Welcomeback!Ihopeyouryearisofftoastrongstart.Inthelastnewsletter,we introducedtheconceptofworldview howeveryoneperceivestheworldthrough theiruniquelens.Wediscussedtheimportanceofnotjudgingabookbyitscover andencouragedourselvestolistenmore,askbetterquestions,andappreciatethe storiesthatshapethosearoundus.
Nowthatwe’vebegunpracticingthesehabits,let’stakethenextstep: understandinghowworldviewinfluencescommunication.
Haveyoueverfoundyourselfinaconversation,wondering,"Whyaren’tthey gettingit?"or"That’snothowIwouldhavesaidit..."?Ithappensoften,notbecause someoneiswrong,butbecausethey’reseeingandcommunicatingthrougha differentlens.
Thewaywespeak,listen,andrespondisinfluencedbymorethanjustpersonality. Ourupbringing,culture,experiences,andvaluesallshapehowwecommunicate. Someofusgetstraighttothepoint,whileothersaremoreindirectortendtoread betweenthelines.Someexpressemotionsfreely,whileothersvaluecalmand control.Noneofthesestylesisrightorwrong they’resimplydifferentapproaches rootedinvariousworldviews.
Here’swhatwecandotobridgethosegaps:
1.SlowDownandListen
Active listening is a skill. Don’t just hear strive to understand. Put your phone down Make eye contact Allow people space to speak, and avoid rushing to respond.
2.AskBeforeAssuming
When something feels “off” in a conversation, resist the urge to jump to conclusions. Instead, ask clarifying questions. You might discover that you both desirethesameoutcome you’rejustapproachingitfromdifferentangles.
3.BeAwareofYourStyle
Considerhowyoucommunicate.Doyouexpectotherstoadapttoyourstyle,or areyouwillingtomeetthemhalfway?
4.CreateaSafeSpaceforDialogue
Encouragehonestconversationswithinyourteams.Peoplearemorelikelytoopen upwhentheyfeelrespectedandheard,especiallyiftheirviewsorcommunication stylesdifferfromthemajority.
Ifwewanttobuildstrongteams,growasacompany,andleavealastinglegacy, wemustcontinuetoworkonunderstandingeachother Itstartswith communication,andthatbeginswithus.
Inthenextedition,we’llexplorehowworldviewsshapethe waypeoplehandlechangeanduncertainty,andwhatthat meansfortheA-team.
Untilthen,let’scontinuetolisten,learn,andshowupwith anopenmindandacuriousattitude.
Executive Vice President of Operations
Andy Decraene
Thisyear,weheldtwoSafetyDays:oneinTampa,onJanuary20forourTampa andLakeWalesdivisions,andanotherinPuntaGorda,onJanuary27forour VeniceandFortMyersdivisions.BotheventsstartedwithbreakfastandtheStarSpangledBannersungbyEddiePurnell.Thisyear,weintroducedsixvendor booths,runbyAjaxRegionalVicePresidents,toeducateemployeesonbenefits suchas401(k),healthinsurance,andsafetyequipment.Theboothswerebusy untilCEOMikeHoran'sopeningremarks.Thenthesafetydepartmentpresented detailedreportsonclaims,injuries,newinitiativesliketheSamsarapointsystem fortrackingviolations,andthenewStudsonhelmets TheHumanResource Departmentledtheawardceremonybeforeclosingcommentsendedthe morningsession
Afterlunch,departmentheadsledbreakoutsessions,whichwereheldin separateroomsandincludedoutdoortruckingdemonstrations.Thesecovered topicssuchashuddlesandspotters,truckingoperationsandinspections,plant operations,payrollandtraining,andlegalinsightsonhandlingclaimsand jobsitesafety Thetwoeventswereasignificantsuccess,providingvaluable informationandasenseofachievementforallattendees Ajaxisgratefulto everyonewhocontributedtomakingitpossible!
NewStudsonHelmetFeatures
Adjustablefrontbrowandrearbracketarea Magneticadjustablechinstrap
Lightweightandbreathable.
Shockenergyabsorptioncapacityforfront,lateral,and rearimpacts.
TwicemeTechnologythatstoresemergencycontactand medicaldataaccessibletofirstresponders.
E1R87I-75/US301InterchangeProject
ELLENTON, FLORIDA
AsSeniorProjectManagerfortheAjax-LewareJointVenture,seeingthenew rampbridgesopenthispastFebruarywasanincrediblemilestoneforourentire teamandaproudmomentinthelifeofthistransformativeproject.Itmarkednot justprogressonpaperbutreal,visibleimprovementsforthethousandsofdrivers whorelyontheI-75/US301interchangeeachday.Watchingtrafficflowsmoothly overthenewlycompletedstructuresafteryearsofintenseplanning, coordination,andfieldworkwasbothrewardingandenergizing.
TheE1R87I-75/US301InterchangeProject,a$145millionFDOTproject,isoneof thelargestandmostcomplexprojectsAjaxhastakenon.Deliveredthrougha jointventurebetweenAjaxPavingandLewareConstruction,theprojectincludes theconstructionofnewrampbridges,realignedinterchangegeometry,and interstatewidening alldesignedtoimprovesafety,reducecongestion,and accommodatetheregion’sgrowingtransportationneeds.Thescaleand complexityofthisworkdemandexceptionalprecisionandteamwork,andI couldn’tbeprouderofthepeoplemakingithappen.
TAMPA, FLORIDA
AjaxwasawardedtheGreenSpine ContractfortheCityofTampain Septemberlastyear.Thisonehas beeninteresting JaysonBrownsaid itwasputouttobidseveraltimes overthepastthreeyearsdueto reasonsbeyondAjax’scontrol,but wewerefinallyawardedit.As Jaysonsaid,“Thirdtime’sacharm.” Sincethelasttimeweworkedwith thecityofTampa,wehaveboth broughtinnewteams.Theyhavea newPAandManager,andwehave hadmeasanewPMandJustin EvansasanewSuperintendent.This jobisaLAPPjob,sosomeofthe fundingisthroughFDOT,which
Whatareyoubuilding,youmightask?WearebuildinganewbicyclepathinYbor CityonNuccioParkway.ThecityhasbeendesigningawholeBicycleroute.3A wasdoneafewyearsagobyothers,andwhatwearebuildingarephases3B and3C.WehavehadtoaddnewADARamps,separators,curbs,sidewalks, DrainageChannels,PipeWork,signalization,andlandscapeareas Thishasbeen agoodlearningprojectforJustinandmesinceithasalittleofeverything. Wehavehadourstruggles Werealizedearlyonthatthesidewalkswouldnot workasplanned.Thesidewalkwaswideningoutto14feetwideforthebicycles, whichisgreat,buttheengineermissedtheslopeontheroad Aswewidenedthe sidewalkintotheroad,itraisedtheelevation6”higherthantheplannedgrade. Wealsohadtoredesignthedrainagechannelssotheywouldworkbetterwith thebusstopsandcurbs.Wehadafewotherholdups,butwhatisimportantis thatwiththese,wewereabletoworkwiththecityandfindotherareastoworkto keepthejobmovingalong.AfewofthewayswefoundtohelpwerewithourMOT andConcreteCrews.Weorderedanew3-foot-widemoldforourcurbmachine, andwesavedsomeshifts.WiththeMOT,wewereabletosavealotofshiftswith thecityallowingustosetupsomepermanentclosures. bringsadifferenttypeofcollaborationsincetheyprovidesomeofthefunding. Thejobwasalsobrokenintotwophases,withFDOTfundinginboth.Initially,FDOT andtheCityhadthephasesbrokenintotwoprojects,buttheywantedtobuildit asone Withhelpfromeveryone,wewereabletochangethistosimplifythe process.
WheredoestheJobstand?Well,weareabout70percent completewithourworkandabout70percentontime,too Comingfromthefield,Iknowhowimportantitwastobe recognized,andnow,asaPM,Iseehowmanypeopleare involvedinaprojectlikethis,soIwouldliketosaythankyou toeveryoneinvolved Itisamazingtosee Wearestillseveral monthsfrombeingfinished,sowishusluck!
US-27fromCypressGardensBlvdtoKokomoRd
WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA
ThisFDOTDesign/Buildprojectwasabigone 36lanemilesofroadway resurfacing,shoulderwidening,upgradedguardrailsanddrainage,improved lighting,andabrand-newsignalizedintersection Ourcrewslaiddownover 61,000TNofasphalttobringitalltogether!
Withexistingguardrailsprotectingsomeseriousdrop-offs,ourteamtackled guardrailremoval,widening,concreteshouldergutters,flumes,andnew guardrailinstallation allunder24/7laneclosuresforweeksatatime.Itwasa round-the-clockeffort,andeveryonedelivered!
Hugeshoutouttoeveryoneinvolvedintheday-to-dayon thisproject:DougBarker(Superintendent),MiguelPerez& JesseZuniga’spavingcrews,DavidMoore&KevinPerez’s MOTcrews,andSteveFrancis(TheCloser)forwrapping thingsupsmoothly evenwithHurricaneMiltontryingto slowusdown.Awesomework,team!
Spencer Wadsworth Project Manager
agreat problemtohave),andwe’rethankfulforthe workinfrontofus.Allofthisworkcomes withtheneedforourteamstobesafe,stay disciplined,andfocusedeachshift. Planningandcommunicationstaynearthe topofthelist,soI’dliketothankthe constructiongroupsandourQCManagers, JohnMawandBobbyGibson,forworking closelytoensurewestayontrack Planning andcommunicationarethekeysto achievingourgoals.ThoughBobbyisanew additiontotheteam,hecontinuestodoa greatjobeveryday.
OurVeniceandFortMyersdivisionscontinuetopressforwardandgetitdone. MarkandArielcontinuetobegreatQCleadersinthefield,withSamsongrowing nicelyintherole Tony,Chris,andLaneinVeniceremainfocusedonqualityand helpingthecrewsthroughstrongcommunicationandhardwork.
OurTampaandLakeWalesQCandcrewshavebeenexceptionalduringthis periodinhandlingtheincreasedworkload,hours,andtravelrequestedofthem. Wehavebeenfocusedonhighertonnageplacementoperations,andtheLake WalescrewshaveansweredthecalltoassistTampaplacementoperations whilemaintainingafocusonQuality.ReinforcingtheAjaxculturethatweare integralpartsoftheteamandreadytoanswerthecalltoassistinthecontinued momentumofourcompany'sgoalsandmeetingtheneedsofourclientswhile maintainingelevatedstandards.Weareexcitedtogrowourdepartmentand addsomenewfacestoourQCFieldTechnicians.Beonthelookoutforsome greenhelmetsoutthere.Agreatthankstoallofyouforyourhardworkand dedicationtokeepingAjaxfocusedoncontinuingtoprovideabetterroad.
AlfredoandKaylacontinuetoexpandtheirtestingfootprintinthelab.We’re rigorouslytestingourliquidmaterialswiththeDepartment,mainlyourbinder andtack,toensureproperhandlingandstorage.Theseeffortshavebeenfruitful inourcommitmenttodoingtherightthingandcontinueto fosterapositive,transparentrelationshipwiththeDepartment.
I’mveryproudofourQCteamasawholeandthank themeverydayfortheirdedicationandhardwork
Thefirstquarterisinthebooksforthe equipmentdivision.Specialthankstoour entireequipmentdivisionhereatAjax!As echoedbymost,wehavebeenbusy keepingupwiththechallengingtaskof supportingfieldoperationswhile maintainingthereliabilityofour equipment.
Ourmechanicscompleted1,946work orders,andwecouldn’tbemoreproudof theirhardworkanddedicationtotheATeam.Totheleftisasnapshotofwork performed,basedonourinternalranking systemforrepairprioritiesbelow.
OtherAnnouncements
PleasejoinmeinwelcomingMarkRodriguez, whohasofficiallyjoinedtheteamasour EquipmentMaintenanceCoordinator!Mark willbetakingontheimportantresponsibility ofoverseeingAjax’sWorkOrderManagement andcoordinatingvariousmaintenance activitiesbetweenourvendorsandinternal operations.
MarkjoinedtheA-teaminOctober2023asa projectcoordinatorinFortMyers.Withan impressivebackground,Markretiredafter nearly28yearsofserviceintheArmyasa MasterSergeant.Hiswealthofexperience andpositiveattitudemakehimafantastic additiontotheteam.We’rethrilledtohave himonboardinthisnewrole!
excitedtoannouncethatEricDelaneyhas thepositionofFieldServiceInspector!Inthis illtraveltovariouslocationstophysically dassessequipment,provideoperatorcare ndserveasavitallinkbetweenthefieldand Additionally,hewillauditPMschedulesand etheoptimaluptimeofAjax’sequipment.
Erichasbeenwithussince2009,startingasashuttlebuggyoperator.Hisdeep knowledgeofthefieldandhisexpertiseinB2Wpositionshimtobeagreat leaderinhisnewrole.We’reconfidentthatEricwillhelpleadourteamintothe futureandcontributetoourcontinuedsuccess.
PleasejoinmeincongratulatingMarkandEricon theirnew,excitingroles!We’relookingforwardtoall thegreatworkaheadandtoourteam'scontinued growth.
FT MYERS CLAIRE EVENT
SUCCESS
TheAjaxFloridaTPRdivisionhasgottenofftoaroaringstartforthefirstfull quarteroftheyear Wehadmanynotableachievementsthatwecouldproudly mention.Someoftheseachievementswerefirstsinthehistoryofthisvery importantsegmentofouroverallbusinessmodel
WerecentlycompletedourfirstfullauditfortheTPRandmaintenancedivisions. Thiswasthefirsttimewehadrevisitedauditingourmaintenanceprocessesin severalyears.Thisaudit,whichwasforthe2024businessyear,wasconducted byMr.JustinSmithwithTBRStrategies.
Despiteseveralimprovementopportunities,theauditrevealedsignificant improvementsinallaspectsofourTPR,maintenance,andinventorydivisions.We nowtrack,record,report,andexecuteallaspectsofthesedivisionsmuchmore accuratelythanwehaveinthepast.Tobesure,wehaveandarecontinuingto evolvetohelpAjaxgrowandbeprofitable
Dan Maitland Fleet Manager
Thekeytotheirnoteworthysuccesshasbeenaflawlessrecordof well-organized,on-time,andtrouble-freeCLAIREevents Theteamchanged andreorganizedtheeventschedulesothattherewouldbeoneeventper area,fourtimesayear,andaseparate,independenttruckingevent.Wemeet twicemonthly,andthentheteamhitsthegasandswitchestoweekly meetingswhenweareonemonthoutfromtheevent.
Wenowalsoevaluateandhavealistofpotentialpiecesofequipmentloaded inthesystemthatshouldcarryusoutforthenexttwoyears.Thisiscombined withanadvertisedandapprovedannualeventscheduleforeachyear,which canbereplicatedforyearstocome.
OPERATOR CARE TEAM
Asweapproachslightlyovertwoyearsofamazingandverydedicatedservice byAdrianaRaheastheteamleader,wewillinitiateourregularbiannualteam leaderrotation.WeallwouldliketothankAdrianaforherattentiontodetail, hardwork,innovativeness,patience,anddedicationinhelpingtomake OperatorCareandTPRgreatagain Theteamwillnowbeheadedupby ChristopherPrice,ProjectManagerfromTampa Weareveryhappyand fortunatetohaveChriscomeonboardandtakeonthechallengesofhelping thisteamtoclimbtothenexthighestlevelsofsuccess.Thisteamwasvery innovativefromtheverybeginningincreatingaQRcodingsystem,whichis nowfullyinuseonnearly100%offieldequipment.Wearenownotonly conductingroutineoperatorcaretrainingforallofourfieldpersonnel,butwe canalsotrackthesetrainingsmoreaccurately.
Thisteamisnowfullyusing,sincethebeginningof2025,thenewlydeveloped auditingformsandB2WInformtrackingformsthatwebeganworkingonback in2024 Theyaremucheasier,morelogicalandefficienttouseoutinthefield andshops.Itisnotabletomention,thattheseformswereco-developedwith directinputfrommostofourareamechanics.Also,theshopsarenowusing themtoperforminhouseauditswhenequipmentcomesinforservice.We nowdomorequalityaudits,per4-monthauditingperiod,thanwedidinentire previousyears.Theresultsofallofthisworkarepayingoffastheoverall assessmentfromouremployeesisthatthereliabilityofourequipmentis improving.AnyonewithaccesstoB2Winform,cannowtrackinrealtime,all completedauditsandscores.
Valle TPR Coordinator
KeepyoureyesontheTPRdivisionasweexpecttotakeoneven greaterchallengesandcontinuetosucceedinthemonthsand yearstocome.
AUDITING TEAM Manny
RAISING THE BAR
yearwithGirlScouttrooptoursatPlants1&2inFebruary Both eventswerewellattended,continuingour“RockstoRoads”patchprogram efforts.Thankyoutoallthevolunteersandstaffwhoattended!
OurannualWomenRaisingtheBarmeetingoccurredattheAjaxBarnon March4thincelebrationofWomeninConstructionWeek.Theeventunited womenfromallareasandpositionswithinAjax,creatingaspacefor connection,support,growth,andempowerment.Wewerethrilledtohave JaniceZarrofromStilettosandSneakersjoinus,sharingherinsightsonthe significanceofintergenerationalconversationsandhowbridgingthe generationalgapscanleadtopersonalandprofessionalgrowth.Towrapup theday,wewereallabletooperatesomeofourequipment.Thankyoutoall whoattended;yourpassion,talent,andcommitmentareaninspiration! Welookforwardtonextyear’smeetingduringWomeninConstructionWeek
Wearealreadycollecting
UPCOMING EVENTS
QUARTER ONE
JANUARY
FEBRUARY
The Choice Employees are decided upon by management at the end of the previous month. If you would like to nominate one of your fellow peers please let your supervisor, area manager, or construction manager know.
BOBBY GIBSON
EVAN ALONSO
JOSE GONZALEZ
DANIELLE BENTIVEGNA
GERMAN TURRUBIATES
MIKE BOSCO
