In 2019, Gray and Fick Ltd., an engineering firm that sought to change the industry by nurturing a people-driven culture, hired two engineers, Adam Palmer and Travis Parker, who introduced a new framework to the company.
Just four years after they joined, Adam and Travis led the Ontario-based firm’s rebranding to co-elevate in 2023, having brought in various fresh ideas and implementing cutting-edge systems. Adam and Travis now lead a team of 38 people in honor of the original founder’s mission of providing economical and practical engineering services to clients.
Since becoming co-elevate’s Principals, Adam and Travis have led significant changes to the organization, allowing it to evolve in response to shifting customer needs and the ever-changing industry. These include the proprietary Agile Delivery System, which replaces traditional project management methods.
One of the pillars of this methodology is doing away with the notion of hierarchy. According to many forward-thinking leaders, productivity in a hierarchy-based model relies on reinforcing divisions with senior and higher-ranked employees clearly on top. co-elevate encourages junior employees to participate actively in team discussions, share their opinions, and constructively challenge leaders’ perceptions. By prioritizing creativity without restraints, co-elevate allows its team members to leverage their full potential, further contributing to the company’s growth.
“Many people hear directly from their boss only when they’ve done something wrong. That’s not what co-elevate is about,” says Travis. “We welcome and synthesize all levels of expertise in our company, combining the expertise of leaders with the fresh approach of newcomers. This perfect blend of both allows everyone to learn from each other. At co-elevate, we prefer to be questioned and challenged because no one is right 100% of the time, and agreeing with bosses just for the sake of it isn’t genuine. A ‘yes-man’ culture leads to organizational decline.”
According to co-elevate, the Agile Delivery System is designed to unite and inspire while propelling creativity. It places importance on making employees feel safe and comfortable by surrounding them with people who listen, support, and offer feedback, fuelling free expression and igniting innovation.
“At co-elevate, we gather people fresh out of school with industry veterans, giving both the time and space to share perspectives,” adds Adam. “We believe in the power of sparking conversations about new ways to enhance traditional systems, and the only way to effectively achieve that is through collaboration.”
The Agile Delivery System incorporates a constant feedback loop, transforming it into an intentional training program. Through constant reviews, uninterrupted communication, and the company-wide open-minded attitude, co-elevate helps employees grow and thrive while continually improving its efficiency as an organization.
While unorthodox from the client’s point of view, the Agile Delivery System is able to deliver results within a shorter time frame. According to co-elevate’s principles, by taking a collaborative approach and integrating all employees into all stages of the project, operations can continue smoothly even in the event of the leader’s absence. This is part of co-elevate’s mission to usher change in the engineering industry.
“We have witnessed huge transformations in engineering over the years, and the rising rates of burnout can no longer be ignored,” says Travis. “Our goal is to be a company that we would like to work for, and co-elevate is exactly that.”
Aside from offering an inspiring and collaborative working environment, co-elevate offers many other benefits, including a hybrid working setup, unlimited holiday days, and no dress code policy for the office.
Because of its emphasis on employee satisfaction, co-elevate has enjoyed high employee retention levels over the years. Going beyond nurturing workers and delivering cutting-edge solutions, the firm’s goal is to transform the current state of the industry.
“If engineers feel unappreciated and burnt out, we are risking the fall of engineering. I have too much love and passion for the industry to watch that happen, and co-elevate is my way of ensuring those who are qualified want to stay in the field,” Adam says.
Looking ahead, co-elevate aims to make a global impact, reshaping the industry on a large scale. Recently, the firm has signed a lease for a new office in St. Thomas and it is expanding into the Ottawa region. As co-elevate continues to challenge the status quo and prioritize the people behind the scenes, the engineering industry is poised to thrive.
“We know we are often sacrificing profits for people,” says Travis. “But we also believe in giving back to our community and staying true to our core values. We believe in creating a long-term, sustainable business that will support engineers and help them stay in the industry they have worked so hard to be a part of. There’s more to life than work. That’s why we refuse to become our employees’ priority, especially if it’s at the expense of their well-being.”
