AUGUST 2024
TOOLS & TRAINING TO SHINE
At Crete United, we are dedicated to honoring and supporting veterans as they embark on new career journeys.
LEAD FROM THE FRONT
CEO MESSAGE
On Christmas Day, General Charles C. Krulak arrived at Marine Corps Base Quantico expecting to find an enlisted man on duty at the guard station. He was surprised not to see him and even more surprised to find Brigadier General Jim Mattis working the post.
Had something happened? No, but the man assigned guard duty that day had a family, and Mattis thought he ought to be home with them. Despite some twenty years of seniority, Mattis chose to take over the unpleasant duties of an ordinary soldier. Mattis learned this behavior from the teaching of the Greek General Xenophon. A Greek foot soldier once complained to Xenophon as he led the Ten Thousand Greeks out of Persia. “You are riding on horseback while I am
wearing myself out with a shield to carry.” Hearing this, Xenophon jumped down and carried the man’s shield the rest of the way. Being the “boss” is a job. Being a “leader” is something you earn.
At Crete United, leadership is not about titles. It’s about setting the example. A Crete leader is the first to arrive and the last to leave, the hardest worker, the one who puts others before themselves, and the one who takes the hit. The more you’ve done, the higher the standard you must hold yourself to. Not for the sake of optics but because it is the right thing to do. Be the leader the company needs you to be! Our success depends on it.
Mike Cox | CEO
PRO TECH MECHANICAL EXPANDS IN TEXAS
PRO TECH MECHANICAL
Pro Tech Mechanical is excited to announce the grand opening of their brand-new Houston office! As they settle into this new facility, they’re also thrilled to unveil the addition of a third star to their Texas logo, proudly marking Houston’s location on the map.
FSSI SHINES AT NCHEA 2024
The 72nd Annual NCHEA Conference & Exhibition was a standout event for FSSI. Represented by Nick Sarif & Chase Overcash, with support from Crete United’s Brant Armstrong, FSSI took full advantage of this prime opportunity to network with healthcare facilities and engineering professionals across the Carolinas.
CEDAR SPRINGS HIGH SCHOOL STADIUM LIGHTS
HILLARD ELECTRIC
Hillard Electric is proud to announce their latest project: the installation of new stadium lights at Cedar Springs High School. This project marks another step in Hillard Electric’s commitment to delivering top-quality electrical solutions for educational facilities.
BUILDING SUCCESS AT VICTORIA PUBLIC SAFETY
Pro Tech Mechanical is excited to share the progress at the new Victoria Public Safety Building. A huge shoutout to Matt Villegas and the plumbing team for successfully completing the underground work and passing inspections with flying colors. Well done, team!
CREW OF THE MONTH PIPER ELECTRIC
Piper Electric proudly recognizes the COSCO Fire crew for their outstanding performance. Despite last-minute changes and delays, they maintained high morale and delivered exceptional work swiftly.
Foreman Josh W. praised their dedication: “Their positive attitude and high-quality work were impressive. A big thanks to the team for their excellent effort!”
FOREMAN WEEKEND RECAP
MECHANICAL
Major Mechanical celebrated its annual Foreman Weekend with a golf outing, followed by an exciting night of horse racing at Canterbury Park. The weekend wrapped up with a visit to Mystic Lake Casino, where everyone enjoyed the thrill of the games. The event was a great success, filled with camaraderie and unforgettable moments. Major Mechanical extends a big thank you to all the foremen who participated and made it a weekend to remember.
NEW OIL & GAS PROJECT PIPER ELECTRIC
Piper Electric is thrilled to announce their latest project at a gas injection facility, where they will be implementing cutting-edge technologies to revitalize production in older oil and gas wells. This innovative approach aims to enhance the efficiency of these wells, ensuring they perform as if they were newly drilled.
STANMARK ELECTRIC’S SUMMER BASH
STANMARK ELECTRIC
Stanmark Electric recently had the pleasure of attending the Summer Bash at Elitch Gardens. The event was a fantastic opportunity for team bonding and fun, featuring a range of exciting activities and attractions.
TEAM PRO TECH SHINES AT FEDERAL COURTHOUSE PRO
TECH MECHANICAL
Earlier this month, Team Pro Tech showed outstanding dedication, working through the weekend to meet tight project schedules for the Federal Courthouse. Kudos to the Project Team, led by PM Sergio Espinosa, for their hard work and commitment to excellence!
STEERING TEAM MEETINGS 2024
BOSTON
CHICAGO
STEERING TEAM MEETINGS 2024
BIRMINGHAM
DENVER
SAILING TO SUCCESS
Let’s celebrate Lia Bosma, our Vice President of Integration, for her recent participation in the 100th anniversary of the Bayview Mackinac Race! This historical sailboat race began in southern Lake Huron near Port Huron, Michigan, and finished at Mackinac Island, covering the original 1925 course of 204 nautical miles. Lia, who has been sailing since she was 4 years old, showcased her lifelong passion and skills in this prestigious event.
WELCOME EMERALD BUILT ENVIRONMENTS
We are excited to announce Crete United’s partnership with Emerald Built Environments. Emerald, based in Cleveland, Ohio, is a leading consulting firm that has been guiding organizations worldwide with their sustainability goals for buildings, business strategy and reporting for more than a decade. Emerald founder, Laura Steinbrink, will serve as President of Sustainability at Crete United. Emerald not only amplifies our capacity to deliver on our ambitious net-zero goals but also offers tremendous value to our partners.
LOVE IS IN THE AIR
A big congratulations to Jason Anderson, Vice President of Sales - East, on his engagement! We’re thrilled to share in your joy and wish you both a future filled with love, laughter, and countless happy memories. May this new chapter be just the beginning of a lifetime of wonderful adventures together!
PARTNER NEWS
UNITED FOR HEROES: SUPPORTING VETERANS WITH HEART & ACTION
At Crete United, we are driven by a profound commitment to honor and support our veteran communities. This year our Heros United mission is centered around three vital areas, each reflecting our values and dedication. We are thrilled to share with you the impactful initiatives we are spearheading.
First, our partnership with Folds of Honor stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity. Through this incredible organization, we are proud to offer scholarships that empower the spouses and children of fallen soldiers to pursue their educational dreams. It is an honor to support these courageous families as they carry forward the legacy of their loved ones, helping them achieve their life goals and aspirations despite the sacrifices they have endured. This aligns perfectly with our organization’s commitment to learning and development.
Our second initiative focuses on the transformative work of K9s for Warriors. This organization plays a crucial role in aiding soldiers battling PTSD by providing them with trained service animals. Remarkably, 60% of these dogs are rescued from local shelters, giving them a new lease on life. The results are profound: 92% of soldiers with service animals experience a reduction in medication. We are excited to build a stronger relationship with K9s for Warriors and look forward to participating in several events with them in the coming months. Our support for mental health is closely connected to our focus on wellness and our commitment to achieving operational excellence through transformational efforts.
Lastly, we are deeply involved with Soldier’s Angels, a hands-on organization dedicated to providing practical support to veterans in need. This is the largest organization that directly supports the Veterans Administration Hospital network and beyond. We have identified three key cities —Dallas, Denver, and Orlando—where our local teams are eager to make a difference. This is also the largest organization that provides food to homeless veterans in need. As a handson organization, this partnership is where we will truly shine.
As we continue to support these organizations, we will provide opportunities for individuals to get involved and make a difference. I encourage all employees to join our leadership in dedicating their time and efforts to support veterans in our communities. Let’s come together and make a UNITED impact!
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
THROUGH BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL, 2021) & INFLATION REDUCTION ACT (IRA, 2022) DOE SECURES $97B IN RENEWABLE ENERGY FUNDS
Focused on achieving carbon-free electricity in the U.S. by 2035 & a net-zero economy by 2050, the US DOE is pushing to improve the current electric grid to handle forecasted growth.
Grid Resilience & Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program:
• $10.5 billion in funding.
• Aims to accelerate the deployment of transformative projects to ensure infrastructure reliability.
• 3 Funding Mechanisms:
Grid Resilience Utility & Industry Grants ($2.5B)
Grantsfund projects modernizing the electric grid to withstand extreme weather & natural disasters, providing funding to grid operators, storage operators, generators, transmission & distribution providers, & fuel suppliers.
Smart Grid Grants ($3B)
Smart Grid Grants fund projects to improve grid flexibility, efficiency, & reliability, focusing on increasing transmission capacity, preventing faults, integrating renewables, & accomodating electric vehicles & buildings.
Grid Innovation Program ($5B)
Grid Innovation Program funds collaborative projects to enhance grid resilience & reliability through innovative transmission, storage, & distribution solutions.
Oct. 18, 2023 - DOE announces 3.46 Billion for 58 Projects across 44 Sites. AUG. 6, 2024 - DOE announces 2.2 Billion for 8 Projects across 18 states (falls under the Grid Innovation Program)
Through the IRA & BIL, the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations was funded $25B to deliver clean energy projects.
• Beginning in Nov. of 2021 the OCED has put out funding opportunities & prize money for solving specific issues.
• Over 27 Projects have been put into motion by the OCED to help fight the rising demand of the grid, with more planned in the coming years.
• They have totaled ~$25B in finding/prize money offered/received for clean energy innovations since 2021.
Major investments have been:
• $7 Billion - “to establish regional clean hydrogen hubs across America”
• $6.3 Billion - “to accelerate decarbonization projects in energy-intensive industries”
• $3.5 Billion - “to develop four domestic direct air capture hubs. Each will demonstrate a DAC technology or suite of technologies at a commercial scale with the potential for capturing at least 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) annually from the atmosphere”
• $2.5 Billion - “to speed up the demonstration of advanced reactors”
In summary, every week the DOE is releasing more funds for clean energy to help improve the US Grod. The programs above paint this picture well. Providing the hardware infrastructure to support these projects is a market that is growing, as the demand is growing. The US Government has shown a commitment to the advancement of clean energy as well as reinforcing a strained grid. Getting the US to net-zero by 2050 will be difficult but with the help of programs like this, it is possible.
Source: AIP, Energy.gov, DOE, OCED, GreenBiz
Contact James Byerly for more information: james@creteunited.com | (469) 928-2024
SUSTAINABILITY
EXTREME HEAT
NAVIGATING THE DANGERS OF EXTREME HEAT
Imagine stepping outside and feeling like you’ve walked into an oven – the sun beats down mercilessly, the air feels like you’re breathing in fire, and the sidewalk is so hot you fear your shoes might melt. This is the harsh reality of living through a heat wave, and it is a reality that many Americans are experiencing more frequently than ever before. As global temperatures continue to rise, extreme heat events are turning our cities into furnaces and posing a threat to our health and well-being. As we near the end of another sweltering summer, let’s explore why this is happening and what we can do to protect ourselves and our communities.
THE REALITY OF RISING TEMPERATURES
Heat waves themselves are not new – there are numerous historical accounts of previous generations coping with extreme heat in times before nearly 90% of U.S. households used air conditioning. However, in recent years, climate change has fueled a rise in global temperatures – 2023 was the warmest year since global records began in 1850 – and, the data show that heat waves, prolonged periods of abnormally hot weather, are becoming more frequent and severe:
With a greater understanding of these trends in heat waves, it is imperative for us to consider how this extreme heat affects us, our communities, and our environment.
IMPACTS OF EXTREME HEAT
The extreme heat that we are experiencing presents several significant threats. One of the primary impacts of extreme heat on the human population comes in the form of heat-related illnesses and increased mortality rates. Increases in temperature can lead to heat exhaustion, heatstroke, dehydration, and even death, and these effects are particularly pronounced among more vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and people with pre-existing health conditions. Extreme heat can also disproportionately harm folks in regions that are not accustomed to heat waves or communities that lack accessible cooling facilities. High temperatures can also exacerbate air pollution, leading to respiratory problems and aggravating conditions like asthma.
Beyond the direct impact on human health and well-being, extreme heat can also have a significant impact on the built environment. In recent years, a tragically prominent example of this impact is the increasing frequency and severity of wildfires – damaging property and, in many cases, destroying entire communities. Extreme heat can also damage infrastructure in less immediate ways through deterioration of roads, railways, and buildings, leading to costly repairs sooner than might otherwise be expected. Finally, heat waves increase the demand for cooling, which puts stress on power grids and leads to increased energy costs and outages.
Data Source: NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). (2024)
CRETE UNITED TALOS
PEERS RECOGNIZED FOR KUDOS/FEEDBACK OBSERVATIONS IN TALOS
APA
Andre Contois
Manuel Matute
Anthony Impelluso
Henry Seibold
James Lawlor
Jay Zimmerman
Justin Pfeifer
Kevin Swayne
Meagan Amato
Michael Ovitt
Sean Mcchain
Matthew Pfeiffer
CSI
Alexander Rojas
Anthony Baldocchi
Christopher Bednar
Joel Byerly
Rodney Barta
Crosby Electric
Colin Chandler
Corey Mccurry
Cory Lamb
Jaquez Myrick
Jason Coulter
Jeff Brandt
Michael Ousley
FSSI
Cody Bishop
Earl Lake
Edward Price
Jesus Jaime
John Palmer
IMA
Alexander Nguyen
Brentlee Metcalf
Brodrick Stewart
Brycen Woolard
Chaynann Hernandez
Corey Dubesko
Gavin Brooks
German Espinoza
Herman Johnson
John Burgess
Kevin Navarro
Luke Scism
Matthew King
Noah Wright
Oscar Vasquez
Pedro Navarro Miranda
Robert Stallings
Major Mechanical
Brent Contreras
David Sawatzke
Richard Grandelli
Nielsen
Aaron Lyons
Graham Staggs
Jason Thorpe
Jonathan Hernandez
Ricky Wilken
Shane Citron
Thomas Hartshorn
Piper Electric
Arturo Ramos
Austin Fiala
Brandon Novak
Bryan Mccullough
Carlos Vasquez
Daniel Baxter
Drew Hoffmann
Dylan Pokorny
John Kidd
John Wathen
Kyle Geitner
Marc Escobedo
Matthew Manzanares
Michael Evans
Michael Goldrick
Omero Salas
Steven Fritchell
Thomas Reiva
MVP AWARD NOMINATIONS
William Bilodeaux
Zackary Banfill
Adam Weatherfield
Stanmark Electric
Danielle Kelley
Leif Hayes
Price Jackson
Sara Jernigan
Travis Quinlan
Tyler Radley
TraMar
Adam Barela
Carl Gehm
Dallas Williams
Terry Rhoton
PARTNER NEWS
KUDOS
NEW HIRES, ANNIVERSARIES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
NEW HIRES
Crete United
Laura Steinbrink - President of Sustainability
Connor Henderson - Project Manager CBS
Ambrose Alward - Salesforce Admin
RELCO
Paul Sarrategui - Safety Officer
Jacopo Benetello - BIM Manager
Andrew Rothwell - Apprentice
Jayden Amaral - Apprentice
CBS
Austin Gaylor - Dispatcher
Andrea Ojeda - Controller
Pro Tech Mechanical
Richard Trenbath - Operations Manager
RECENT PROJECT WINS
Hillard Electric
City of Grand Rapids Substation Replacement - $2.8M
Verizon Docking Station - $1.08M - Cross-Sell with Piper that led to Verizon Eau Claire, WI Project- $588K
Hudsonville Schools Camera Project - $593K
Grandville Clean Water Plant - $511K
ProStar
Airbus Solar Project RFP - $3.3M
Pro Tech Mechanical
Tuloso-Midway Primary School – $2.44M
University of Houston, Victoria - PM Contract
Stanmark Electric
New Build home with Elite - $130K
New Build home with Montare - $126K
New Build with General Contractor DMH - $125K
ANNIVERSARIES
CBS
2 Years: TJ Thomas
2 Years: Heather Hutter
2 Years: Alejandro Loiz
Pro Tech Mechanical
14 Years: Robert Sader
8 Years: Jeremy Fojtik
4 Years: Bryan Baker
PROMOTIONS
AC Corporation
Brad Poe, Dir. of Pre-Construction & Startegic Accounts
RELCO
Caitlyn Turner - Telecom Coordinator
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
RELCO
Caitlyn Turner - MA Journeyman License
Hillard Electric
Recently became members of ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors) of West Michigan
Pro Tech Mechanical
Grand opening of the Pro Tech Houston office
Dynaire + AC Corp
Cherry Point Recognition for Safe Work Activities
SAFETY TOPIC
BRAKE SAFETY WEEK
PROTECTING THE ROAD WITH PROACTIVE INSPECTIONS
Brake Safety Week is a commercial motor vehicle and driver inspection and regulatory compliance enforcement initiative, a brake-safety awareness and outreach opportunity, & a brake-related inspection & violation data-collection project.
INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT
CVSA-certified inspectors will conduct routine commercial motor vehicle inspections throughout the week, focusing on brake systems and components. Commercial motor vehicles found to have brake-related out-of-service violations will be removed from roadways until those violations are corrected.
For this year’s Brake Safety Week, inspectors will focus on the condition of brake linings and pads. Brake lining and pad issues may result in vehicle violations and could affect a motor carrier’s safety rating.
In addition, some jurisdictions have performance-based brake testers (PBBT) and will be using them during Brake Safety Week. A PBBT is a machine that assesses the braking performance of a vehicle.
AWARENESS AND OUTREACH
Educational efforts by inspectors, motor carriers and others in the industry take place during Brake Safety Week and are integral to the success of the campaign.
In addition to educational outreach by law enforcement agencies, transportation safety organizations and individual officers, CVSA also aims to help prepare drivers, motor carriers, owner-operators and mechanics for this year’s Brake Safety Week.
• View the inspector’s inspection procedure
• Download a checklist that outlines the tools needed to inspect S-cam brakes, what to look for and how to measure pushrod stroke.
• Learn about the components of the vehicle that the inspector will check.
• Download a flyer with 10 brake lining and pad tips.
Brake Safety Week also serves as a reminder to drivers and motor carriers of the importance of a proactive vehicle maintenance program and provides an opportunity for law enforcement to highlight the importance of brake safety.
WHY CONDUCT BRAKE SAFETY WEEK?
Brake-related violations comprise the largest percentage of all out-of-service vehicle violations cited during roadside inspections. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s 2023 vehicle violation data, six out of the top 20 vehicle violations were brake related. And last year’s CVSA International Roadcheck results showed that brake-system violations was the top vehicle violation, comprising 25.2% of all vehicle out-of-service violations during that three-day data snapshot of roadside inspections.
Brake Safety Week aims to improve commercial motor vehicle brake safety throughout North America. The goal is to eliminate roadway crashes caused by braking systems on commercial motor vehicles by conducting roadside inspections and educating drivers, mechanics, large- and small-fleet motor carriers, owner-operators and others on the importance of proper brake inspection, maintenance and operation.
DO YOU NEED MARKETING OR EVENT SUPPORT?
Please Submit Your Marketing/Event Request Below:
Designed for use by both employees and partners, this new tool aims to streamline communication and centralize all event requests. Once submitted your request will be reviewed and somone from the Marketing team will be in touch with you shortly.
PUBLIC CORPORATE MARKETING FOLDER
We would like to remind you about our newly enhanced public Crete corporate marketing folder! Based on your valuable feedback, we’ve streamlined the process to make accessing Crete United’s marketing materials even easier.
CRETE UNITED BUSINESS CARDS
NEW ORDERING PROCESS
When ordering select Original Paper, Square Corners & Matte Finish
Crete United has partnered with MOO to simplify your business card orders! In just a few clicks, you can easily create and order your business cards using our official Crete United template.
PARTNER RESOURCES
HUMAN RESOURCES
EASY WAYS TO CONTROL YOUR PRESCRIPTION COSTS
Your VeracityRx prescription plan provides multiple opportunities to pay less for the medications you need: The result is sustainable savings like this: Choose VeracityRx Preferred Pharmacies:
• All independent pharmacies and grocery stores are considered preferred. Avoid non-preferred pharmacies –CVS, Target, Walgreens and Rite Aid – where you’ll have a higher copay. Here are a few examples of how you can save on commonly prescribed medications filled at a preferred pharmacy:
* Final out-of-pocket amount varies if you’re enrolled in a copay plan or high-deductible plan.
• Go Generic: Ask your doctor if you can use the generic version of a brand-name drug to save on out-of-pocket costs.
• Get a 90-day Prescription: You can choose a 90-day supply of certain drugs at any preferred pharmacy, often saving you money as well as time.
• Use VeracityRx Specialty Pharmacy Services for Brand-Name & Specialty Medications: When certain medications are filled through VeracityRx’s Canadian pharmacy partner, you’ll receive a 90-day supply for a $0 copay. VeracityRx can also work to get expensive specialty medications at a reduced cost or, in some cases, no cost. To get started, complete the VeracityRx Enrollment Form at veracity-rx.com
Do You Have Pharmacy Benefit Questions?
Call VeracityRx at 888-388-8228.
Health Plan or Provider Questions?
We’re here to help. Call 888-326-7401, Opt. 2.
PARTNER RESOURCES
SALES
PARTNER SCOREBOARD - SALESFORCE UTILIZATION
Overall Score = Platform Adoption + Pipeline Health Each Metric is Worth 10 Points
Platform Adoption Score (40 Points)
• Average Salesforce login frequency is 2 or more times per week.
• Number of opportunities past due date is 0.
• Salesforce YTD closed won is 80% or more of Spectrum YTD Rev.
• Average age of closed opportunities is 2 days or more.
Pipeline Health Score (30 Points)
• At least 15% of pipeline consists of opportunities with a dollar value of $500K or less.
• Top 5 customers in the pipeline should account for less than 60% of the pipeline dollar value.
• The Goal to pipeline ratio should be 2x or greater.
For any additional training or support with Salesforce, please contact Michael Downing at Michael@creteunited.com, call 704-560-6685, or send a message in Teams
PARTNER RESOURCES
SALESFORCE
SALESFORCE SURVEY RESPONSE
Thank you for all your feedback about Salesforce, it is incredibly useful in improving Salesforce. Please know that Aparna and Ambrose have thoroughly reviewed, and we have a lot of new projects starting to address many of the issues.
Already Fixed!
Some of the items you reported are already in production and ready to use.
“We need an in-house contact to assist with issues.”
Ambrose our new Salesforce Administrator is here to help, just email SalesforceSupport@creteunited.com and a ticket will be created and tracked. For simple requests like password resets and how to questions should be solved in less than 4 business hours. More complex requests may take longer.
“I’d like to edit job info from the lists I’m sorting, not just opening the job and then having to click the back button to get to the list.”
We get it! No one likes having to go into a record to make a simple edit, and moving back and forth on pages is a real pain.
Salesforce does allow for editing fields in most reports and lists, some reports that have aggregation (grouping) rules can make some normally editable fields read only. With a few small teaks to your lists and reports they can be made to be fully editable. Just email Ambrose at SalesforceSupport@creteunited.com and he will help you edit the reports to make your data entry simpler.
Salesforce also has a new view that we are rolling out called consol view that allows you to have multiple reports and records open at the same time. This consol view will be rolled out before the end of the year.
In Development
“We haven’t had any formal training.”
It’s hard to expect users to become Salesforce experts without training. We are working quickly to make a written Salesforce quick start guide for reference. A Salesforce how to SharePoint site is being expanded for more advanced topics, and standardized live training is also being developed with a strong leave behind how to manual that can be customized for each partners unique processes.
• Quick start guide ETA: September 2024.
• SharePoint site ETA: Move added every day.
• Live training with leave behind ETA: End of Year 2024
In the meantime, you can always reach out to SalesforceSupport@creteunited.com and Ambrose will set up a 1on1 or team training for you.