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The company has supplied concrete for some of the Chicago area’s biggest projects, including the construction of Comiskey Park and the renovation of Soldier Field.
Today Ozinga, which was founded in 1928 as the Ozinga Coal & Coke company, has more than 2,000 employees in five states.
The family-owned Mokena business, which celebrated its 95th anniversary this year, ranks 37th among midsize employers on the Tribune’s 2023 list of Top Workplaces, as measured by the consultancy Energage in Exton, Pennsylvania.
Many know Ozinga for its red-and-white concrete mixer trucks. But employees know the company, which operates in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan and south Florida, for its commitment to community and its family-like atmosphere.
“Our ownership is very growth-minded,” said Joya Calloway, organizational development supervisor. “They want to make sure that as the company grows and expands that our purpose and work culture remains the same. They are really careful not to lose the sense of family as the company grows.”
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Ozinga’s Diversity, Unity, and Fellowship Initiative offers informational sessions, service-learning opportunities and other gatherings that celebrate heritage months like Black History Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. In December, the company will acknowledge International Day of Persons With Disabilities.
“The initiative is pretty new,” Calloway said. “I started those diversity efforts last year. It’s about celebrating our differences and coming together with our purpose in mind. A purpose of making a positive impact.”
Ozinga also celebrates employee milestones, including work anniversaries and family developments.
“We celebrate new babies,” Calloway said. That type of information is often shared on communication screens in the Ozinga offices. The screens also broadcast co-worker spotlights, where employees have the opportunity to share fun facts about themselves.
“So no one is an employee, we are all co-workers. Whether you’re a senior executive or handling the finances, everyone is a co-worker,” Calloway said.
Ready-Mix billing specialist Becca Draper recently celebrated her seventh year with Ozinga. She started at the company as a receptionist.
The mother of a 16-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter appreciates the work-life balance her job offers.
She also enjoys engaging with her co-workers and their families at the picnics, holiday parties and sporting events the company hosts.
“From the co-workers to the customers it’s like another family,” Draper said. “It’s really just a positive experience building relationships with each other.”
Draper also appreciates the service projects Ozinga employees participate in. She said her billing team recently cleaned the cabins at Shady Oaks Camp in Homer Glen and helped get the camp organized for summertime campers.
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Mary Kate Burns, Ozinga’s HR compliance supervisor, has been employed by Ozinga for more than two years. “I love the faith-based environment, starting meetings with prayers and ending with prayers,” said Burns, who occasionally joins co-workers for walks around the neighborhood to get fresh air and exercise. ”Each role or position within the company plays a vital role in the company’s overall success.”
Working Lunch
Joe Garcia started working in Indiana as an assistant safety/environmental coordinator for Ozinga. He flourished in the position and was given the opportunity for advancement on the corporate side of the company.
In August, Garcia became the learning and development manager, a position that involves overseeing all aspects of Ozinga’s training and development.
“It’s an amazing company to work with,” he said. “The owners are really down to earth and very approachable. And although we are a larger company, it still has the feel of a small family-owned business.”