Diggin' It | Spring 2020

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IT’S A DIRTTy JOB Getting messy and raising money

ALL SYSTEMS GO!

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SAFETY FIRST

Celebrating an operations milestone

Spring 2020

FROM KEVIN

MESSAGE

DIRTT’s DNA is about people At DIRTT, we do a lot of things. We innovate, we create, we

build, and we deliver. But what we do doesn’t define who we are. It’s important, there’s no question. Especially now. But

who we are is the energy that makes it possible to do what

we do. And, it’s that energy, that comradery and that genuine caring for each other that makes DIRTT, DIRTT.

Enriching and improving the lives of our people and others is part of our DNA. That’s who we are.

Over the past month, instead of isolated, me-first thinking,

I’ve seen this team behave with compassion and kindness.

I’ve also seen renewed commitment to doing what we can to

deliver healthy spaces and life-saving solutions to the people and places that need it most right now.

Thank you for putting together and hands up

ENRICHING AND

movement bringing

OF OUR PEOPLE AND OTHERS

your hearts in, heads

to be part of the global critical infrastructure and protection to healthcare providers and patients.

IMPROVING THE LIVES

IS PART OF OUR DNA. THAT’S WHO WE ARE.

Thank you for finding the courage and the energy to continue to perform your duties with professionalism and dedication.

Thank you for taking time to check in on each other and caring about the well-being of your colleagues.

Yours in solidarity and safety,

Kevin

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BUILDING HEALTHY

SPACES

DIRTT partners with ATCO to bring healthcare solutions where ever they’re needed

As part of COVID-19 rapid response, DIRTT is partnering

ATCO and DIRTT team up

with ATCO to create mobile care units. ATCO is a

structures and logistics company known for the trailers that are used as support buildings on construction sites. DIRTT is known for modular off-site

construction. Together, DIRTT and ACTO are turning trailers turn into patient-care facilities that can be

deployed almost anywhere in Canada. Here’s how.

On April 3, ATCO’s first, 40-foot trailer rolled into the Primer Plant in Calgary. Frames were tipped

up. Power was connected and panels installed. In about eight hours, DIRTT turned an empty trailer into a four-room patient-treatment space. And it had healthcare grade power and hospital grade

The ATCO 40-foot trailer before being outfitted with DIRTT solutions

finishes for infection prevention and control.

Days later, ATCO’s second 60-foot trailer

arrived to receive the same treatment. With the extra length, we added a fifth patient room and millwork for storage.

Seeing these trailers come together in such a short time is a reminder of all the things DIRTT does so well. We create solutions that work anywhere. We use off-site

construction to build spaces to heal. We do it quickly and we make a difference.

The same trailer with healthcare-grade finishes and power 3

KICKING OFF A SAFE 2020 The first three months of the year have been milestones for DIRTT

facilities are in the process of obtaining Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) certification. This is

Everyone at DIRTT knows how important safety is.

a national program in the US that recognizes

core values. But it’s one thing to talk about it and

and safety management systems and maintain injury

have the statistics to prove it.

with COR in Canada, the major benefit of VPP is the

January 2020 was the first time since November

management program and continuous improvement.

free month. And then we did it again in March.

That’s a lot on the go. But our team is up for the

total recordable injury frequency (TRIF) is 0.76.

safety team that supports all our facilities. They are

That’s something we can all be proud of. We set

of being safe at DIRTT and at home. As a company

performance in 2020 and with our first quarter

standards policies and safe work practice (SWP)

surpassing them.

we are tracking and addressing near misses that

Looking forward, our Calgary plants are working

aggressively taking corrective actions to prevent

It’s one of our core values. Actually, it’s two of our

workplaces that have implemented effective health

another thing to live it. At DIRTT we live it. And we

and illness rates below the national averages. As

2014 where DIRTT achieved a recordable injury-

reduction of workplace injuries through an effective

That is an amazing milestone. Our year-to-date

challenge. We have a fully staffed health and

It’s a 93% reduction from our 2018 level of 10.5.

working across the company to spread the value

very aggressive goals for improving our safety

we are actively implementing new health and safety

results we’re well on the way to achieving or

training for all the employees in our factories. And could have resulted in safety incidents. We’re

to earn a Certificate of Recognition (COR) from

incidents in the future.

Partnerships in Injury Reduction program. This

What does that future look like? Safe. In fact, our

efficient health and safety program that meets

program that will be rolled out to the whole

the Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board

is awarded to employers that have developed an

health and safety team is working on a training

provincial standards. That COR certification will

organization via DIRTTu during the next few months.

reducing workplace injuries.

If you have any safety news or questions, please

show that we have the tools in place to continue

4

South of the border, our Phoenix and Savannah

contact safety@dirtt.com

WHO’S WHO

IN H&S Need to know who to talk to when it comes to safety? Here’s the updated lineup for 2020.

The DIRTT Health & Safety Team Davide Careddu (Safety Advisor - 7504)

Jacqui Fisher

Why is this safety advisor smiling? Ask him about our TRIF!

(Disability Coordinator - Corporate)

Adrian King (Safety Advisor - Savannah)

Jessica Koberna (Safety Advisor - Phoenix)

Ian Opelik (Director HSE - Corporate)

Emily Tran (Safety Analyst - Corporate) Dale Warkentin

(Safety Advisor - 6335/5620) Trent Whalen (Safety Advisor - 7303)

5

PROJECT

ROCKET

THE BACKGROUND DIRTT has seen extraordinary growth over

its 17+ year history. This includes expansion

25

Individual Projects

12

Project Owners

20+

Subject Matter Experts

ONE GOAL Transform DIRTT’s commercial team to support sales and growth targets for 2020 and beyond

into new markets, new product lines, an IPO

and listing on Nasdaq. This means that it’s

no longer just business as usual.

• Stakeholders have increased along with requirements and governance

• Clients have grown more sustainability focused and tech conscious

• The ever-evolving competitor landscape

needs to be addressed in order to stay

ahead of the pack

• Our Commercial team needs to evolve to

MILESTONES

keep up with this rapid change

THE SOLUTION

Project Rocket! The commercial transformation

2018

2019

2020

2021

Engaged Boston Consulting Group to help run strategic commercial survey

Official Project Rocket launches with new team

Major commercial initiatives in progress

Ongoing strategic plan changes and updates to ensure continuous improvement

plan. Rocket creates a strategic and cohesive

program that addresses the commercial needs of

the organization. The Project Rocket goals are to: • Increase revenue generating opportunities.

• Develop and launch inspiring marketing programs.

• Engage global partners and clients.

• Invigorate market interest and demand.

• Affirm DIRTT as the go-to solution for interiors.

• All while help DIRTT meet and exceed market and sale expectations for 2020 and beyond.

6

WHAT IS CHANGING To help DIRTT’s commercial team build on its

previous success and evolve for the future, there

are new initiatives and solutions being implemented in each of these groups: • Sales.

• Marketing.

• Sales specialists.

• Channel operations and management.

• Tools and technology.

With 25 unique projects to help DIRTT’s commercial transformation efforts, there’s a lot of work and

activity going on. Here’s a little window into each.

SALES TEAMS

This effort helps build our go-to-market sales

strategy. It ensures our segments, territories and

sales roles are strategically aligned for growth. This includes hiring or reassigning existing staff. It also

ensures personnel are properly onboarded to their new roles and that their training is ongoing.

MARKETING

This ensures we have dedicated resources

where we need them. This includes a partner

marketing and marketing analytics team. We have segment leads that ensure coverage and growth in healthcare, education, government, millwork,

timber and commercial. This also includes a lead generation, qualification and allocation engine.

SALES SPECIALISTS

• The development of a dedicated team

to identify, recruit and support strategic accounts for DIRTT.

CHANNEL OPERATIONS + MANAGEMENT We’re focused on ensuring we attract, recruit

and onboard the right partners. It’s an essential part of DIRTT’s ongoing growth plans. Partners who champion us in a variety of regions and

sectors are essential to our overall success. This effort includes establishing an expanded partner

development team. We’ll develop comprehensive

training and onboarding programs for existing and new partners. We’ll also be implementing a new partner portal.

TOOLS + TECHNOLOGY

Providing our sales and analytics teams with

customer relationship management (CRM) is an important part in our development as a highperformance organization. CRM tools offer

enhanced ability to better track and manage

opportunities, manage the allocation of sales, as well as providing greater accuracy in our data gathering and forecasting.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Our 25 Project Rocket initiatives have launched and we’re tracking their progress closely. We’re

dedicated to supporting the owners and subject matter experts. We’re helping them manage

project goals and delivery dates to success. We’ll showcase select projects and deliverables over the coming quarters to keep you up to date on the Project Rocket journey.

This project establishes specialized sales teams

to support DIRTT’s growth in specific categories including:

Strategic project group.

• Strategic account management group.

• Segment specific reps for government, education and healthcare.

GOT QUESTIONS?

GOT FEEDBACK?

Reach out to either Brandon Jones bjones@dirtt.com or Luisa Saavedra lsaavedra@dirtt.com for support 7

IN-YOUR-FACE

FUNDRAISER Calgary office gets DIRTTy for a good cause February 20 is national cherry pie day. It comes a

it in my face and drag it in a upwards motion so that

national Pi day. There really is a day for everything.

boss would affect my shower schedule as bad as he

DIRTT HQ celebrated with a pie day of our own.

snot out of my nostrils trying to get all the chocolate

month after national pie day and three weeks before

it went straight up my nose. I never thought that my

Never ones to let a party (or a pie) pass them by,

did. It took literally 10 minutes of just blowing brown

The premise was simple. In order to raise money

syrup out.

for the Calgary Food Bank, a few brave DIRTT

Kaitlan Bohan: : I may never be able to eat

price to lob a pie was a donation to the Food Bank.

up from the event (which required a fair amount

Kaitlan Bohan, team lead of finishes and freight

helmet. It was all worth it to be able to support

employees put themselves in the line of fire. The

pricing: My boss Brian Cassie donated $100 to the food bank to pie myself and Kassandra Ward with

a plate full of chocolate syrup. I’m sure it was very therapeutic for him.

Brian Cassie, VP operation and execution: It felt

great. It was a fun way of getting back at Kassandra for all the old-guy jokes!

Justin Panman (left) and Luan Khuu (right) carpooling into work on Earth Day

8

Kassandra Ward, PM team: He proceeded to slam

chocolate syrup again. After we had cleaned

of work), the syrup had hardened almost into a

such an amazing organization like the food bank.

I’d do it again, only this time maybe I’d ask for the caramel syrup.

Rodas Asres, finishes and freight pricing, and

event facilitator: It was felt so good that a fun event also had a positive, tangible impact.

Morissa Villeneuve, resource development

coordinator at Calgary Food Bank: It was honestly awesome. And it was wonderful to be able to come

Kassandra Ward needed a shower after this

and the see staff engagement and to see everyone come together. It was such a creative way to raise money, support local and get everyone involved.

After all the pies were thrown, DIRTT raised $1322 and 32 pounds of food for the Calgary Food Bank.

Morissa Villeneuve: For every dollar we receive we’re able to distribute five dollars of food. So, a 13-hundred-dollar donation really does go a

long way in helping support the community and helping people who are experiencing food insecurity.

Rodas Asres is happy to help

Total number of pies thrown:

116

116 Total number of Total food items Bohan may never eat chocolate syrup again piesKaitlan thrown: collected: 52

Total number of pies thrown:

116Total food items collected:

Total money raised:

52

Total number of Total food items Total money pies thrown collected Total food items $1,322 raised: collected:

52

$1,322 Total money raised 9

DIRTT MAKES A DIFFERENCE AT ECO CITY Earth Day is April 22. This is a great time to

reflect about DIRTT’s sustainability platform.

THE ON

EXISTING BUILDINGS KEEP IT REA Thousands of tons of debris go into the Approximately 40% o

(OK, every day is a good day to think about

sustainability, but you know what we mean).

In late 2019, DIRTT was a sponsor the Ecocity

World Summit in Vancouver. As a long-running

gathering that looks to address building cities in

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo courtesy BCIT

balance with nature, Ecocity was a perfect partner for

The DIRTT Process

DIRTT. The theme for the summit was understanding and developing socially just and ecologically

sustainable cities. Right in DIRTT’s wheelhouse.

VIRTUAL REALITY

As an conference presenter, DIRTT created aAt largeDIRTT, sustainability starts during design. Virtual lets people create, explore and change their format poster as part of our presentation. It reality highlighted space digitally. It eliminates the need for wasteful

the potential existing buildings have and how it can be large-scale mock-ups. The VR file feeds information to the factory, creating a space that fits the base unlocked with what we do. Using DIRTT to retrofit a space building perfectly.

that already exists, means you don’t have to build a new

CLEAN CONSTRUCTION building. As a result, the energy and materials savings have

BREAK IT DOWN

DIRTT solutions are designed for disassem Break it back down to its components. Rec the insulation and aluminum extrusions. Or yet, upcycle. Since DIRTT is non-generation reconfigure it. Like a LEGO® experience. C space that responds to your needs.

FUTUREPROOF YOUR SPACE

DIRTT solutions are manufactured off-site and install What if your space could evolve with techn huge impact on the environment. This generated a ton of Lisa MacIntosh repping for DIRTT and the easily. Preassembled components connect simply.

DIRTT it can. Add outlets. Reconfigure entir planet at the Ecocity World Summit materials Innovior. to create. Fewer people to install.

DIRTT will never become obsolete, so you positive brand recognition for DIRTT and ourLess partner Virtually no on-site waste. It’s one-third faster than to throw it away. Make fast changes with m conventional construction. And it allows everyone environmental impact. Keep the neighbourh to meet their sustainability goals.

Fewer construction waste bins. Less noise.

“DIRTT’s name was everywhere,” said DIRTT’s sustainability

expert Jessie Stenftenagel. “Our name was mentioned in other

attendees’ presentations. ‘Go see the sustainable construction people-they are doing important, necessary work.’ Many

people came up to us and said they had read about DIRTT or

You’re not just building an office space,

heard about us during the conference. This was very cool.”

YOU’RE BUILDING A COMMUNITY

This is just one of many things our sustainability team did this year to show the world what we do.

Looking for ideas about what to do for Earth Day 2020? Click here to change a behavior and be part of the global sustainability movement.

10

PHOTO CREDIT: Photo courtesy BCIT

“The greenest building is

THAT IS“The ALREADY BUILT.” greenest building is

- Carl Elefante

“The greenest building is THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.” NE THAT IS ALREADY BUILT.”

g a high-efficiency office sounds great. Until you tear down an old building to do it.

- Carl Elefante mbodied energy used in construction is lost. Conventional construction is wasteful.

- Carl Elefante rials landfi ll come from conventional andtodemolition. ildingina the high-effi ciency office sounds great. Untilconstruction, you tear downrenovation an old building do it.

AL Building aenergy high-effi ciency office soundsisgreat. you tear down an old building to do it. . Embodied used in construction lost. Until Conventional construction is wasteful. landfill. Embodied energy used construction construction, is lost. Conventional construction is wasteful. materials in the landfi ll come frominconventional renovation and demolition. of all materials in the landfill come from conventional construction, renovation and demolition.

One existing building,

THREE POSSIBLE TENANTS One existing building, One existing building,

THREE POSSIBLE TENANTS THREE POSSIBLE TENANTS

mbly (DFD). cycle better nal, just Create a

nology? WithCORPORATE re rooms.

CORPORATE never have minimal hood intact. .

01 CORPORATE

01

NON-PROFIT

01

NON-PROFIT NON-PROFIT

02

02 02

EDUCATION

03 0

EDUCATION EDUCATION

DIRTT makes it possible to update building interiors and minimize the environmental DIRTT DIRTT makesmakes it possible to update building interiors and minimize the environmental it possible to update building interiors and minimize the environmental impact.

Our solutions are an investment that will adapt over time.

They usenew less new impact.impact.

Our solutions are anare investment that will over over time.time.

TheyThey use less Our solutions an investment thatadapt will adapt use less new material and they reduce manufacturing.

All this means less ends up in the landfi materialmaterial and they manufacturing.

All thisAllmeans less ends up inup thein landfi ll. ll. ll. andreduce they reduce manufacturing. this means less ends the landfi

Y. 100+ 2,100+ 2,12,00+

Pounds of prevented drywall waste prevented Pounds of drywall waste from entering the landfill entering the landfi ll Pounds of from drywall waste prevented

from entering the landfill

recycled content recycled content recycled content

62% in wall solution 62% in wall solution 85% in millwork solution 85% in millwork solution 62% in wall solution bio-based content in wall solution 1.5% bio-based content insolution wall solution 85%1.5% in millwork

1.5% bio-based content in wall solution

11 1111

Pounds of paint-based, drywall mud Pounds of paint-based, drywall mud and VOCs prevented of tape-based paint-based, drywall mud andPounds tape-based VOCs prevented from VOCs off gassing from off gassing and tape-based prevented

from off gassing

Allcorporate stats based on corporate space.isDrywall is based on Cornell University study (Managing waste at the residential construction site) of of drywall 1 pound of drywall All stats based on space.

Drywall waste basedwaste on Cornell University study (Managing waste at the residential construction site) of 1 pound square foot. VOCsassuming are calculated assuming requiring coats with 0.83 pounds perversus gallon VOC versus DIRTT’s no-VOC chromacoat waste per squarewaste foot. per VOCs are calculated standard paint,standard requiringpaint, two coats withtwo 0.83 pounds per gallon VOC DIRTT’s no-VOC chromacoat All stats based on corporate space. Drywall is based on Cornell University study waste the residential construction site) of 1 pound of drywall formula requiring one coat.waste Assumes 0.053 pounds of mud per square foot (Managing of wall with 2% VOCsatby weight. formula requiring one coat. Assumes 0.053 pounds of mud per square foot of wall with 2% VOCs by weight.

waste per square foot. VOCs are calculated assuming standard paint, requiring two coats with 0.83 pounds per gallon VOC versus DIRTT’s no-VOC chromacoat

249 249 249

denim Recycled Recycled denim jeans in jeans in wall insulation Recycled denim jeans in wall insulation

wall insulation

11

THE SECRET OF

OUR 6S DIRTT goes Lean in the quest for operational excellence At DIRTT, we’re all about finding better ways to

do things. That’s part of what prompted us to get Lean. What is Lean? It’s a manufacturing method

that increases productivity and quality by training people to work with awareness and flexibility.

What started as a tool for the auto industry has

spread throughout all departments of successful businesses across the globe.

And DIRTT is no exception.

During late 2019 and early 2020, DIRTT

employees across the company took part in Lean 101 workshops. These workshops are designed to introduce our teams to the basics of Lean, in order to get everyone through their day in the

safest and most efficient way possible. The goal

was to change the way we look at the work we do.

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This means, in every scenario, employees ask

themselves if the way they are completing a task meets Lean’s 6S criteria. As TIM WOODS says, make efficiency a behavior.

The Steps of 6S • Sort – Remove what doesn’t belong.

• Set – A place for everything and everything in its place.

• Shine – We all love shiny clean DIRTT. • Safety – If you see a safety hazard, take a minute to eliminate it.

• Standardize – Can you make this the standard for all people who use this work area?

• Sustain – How can we make this effort stick and stand the test of time.

TIM WOODS’ lean behaviour • Transportation – Unnecessary transport of parts and materials.

• Inventory – Making more than needed, just in case.

• Motion – Unnecessary movement, walking back and forth, receptive motion in one spot.

• Waiting – Time spent waiting is a waste.

Freddie Robinson is an innovation superhero in Savannah

• Over processing – Duplicate or redundant operations.

Before

• Over production – Making products ahead of time.

• Defects – Unable to produce quality parts the first time.

• Skills – Not providing opportunity for people to share their knowledge or skills.

Check out the cool innovations DIRTT employees created after Lean training.

If you have more Lean initiatives you want to share, drop a

line to cyost@dirtt.com

Safety is one of our core values

6s in action After

The right tool for the job

13

STAYING CONNECTED WITH OUR COMMUNITIES

EVEN WHEN WE’RE PHYSICALLY APART DIRTT Savannah raises money for a local Down syndrome organization March 21 was World Down Syndrome Day. To celebrate, members of the DIRTT team in Savannah, Georgia decided to raise money for the Lowcountry Down

Syndrome Society (LDSS). They’re an organization

based out of Savannah that offers support for anyone touched with Down syndrome.

DIRTT employees held raffles, contests and events

throughout the year and in six months raised $4,666.

The plan was to host team members from LDSS for a luncheon at the DIRTT café. Unfortunately, COVID-19 prevented that from happening. But

Jon Bogardus founder of LCSS

people at DIRTT are good at adapting and using technology. The Savannah team wasn’t going to let the pandemic stop them.

On March 20, Laura Lee Bocade presented

president and founder of LCSS Jon Bogardus with a check via video chat. “Honestly,

(the video presentation) felt strange but wonderful,” says Laura Lee. “It was

humbling, happy, heartfelt and hopeful.”

Laura Lee Bocade shows her DIRTT giving spirit and presents a check to LDSS 14

DIRTT HELPS MAKE-A-WISH

COME TRUE

DIRTT HQ hosts Hawaiian luau for an amazing 14-year-old who battled leukemia For the past few months, DIRTT Gives and Make-a-Wish® have been working together to create something special.

Jasmine is an amazing 14-year-old who battled leukemia

in 2019. Now that she’s recovered, we got to surprise our wish child. Her dream was to go Hawaii with her family.

Thanks to Make-A-Wish that dream is coming true.

And what better way to celebrate than with a

Hawaiian-themed party. With hula dancer on hand and tiki bar full of refreshments, Jasmine’s close

friends and family joined us at DIRTT headquarters to toast her health.

Seeing Jasmine happy and healthy was a special moment for all of us at DIRTT. And we couldn’t

be prouder to support this incredible foundation.

Our friends at the Make-A-Wish foundation have a unique ability. They can transform the lives of a child and their family life during some of the

most difficult moments. To learn more about this

YOU KNOW

YOU’RE A

DIRTTBAG WHEN • You work your contacts to talk to the government of El Salvador about healthcare solutions.

• You decide to teach your first virtual yoga class to help your co-workers with health and wellness.

• You create sales tools in a few hours that would take other companies a few days.

• You compress already impressive lead times to 10 days to accommodate rapid response healthcare.

• You switch from daytime DIRTT pajamas for work to night-time pajamas for sleeping • You reconfigure machines in the metal factory to make monitor stands so people can work remotely.

wonderful organization and how you can get

involved in their mission, visit makeawish.ca

Savannah Kuemper brings balance to accounting and to DIRTTbags via virtual yoga 15

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Marketing@DIRTT.com

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