Greiner Buildings recognized with national awards

Washington business Greiner Buildings Inc. received three awards from the National Frame Building Association (NFBA) last month, at the group’s annual expo luncheon in Tennessee.

The business walked away with the masters division commercial Building of the Year Award, recognition as a platinum winner in safety, and the honor of the Bernon G. Perkins Award for CEO Matt Greiner.

“I play music for weddings, and sometimes that tear comes to your eye, I don’t know what it is about that moment … it was a lot like that,” Greiner said. “I had to try to hide that back a little bit because I got a little emotional about it. I was surprised and I was honored … It was an unbelievable day, one of the most incredible days of my life.”

The award, named after a revolutionary figure in construction history, recognizes “an individual who demonstrates exemplary service to the post-frame industry,” according to the organization’s website, which calls it “one of NFBA's highest honors.”

For his part, Greiner has made his mark on the industry as well, playing a lead role in a variety of NFBA accomplishments.

“Currently I’m the longest standing board member on the NFBA, I’ve been on since 2014, I was recruited to the board and I was very quickly promoted to the higher ranks,” he said. “When I first got on, the association was not financially in good shape. I don’t take credit for turning that around, but I was on the board for the turn around … when I was the treasurer I studied the numbers, I studied the spreadsheets, I dug in, I asked the tough questions.”

Greiner has also shaped the industry’s safety standards, one of the founders of the group’s safety committee.

“I exposed the weakness of fall protection in the industry and I brought together the first ever on-site safety studies,” he said. “I also helped to co-author the first ever curriculum in this industry to help bring in people, train them, get them certifications in the industry.”

The Greiner business is case in point, having its own high bar for safety standards.

“We invest in equipment and we do safety meetings, we do check-ins, annual training and meetings and things like that,” he said. “We have some protocols and regulations that some of our peers probably don’t have.”

As for the building of the year award, Greiner said it took a team of talented people.

“I think you have to build a culture that understands that the quality and things matter, because some people don’t think that way, some people are very functional,” he said. “Some people understand the value of things being visually appealing and having a wow factor, so you have to build that into your culture, emphasize that and lead the way. You create a little internal competition, even.”

Greiner said that team was his favorite part of the job.

“What I like about this company has always been the people,” he said. “Every time I get exhausted, you think about the team that’s around you and how wonderful some of these people are, and that makes it worth it.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com