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Kent Companies Expands Employee Training Programs Nationwide

Chris Fennema Assumes the Role of Vice President of Employee Training & Development

[GRAND RAPIDS] – Kent Companies recently announced plans to expand and enhance on-boarding and professional development programs for 1,300+ employees nationwide. To lead this new initiative, Kent Companies named Chris Fennema as the Vice President of Employee Training and Development. In this role, Fennema assumes responsibility for leading and developing programs that ensure the safety and success of Kent Companies employees.

Chris Fennema, Vice President of Employee Training & Development

Fennema shares, “Kent Companies is a people-first organization, and we want all of our employees to be successful, starting on day one. People build decades-long careers at Kent Companies, and we want to help chart that path from the beginning.”

Fennema continues, “We’re building large, elevated structures and increasingly complex projects in West Michigan, Texas, Charlotte and across the country. As the demand for our team grows, we’re invest in our people. We are enhancing skill at every level in the company.”

Kent Companies’ new on-boarding program incorporates hands-on instruction, safety training, multi-media resources and job site mentoring. The entire Kent Companies team will have expanded access to leadership training, professional development and on-going safety training as well.

“Our utmost priority is to work safely,” says Fennema. “We want every member of the team to have a strong foundation of training to use the tools of their trade in a safe manner. It’s more than craftsmanship. It’s about making sure everyone returns home safely at the end of the day.”

Kent Companies CEO Jeff VanderLaan shares, “Chris is a natural choice to lead this new initiative. His career at Kent Companies spans nearly twenty-five years, and in that time he has worked in all aspects of the business, including hands-on construction. Under Chris’ guidance, we’ll continue to expand the resources for our team across the country. Ultimately, this investment in our people provides more value to our customers in every market we serve.”

A behind-the-scenes look at the development of Kent Companies’ new on-boarding resources:


About Kent Companies:

Kent Companies is a 3rd-generation family-owned business with expertise in commercial and industrial construction, mixed-use construction, multi-family housing, tilt-up concrete, post-tensioned cast in place structures and a full range of concrete-related specialties.

Kent Companies is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has operations in Detroit, Michigan; Dallas and Austin, Texas; central Ohio; Charlotte, North Carolina and St. Louis, Missouri. Kent Companies employs over 1,200 concrete construction professionals nationwide, and the organization is ranked in the top 12 concrete contractors nationwide by ENR Magazine. The Kent Companies team has built a reputation as “Leaders in Concrete.”

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