Pete Getchell has been with PKF-Mark III, Inc. for twenty-two of his thirty-four years in the construction business. In that time, the industry has changed immensely. To Pete however, one thing remains true: "This is, was and will always be a people business. Technology has changed, owners have changed, and the way we do business has changed, but the success of the company will always be made up by its people." PKF has prospered for thirty years due to its ability to attract, develop, and advance quality people.

Attention to the development of successive generations is a tradition at PKF-Mark III that ensures a continuance of employee ownership and the corporation itself. Pete Getchell presides over the fourth generation of leadership at PKF, an accomplishment worth celebrating. "Transition is a defining moment in the life cycle of any business, especially in the construction industry where only one in three companies will make it to the next generation."

Pete’s vision for the future focuses on expanding the company’s present commitment to self-performance. One such area of expansion is in the electrical field. PKF is now performing electrical work on projects in the areas of power distribution, instrumentation, communication, and more. Another area of expansion is in marine and deep foundation work. The amount of this type of work performed with company forces has steadily increased over the last eight years. "The ability to perform critical activities with our own forces provides our company and our clients with an element of control not available at most other firms. Having a broad base of expertise will likewise open new markets and enable the company to adapt to the cyclical changes in the economy."

Preparing for the future is a top priority for Pete. Here again, people make the difference. "The success of PKF-Mark III was founded by people who were interested in seeing the company grow, and who recognized that their rewards would stem from that growth." Pete and the current management team embrace this belief and intend to perpetuate its ideal in the years ahead.

Changing with the times without compromising the values that built the corporation is Pete’s greatest challenge. "The company is a dynamic body of people who conduct themselves according to a core set of principles. As such, we must be mindful of the changing "generational" viewpoints of the workplace. You have to change with them or you will not attract and retain quality people. You have to be willing to listen to understand what the differences are. It is then up to the management to separate the wheat from the chaff and act accordingly." "People are the heart and soul of the company. If you have good people you’ll be fine."

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