At IMI, we've always believed that our greatest strength isn't just the work we do, it's the people who make it happen.
As we've grown from a single company into a family of businesses serving customers across the country, one thing has remained constant: our commitment to building a culture where people can succeed, lead, and grow together. Maintaining that culture while welcoming hundreds of new employee owners requires more than good intentions. It requires intentional investment in leadership development and communication.
That's where Emergenetics has become an important part of our journey.
Investing in People from Day One
When Crystal Vanderkolb joined IMI as Director of Leadership and Culture Development, her mission was clear: preserve the culture that made IMI successful while helping it evolve for the future.
"Our co-founder Mike said to me when I got here, Crystal, but you're responsible for the rest!'" Crystal recalls. "We did the first 30 years."
For a company experiencing rapid growth, that responsibility means ensuring every new employee owner feels connected, not only to the work they do, but also to the people they work alongside.
Rather than implementing another personality assessment, Crystal sought a tool that would help employees better understand themselves while creating stronger communication across teams. Emergenetics provided that foundation.
A Common Language for Better Collaboration
Every person brings unique strengths, experiences, and communication preferences to the workplace. Understanding those differences can transform the way teams work together.
At IMI, Emergenetics is introduced through our Foundational Leadership program, where employees learn about their own thinking and behavioral preferences while gaining practical strategies for working more effectively with others.
The goal isn't to put people into categories. It's to create a shared language that helps teams appreciate different perspectives, communicate more effectively, and recognize the value every individual brings.
As Crystal explains,
"Emergenetics humanizes how we operate. It gives our teams a framework to understand why people communicate and approach challenges differently."
That understanding helps replace assumptions with empathy and creates stronger working relationships across every level of the organization.
From the Office to the Jobsite
Leadership development at IMI doesn't stop after a workshop. Crystal regularly works with project teams, departments, and leaders to apply these concepts in real-world situations. Whether it's helping a newly formed project team understand how they'll work together or coaching leaders through challenging conversations, the focus is always on improving collaboration.
One moment stands out as proof that the investment was making a difference.
Before a new project began, one of IMI's shop foremen asked to review his team's Emergenetics Group Profile. Together, the project team discussed how each person's strengths would contribute to the job, identified potential gaps, and planned how they would support one another throughout the project.
It wasn't prompted by leadership or required as part of the project. The team simply recognized the value of understanding how they worked best together.
For Crystal, it was confirmation that the program had become more than training, it had become part of the way IMI works.
Supporting an Entrepreneurial Culture
One of the qualities that has always defined IMI is our entrepreneurial spirit. Employees are encouraged to think creatively, take ownership, and pursue opportunities that align with their strengths. That culture thrives when people feel empowered to contribute their ideas and understand how their teammates approach challenges.
"An entrepreneurial spirit defines our culture, and people love that," Crystal says. "They feel very empowered."
Emergenetics supports that mindset by helping employee owners understand not only themselves but also the perspectives of those around them. The result is stronger communication, healthier collaboration, and teams that arebetter equipped to solve complex problems together.
Looking Ahead
As IMI continues to grow, leadership development remains a priority.
Emergenetics is already helping shape new initiatives, including mentoring programs, team development, and ongoing leadership education. By building these efforts on a foundation of self-awareness, communication, and trust, we're creating an environment where people can continue growing alongside the company.
Our culture has always been built by our people.
Investing in tools that help us better understand one another simply ensures that culture continues to grow stronger with every new employee owner who joins the IMI family.