Today we’d like to introduce you to John Cavitt.
John, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Ever since I can remember I wanted to build a company like Covenant. I was a sophomore in college and began to think through how I could establish a company that would really empower people to use their gifts and talents. My dream was to be part of something on a large scale that would help people to reach their full potential.
I’ve always had an entrepreneurial drive. In my younger years, I owned and managed several businesses, ranging from hair salons to fast food. I was always curious to find out for myself how things worked and how to create systems that would improve revenue and build a business. I eventually ended up in the oil and gas industry when my family moved from Midland to Houston.
After years in the industry, I saw the potential to put my dream into action — an oil services company that was truly employee focused, something set apart from the rest. Together, with a handful of people who shared this vision, we established Covenant Testing Technologies in 2013. And today, we are the largest privately held well flow management company in the nation.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Houstonians are well aware that 2015-16 was rough in oil and gas, but, it actually turned out to be a huge explosion of growth for our company. While most energy companies were laying off personnel, they still needed to service their operations in the field. We entered the market at the perfect time, really, and were able to provide much-needed oilfield services at a lower cost.
We grew from 200 employees to over 1,000 in just a few years’ time. That type of growth is unprecedented and we have had to be very intentional to maintain the people-focused culture we originally started with. That can be a challenge and takes time, intentionality, and the right people must be in place to implement the culture we want.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Covenant Testing Technologies – what should we know?
We are an oilfield services company, providing highly trained personnel to oversee the extraction of oil and gas from the ground. Our hard-working team oversees flowback, drill outs, and equipment rental. Covenant Testing ensures quality and reliability for its clients.
In an industry that is typically known for high-turnover, we are very proud of the people-focused culture established here. As a result, our retention rate is very high, which means we can reliably supply energy companies with skilled workers in the oil field who do their job well, safely, and with outstanding results.
That sets us apart from the rest. It all stems from an effort of pouring into our greatest asset, our people. Essentially, we work our way backwards. We first focus on our employee, and because they feel valued, their output is superior. (Which then keeps our clients happy and coming back for more).
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
I feel like anyone can establish a company, but to have a company with a firm foundation, a leader must have integrity and be passionate about empowering others. If a leader doesn’t have those qualities, people fade away and won’t have buy-in. We’re trying to create a culture here at Covenant that involves more than the employee. It reaches and acknowledges that their family plays a role in their job satisfaction and production.
That’s why we promote opportunities for bonding outside work. We do things like encourage community involvement and outreach, we have two chaplains on staff to offer to counsel in all areas, and we have things like crawfish boils and food trucks to gather people over food. We don’t just talk about these things, we must get out there and empower others by jumping in alongside them!
Contact Info:
- Address: 1600 Highway 6, Suite 360, Sugar Land, Texas 77478
- Website: www.ctest.com
- Phone: (832) 500-3107
- Instagram: instagram.com/covenanttesting/
- Facebook: facebook.com/covenanttesting/
- Other: linkedin.com/company/covenanttesting/
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