Conflict and communication challenges are pervasive in all businesses . In manufacturing , these difficulties can cause missed deadlines , low retention , and even safety issues . Jemco Components & Fabrication , Inc . of Kirkland , Washington , is a 40-year-old family-owned business . The company aims to produce products for space and defense customers and does so with deliberate communication and soft skills .
Travis Moore , president and second-generation leader , studied organizational industrial psychology in college and remembers working in the company as a kid . He said he was in the first class at Pepperdine University to graduate with this major . “ In manufacturing , there are so many old-school tactics where you yell at your team enough to get them to do their job .
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We have a different approach here at Jemco where we support them in a very sacrificial , loving , kind , generous way — it has been extremely helpful .” He works closely with his brother , AJ Moore , VP of customer support , to continue building the legacy that their parents started . The company makes parts for space and defense applications in their 60,000-square-foot facility .
They have 140 people , and Travis said he ’ s worn every hat in the company . He noted that over the last eight years , they ’ ve grown by 10 times . His philosophy is to “ hire people smarter than me , and then I get out of their way .” However , the metric of how that works is more involved .
The Moores have spent a significant amount of time ( and likely money ) investing in their people to grow a vigorous business .
Travis said he challenges employees but tries to do it with “ humility and respect , and increasing the ceiling of expectations .” He does this all to “ be our customer ’ s favorite supplier .” He wants customers to know they are “ heard , loved , and appreciated .”
Their parents , Stan and Jane Moore , the company founders , are still involved and come to the office . AJ said they are excited to see what the company is doing , and Travis said being able to give them peace of mind and the fact that the company is thriving is essential to them .
Travis said AJ ’ s role is mission critical , “ Our customers give us very challenging requests , and our job is to bend over backward to take care of them . It is a highstress role that is underappreciated . My brother does a good job of that .”