Building from the inside out: the core values of Kiefer Sage

From the world’s first Martcart™ to pressure-washing systems trusted by NASA, our story has been one of empathy-driven innovation – of solving problems others overlook.

Now, we’re turning that same spirit inward.

We are rolling out a new set of core values: a framework for who we are, how we work, and the kind of team we want to become.

These values aren’t slogans or posters on the wall. They’re habits in the making – shaping how we show up, lead, and grow together.

Definitions matter

When we define our values, we define the standard for our culture. They remind us what to do when no one’s watching – and how to move forward when things get hard.

These values will guide decisions, not decorate them. To help every team member – on the floor, in engineering, or in the office – know what great looks like at Kiefer Sage. They fall into two categories: who we are and what we do.

Who We Are

These values describe the kind of people we’re becoming and the character we look for in one another.

Loving.

Love means acting in the best interest of others – even when it’s hard. It looks like setting aside ego, listening deeply, telling the truth with respect, and choosing patience over frustration. Love takes courage and consistency. It pushes us to see potential in one another and to encourage.

Gritty.

Grit means finishing what we start and staying the course through obstacles. It’s sustained passion for the right things – not blind stubbornness. We tackle challenges others overlook and serve people who are often undervalued. That’s hard work, but it’s worthy work.

Humble.

Humility means helping one another, taking the tough jobs, and making it safe to learn, fail, and win together. It’s not downplaying your strengths – it’s having the right perspective on yourself and others. Sometimes it means stepping back so someone else can step forward.

What We Do

These values describe how we show up every day – the actions and attitudes that make us great.

Own It.

When something is ours, we take it all the way. We own the job, the problem, the mistake, and the win. Ownership means taking responsibility and doing work we’re proud to share with the world.

Make It Better.

We don’t settle for “good enough.” If something can be improved, we improve it – ourselves, our work, our company. Growth compounds: if each of us gets one percent better every day, the impact over time is unstoppable. Progress, not perfection, is the goal.

From Words to Habits

Naming what we aspire to live out more fully is just the beginning. These values capture what’s already strong within our people: compassion, perseverance, humility, accountability, and drive.

But putting them into practice takes intention. No one ever fully “arrives” at a core value. Our values aren’t destinations – they’re directions. We don’t check them off a list; we live them, one decision at a time. Some days that looks like patience in the face of pressure. Other days it looks like courage in the face of change. Our goal is progress, not perfection.

Over time, those small choices add up – shaping not only who we are, but who we’re becoming together.

At Kiefer Sage, we’re building from the inside out. When we grow our values, our values grow us – and everything we build becomes stronger.