BUILDING TOGETHER January 2020
Upcoming Events February 4 | Lunch & Learn - Value of Geotechnical Engineering February 7 | Smart365 Training - Excel February 12 | Safety Meeting February 28 | Trade Contractor Appreciation Breakfast March 11 | Safety Meeting New Uniform Distribution March 12 | Broadway Grand Rapids Charlie & The Chocolate Factory March 31 | Annual Employee Bowling Party Dates TBD: February | Smart365 Training - Concrete March | Smart365 Training - Masonry Don’t forget to check EVinsite for all upcoming events and more details!
Safety Tip: Slips, Trips and Falls: Remember in order to reduce the risk of slips and trips you should always pay attention to your surroundings and walk at a pace suitable to the surface you are on and the task you are performing! And this time of year, be extra cautious around ice and snow! BUILDING TOGETHER | January 2020
WHAT MAKES A PERSON GREAT AT THEIR JOB? DAN BEHLER, OLT MEMBER I think it’s safe to say that we all have individuals in our lives that we look up to, that we learn from and that we respect. They may be individuals who have “made it” in the industry in which we work, or they may be individuals that we hold in high regard on a personal level. Maybe both. But what is it that makes them…them? I asked myself this question as early in my career as I can remember. I remember paying attention to the project managers, field managers and tradesmen that I worked with, and I noticed that some were just… different. They seemed to click with their teams in a way that others didn’t. They faced tough issues that, to me, felt insurmountable and they made solutions seem reachable. They always seemed to know the right thing to say…even if they were delivering bad news. For years I watched, I learned and every day I tried to be more like them. Years later, not much has changed. I still find myself surrounded by people who challenge me, who I constantly learn from and who inspire me to be a better version of myself. So what’s the recipe? What is it that makes these individuals unique? Well…I’m not sure, but I think the discussion at January’s FM/PM meeting provided a bit of insight. During this meeting, we spent some time talking through the traits and characteristics of those who we view as our best PMs and FMs. Like the two positions, each list was different…but there were
several things that we found important for both. Knowledge - No one is an expert at everything, but the desire and the drive to learn and be well-versed at your craft, your project, etc. is important and builds credibility with those who look to you for leadership and guidance. Communication/Collaboration - Our strength is our team. Those who communicate well, are receptive to feedback and discussion and those who motivate the experts around them to work at their highest level are those who find success most often. Emotional Intelligence - Our business is about managing people and personalities…some of which can be challenging! Navigating these in a way that holds individuals accountable, but also keeps them engaged is critically important. This is part empathy, part creativity, part managing expectations…and 100% hard! Humility - Be a student as often as you are a teacher. Nothing grows distrust among a team faster than a leader who wants nothing more than for his/her team to know that they are in charge. When power is the priority, no one wins. Trust those around you, learn from them, support and serve. There are so many more items on the list that could be shared, but these are the ones that really seemed to Continued on Page 2
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WELCOME TO THE EV FAMILY! WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE Submitted by Cory Loomans.
Brent Denny
Tyler Ropp
Firestopping Division
Blythe Brown
Painting Division
Project Coordinator
Everyone can relate to an experience where a first impression was not great or where the first step in a process did not go well. That first impression or that first step sets the tone for the rest of that experience. Take a home project like building a treehouse in the backyard, for example. If you have all of the materials, tools and equipment right there ready to complete the task, you can avoid the frustration and delays from running back and forth to the garage, or worse, the hardware store! Productivity and excellence begin with preparation and planning. It is not much different on our projects. Our preconstruction group focuses on starting the project off successfully with thorough planning up front. “Well begun is half done” (Aristotle) is a quote that we refer to many times in our discussions as a team and with our clients. One of our biggest responsibilities in preconstruction is setting a good tone for the project. What makes up that good tone? Establishing trust and confidence with the owner, architect and trade partners. With the owner and architect, we can ask questions that drive thoughtful discussion which, in turn, create meaningful schedules and budgets. Even early on in the process when we have little information, we strive to deliver realistic information and expectations. This can be difficult up front, but will hopefully clear the path for future hurdles. We need to account for permit process timelines and make sure they are plugged into the schedule and being communicated clearly to the team. With our trade partners, “well begun” means setting up clear work scopes and having good information available. Avoiding the “Value-Engineering” process, aka removing scope from the project, is important in keeping the project moving. While it may seem common, value engineering is almost always a “time vacuum” that can drain a project’s positive energy. I jokingly comment that preconstruction needs to be the “dark rain cloud” in meetings whenever something is being added and then ring the cash register (cha ching) when we are able to find savings. The sooner we are able to get the project kicked off the better. When schedules get pushed out, it affects our resource planning, trade partners and client operations. I challenge you to think about how you can apply the concept “well begun is half done” on your next project or task. What can you do now that will set a positive tone later and create a foundation for success? P.S. – Full transparency, Mary Poppins also used the, “Well begun is half done” quote, but quoting Aristotle makes me sound smarter.
WHAT MAKES A PERSON GREAT AT THEIR JOB CONT’D? ring true regardless of position. In reality, they’re not just traits of a successful PM or FM…they’re traits of a good leader and a good person. My goal for 2020 is to focus on this list. To continue to watch and learn from each of you, and to continue to grow the great group of leaders we have here at Elzinga & Volkers (sorry…EV Construction!). Our teams already lead the industry in so many of these things…but I would challenge us to dig deeper. Ask yourself what doesn’t come naturally to you and find someone to whom it does. Watch. Listen. And improve every day. Happy New Year!
Join EV at
Safety Days Count:
4,640
No Lost Time Injuries
As of 1/23/2020
Dan Behler
Thursday, March 12th @ 7:30 PM (Reserve tickets by 2/05/20, Payment due 2/12/20)
Purchase tickets from Tara Brouwer for $25.00/each.
Devos Performance Hall BUILDING TOGETHER | January 2020
Friends and family are welcome! Page 2
WHAT WE’RE BUILDING RECENTLY AWARDED
Resthaven - The Farmstead- Holland, MI New Construction Fast Stats
» This new senior living development on 24th Street in Holland will consist of approximately 80 independent living apartments, 36 assisted living apartments and 20 stand alone cottages. Major site development on over 20 acres of property will also be required. » The total project value is $60M, with $40M estimated for construction. » We hope to employ self-performing trades on the project. » Senior Project Manager: Brett Lesiewicz » Project Manager: Jared Andersen » Senior Field Manager: Scott Wondergem » Field Manager: Ryan Geurink
GETTING STARTED
CSL - Dallas, TX New Construction Fast Stats
» EV currently has the contract for the sitework and shell construction for this project, but we are still negotiating the interior fit-out. This project is anticipated to take approximately six months to complete. Though construction is of a CSL plasma donation center, our contract is with R&R of America, a client for which we have completed several other successful projects. » This project is valued at $2.2M. » Senior Project Manager: Brad Giha » Project Manager: Taylor Ostwinkle » Field Manager: Scott Chamberlain
UNDERWAY
Bronson Hospital - South Haven, MI New Construction Fast Stats
» At 52,000-SF, the two-story hospital includes a full service 14 bed emergency department, imaging suite, lab, eight bed med-surge, retail pharmacy, kitchen, admin suite, waiting areas and a full outpatient general practices department. » This project kicked off in September and will run until January, 2021. » The total value for this project is about $22M. » The EV team is contracted to self-perform steel, carpentry, firestopping and interiors. » Senior Project Manager: Brett Lesiewicz » Senior Field Manager: Joe Shashaguay » Assistant Project Manager: Harry Sadler
WRAPPING UP
BUILDING TOGETHER | January 2020
661 Lakewood - Holland, MI Interior Fit-Out Fast Stats
» VisionQuest, the parent company of Tommy’s Express Wash Systems and Quality Car Wash, took over the space at 661 Lakewood for their new offices. This design-build project included an approximately 11,000-SF conversion from commercial retail space to an office layout. Included in the scope was 3,600-SF of garage space, a new front facade and a vestibule. » The value of this project is $761,000. » The EV team self-performed demolition, concrete, steel, carpentry and interiors. » Project Managers: Julie Cole-Bouwens and Jared Andersen » Senior Field Manager: Scott Wondergem Page 3
OUR FAMILY IS GROWING! (APPROXIMATELY EIGHT POUNDS AT A TIME!)
Brett and Laura Lesiewicz welcomed Noah Jay to the family on Thursday, December 26. Big sister Addilynn was excited to welcome her new 8Ibs, 6oz little brother into this world.
S Y M P O S I U M
Congratulations Lesiewicz family!
Monday, March 16 • 11:30 PM - 3:30 PM
T R A I N I N G S Monday, March 16 - Thursday, March 19 On Monday, January 13th, Grandpa Dan and Uncle Joe welcomed Lucas Steven into the family.
Fliers will soon be placed in team member mailboxes. Please post them on project sites and pass them out to trades, project owners, city inspectors, etc. Let’s fill every available seat!
Lucas was 7lbs, 13 ounces at birth. He is the third grandchild for Dan.
Supporting the Sterkens
Congratulations Koscielski family!
EV EMPLOYEE BOWLING PARTY!
EV employees (and their families) have rallied around many coworkers when they needed support, prayers and love the most. Another EV family has experienced a devastating loss and could use our help. As most of you are aware, Kim Sterken, Kevin’s wife and Tyler’s mom, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, January 4th.
Tuesday, March 31 3:30-6:30 PM
Please keep the Sterken’s in your thoughts and prayers, drop them a note of encouragement or help to provide a meal. Tara has established a meal train website for them. Use the web address below to sign up for a meal.
BAM! Bowling Center 478 E. 16TH Street Holland, MI 49423
Find “The Sterken Household” meal train here: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/ze72l6
RSVP on EVinsite no later than March 24!
O P E N POSITIONS BUILDING TOGETHER | January 2020
Assistant Project Manager
Let’s show Kevin, Tyler and their family the same support we would hope to have shown to us in a similar circumstance.
Interiors Laborer Painter
Facilities Services Technicians - Traveling
Firestopping Technician
Drywall Finisher
Experienced Concrete Finisher
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