Thank you for your help in producing this edition of High Spirit.
Kathy Abernethy
Ann Bless
Nevin Cooley
Danielle DeGroft
Rick Dickerson
Kathy Frey
Meghan Furr
John Hayden
Greg High
Steve High
Carolyne Jordan
Rhonda Kurtz
Lisa Masters
Michelle McCann
Tina McGinnis
Brad Mowbray
Dave Nicholas
Jane Owens
Stephanie Reese
Elaine Richard
Kelly Roeder
Laurie Salzmann
J. Seroky
Fritz Shaak
Jenni Simmons
Robin Stauffer
Kelly Tetkoskie
Update on Our 100-Year Vision Industry
The Back-Up Plan
Safety Circle Winners Compete for President’s Safety Awards
CAC Keeps the Good Times Rolling All Year Long!
HCGL Introduces Fly Ash to the Mix
GAL and HCC Work in Tandem to Design-Build QBP Facility
Company’s Roots Spark CEO’s Interest in Welding
HAL Presents Annual Economic Forecast
Art Pottery Inspired This Work of Art
Get HealthIER Winners Announced
Take the Next Step with High in the 90s
Residential Teams Hold Special Events
South Campus Chiller Plant is a Thriller!
“Can You Hear Me Now?”
Sculpture Contest Showcases HSSL Co-Workers’ Creativity and Skill
They Give Good Measure!
J. Allen Hershey, Lead Carpenter, HAL Construction Services, Lancaster, PA
Corey C. Wood, Project Superintendent, HAL Construction Services, Lancaster, PA
High Honors
High Awards
Environmental Stewardship...........18
Garden Shed is ECO-Friendly
Adopt-A-Highway Crew is Keeping it Clean and Green
Community Commitment............19 - 21
High Companies Named to United Way’s Circle of Honor
High Co-Workers Show Strong Support the YWCA’s Race Against Racism Make-A-Wish for Mothers’ Day!
SpringHill Suites Hosts ArtNight Event
HCGL Co-Workers Unite to Support Local Non-Profits
On The Cover: On The On The Cover: On The On The Cover: Co-workers at High Concrete Group LLC’s plant in Springboro, Ohio, have been busy making beautiful things out of concrete. Read about the Mercy West Hospital (upper right and lower left) on page 9, and the Ohio State University South Campus Chiller Plant (upper left and lower right) on page 12. A Message From The High Family Council. 11 - 12
High Spirit is published as a service to co-workers, retirees, and their families. Submissions, comments, and suggestions are welcome and should be submitted to:
M.
lnewmoyer@high.net (717) 293-4479 See this, and past editions of High Spirit, on High Home!
We are in the midst of an exciting time here at High!
You have heard us talk about our 100Year Vision. We have made great progress toward implementing that Vision. Most recently, we have been working with the Boards of Directors and the Executive Committee on two important components of that Vision: Co-worker Satisfaction and Governance.
Co-worker Satisfaction
Co-worker Satisfaction
Co-worker Satisfaction
Co-worker Satisfaction Satisfaction
As we wrap up the Co-worker Satisfaction Surveys across the company, we in The High Family Council are eager to hear your feedback. We appreciate the honesty and candor you demonstrated throughout this important process. At the same time, we recognize that maintaining a great work environment requires constant two-way communication. One written survey every 18 months is not enough to do it.
To that end, we encourage you to continually give feedback to your Supervisor or Human Resource Manager. They need to hear your ideas, concerns, suggestions, and views on a regular basis so that we can all work together to continuously improve every aspect of the business. We take your feedback very seriously . . . please know that you will be heard.
“We should all be concerned about the future because we will all have to spend the rest of our lives there.”
Charles F. Kettering American Inventor
And while we may not be able to implement every suggestion or change, we will work as an organization to listen to and respond to your thoughts in a timely manner. Like most of the things we do here at High®, building our culture is a team effort that requires your individual engagement and input in order for the entire company to be successful. Governance Governance
Another important component of our 100-Year Vision involves the governance structure and leadership of the company. Five years ago, The High Family Council researched extensively the governance structures of other well known, diverse, family businesses that have thrived for multiple generations. That research helped us to develop a governance structure that we believe will successfully launch us into the next century. With assistance from Dale High (Chair of the Boards), the Boards of Directors, and the Executive Committee, we were able to put that new governance structure into place in 2011.
Council
In addition to a great governance structure, we also need great leaders and coworkers who support that structure and help to make it successful. We are in the midst of planning for a leadership transition of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The Boards of Directors have assembled a search committee to help identify the next CEO of the company. This committee has been interviewing candidates, both internally and externally, in an effort to identify the best candidate to fill this role for our organization. The High Family Council has been, and will continue to be, very engaged in this process. We are excited about the many highly qualified individuals who have come forward and expressed interest in this position. The High Family Council appreciates your support as we move forward with this important process.
We expect the new CEO to adhere to the principles of The High Philosophy and be responsive to the needs of the organization, the Boards of Directors, and The High Family Council. At the same time, the new CEO will need to have the vision and leadership ability to take the company successfully into the future.
“We
expect the new CEO to adhere to the priciples of The High Philosophy and to be responsive to the needs of the organization
. . .”
Greg High
These are just a few of the most recent accomplishments toward the implementation of our 100-Year Vision. We appreciate your ongoing commitment to customers, co-workers, this company, and the community.
You are the reason this company is a great place to work, and we are forever grateful to you for that. We truly look forward to working with you, in the spirit of The High Philosophy, to continue giving good measure to customers, co-workers and the community for the next 100 years and more!
Greg High
The High Family Council, Chair High Company LLC, Vice President, Corporate Culture
S. Dale High, founder of The High Center for Family Business at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, was the recipient of its Hall of Fame Award for a lifetime of success. The High Center Family Business Forum is a unique two-part annual event focused on family-owned and small businesses.
Dale, who recently marked 51 years of service with High® , is Chair of the company’s Boards of Directors.
BCP – you may have heard the term used here at High®. BCP is an acronym for Business Continuity Plan, a plan that is set in motion when an adverse event occurs that affects our business operations, such as a fire, a sprinkler system failure, or storm. The plans are designed to minimize interruption to our business and to allow us to resume operations as quickly as possible.
BCPs are developed to focus on responding to a loss of a critical business function, such as loss of a facility, utilities, computer systems, equipment, and so on. By developing the plans to respond to the loss of a critical business function rather than a particular event, the plans are more versatile. For example, the response to losing a particular critical business function such as a facility – whether through a flood, fire, or storm damage – are all very similar. Operations need to be relocated, damages assessed, and plans developed to repair the damage.
Since 2008, High has had BCPs in place for each of the High companies. The plans include disaster impact assessment, timetables, action plans, plans for implementing long- and short-term alternate operations, contingency plans to replace lost equipment, and contingency plans to use other High offices and resources in the event of facility loss. To keep these BCPs current, we review them periodically and make the necessary revisions.
You may have experienced the enactment of one of these plans. For example, in 2009 when H1N1 flu was threatening to develop into a pandemic, we enacted our Pandemic Preparedness Plan. Luckily, this plan only reached the level of initial response, which involved increasing awareness, placing hand sanitizers in restrooms, encouraging everyone to get a flu shot, and monitoring the effect of the flu on our business operations. This BCP helped us prepare to maintain business operations in case the H1N1 flu became a major outbreak, which fortunately did not happen.
High is committed to building trustworthy relationships. This commitment includes continuing delivery of our products and services, even in the event of a disaster. To support that commitment, we have developed and regularly exercise Business Continuity Plans that help ensure our ability to serve our customers and sustain our Company – no matter what obstacles we encounter.
When a fire occurred at Westbury Mews earlier this year, High’s BCP provided guidance, enabling the Summerville, South Carolina, apartment community’s staff to continue serving its residents.
The Annual Safety Summit, hosted by the High ® Corporate Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Department, is a celebration to recognize the outstanding safety efforts and performance of High businesses and properties. The eight Safety Circle Winners – four from Hotels/ Properties and four from Manufacturing/Construction – used PowerPoint presentations, props, and video to highlight their achievements in safety, and to explain why they deserved to win a coveted President’s Safety Award.
Hotels/Properties Award: Award: Mark Fitzgerald, President and Chief Operating Officer for High Real Estate Group LLC, and Tina McGinnis, Regional Manager Residential (accepting the award on behalf of Westbury Mews).
Hotels/Properties
“Making safety personal is the key to a successful safety program.”
Fritz Shaak Director of Environmental Health andSafety High Companies
According to Fritz Shaak, Director of Environmental Health and Safety for High, “Making safety personal is the key to a successful safety program.” While making it personal may be the key to a successful safety program, making it fun was the key to this successful Safety Summit. This year, co-workers were especially inventive, using a March Madness theme, a “Ghost Busters” movie spoof, and a parody of a Taylor Swift song. High Steel Service Center LLC presented a video of a very funny – and very loose – interpretation of a “Law and Order” episode, complete with special effects and safety-themed commercials. High Concrete Group LLC in Springboro, Ohio, featured co-workers’ children in a video to explain why working safely is important to co-workers and families, alike.
With such great safety records and such creative presentations, choosing a winner in each division was especially tough for the High Executive
Committee. In the end, safety records trumped creativity; the Properties/ Hotel award was presented to Westbury Mews Apartments, Summerville, South Carolina, and High Steel Structures LLC, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, took the Manufacturing/Construction award.
Thank you, co-workers, for your personal commitment to working safely!
HOTELS/PROPERTIES HOTELS/PROPERTIES
Hilton Garden Inn-Wilkes-Barre
Orchard Ridge Apartments
W W estbury Mews Apartments Mews Apartments
Homewood Suites by Hilton-Harrisburg West
MANUF
High Construction Company
High Steel Service Center LLC
High Concrete Group LLC
High Steel Structures LLC
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Pottstown, Pennsylvania
PRESENTER(S)
Brian Womach
Summerville, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina
Summerville, South Carolina Carolina
Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Springboro, Ohio
Lancaster Lancaster Lancaster Lancaster Lancaster, P ,, Pennsylvania ennsylvania
Kathryn Sylvia, Steve Walker Tina McGinnis
To keep the good times rolling through the Summer, CAC is holding its annual Summertime Postcard Fun contest, giving co-workers the opportunity to win prizes by mailing post cards that meet the contest’s criteria from their vacation destinations.
Thank you, CAC, for planning a variety of fun events throughout the year that promote camaraderie and fun for co-workers and their families!
McGinnis
McGinnis
McGinnis
McGinnis
Keith Komon and David Jacobs
PRESENTER(S)
Matt Twomey
Randy Horning, Jim McEvoy, Jim Simmons
Alan Schnipke
Steve Johnston Steve Steve Johnston Steve
The High® Co-worker Activities Committee (CAC) sponsors fun events to encourage hard-working co-workers to play hard. In the first half of 2014, the group sponsored monthly activities, including a Philadelphia 76ers basketball game, a Hershey Bears hockey game, a Movie Night featuring “Rio 2”, a Reading Fightin’ Phils baseball game, and an event at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, which included an all-you-can-eat old-fashioned cookout.
High Concrete Group LLC (HCGL) is now blending fly ash into its precast concrete for structural members of parking garages. The practice is helping to save costs and make the finished pieces stronger and more sustainable.
A by-product of coal burning, fly ash is a supplementary cementitious material (SCM) that takes the place of some of the Type III gray cement that binds the aggregates in structural concrete mixes. Use of fly ash lowers costs while improving concrete durability and workability. It also helps the environment by keeping useful material out of landfills.
To make fly ash concrete possible, HCGL invested in a new silo in its Denver, Pennsylvania, Batch Plant. The new silo delivers silica fume, freeing another silo for fly ash. “We brought the fly ash on-line this spring,” said George Savant, HCGL’s Quality Control Supervisor. “Fly ash was approved for the University of Pennsylvania Health Sciences parking garage, so we decided to go forward with it.” The garage project is underway at 3600 Civic Center Boulevard in Philadelphia.
“We are using a significant percentage of fly ash and seeing 28 day strengths over 7,000 pounds-per-square-inch, which is right where we expected to be.”
The fly ash capability joins Denver’s new slurrified silica fume delivery system, which is one of the few of its kind in the country. Also an SCM, the silica fume is pre-measured, then mixed with water and blended to within two-tenths of a pound. In addition, the Denver team is investigating other SCMs and admixtures to further lower costs and improve product performance.
High Construction Company (HCC) was selected as the design-builder for QEast, Quality Bicycle Part’s (QBP) East Coast distribution center. HCC was awarded the project based on its relationship with Greenfield Architects Ltd. (GAL). According to Bob Walsh, Vice President of Project Management for HCC, “The owner always wanted a true design-builder. Greenfield Architects is able to provide High Construction with in-house design, which QBP liked.”
The 120,000 square-foot facility will be located on a 19-acre site at the Lime Spring development in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. To reflect the area’s rich agricultural heritage, the building’s façade features a mix of red vertical metal panels and veneer stone, metal sloped roof accents, and narrow, elongated windows resembling the vertical ventilation slits of a barn. “Blending into the community from both an aesthetic and operational standpoint was important to QBP. We worked together to achieve that through the facility’s design,” says Frank Fox, Principal of GAL.
Q-East will incorporate many LEED concepts and is designed to achieve ENERGY STAR ® certification. HCC, the design-builder and eventual ENERGY STAR certifier for the project, was involved early in the process to assist the team in maximizing energy efficiency and savings. Integrating dimmable LED lighting with Solatube skylights to automatically respond and adjust to lighting needs provides one opportunity for significant energy savings, as does the open office design which provides ample natural lighting. Bike racks for employees and guests, showers, lockers, a bike path to the building, and a bike wash station encourage active transportation.
“We are thrilled to work with QBP and like-minded firms who are committed to reducing their carbon footprints,” says John Hayden, Director for Engineering Solutions for HCC’s Energy Solutions Group. “Taking a holistic view from the onset of their project enabled the project team to identify unusual opportunities, such as casual employee dress, and incorporate them into the facility’s energy-efficient design and operation.”
QBP expects orders to begin shipping from the new location in the first quarter of 2015.
A rendering of Q-East, a design-build project by Greenfield Architects Ltd. and High Construction Company.
Frank Smolar, Weld Test Trainer for High Steel Structures LLC, has helped many co-workers develop their welding skills. Recently, he faced a special challenge; teaching High’s Chief Executive Officer, Nevin Cooley, to weld.
Nevin admits he got off to a slow start, and he has an arsenal of funny stories to support that. In the end, he learned the craft well enough to weld steel together to form a custom fireplace grate.
Co-workers who helped Nevin with the project quipped that this grate is so sturdy that it is the last one he will ever need in hisand perhaps even in his children’s - lifetimes, and that they may even need to use a crane to lift it into his truck. As a memento of this learning experience and of his career with the Company, the grate even has the High® logo prominently displayed on the front.
When asked why he wanted to try his hand at welding, Nevin said, “I decided that I could not retire without learning the craft upon which this Company was built.” While it is doubtful that Frank would recommend Nevin quit his day job to take on welding full-time, it is good to know that our CEO’s interests, skills, and work knowledge reach beyond the boardroom.
Earlier this year, High Associates Ltd. (HAL) presented its annual economic forecast for the Lancaster County commercial/industrial real estate market. Held at the Lancaster County Convention Center, the presentation is part of a monthly lecture series offered by the Commercial and Industrial (C&I) Real Estate Council, a part of the Lancaster County Association of Realtors (LCAR). Approximately 125 real estate professionals and interested community members attended. Mark Fitzgerald, President and Chief Operating Officer of High Real Estate Group LLC, Michael Lorelli, Senior Vice President of Commercial Asset Management, and Linford Good, Senior Vice President of Brokerage Services, were presenters for this lecture.
HAL surveys Lancaster County annually to gauge the health of the commercial/ industrial real estate market. This field research of more than 300 for-lease buildings measures vacancy rates and net absorption that occurred during the calendar year. The Lancaster County industrial market is reviewed as a whole, while research of office and flex products is restricted to the City of Lancaster and the surrounding municipalities of East Lampeter, Manheim, Lancaster, and East Hempfield Townships, where most development activities have historically occurred.
In addition to this primary research, HAL works closely with LCAR to review its property database. Other sources used in preparation of the annual economic forecast are electronic sources such as MLS (Multiple Listing Services) and CoStarTM, a provider of information, analytics and marketing services to the commercial real estate industry.
Clockwise from the top: Mark Fitzgerald, Mike Lorelli, and Lin Good provided real estate professionals and interested community members with Lancaster County’s commercial/ industrial real estate market forecast.
Mercy Health West Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, brings a new level of health care to the city’s west side. With a design inspired by Ohio’s tradition of art pottery production, this full-service facility has a one-of-a-kind exterior wall system comprised of 11 different colors and 19 shapes of glazed brick tiles. The series of radiused wall panels and spandrels features 62,000 square feet of glazed tiles laid in a gradient pattern from blue to light green. The architectural precast pieces were produced by High Concrete Group LLC’s Springboro, Ohio, plant.
In addition to its beauty, the building features a green roof, which helps to maintain cooler building temperatures in Summer, while lessening storm water run-off.
The 12-week Get HealthIER Challenge encouraged all High® co-workers to log food and exercise in an effort to build awareness and improve their health. For ten co-workers, the Challenge was even greater as they competed for big prizes! In the end, Cooper Consulting Partners selected the following winners based on their progress toward personal goals and improvements to their biometric screening key health indicators.
Shawn E Shawn E . W . W . W . W agner agner agner agner
Leadperson
Leadperson
Leadperson
Leadperson
High Steel Structures LLC
High Steel Structures LLC
High Steel Structures LLC
High Steel Structures LLC
High ... lost a total of 74 pounds. Since the Fall 2013 biometric screenings, he saw improvements of 4.5 inches in waist circumference, 31 points in triglycerides, 27 points in glucose, and 22 points in blood pressure.
George G. Burnley
George G. Burnley
George G. Burnley Burnley
George G. Burnley
Senior Engineer Senior Engineer Senior Engineer Senior Engineer Senior Engineer
High Concrete Group LLC
High Concrete Group Concrete Group ... lost a total of 35 pounds. Since the Fall 2013 screenings, he saw improvements of 5 inches in waist circumference, 25 points in LDL and 3 points in HDL, 39 points in triglycerides, and 14 points in glucose.
Jennifer L. Simmons Jennifer L. Simmons
Jennifer L. Simmons Jennifer L. Simmons Simmons Corporate Benefits Corporate Benefits Corporate Benefits Corporate Benefits Corporate
Administrator Administrator Administrator Administrator Administrator
High Company LLC High Company LLC High Company LLC High Company LLC ... lost a total of 17 pounds. Since the Fall 2013 screenings, she saw improvements of 3 inches in waist circumference, 13 points in LDL, 35 points in triglycerides, 25 points in glucose, and 30 points in blood pressure.
All participants were awarded points based on measurable key indicators, as well as for blogging, participating in health coaching, completing food and exercise logs, and posting on Facebook. Winners were determined by the greatest number of points. Following are the overall results.
4Harry A. Nash
5Sally
6Charissa
7Jasmine
8Coleman
9Clarissa D. Morgan
10R.
Concrete Group LLCDenver, Pennsylvania
By making healthy changes, contestants collectively realized the following improvements to their biometric numbers.
Congratulations to the contestants, and to all High co-workers who participated in the Get HealthIER Challenge, for taking a healthy step!
Last year, 87 percent of High co-workers participated in the High Health Management Program (HMP) biometric screenings. Because your support for making healthy choices has been so strong, this year we are targeting participation of 90 percent or more for our High in the 90s Campaign.
Like last year, the 2014 biometric screenings will be held on site at most High® locations from the end of August through mid-September. Co-workers also have the option of submitting biometric values from a doctor using a Physician Reported Affidavit, which can be obtained from Corporate Benefits or your Human Resources Department.
To qualify for the preferred health care contribution rate in 2015:
Complete the biometric screening and tobacco affidavit.
2012 and/or 2013 screening participants: Meet or improve in four of six risk factors.
2013 screening non-participants: Meet four of six risk factors.
Co-workers hired after October 2013: participate in the 2014 screening event.
Co-workers who do not participate at all in 2014 will pay a higher premium in 2015.
See bulletin boards, High Home, HIGHLites screens, and the Simple Steps newsletter, which was mailed to your home, for more information. Take a healthy step by participating in High in the 90s!
After a very long, hard winter, co-workers at High Associates Ltd. (HAL) residential communities were ready to ‘spring’ into action with Easter Egg Hunts for young residents. Bentley Ridge, Greenfield Estates, and Eastwood Village, all located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, teamed up for a joint event, and a separate event was sponsored by the York Ridge team, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Matt Hensley, Ann Bless, Catrina Pena, and John Hayes provided Valet Trash service for residents of the York Ridge community.
Children enjoyed searching for candy-filled eggs, and were invited to have their photos taken with the Easter Bunny. Special thanks goes to Greenfield Estates’ Head Life Guard, Judy Weaver, and to Matt Hensley, Lead Maintenance Supervisor for York Ridge, for donning the bunny costume.
The York Ridge team also held a Resident Appreciation Week. Each day, the team offered residents special services, including Breakfast on the Go, a car wash, and Valet Trash Day.
By sponsoring fun events for the residents, these HAL co-workers demonstrate commitment to The High Philosophy, and to giving the residents who call HAL communities “home” a special neighborhood experience.
A “chiller plant” is a centralized system that cools the air, providing air conditioning for a building or collection of buildings. While a building of this type sounds as though it is very utilitarian, the South Campus Chiller Plant at Ohio State University appears to be anything but ordinary! Constructed of precast panels with a high sheen finish and featuring large glazed openings, fins of dichromic glass in the joints of the concrete panels cast colored light rays across the concrete surface. The result is a dynamic façade that changes with the time of day, season, and location of the observer.
Ross Barney Architects and Champlin Architecture worked with High Concrete Group LLC during the early design stage in developing 11 different panel types. More than 200 panels, produced by HCGL’s plant in Springboro, Ohio, were used in the South Campus Chiller Plant’s construction.
When we think of safety, noise may not be the first thing that comes to mind; however, keeping noise exposure below hazardous levels is an important aspect in a company’s safety and health program. It is also necessary to hold environmental noise at bay in order for businesses to comply with local noise ordinances, as well as to maintain good relations with the surrounding communities. Monitoring workplace and environmental noise is just one of the many services High Environmental Health and Safety Consulting Ltd. (HEHSCL) provides.
To measure and evaluate noise exposure, the HEHSCL team members choose an appropriate application from a variety of sound level meters. Because each situation is unique, monitoring times can range from as little as a few seconds to as long as 24 hours. This sometimes means that HEHSCL co-workers have to sit in the rain at 3:00 a.m. to monitor perimeter environmental noise.
When workplace or environmental noise exceeds certain thresholds, HEHSCL provides guidance for compliance and abatement to meet OSHA and local regulations. Engineering controls, such as enclosures, equipment modifications, and design changes, are used to reduce exposure. In addition, companies with hazardous workplace noise must establish comprehensive hearing conservation programs which include audiometric (hearing) testing of exposed workers. According to HEHSCL’s President, Steve High, “Hearing protection devices help to lessen exposure, but should be a last option for safeguarding employees from excessive noise.”
“Hearing protection devices help to lessen exposure, but should be a last option for safeguarding employees from excessive noise.”
Steve High President, HEHSCL
Exposure to high noise levels has been associated with hearing loss, stress, reduced productivity, interference with communication and concentration, and workplace accidents and injuries. In our personal lives, the effects of hearing loss can be profound, inhibiting our ability to participate in social activities with family and friends. Excessive noise in our neighborhoods can disrupt our daily activities and reduce quality of life. HEHSCL helps companies to monitor and, if needed, reduce noise levels to ensure employee safety, and to maintain good relationships in their local communities.
HEHSCL’s Lisa Bolin uses a meter to measure noise exposure for this firefighter.
By Tou Pha, Lancaster, Plant 1, Fabrication
Each year, the American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) holds a nationwide steel sculpture contest in conjunction with its Steel Day event. This year, High Steel Structures LLC (HSSL) co-workers submitted five works. Two of these entries – “Reflecting the High Way” and “Get a Grip” – went on for final judging at the 2014 NASCC Steel Conference, held in Toronto, Canada, earlier this year. While HSSL’s sculptures did not win the top prize, it was a great accomplishment and an honor for these works to be included in the five final entries.
Congratulations to these coworkers for representing HSSL, and for creating beautiful works of art from steel. Your innovative designs demonstrate the adaptability of steel, and contribute to a world of beauty!
By Joel Lukens and Levi Castle, Williamsport, North Bay
Lancaster, Pennsylvania
J. Allen Hershey, Lead Carpenter
Corey C. Wood, Project Superintendent
Nominator: Richard L. High
Anyone who has been through a home renovation knows how stressful it can be. The noise, the mess, and the inconvenience make everyday tasks difficult to accomplish. So when Greenfield Corporate Center tenant, ACADIA, Inc., was complimentary of the way in which the process was handled, it was impossible to ignore key players in the project’s success!
The ACADIA Executive Team praised Al Hershey for outstanding craftsmanship and communication with staff throughout the project. They were also complimentary of Corey Wood’s management of the project for keeping it on schedule and on budget. However, what earned these co-workers high marks – and a Good Measure Award –was the kindness and concern Al and Corey exhibited when dealing with clients of ACADIA, a provider of after-hospital rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injuries. From the very start of the project, Corey clearly defined his expectations for the High Associates Ltd. Construction Services crew, stressing respect for the facility’s staff and clients. According to the staff, Al’s interaction with clients says it all; “He brightened their day!”
Respecting the dignity of ACADIA’s staff and clientele, providing High quality products and services, and valuing customers and meeting their needs, means that Al and Corey truly Give Good Measure!
Ruth M. Devenney
Ruth M. Devenney
Ruth Devenney
High Associates Ltd. , High Associates Ltd. High Associates Ltd. Associates Ltd.
Ruth Devenney , High Associates Ltd.
...earned Society of Industrial and Office Realtors® (SIOR) membership. SIOR is the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association in the world. This prestigious designation is a professional symbol of the highest level of knowledge, production, and ethics in the real estate industry. Ruth joined High® in 1980, and serves as Associate Broker.
Susan Steele, High Structural Erectors LLC
Steele, High Structural Erectors LLC
Susan Steele, High Structural Erectors LLC
Steele, High Structural Erectors LLC
Susan Steele, High Structural Erectors LLC
...delivered the commencement address for graduates of The Pennsylvania Institute of Technology in Media, Pennsylvania. This private two-year college offers Associate degrees in Allied Health, Engineering Science, Business, and
Computer Science. Susan holds an Associate of Applied Science from the Institute, and is the first of its graduates to earn Professional Engineer credentials. Susan joined High® in 2001, and serves as Design Engineer.
Brett M. Dombach and Joshua M. Supplee, High Associates Ltd.
Brett Dombach and Joshua M. Supplee, Associates Ltd.
Brett M. Dombach and Joshua M. Supplee, High Associates Ltd.
Brett Dombach and Joshua M. Supplee, Associates Ltd.
Brett M. Dombach and Joshua M. Supplee, High Associates Ltd.
...were presented awards at the Apartment Association of Central Pennsylvania’s Fourth Annual Maintenance Mania in April. Brett took second place in the water heater installation competition, and Josh won third place awards for lock replacement installation, water heater installation, and the fan blade and globe installation. Brett, who joined HAL in 2012, and Josh, who joined HAL in 2013, serve as Building Maintenance-Specialized for Lancaster’s Bentley Ridge and Greenfield Estates apartment communities, respectively.
C. Denise Elliott, High Associates Ltd.
C. Denise Elliott, High Associates Ltd.
C. Denise Elliott, High Associates Ltd.
C. Denise Elliott, High Associates Ltd.
Denise
...was presented the Brilliance Award for Leasing Professional of the Year at Charleston Apartment Association’s Diamond Awards ceremony. Denise joined HAL in 2011, and serves as Marketing Representative at Westbury Mews in Summerville, South Carolina.
Staci J. Harbold and Melissa A. Mackall, High Hotels Ltd. J. Melissa A. Mackall, Hotels
Staci J. Harbold and Melissa A. Mackall, High Hotels Ltd.
...earned Spirit of Hampton Awards, recognizing top performers who impact guests, team members, the hotel, or the community. Representing less than two percent of the entire Hilton Worldwide team, this is the highest form of recognition Hilton offers to individuals. Staci joined HHL in 1992, and serves as Area Housekeeping Operations Manager for the Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites by Hilton, and TownePlace Suites (under construction) in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Missy serves as Laundry Person for Hampton Inn-Lexington Park, Maryland, and joined HHL in 1999.
...was awarded the Community Achievement Award in Central Penn Business Journal’s 2014 Women of Influence Awards. The award recognizes her leadership and achievements within the High® companies, which includes her role as Executive Director of The S. Dale High Family Foundation, as well as her extensive contributions to the community. Robin joined High in 1985, and serves as Corporate Secretary.
R. Sue Thomas, High Hotels Ltd.
R. Sue Thomas, Hotels Ltd. Hotels Ltd.
...was named the 2013 Ambassador of the Year by the Lancaster Chamber of Commerce and Industry at its awards dinner in May 2014. More than 39 Ambassador Committee Members and appointed leaders of the Chamber staff voted to award Sue this honor. Sue, who joined HHL in 2001, serves as Director of Sales and Marketing for the Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
High Associates Ltd. Associates Ltd.
High Associates Ltd.
...announced that its Building 105, located in the Rossmoyne Business Center, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was awarded fifth place overall and second in the category of Office Buildings in the EPA’s 2013 Battle of the Buildings. This annual competition recognizes buildings that improved energy efficiency, lowered utility costs, and protected health and the environment during the calendar year. In addition, Building 105 qualifies for ENERGY STAR® certification. More than 3,000 buildings were entered into the Battle of the Buildings competition. Steps taken to achieve significant improvement in the building’s energy efficiency were highlighted in the Winter 2014 edition of High Spirit. Hi Hi Hi Hi gh Hot Hot gh Hot Hot els Ltd. els Ltd. els Ltd. els Ltd. Ltd.
...received two prestigious awards at the Marriott International, Inc. Owners’ Conference in May 2014.
Horizon Award: This award recognizes the best of the best in hotel management companies that partner with Marriott, and is given to companies that own and operate brand hotels that exemplify Marriott’s “spirit to serve” philosophy and earn outstanding guest service ratings.
Spirit to Serve Award for Community Service: The award recognizes hotels that better the community through volunteerism and in-kind and cash donations, while maintaining Marriott’s high operating standards.
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...was awarded the Gold Circle Award by Marriott International, Inc. The hotel placed in the top 10 percent of the brand in Overall Guest Satisfaction for 2013.
Hampton Inn-Harrisburg W Inn-Harrisburg W est, P est, P est, P est, P ennsylvania ennsylvania
...received the Circle of Excellence Award. Presented annually, the award recognizes the top 10 percent of Hampton Inns worldwide based on Total Quality Survey.
Homewood Suites by Hilton-R Suites by Hilton-R by eading eading eading , P , P , P , P ennsylvania
...received the prestigious 2013 Connie Pride Award of Merit. The award recognizes hotels performing within the top 10 percent of the Hilton brand in categories including cleanliness and condition, adherence to brand standards, staff service as indicated by customer satisfaction scores, and the quality of the hotel’s physical accommodations.
SpringHill Suites by Marriott-Ewing, New Jersey Suites by Marriott-Ewing, New Jersey Jersey
...was awarded the Silver Circle Award by Marriott International, Inc., placing in the top 20 percent of the brand in Overall Guest Satisfaction for 2013.
Since 2012, the High ® ECO Task Force (ETF) has offered garden plots to Lancaster area co-workers. Conveniently located adjacent to Greenfield Corporate Center, this is a great use of the land, and provides a wonderful opportunity for gardeners to enjoy fresh produce and to share the bounty with others.
Earlier this year, a storage shed, left behind when a tenant vacated a nearby High-owned property, was relocated to the garden area. Not only does it give co-workers a convenient place to store garden equipment, it also underscores the ETF’s mission to . . . REDUCE - REUSE - RECYCLE.
Darryl Gordon (HCL); Jane Owens (HCL); Jenni Simmons (HCL); Zachary, Madison, Richard, Nathan, and Melissa Schaeffer (HTL); Brian Simmons (HCL), Art Weaver (HTL), and Mike Fruin (HHL).
In the Spring, the ECO Task Force assembled a crew of volunteers for an Adopt-A-Highway event. Adopt-A-Highway is a statewide beautification program coordinated by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation in which volunteers clean up assigned roadside areas at least four times annually. The High® Team was tasked with cleaning up trash and debris from the area bordering Greenfield Corporate Center at Route 30 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Thanks to volunteers, the accumulation of litter is kept at bay, making the approach to Greenfield Corporate Center cleaner and greener.
High Companies has been honored by United Way of Lancaster County with its Circle of Honor award. Inclusion in the Circle of Honor recognizes the quality of a company’s workplace campaign, employee support of and participation in United Way activities, and financial and non-monetary contributions. Michelle McCann, United Way Campaign Coordinator for High, Nevin Cooley, Chief Executive Officer for High Industries Inc. and High Real Estate Group LLC, and Robin Stauffer, High’s Corporate Secretary, accepted the award on behalf of the Company.
Businesses that receive this honor are the starsupporters of United Way and champions of the mission to GIVE, ADVOCATE, VOLUNTEER, and LIVE UNITED. This honor is made possible by High co-workers whose caring and generosity make our communities better places to live!
High ® co-workers, family members, and friends joined others in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for the YWCA’s Race Against Racism . This annual event builds awareness of the negative impact of racism, and raises funds for anti-racism programs.
“The Race Against Racism shows the unity of the Lancaster community and its overwhelming support of this very important cause,” said High Steel Structures LLC’s Michelle McCann, coordinator of the High team. “I am pleased with the number of co-workers, family members, and friends who join the High team in the Race Against Racism.
Thank you to all who participated in this important community event!
High Transit LLC observed a Mother’s Day tradition by taking part in the Annual Truck Convoy to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Philadelphia and the Susquehanna Valley. Steve McFadden and Jason Moore, HTL Overthe-Road Truck Drivers, participated using HTL’s trucks to haul smaller vintage High trucks. This event raises awareness and funds to support MakeA-Wish, an organization that fulfills wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.
The SpringHill Suites by Marriott in Ewing, New Jersey, hosted its second annual ArtNight event, partnering with Ewing High School (EHS) to exhibit student works for hotel guests and the surrounding community. The hotel lobby was transformed into an art gallery for the evening, where EHS students displayed sculptures, paintings, drawings, and ceramics for guests and neighbors to enjoy.
“ArtNight complements the SpringHill Suites brand’s focus on style and design, while paying tribute to local art and education,” said Pat Brogan, General Manager of the hotel. “We are proud to offer this experience to Ewing High School students, the community, and our guests.”
ArtNight is the brand’s award-winning experiential platform that allows more than 3,000 hotels across the country to connect guests with local communities, while providing local artists outlets to showcase their talent.
“ArtNight complements the SpringHill Suites brand’s focus on style and design,while paying tribute to local art and education.”
Patt Brogan General Manager
Scott Cirello, Chief Engineer and head of the hotel’s “We Care” committee, spearheaded the event, and was assisted by committee members Brittany Laning, Kendall Murphy, Felicia Odom, Antoinette Avezzano, and Greg Werner. They arranged fundraising events, including co-worker bake sales and a raffle.
Guests were treated to refreshments, and enjoyed classical music performed by the EHS student quartet. Alex Mason, a hotel Breakfast Host and music major at a local college, topped off the evening with a flute solo. Amanda Garrison, an EHS student of photography and daughter of co-worker Mary Garrison, served as the photographer for the event.
This fundraiser demonstrates High Hotels Ltd.’s commitment to giving back to the communities in which they do business, and is in keeping with The High Philosophy.
High Concrete Group LLC (HCGL) has challenged its co-workers to give back to the communities in which they live and work through its Community Involvement Initiative. Over the past several months, co-workers have united for a number of events that have benefited non-profit organizations in and around Denver, Pennsylvania.
Earlier this year, the HCGL Engineering Team, led by Rob Heagy, conducted a food drive on behalf of Ephrata Area Social Services. Co-workers at the Denver campus were encouraged to donate nonperishable food items, canned goods, and paper supplies. This organization was happy to receive these several boxes of food and other items at a time of year when donations typically taper off.
Another recipient of HCGL’s community service efforts was Ten Thousand Villages in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. The Project Management Team, under the leadership of Dan Pietropola and Kevin Zynn, spent an afternoon helping to pack and ship products for this fair trade organization. Ten Thousand Villages was founded in 1946 to help create opportunities for artisans in developing countries to earn income by bringing their products and stories to markets in the United States.
A third initiative, spearheaded by Denver’s Estimating Team and led by Stacey Hanks, focused on supporting furry friends at the Humane League. Donations of food, towels, bedding, and other items were collected and donated to the organization.
During 2014, each functional area of HCGL has plans to lead a service project. Thank you, Denver co-workers, for your commitment to organizations that support those in need in your community!
