Culture is one of the most overused words in business, often reduced to slogans, posters, or one-time training sessions that get filed away and forgotten. But CITY’s culture is different. It wasn’t manufactured, borrowed, or created to sound good on a job posting. It grew from real conversations, real alignment, and real people who already lived the values before they ever wrote them down.
“Culture is who you are every day, all day.” When President Colin Wetlaufer talks about CITY’s culture, he isn’t describing a program; he’s describing a way of operating that has existed for generations. “It starts from the top down, and if it doesn’t, it’s not real.” Colin shared. Those expectations have shaped CITY for over 119 years. But the most important part? Those values came from CITY’s own team.
How CITY’s Values Were Truly Created
Years ago, when CITY decided it was time to formally define the values that already guided the company, they didn’t hire a branding firm or run surveys. Instead, senior leaders got into a room together, people who had lived CITY’s culture for decades, and talked openly about who CITY really was.
There was no script. No pre-work. No corporate buzzwords.
One by one, team members shared what they believed CITY stood for: responsiveness, honesty, caring, urgency, teamwork, customer-first service, and doing what’s right even when no one is watching.
What happened next was telling: Every person in the room kept repeating the same themes, not because they were told to, but because they already believed them. The values weren’t invented. They were recognized. CITY’s culture was something the company finally put words to.
Culture Is Lived in the Small Moments
Route Supervisor, like Randy Jipson, shows CITY’s culture through genuine care for customers over the last 25 years. “We care, and that’s how we do business,” Randy said.
And he means it, he still keeps in touch with customers from years ago when he was a route service representative, because the relationships are real.
On the operational side, leaders like Luis Portillo reinforce culture through consistency and attention to process. He begins every day by walking the production floor, talking to people, and ensuring things run safely and correctly. Across all CITY departments, the expectation is the same.
Culture Here Means Urgency and Accountability
CITY’s culture thrives because it is actionable. “Everything we do needs to be with purpose and right now,” Colin explained. This expectation isn’t about speed for speed’s sake; it’s about commitment.
CITY employees don’t wait to fix a problem tomorrow when they can do it today. They don’t leave customers hanging. They don’t let mistakes linger. Instead, “we’re a culture that fixes our mistakes. We fix them fast and put systems in place to prevent them from happening again.” Colin said.
Why CITY’s Culture Works & Lasts
CITY’s culture isn’t artificial, trendy, or branded into existence. It’s the natural result of leadership by example, people who deeply care, a century of doing things the right way, and values that were discovered, not manufactured.
Ready to Be Part of a Culture That’s Real?
If you’re looking for a workplace where culture isn’t forced, but felt, and where the values written on the wall match the values lived in the halls, CITY is the place for you.
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