It’s been more than 20 years since Tim Roberts started with Nucor.

The former biologist and Navy veteran was part of a nuclear submarine crew before he learned about a steel company hiring nuclear submariners. That was more than two decades ago, and he hasn’t looked back since.

Nucor Steel Memphis, located at 3601 Riverport Road, was named the Top Workplace among large employers in the Memphis area for 2023. This is the steel company’s first year receiving the accolade.

The North Carolina-based company opened its Memphis facility in 2008. The Memphis plant now has more than 240 employees. The company was founded by Oldsmobile owner, Ransom E. Olds. In the early 20th century, Nucor originally began operations as REO Motor Co. before evolving into Nuclear Corp. of America. The company rebranded as Nucor in 1971. The company’s venture in steel began in the 1960s after Nuclear Corp. of America acquired Vulcraft. The Memphis facility is part of Nucor’s “bar” division, which manufactures merchant bars and rebar products for construction.

Heat treat operator Jeffrey Parker said he remembers when he first was introduced to the company at a job pool and a recruiter told him it was the last job he’ll ever need.

“It stuck with me,” Parker said. “It has been just that for me. Nucor has been good for me.”

For Parker, and several of his colleagues, the environment at Nucor is what has made them stay.

Inside sales representative Sarah Lentz said she relocated from Canada to work for Nucor.

“They told me if you want a career, you want to move down for Nucor,” she said.

That career starts with professional development and a company-wide approach toward safety.

Melt shop refractory supervisor Jerry Echols said the steel industry can be a hazardous profession given the scope of the work.

“It can be unsafe if you don’t have a culture that promotes safety,” Echols said.

At Nucor, there’s a shared stock among colleagues. The majority of the development is geared toward understanding better work practices and ensuring staff are cross-trained in other departments and have access to development courses, he said.

“We had pizza delivery guys, former schoolteachers, DirecTV installers, you name it,” Echols said. “We had those guys who wanted to be steel makers. And I say that, because with Nucor if you have a desire and want, they’ll teach you everything you need to know.”

Caster mechanic Brandon Scharfetter said he’s an example of that. Scharfetter has been working in an interim management role for the last six months and has only recently formally applied for the position. He said the ability to work in that role after expressing interest created an opportunity he now felt comfortable pursuing. However, that was a cross-training opportunity he knows is unavailable at other facilities and is uncommon in the steel industry.

“What we do have that is special is our culture,” he said.

The sentiment among Nucor staff is that development isn’t a one-off event. Scharfetter said the introduction of automated equipment near one of the steel vaults is largely due to communication from ground crews.

One of the dangers when mixing alloys is a splash from the melted steel while it is still a liquid. When the alloys are added they can create a splash. That splash can be even more dangerous if moisture is added, Echols said, due to a chemical reaction.

The addition of an automated robot here provides additional safety for workers without losing staff, Scharfetter said. That conversation on how to improve the workflow and safety measures came from open discourse with workers and supervisors, he said.

Safety and a team-first mentality remain a key cog in the Nucor workplace, Roberts said. The company is pushing for safety measures he would’ve thought were impossible to achieve 20 years ago. The addition of an on-site medical campus at the Memphis facility is also a perk. Nucor employees and family members can access the clinic for free, he said.

“It saves so much money on PPO cost,” he said. “If I have a cold during work I can go see the nurse practitioner and she can set me up with antibiotics.”

Echols said the clinic is unique to Memphis’ facility, however, all Nucor sites have a nurse and medical staff on site. Each division, he said, has something different based on employee needs including gyms or fitness areas.

Those perks extend past the job site, Scharfetter said including a profit-sharing credit for employees. He said when the company does well, employees receive a quarterly bonus. In addition, during the COVID-19 pandemic, all staff were guaranteed a paycheck.

That job security is a large reason why Roberts has remained with the company and it’s a big reason why he believes the company has thrived with employee retention.

“When the market drops, I’m still going to have a job,” he said.

Neil Strebig is a journalist with The Commercial Appeal. He can be reached at neil.strebig@commercialappeal.com, 901-426-0679 or via X/Twitter, @neilStrebig

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Top Workplaces 2023: Nucor Steel honored