& CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS
January 2018
BUILDINGTOGETHER
WE'RE THE HUMAN FIREWALL We all know that safety is number one to each of us at E&V. This month I want to touch on another type of safety that we all play an important role in – cyber safety. You most likely recall the occasional emails sent out to us with information and helpful tips to keep safe while navigating the internet or email. A couple of years ago, Elzinga & Volkers teamed up with a company called KnowBe4. This company specializes in security awareness training. Their philosophy is each company’s employees are the last line of defense against cyber criminals. KnowBe4 refers to each of us as the human firewall. Part of our job is to stop and think about attachments and links that have the potential to contain viruses. Every day the data in our network is at risk of being compromised. The accounting department experienced a scary situation with a cyber-criminal this past December. When everything was sorted out, we learned that one of our emails to a trade contractor was intercepted by the criminal. This person then set up a new email address posing as the trade contractor and another address posing as one of our project managers. They were then able to converse with us and with the trade contractor. They knew that we owed money to the trade contractor and even knew what day that money would be transferred.
Then, posing as the trade contractor, they sent us an “updated” electronic payment form with “new” bank account information. However, this bank account was in no way related to the trade contractor we were intending to pay. In this scenario, E&V could have lost $50k! I tell this story not to scare you, but to let you know that this type of situation can happen to any of us. Cyber criminals are inventing new and more sophisticated types of scams and viruses every day. I’ll close with a couple of tips we’ve put into practice in the accounting department. First, it never hurts to pick up the phone and call the person who sent you the suspicious email. If you’re not expecting an email from that person or especially if it has an urgent tone, be careful before opening any attachments. Second, you can always forward a suspicious email to Worksighted and they can look at it for you. As KnowBe4’s saying goes, “Think before you click!” You are E&V’s greatest asset in protecting us from cyber-crime.
Grace Silva Chief Financial Officer
Find something to improve.
Smart365 is an initiative that we spent a lot of time talking about at the Stakeholders meeting. In case you missed it, Smart365 is an Unmistakably E&V way to continuously improve. SMART stands for Simple, Meaningful, ARTful improvements that we can all make every day. These improvements can be anything that enhances the quality of work we do, saves time, saves energy or just makes a task more enjoyable. These changes can be related to your work or home life.
Document your improvement with a quick video from your phone. Share your improvements! Email your videos to: Smart365@elzinga-volkers.com
Check out the videos on EVinsite for inspiration! Don't forget: Bring your four ping-pong balls to February's safety meeting with your Smart365 improvement written on them.
Be rewarded!
Wedding Bells! WELCOME TO THE E&V FAMILY! Chuck Zweedyk Tradesman
101 Best and Brightest Committee Update We are excited to have been recently awarded the 101 Best and Brightest National Elite Award for Employee Enrichment, Engagement and Retention. These prestigious Elite Awards are only given to 13 companies nationally. Out of over 2,500 companies, we were in the top 13! It’s a great achievement and couldn’t be done without everyone’s help to keep pushing our company forward. As we start to kick off 2018 with new initiatives for our company, there are a few important steps we need to take for 101 Best and Brightest. Throughout the year, committees are responsible for researching, implementing and tracking improvements for their respective categories – all of which have been shared in our newsletter in 2017. These initiatives are then turned in to Marketing, who puts together an informational packet to supplement an in-depth application required by the organization.
Steve Sims
Field Manager
Did You Know?
You can watch the Stakeholders recap on EVinsite. Log onto EVinsite, click on the article "Stakeholders Recap" and learn more about where our company is headed in the next 365 days!
Those two items were submitted last week to the West Michigan 101 Best and Brightest organization. In the next few weeks, you’ll receive an anonymous survey from them that dives deeper into our organization in a variety of categories, some of which include: work/life balance, strategic company performance and community initiatives. The results are sent back to 101 Best and Brightest and to the Executive Team and Committee Chairs to see what areas need the most improvement. West Michigan awards will be announced in May. Pending another award, we’ll be entered into the national pool which is announced in the late fall of 2018.
2018 STAKEHOLDERS MEETING
BUILDINGTOGETHER | January 2018
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WHAT WE’RE BUILDING RECENTLY AWARDED
Vertellus - Zeeland, Med Express - GrandMIRapids, MI New Construction Exterior Improvements Fast Stats »» »» »» »» »» »»
GETTING STARTED
Vertellus is a chemical plant located in Zeeland. In just two weeks' of work, we're three weeks ahead of the owner's original schedule. We're self-performing site-work, concrete and steel. This project is valued at $500,000. Field Manager: Roye Allen Senior Project Manager: Mike Parker
Gordon Food Service - Detroit, MI Renovation Fast Stats
»» The project is valued at $850K and we'll be renovating 15,000-SF. »» We're self-performing demolition, metal studs, drywall, doors, frames, hardware and structural steel reinforcement. »» GFS's renovation is scheduled to be complete in early May. »» Field Manager:Tom Puffpaff »» Project Manager: Curt Hielke
UNDERWAY
Munson Healthcare - Manistee, MI Addition and Renovation Fast Stats
»» E&V is providing construction management services for the new medical office building and renovation of the existing facility. »» The project value is $13 million. »» Completion of the project is set for the fall of 2018. »» Field Manager: Dan Blamer »» Field Engineer: Cody Erickson »» Senior Project Manager: Mike Parker »» Project Manager: Jared Andersen
WRAPPING UP
Canterbury on the Lake - Waterford, MI Addition and Renovation Fast Stats »» This senior living project included a 30-bed memory care addition and renovations of 34 Skilled Nursing Rooms and their corresponding support spaces. »» Existing dining room was expanded and renovated, and a new connection bridge was added to the independent living wing. »» Canterbury's project was valued at $8.2 million. »» Field Manager: Anthony Pipitone »» Field Manager: Roye Allen »» Project Executive: Joe Novakoski »» Assistant Project Manager: Nick Novakoski
BUILDINGTOGETHER | January 2018
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CONGRATULATIONS!
Jimmy Sutton and his wife, Shelby, welcomed their daughter Kacee Lynn. She was born on 12/22!
Morgan Weaver and her husband, Seth, brought their daughter into the world on 1/29. This is also Scott Wondergem's first grandchild!
HALL PASS
Did You Know?
E&V YOUniversities can be found on EVinsite! Take a look at what to expect over the next 11 months. From layout basics, to soil reports, winter conditions and hands-on training - there's something for everyone.
JANUARY BLOOD DRIVE Thanks to everyone who donated or attempted to donate blood earlier this month! We had a total of 30 volunteers; 26 of which were able to donate. There were also six first time donors! Keep an eye out on EVinsite for more volunteering opportunities coming soon!
Open Positions Project Manager - Coldwater Sr. Project Manager - Holland Pre-Construction Manager - Holland Pre-Construction Assistant - Holland Jason Hoogeveen visited his daughter, Khloe, for her school's music program!
January 2018 BUILDINGTOGETHER | June 2016
We're always looking for qualified individuals to join our team and the best team members come from your referrals! Take a look at the full list on elzinga-volkers.com/careers
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