LEADING WITH VISION: STEPHEN TOUPS’ STRATEGIC APPROACH
TURNER INDUSTRIES
TURNER INDUSTRIES
LEADING WITH VISION STEPHEN TOUPS’ STRATEGIC APPROACH AT TURNER INDUSTRIES
Project by: Malvern Kandemwa
Words by: Michelle Duncan
Turner Industries is a prominent provider of industrial construction, maintenance, and environmental services primarily serving the energy, chemical, refinery, and manufacturing sectors. Known for its comprehensive capabilities and strong safety culture, Turner Industries has established itself as a trusted partner for complex industrial projects across the United States. Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Turner Industries has grown significantly over the decades, expanding its operations through a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions. The company serves a diverse
range of clients, including major oil and gas companies, refineries, petrochemical plants, and manufacturing facilities.
A significant part of Turner’s business is providing planned and unplanned maintenance services, including turnaround support for refineries and chemical plants. Turnarounds involve comprehensive shutdowns for inspections, repairs, and upgrades, requiring meticulous planning, safety adherence, and coordination to minimize downtime and ensure operational safety. Turner provides specialized mechanical services such as pipe fabrication and installation, equipment erection, pressure vessel work, and piping systems. Their skilled workforce is equipped to manage complex mechanical tasks critical to plant operation and in-
tegrity. The company offers electrical systems installation, wiring, instrumentation, and control systems integration. These technical services are essential for automation, safety systems, and operational efficiency.
Turner Industries builds and maintains some of America’s largest and most complex industrial projects. But CEO Stephen Toups says it’s the people and a culture prioritizing safety, integrity and family that form the foundation of the company. Stephen Toups has delivered hands-on leadership since taking on the role of President at Turner Industries in 2019 and later stepping into the CEO position in 2021. He emphasizes empowering his employees by removing obstacles in their way and fostering team collaboration, preferring to guide rather than dictate.
“I don’t like to frame it as people working for me,” Toups says. “I work alongside these men and women. We all share the privilege of working together.”
A 27-year veteran of Turner Industries, Toups highlights the company’s workforce as its greatest asset, a distinguishing factor in the competitive construction sector.
“It’s the people who make Turner Industries,” he explains. “Every day, they’re out building plants, maintaining facilities, inspecting pipelines, fabricating pipes and modules. I am continually in awe of what our people accomplish and create each day.”
Toups actively works to empower employees every day. At Turner Industries, safety is a core value, reinforced through daily safety meetings and giving every employee the authority to halt work if conditions become unsafe.
The company also prioritizes family, with Toups describing Turner Industries as “one big family.”
“If you ask Turner employees, they also know our priorities: God, family, and Turner,” he says. “Everybody knows that. I guess that’s a benefit of being a privately held company.”
The company’s culture strongly supports employee retention. Toups notes that craft professionals on Turner Industries worksites average 11 years with the company an exceptional figure in the construction sector while managers average more than 20 years.
“We want our employees to be safe. We want them to enjoy what they do. We want them to go home just like they got to work,” he says, encapsulating the company’s approach to workplace cul-
ture. Turner Industries is widely recognized for executing heavy construction projects across the industrial, energy, and natural resource sectors, as well as providing maintenance, turnarounds, pipe and module fabrication, and specialized transportation services.
“We provide the support required for our customers to produce the fuel, energy, and materials necessary for life as we all know it today,” Toups explains.
This customer support is constantly evolving. Since Toups assumed leadership at Turner Industries, the company has continued helping clients meet the world’s growing energy demands while simultaneously striving to minimize environmental impact.
Even as the energy transition accelerates, Toups sees opportunities and has positioned Turner Industries to continue providing construction, maintenance, and specialty services to clients pursuing their climate goals.
“We build and maintain large industrial manufacturing facilities. When those facilities pivot to biodiesel, sustainable aviation fuel, wind, solar, or other technologies, we will be there with them,” he says. “Our role is to support our clients as they navigate whatever energy transition they pursue.”
While enthusiastic about the opportunities in clean energy, Toups stays optimistic about traditional energy sources, noting that Turner Industries is involved in processing one out of every
five barrels of oil in the United States.
“What we need to do is continue supporting the industry’s efforts toward more sustainable processes. I think the industry is heading in that direction,” he adds.
WE BUILD AND MAINTAIN LARGE INDUSTRIAL MANUFACTURING FACILITIES. WHEN THOSE FACILITIES PIVOT TO BIODIESEL, SUSTAINABLE AVIATION FUEL, WIND, SOLAR, OR OTHER TECHNOLOGIES, WE WILL BE THERE WITH THEM
Like any major construction company, Turner Industries relies heavily on its suppliers and subcontractors. One of its trusted partners is MSA –The Safety Company, a global leader in safety equipment for industrial workers.
Turner collaborates closely with its vendors to ensure their long-term viability, a challenge in the construction sector. “We want competitive pricing, and we want amazing service,” Toups explains. “That means we’ve got to give them the opportunity to make a profit.”
Toups is also a strong advocate for open communication both with employees and vendors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when supply chains were severely disrupted, clients could rely on Turner Industries’ staff to listen and respond to their challenges.
“We listened to the clients and collaborated closely with our vendors,” Toups recalls.
He says this approach reflects his southern Louisiana upbringing, where problems are often solved over a shared meal.
“I believe any conflict can be resolved when you can sit down across from somebody, break bread, and talk through the problem,” he adds.
