Tom Ehlers on Leaving It Better Than You Found It

Human resources was never part of Tom Ehlers' career plan. Neither, for that matter, was much of the career he has built.

Tom grew up ranching in Western Colorado, went to college on a music scholarship, served in the military, worked in law enforcement and moved into retail leadership before an unexpected opportunity led him into HR.

The roles may look very different on paper, but each taught him something about people, and those lessons shape the way he approaches his role at Integrity USA today.

People, Not Numbers

Walk through our Tennessee operation with Tom and you'll quickly see his approach in action.

He knows people's names and asks about their interests and families, remembering the things they share with him. They're small gestures, but Tom believes they matter. “ “It doesn't cost anything,” he says, “and it doesn't hit the budget. It does show people that they matter.”

That's especially important in HR. Tom doesn't want employees to see him walking toward them and immediately assume something is wrong. He wants them to know they can talk to him and ask a question, trusting that they'll be heard.

When Tom first joined our company, he started by simply showing up. He walked the floor, introduced himself and talked with people.

Today, employees often greet him first. For Tom, that's meaningful. It's a sign that relationships are being built beyond roles and job titles. As he puts it, “We're human, not a number.”

A Career He Never Planned

Tom's path into HR began almost by accident. His background wasn't traditional, but years in the military, law enforcement and operations had taught him how to listen and communicate clearly, navigating difficult situations without losing sight of the person involved.

Those skills translated. Tom spent eight years in HR and eventually helped train other HR professionals. Then another unexpected opportunity came along when he was contacted by our company.

He wasn't looking for a new job, but he took a chance on joining Team Integrity. What he found was an organization with a mindset that resonated with him.“They care,” Tom says. “They want to make things better and leave things better than they found them.”

What Integrity Means to Tom

Ask Tom what integrity means to him, and his answer is straightforward: Say what you mean, mean what you say, follow through on what you commit to doing, give your best, and leave things better than you found them.

For Tom, that applies to people, too. He hopes the people he works alongside know they can come to him to talk, to be heard and to find support when they need it.

His career may not have followed a straight line, but the experiences along the way have given Tom a philosophy that fits the work he's doing today.

“Every day cannot be a celebration,” he says, “and every day you can find something to celebrate.”

For Tom, sometimes that starts with something as simple as knowing someone's name.