Project management
Pictured from left to right at Westonia Park are Aaron Johnson (Louisville Paving), Thomas Wimsatt (Rogers Group), Shawn Arvin (Love City), Grace Villier (Rogers Group), Scott Harrison (Rogers Group) and Nick Scott (Rogers Group).
Build Strong Community Ties Asphalt and aggregate pros know they need to maintain social license to operate within their communities, but a less well-known benefit is that employer-based volunteerism not only builds goodwill within the community itself but also may boost morale, improve employee retention, reduce worker stress and develop leadership skills among workers. According to Deloitte’s “2017 Volunteerism Survey,” nearly nine out of 10 working Americans believe companies that sponsor volunteer activities offer a better work environment than companies that do not. “As the battle for talent continues, volunteering can be a strong leg-up on the competition for both prospective employees and employers,” said Mike Preston, chief talent officer for Deloitte LLP, in the survey’s executive summary. “Companies that create a culture committed to making an impact and to tapping into their employees’ sense of purpose have the ability to attract and retain the top talent.” Simply put, employees want to work for companies that care.
The community center, known locally as Love City, is a passion project for owners Shawn and Inga Arvin. The duo earned master’s degrees from a private college in Louisville and were on the hunt for a fixer upper when they came across the community of Portland, part of the greater downtown Louisville area. They found a home they wanted to buy, but the seller had an interesting prerequisite. He would sell them the house, but they had to take the adjacent community center as well. After a little thought, they were all in. The Arvins developed a mission for the community center: to love its neighbors and community and create a culture that empowers a movement of loving people as they are. After reopening the center with a fish fry that was attended by approximately 800 residents, the community center quickly became known as Love City. Its mission resonates within the community where nearly 40 percent of residents earn less than $15,000 per year and almost half don’t have a high school education. Following their success with the community center, the Arvins adopted Westonia Park from the city and began rehabbing it, including updates of a soccer field and dilapidated basketball court. Aaron Johnson, P.E., a project manager for Louisville Paving, learned about the project through a ministry group at his local church. “They knew I had some construction experience and resources so they asked me if I could help,” he said.
PUTTING VOLUNTEERISM INTO PRACTICE
ADDING AGGREGATE AND ASPHALT
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In the Louisville area, Louisville Paving and Rogers Group Inc.—which are both well versed in volunteer programs—teamed up for a project that captured their hearts: working with a local community center to help rebuild Westonia Park in Portland, Kentucky.
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Louisville Paving jumped in and donated equipment for the grading work and provided labor and materials at cost. “We are heavily involved with a lot of different organizations,” Johnson said, noting that it is important to vet the entities requesting donations. “I always try to
