reminded me that ownership is not just a title, it’s a commitment to our success!

People like Rian are the key to our success at ACRT Pacific. If you want to start a career at a company that values its people, we might be the right fit for you.