David Kapla – Greer Tank LLC

When David Kapla walked through the doors of Greer Tank nearly three decades ago, he wasn’t armed with an engineering degree or executive ambitions. He was just looking for a job. Having just completed four years in the U.S. Army, where he served as a communications specialist, Kapla was looking for a way to build a future for himself and his young family in Fairbanks, Alaska. He found that opportunity at a small but resilient company whose culture matched his own determination.

Today, as president of Greer Tank, LLC, Kapla leads a company that has become synonymous with craftsmanship and reliability in some of the harshest environments on earth. Founded in 1952, Greer Tank began in the unforgiving Alaskan climate, where its early survival depended on quality, toughness, and adaptability. Over 70 years later, the company has evolved into a global leader in engineered fuel and water storage solutions, serving clients across Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, and international markets. Its portfolio includes everything from 30-gallon residential tanks to complex systems supporting the Department of Defense, Department of Transportation, and major oil and gas operations on the North Slope.

For Kapla, Greer Tank’s success is inseparable from the people behind it.

“I started in the shop and rose through the ranks,” he says. “That hard work, keeping your eyes and ears open, mouth closed, and learning as much as you can—that’s what gets you there.”

His story reflects the company’s defining value: growth through grit and integrity. From yard hand to serving as general manager for Greer Steel and later leading the entire Greer family of companies, Kapla has lived every part of the business, shoulder to shoulder with the people who make it run.

The culture of craftsmanship

What sets Greer Tank apart is not only what it builds but how it builds it. The company’s culture has long been rooted in resilience, ingenuity, and accountability. That philosophy is embodied in its unofficial motto: “If we can’t help you, we’ll find someone who can.” It’s a promise that resonates deeply across Greer’s customer base, which ranges from homeowners to federal contractors.

“Our customers come to us for a specific reason,” Kapla explains. “Whatever they’re looking for, we make sure they don’t leave without an answer. Even if we’re not the right solution, we’ll help them find it. That goes a long way, and those customers always come back.”

Under Kapla’s leadership, that mindset has evolved into a service-driven culture focused on relationships rather than transactions. He often tells his team that Greer Tank’s purpose isn’t just to make money, but to make a difference in the communities it serves.

“We’re not here to make a buck and leave,” he says. “We’re here to help.”

That focus on service also shapes how Kapla develops his team. With an aging workforce and increasing demand for technical skills, he recognizes the challenge of attracting and training younger workers in a trade that requires patience and precision. Many new employees gravitate toward sales or office roles, while fewer are willing to spend years mastering the hands-on fabrication and welding work that defines Greer’s products. To address this, Kapla is leading investments in automation and robotics—an expensive but essential step to keep the company competitive and sustainable.

“A lot of what we do is old-school craftsmanship,” he says. “It takes years to learn, and younger generations aren’t always interested in that process. Upgrading our equipment helps bridge that gap while preserving the quality we’re known for.”

This balance between innovation and tradition is central to Greer’s success. While automation improves efficiency, every tank still reflects the company’s commitment to safety and precision. Greer’s fabrication process includes detailed inspection records down to the last bolt, and its welders take personal ownership of their work, able to identify each weld they’ve completed. That dedication has earned the company the STI Board of Directors’ “Platinum Award” for excellence in safety for 10 consecutive years.

Leading by example

Kapla’s leadership philosophy was shaped by both his military service and his own climb through the company’s ranks. He values chain of command, clear communication, and the empowerment of his managers.

“Having an open door is important,” he says, “but when there’s a problem to be solved, I expect it to run through the proper channels. A lot can be handled before it reaches my desk, and that helps develop confidence and accountability among the team.”

Early in his management career, Kapla admits he struggled with communication.

“It wasn’t how I came up through the ranks,” he recalls. “My superiors didn’t really go out and tell people they were doing a good job.”

Over time, he learned that acknowledging hard work and offering encouragement could strengthen morale and trust. Now, he makes it a point to connect with employees on the floor, listen to their concerns, and celebrate their wins.

He also emphasizes promoting from within. Many of Greer’s employees have been with the company for more than 20 years, a testament to both loyalty and opportunity.

“We stress to people that my first goal is to promote from within,” Kapla says. “If I could do it, someone else can too.” That message resonates deeply within a team that has seen him rise from the bottom.

Kapla’s approach to leadership is pragmatic and people-first. He believes that experience is the best teacher, and that every manager—good or bad—offers lessons.

“You can learn something from every single manager you’ve worked for,” he says. “If they’re great, you learn what works. If they’re terrible, you learn what doesn’t.”

This philosophy, coupled with a soldier’s discipline and a craftsman’s patience, has guided him through decades of change at Greer. From small family operations to multi-state expansion, Kapla’s steady leadership has kept the company grounded in its values even as it embraces modern tools and new markets.

Expanding beyond Alaska

Greer Tank’s roots are in Alaska, but under Kapla’s guidance, its reach now extends far beyond. The company operates facilities in Anchorage, Fairbanks, and Lakewood, Washington, and recently opened a new location in Pasco, Washington. The expansion marks a significant milestone in Greer’s growth, opening new opportunities in the Pacific Northwest while introducing its trusted brand to a broader audience.

For Kapla, the Tri-Cities community in Washington represents more than a new business venture. It’s an opportunity to build relationships and bring Greer’s community-driven culture to a new region.

“It was great to see the community come together and welcome a new neighbor,” he says of the grand opening in Pasco. “We’re not trying to make a quick profit. We’re here to be part of the community.”

The move into Eastern Washington also reflects a strategic commitment to modernization. The new facility is equipped with upgraded technology and production systems that support Greer’s goal of increased automation and efficiency. It allows the company to serve a wider range of clients across the western United States, while still maintaining the rigorous standards that define its Alaskan operations. Right now, the Pasco location isn’t a production facility, but if things progress as expected, Kapla says production will be added to that space soon.

As the company continues to grow, Kapla remains focused on the core values that have sustained it for more than seven decades. Whether the customer is a homeowner looking for a small water tank or a defense contractor managing a multimillion-dollar project, Greer Tank’s promise remains the same: reliability, honesty, and quality in every interaction.

Greer’s message to the market is simple but powerful: if a tank can survive Alaska, it can thrive anywhere. That idea captures both the company’s technical excellence and its resilient spirit. It also serves as a metaphor for the leadership style that has guided Kapla’s career.

A legacy of resilience

Looking back, Kapla never expected to lead one of Alaska’s most respected fabrication companies. Growing up in Detroit, he watched the automotive industry decline and saw few stable career paths. While serving in the Army, he arrived in Fairbanks by circumstance, not design. A chance job at Greer Tank became a lifelong calling.

“I had no ambition to rise through the ranks,” he says. “I just tried to do the best I could for whatever position I was in. Sometimes I still can’t believe I’ve gotten to where I am.”

That humility and perseverance have earned him deep respect across the company. Employees who have worked alongside him for decades trust his leadership because they know he understands their work firsthand. He still approaches every project and every problem with the same discipline he learned in uniform: take responsibility, do the job right, and take care of your people.

Under his direction, Greer Tank is positioned for continued growth and innovation. Yet for all its expansion, the company remains grounded in the same principles that built it: quality, service, and community. Kapla’s leadership ensures that those values endure, even as new technologies and new generations shape its future.

“Greer took me in when I knocked on the door,” he reflects. “I’ve tried to do right by them ever since.”

That sense of gratitude, paired with a relentless drive to serve customers and employees alike, defines both Kapla and the company he leads. From sweeping floors in Fairbanks to steering a multi-state enterprise, his journey embodies what Greer Tank has always stood for: strength, service, and the promise that hard work can take you anywhere.