BUILDING TOGETHER November 2019 Calvin University - New Entrance | Grand Rapids, MI
Upcoming Events December 2 | Zeeland Magical Christmas Parade December 3 | Holland Parade of Lights December 6 | Employee Christmas Party December 9 | Tommy’s Express Grand Opening - Breton Location December 10 | EV Youniversity Construction 101 - Lunch and Learn Part 1 December 11 | Safety Meeting December 12 | EV Youniversity - Flooring Prep and Installation December 17 | EV Youniversity Construction 101 - Lunch and Learn Part 2 December 25 | Merry Christmas! EV is closed
Don’t forget to check EVinsite for all upcoming events and more details!
Safety Tip: Personal Protective Equipment: Always keep your PPE in firstrate shape. Perform regular maintenance inspections – if any PPE is damaged, worn or expired it should be replaced immediately!
BUILDING TOGETHER | November 2019
AM I ADDING VALUE?
BRETT LESIEWICZ SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER When I was 13, I started my construction career by pushing a broom on my uncle’s residential project sites. I followed him around from job to job, cleaning and trying to make myself useful. I loved being around construction, and not wanting to seem like “a tag-along burden”, it was very important to me to keep busy and add value. Whether it was tidying up materials on the trailer, cleaning tools, mopping in addition to sweeping, or even cleaning the dashboard on the truck while he negotiated payment with the owner outside, I always made sure I earned my dollar by adding value. Fast-forward to today, in a season of project start-ups, the phrase “value” comes up A LOT! An architect might choose a more expensive option and say the reason is that it “adds value”. Conversely, we might find a material alternate that is less expensive and say we are “value engineering”. Meanwhile, a trade partner is selling us on their means and methods on a particular activity, and again, they say “this adds value”. In turn, we attempt to negotiate selfperform with the owner, once more using “added value” as the reason. So what does adding value mean? Is it adding cost? Is it reducing cost? Is it doing something right? Is it experience? Is it tangible enough to even be defined? I challenged
people to tell me what they mean by “value” and I became frustrated that no one could answer. No one could define the “value” that they were selling. Finally, I asked myself, how can we sell something to the owner and not even know what it means? So, I did what every good millennial does and I Googled it. Merging the definitions of “add” and “value”, we get something to the effect of “increasing the usefulness, worth, merit, benefit or practicality” of something. This didn’t help me in the slightest! What I kept coming back to is my 13-year-old self, just running around making sure I always put in a solid day’s work. In the context of EV, and selling a job, maybe “value” is just simply being confident that our team puts in a solid day’s work. No, I thought, it has to be more than that. A lot of people work hard. Value, I thought, is a field manager that sees the guys struggling and puts on a tool belt to lend a hand. It’s the employee that puts ego aside and says, “I need help”, instead of wasting time and energy on something they don’t understand. It’s making one trip to the hardware store instead of three. It’s walking with purpose instead of a lazy stroll. It’s knowing when to put your head down and grind. It’s knowing when to refill your fuel tank, collect your thoughts and take a break. It’s the passion Continued on next page. Page 1
The Growth of FSD The Facilities Services Department (FSD) is an evolving division at EV, both in territory and services. Although we will complete over 1,500 projects in more than 22 states this year, we are still very much a mystery to many within the EV organization. The FSD has evolved over the past four years to much more than a small-town service division that installs client fixtures, repairs drywall dings and replaces or adjusts doors. The Facilities Services team now in place has become the go-to facilitator for many of our local and national clients. The department has also been very successful in small to mid-size client build-outs, which has opened the door to additional long term service opportunities. Although FSD has been a long-standing division of EV, the evolution made over the last four yours has been significant. On the technical side, one of the main items that we implemented was the web-based service software, HH2. This has given us the ability to keep dispatch and field technicians in constant communication with each other. The information entered into a work order is available immediately, allowing the FSD technician to access the work orders on a tablet or cell phone right away. The ability to fill out trip status, complete tasks, take progress photos, complete and create invoices in real-time are just some of the benefits we have seen since implementing HH2. We have also seen big changes in the services offered by Facilities Services this year. Full property management services, compliance audit restoration, water mitigation and restoration assistance and asset audits are a few of the additional services that are now being performed regularly by the FSD team. The addition of self-perform trades like concrete and masonry have played an instrumental role in opening up industrial opportunities in our growing markets. 2019 was a busy year for the team. We entered into service contracts in six new states; we acquired three new national clients and more than 15 new local and regional clients. Although I am projecting similar growth throughout 2020, my focus is on building the facilities services technician team. Being a facilities services technician is a fantastic position for anyone interested in doing something a little different from standard construction, as well as a great opportunity for many to travel and work throughout the United States. A successful FSD technician has to be safety conscious, a well-rounded tradesman, detail-oriented, process-driven, emotionally intelligent and self-motivated. Our FSD technicians are running a small business with the support of a big company. For the majority of the businesses that we service, the FSD technician is the main face of the company and carries the responsibility of estimator, tradesman and customer service representative. We currently have a remarkable team in place, but there is no doubt that we need a few more unmistakable people to take us to the next level. Now, the big question is, who wants to join us in 2020? Contributed by Tony Szafranski, General Manager Coldwater and National FSD and OLT Member
Safety Days Count:
4,575
No Lost Time Injuries
As of 11/26/2019
Am I Adding Value (continued)?
to improve something and share it with others. It’s the person that picks up a piece of trash in the parking lot. It’s the willingness to learn and engage in training sessions. It’s the emotional intelligence to understand that my time is better spent elsewhere. It’s professionalism. It’s helping someone find their way at a hospital job. It’s the boldness to hold someone else accountable for safety. It’s showing up on time. It’s thinking ahead. It’s being dependable. It’s the desire and drive to be the best version of yourself and to make every minute count. That’s value. It is not hard to define value when I reflect on the great people in this organization. We already do a great job at this, but my challenge to you is to always be asking yourself, “Am I adding value?”. If each individual can say yes to that question, then we can become a group that not only can define value but can set the standard for what it means to “add value”. Keep up the great work,
Brett Lesiewicz BUILDING TOGETHER | November 2019
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WHAT WE’RE BUILDING RECENTLY AWARDED
Spectrum Health Butterworth MRI Safety & Growth - Grand Rapids, MI Renovation Fast Stats
»» This 40,000-SF project will include a multi-phased renovation of two floors at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital. The project scope includes relocation/renovations of multiple support spaces to create room for the new inpatient ultrasound suite, radiology reading suite and three MRI rooms with an adjacent prep support suite. »» The value of this project is $8.4M. »» Project Manager: Jared Andersen »» Senior Field Manager: Scott Wondergem »» Second Field Manager: Justin Gould
GETTING STARTED
Canopy by Hilton- Grand Rapids, MI New Construction Fast Stats
»» As part of the downtown Grand Rapids Studio Park project, Pioneer Construction is currently building a 124,000-SF, 155 room Canopy by Hilton. EVFS has been contracted to complete all of the penetration firestop within the hotel. »» This project is valued at $125,000. »» Division Leader: Layna O’Connor »» Project Foreman: Mark Kappel
UNDERWAY
City of Grand Rapids Lab Modernization - Grand Rapids, MI Renovation Fast Stats
»» The finishing touches are currently being completed on a temporary lab space that the City will begin to occupy the first week of December. Following the move, EV demo crews will begin taking down the previous, permanent lab space. »» This is one of three projects we currently have under contract with the City of GR. »» The total value for this project is about $2.5M. »» Field Manager: Dan Donavan »» Project Manager: Curt Hielke »» Assistant Project Manager: Layna O’Connor
WRAPPING UP
Biomat - Calexico, CA New Construction Fast Stats
»» This 13,514-SF donation center will have a large donor floor with 48 donation beds, five exam rooms, vital stations, conference room, training room, office, plasma processing center and storage freezer. »» Construction will be completed in December. »» The value of this project is $3.5M. »» Field Managers: Jon Hegwer and Steve Sims »» Senior Project Manager: Brad Giha »» Assistant Project Manager: Harry Sadler
BUILDING TOGETHER | November 2019
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. 25 Dec ed •
ristm as Mer ry C h
Clos
December 6th at 6pm New Vintage Place 889 Broadway Avenue NW, Grand Rapids, MI
EV
Elzinga & Volkers Christmas Party Reminder!
We look forward to a fantastic celebration!
Next Gen @ EV!
On Wednesday, October 30th, Tyler and Breanna Dokter welcomed daughter Carsyn Elise. Carsyn was a healthy 9lbs, 11oz and was 21.25� long.
Seth and Morgan Weaver welcomed Blaire Kay to the family on Thursday, November 14. Big sister Macey was excited to welcome the 7Ibs, 12oz little peanut into this world.
Big sister Callee is anxious to help and hold the new baby too.
Congratulations Weaver family!
O P E N POSITIONS BUILDING TOGETHER | November 2019
Congratulations Dokters!
Assistant Project Manager
Interiors Laborer Painter
Facilities Services Technicians - Traveling
Firestopping Technician
Drywall Finisher
Experienced Concrete Finisher
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