Contributors
Thank you for your help in producing this edition of High Spirit.
Kathy Abernethy
Ann Bless
Bob Cisneros
Sean Conlin
Jim Cunningham
Liz Ford
Frank Fox
April Homerski
Carolyne Jordan
Mary Kreider
Durelle Leaman
Aidalis Lopez
Mark Lukes
Lisa Masters
Tina McGinnis
Ronnie Medlock
Dave Nicholas
Mindy Nolt
Jane Owens
Bob Pabst
Kathy Prime
Stephanie Reese
Elaine Richard
Fran Richards
Amanda Salvo
Laurie Salzmann
Mike Shirk
Robin Stauffer
Chuck Weyland
High Spirit
In This Issue . . .
Fall 2016
● A Message From The Chief Executive Officer.1 - 14
❖ The 2016 High Forum: FORWARD
● Industry Leadership........... .....5 - 21
❖ Plaques Are a Display of High Hotels’ Pride of Family Ownership
❖ GAL Designs New Technology Center for Thaddeus Stevens College
❖ CAC Kicks Up the Fun Factor for High’s 85th Anniversary Celebration
❖ High Companies Mobilize Resources to Deliver State-of-the-Art Campus
❖ HCG Expands Midwest Sales Activity
❖ eLearning Comes to High
❖ HCC Begins Landis Homes Construction
❖ High Co-Workers and Spouses Know Their Numbers!
❖ HSS Steel Day Fall Open House Boasts Record Attendance
❖ HIGHSL Quality Helps HSSC Maintain a Trustworthy Relationship
❖ The S. Dale High Family Foundation Awards College Scholarships
❖ President Profile: John W. O’Quinn III, HSS
❖ GMA Grand Prize Winners Named
❖ They Give Good Measure!
● Samantha N. Martin, Quality Control Technician II, HCG, Denver, PA
● Catherine M. Birdsall, Administrative Coordinator I, HAL, Sarasota, FL
● Adam B. Blandy, Night Auditor, HHL, Hampton Inn-Harrisburg West, PA
● George A. Savant, Quality Control/Batch Supervisor, HCG, Denver, PA
● Jacqueline “JJ” Chronister, Director of Sales and Marketing, Staci J. Harbold, Area Housekeeping Manager, David C. Jacobs, General Manager, and Bradford R. M. Wright, Maintenance Technician II, HHL, TownePlace Suites-Harrisburg West, PA
● David H. Green, Final Finisher A, HCG, Springboro, OH
❖ Pietropola Named Forty Under 40
❖ High Honors and Awards
● Environmental Stewardship..............22
❖ From Scraps to Dust, HSS Recycles It All!
● Community Commitment........ ....23-25
Co-Workers and Retirees Give Generously to Support United Way
United Way Recognizes High for Its Support
Co-Workers Unite for a Day of Caring
“Bridge Mania” Inspires Future Bridge Builders
On The Cover: On The On The Cover: On The Durelle Leaman, Engineering Technician for High Steel Structures LLC, traveled to the Greenfield Arch Bridge job site in Pittsburgh, PA, to photograph the erection of these complicated arches. He is also responsible for the photos of the New New York Bridge co-worker job site visit on the back cover of High Spirit.
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:
Laurie M. Newmoyer, Editor lnewmoyer@high.net ● (717) 293-4479
See this, and past editions of High Spirit, on High Home!
The 2016 High Forum: FORWARD
The following is an excerpt from comments made by Mike Shirk, CEO, at this year’s High Forum, the theme of which was “Forward”. The High Forum is an annual “state of the company” meeting with management.
Today’s theme is one simple word . . . FORWARD. I ask you to think about the ways in which we are:
✔ Moving our customers FORWARD.
✔ Moving our co-workers FORWARD.
✔ Moving our companies FORWARD.
✔ Moving our communities FORWARD.
Let’s start with a view of our five key strategic priorities across the High companies. At the highest level, these are the areas we will be differentially focused on. They have not changed from a year ago!
1)We must successfully execute and grow our real estate pipeline. That means delivering on the projects right in front of us and filling the pipeline of new opportunities.
2)We will go on offense in our industrial businesses, improving our returns while making purposeful decisions about where to focus/invest, driving those areas with unwavering conviction.
3)The High companies were built over 85 years with an incredible spirit of entrepreneurship and innovation. We will reinvigorate that spirit to help shape our companies for the future.
4)We will be a strong positive force in our communities. That means giving of our time and talents and partnering with organizations that can make an impact.
5)And last but not least is supercharging organizational and talent development. Put simply, developing our workforce for the future is Priority #1. When we do that well, everything else I just mentioned becomes possible.
We will drive these while living The High Philosophy every day. These priorities are easy to say, yet tough to do, and we are proud of what you are accomplishing.
Execute and grow our real estate pipeline:
Last year we outlined an aggressive agenda of developing the mixed-use Crossings project, adding eight hotels, doubling the number of multi-family units under management and helping to fuel that growth through outstanding core portfolio management.
The Crossings at Conestoga Creek: We are getting close! This will be High Real Estate Group’s largest development, consisting of a retail center anchored by Wegmans, a 250-unit apartment community, and an extended-stay hotel. There is
Mike Shirk
A rendering of High Real Estate Group’s largest development, The Crossings at Conestoga Creek.
much excitement about this project. A year ago we were on the “50-yard line” relative to being ready to break ground. Today, our lease with Wegmans is signed and we are on the “5-yard line” with our approvals. The team is pushing very hard to get over the final hurdles and move FORWARD!
High Hotels: We are well on our way to meeting the goal. Our new hotel in Mount Laurel, NJ will be opening in March 2017, and we broke ground on a hotel in Saucon Valley, PA this past summer. We expect to break ground on the downtown Lancaster Marriott expansion in early 2017. Leading the charge is Russ Urban, President of High Hotels Ltd., who has incredible experience as an owner, operator, and developer of many branded and independent hotels.
For High Concrete Group, safety is a priority from the top down! President J. Seroky demonstrated and spoke about that commitment at the 2016 High Forum.
Multi-family: Doubling the portfolio basically means adding about 2,000 units over the next few years. In 2016, we added or initiated 300 units through the successful acquisition of Greenland Village and two new development projects. We are running a bit behind our plan on acquiring communities along the east coast; however, we have recently added resources to support this effort.
Going on offense in our industrial businesses:
The reality is that many of our industrial businesses feel the effects of a sluggish economy more than others. It is tough out there, and some of our markets have not recovered back to pre-recession levels. We have two choices … we can complain about the environment, or we can change the game and shape a more positive future for our businesses. “Going on offense” means we choose the latter.
High Concrete: We are transforming this company from a heavy reliance on parking garages to a more balanced, resilient profile through growth of architectural precast and the StructureCare ® service business. Supporting this are sales and marketing investments and a plan to become the leader in engineering and production technology in the United States. Let’s take a moment to congratulate the Concrete team, for today they are delivering the best safety, quality, and efficiency in their modern recorded history. Talk about FORWARD!
High Steel Service Center: Leveraging our product advantage from the stretcher leveler and use of analytics and new SAP implementation, this team is improving returns and now outperforming their industry. The next frontier for Service Center is providing an even stronger service advantage to go along with our
product advantage. We call this “becoming the easiest to do business with” and are spending a lot of time with customers to help shape that vision.
High Steel Structures: We are already the industry leader, so the challenge is to create more distance between us and competitors, who are also getting more capable. Strategically, we are focused on three areas:
1)Growing the market for metalized finishes and leading the industry in that technology.
2)Improving our ability to deliver large challenging projects, which others cannot or will not take on. Frankly, our results have been mixed on this one. While the team is hitting a grand slam on the New New York Bridge, we have struggled on two cable-stayed bridges. We must apply the learnings going forward. Improvement requires upgrading our estimating and developing coworkers’ skills to manage and produce complex work.
3)Building a better model for training and recruiting skilled co-workers. Significant hiring over the last few years exposed cracks and opportunities in how we approach this.
John O’Quinn, our new President of High Steel Structures, will help us move FORWARD. John is highly respected in the industry, has done many of the jobs in the business, and is focused on the success of our customers and coworkers. We are excited to have John on our team.
All of the above is not possible without great performance from High Transit and High Structural Erectors. I am encouraged by the progress these businesses are making in upgrading their capabilities to provide further advantage for our companies.
High Construction and Greenfield Architects: Last year, the team underwent a deep business review and reset the strategy. In addition to geographic expansion, we are committed to becoming a recognized leader in hotels (both new and reno) and multi-family, two segments which are both attractive and align well with High Real Estate Group’s strategic plan. This includes investments in sales, estimating, project management, and field staff. This strategy is already paying off, as we recently won some important projects and today have a record backlog. I am thrilled to see the positive FORWARD momentum this team is creating.
Reinvigorating the entrepreneurial spirit that built High:
I view this through two lenses: 1) entrepreneurship within our existing businesses, and 2) adding new businesses to our portfolio. On the first, we are clearly upgrading our capabilities for identifying and executing attractive growth opportunities, and I see a huge amount of opportunity right in front of us, some of which was already discussed.
Metalized steel is loaded and ready to be shipped.
In terms of thinking about new businesses, we want to be in a position to take advantage of entrepreneurship through economic cycles…both in good times and in downturns. We are doing several things to prepare for this:
1)Strengthening our current businesses, as we have just discussed. I want to make sure we are adding onto a strong foundation.
2)Strengthening our balance sheets to ensure we have cash to deploy while maintaining conservative debt levels.
3)Starting to do some early homework on what other businesses could be a good strategic, financial, and cultural fit for High.
These will put us in a position to take advantage of good opportunities when the time is right.
Being a leader in our communities:
To raise additional contributions for United Way, High Steel Structures’ co-workers, including Don Lee, took the plunge in the dunk tank.
We are all fortunate in many ways, and with that comes great responsibility. I personally appreciate all that our leadership, the High Family, and all of you do for our communities. It is a part of who we are, and this past year we have seen our impact increase and become even more focused in certain areas. We have committed resources in science and technology education in schools, increased our support for the important work the United Way is undertaking, and are beginning to develop innovative partnerships to test new ways of making an impact.
Supercharging organizational and talent development:
As I have said before, we will not be limited by opportunities in our markets or a willingness to invest in good ideas. What can limit us is not having the leadership, talent, and capacity to take advantage of those opportunities. We have enhanced our leadership development programs and stepped up our approach to using the co-worker engagement survey feedback to improve outcomes. We have recently made key leadership hires beyond those mentioned, such as Anthony Saladino, Vice President of Finance for Real Estate, and Rob Poli, General Manager of Structural Erectors. Big picture, I am excited to see the roots of a strong development and learning culture take hold. We are just getting started and the positive impact will continue as we move FORWARD with our investment in people.
Let me end with a note on safety. A big part of our culture is taking care of each other and taking risk out of our operations. Our goal is zero safety incidents; but you always work your way towards a goal. I am pleased to report that through the first nine months of 2016, we have had the best safety performance in the recorded history of High. I want to thank all of you for what you do every day to reinforce and move our safety culture FORWARD.
Plaques Are a Display of High Hotels’ Pride of Family Ownership
Plaques were recently presented at all 12 High Hotels Ltd. properties. These plaques provide information that reinforces the company’s brand essence, and brings awareness of the private family investment and ownership of all High hotels, differentiating them from other Marriott and Hilton franchised hotels. They also bring to light The High Philosophy and the continuing commitment of the company and coworkers to Giving Good Measure.
Russ Urban, President of HHL, Mark Fitzgerald, President and Chief Operating Officer for High Real Estate Group LLC, Mike Shirk, Chief Executive Officer for High, and Greg High, Chair of The High Family Council and Vice President of Corporate Culture, presented the plaques at Communications Meetings, which were attended by all HHL co-workers. They are prominently displayed in hotel lobbies for guests and co-workers to enjoy.
GAL Designs New Technology Center for Thaddeus
Stevens College
Greenfield Architects Ltd. has provided architectural services for the Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology’s new Technology Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The project calls for removal of four buildings, and construction of two new buildings totalling approximately 69,000 square-feet. “This 8.4acre project site posed a challenge,” said Frank Fox, GAL President. “It is comprised of extremely poor quality soils throughout, and required special structural foundations and framing systems.”
The Center will provide classroom and support space for technical and trade training for programs, including: Machine Tool Technology; Metal Fabrication and Welding Technology; and Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration, as well as housing utilities.
Russ Urban and Greg High present a plaque to Marci Paniagua, General Manager of the Hampton Inn-York.
CAC Kicks Up the Fun Factor for High’s 85th Anniversary Celebration
Massages, high jumps, bingo, balloons, pinball, snow cones, face painting, fireworks, a helicopter drop, and great food . . . what more could you ask for? That, and so much more, is what the Co-Worker Activities Committee (CAC) had in store for co-workers, retirees, and their families and friends, at High’s 85th Anniversary Celebration at Clipper Magazine Stadium on July 9, 2016.
The grand party began with a full buffet, while activities were held all around the stadium. Kids played games on the field, and enjoyed a full pinball arcade and a playground complete with inflatable slide and pedal trains. Outside the stadium, co-workers achieved great heights on the Stunt Jump inflatable, and won big in the Money Machine. On the concourse, massage therapists, face painters, and balloon and caricature artists entertained attendees. Cylo, the Barnstormers’ mascot, spent the day
Darryl Gordon, Vice President of Human Resource Services and CAC Chair, led the charge during the helicopter candy drop.
Dale High addresses the crowd as Mike Shirk looks on.
Tou Pha, HSS, tries out the Stunt Jump.
Kids had fun clowning around with Cylo, the Barnstormers’ mascot.
Attendees had Attendees had Attendees had Attendees had the opportunity the opportunity the to test their to test skill on the rock skill rock skill on the rock skill rock skill climbing wall. climbing wall. climbing wall. climbing wall. handing out hugs and dancing on the field with the children. Later in the evening, a helicopter dropped candy and logo stress balls in the mid-field.
At the end of the evening, Mike Shirk took a moment to thank Dale High for his 53 years of service to the company. Dale spoke for a few minutes, saying how thankful he was to work with such great people, and expressed his confidence in the future direction of the organization.
All of these festivities would not have been complete without a grand fireworks finale choreographed to patriotic music. The 20-minute display began with a thrilling rendition of “God Bless America” by Russ Urban, President of High Hotels Ltd. It was a spectacular ending to a wonderful day, and a magnificent way to say ‘thank you’ to co-workers for their contributions to High’s 85 years of excellence.
“It’s not all for me . . . honest,” claims HHL’s Noel Ortiz.
Children hopped across the ball field during the sack race.
High Companies Mobilize Resources To Deliver
State-of-the-Art Campus
Few local developers command the diverse resources and vision to transform an office building and warehouse into a state-of-theart campus for training health care leaders of tomorrow–and do it in less than 18 months. Yet that is what High did with the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences. Located at 850 Greenfield Road in Greenfield Corporate Center, this unusual, highly condensed design-build approach with an adaptive reuse component is a showplace of technology.
The vision began with Bill Boben, Associate Broker for High Associates Ltd., arranging the lease. Greenfield Architects Ltd. and High Construction Company worked with the College to bring the vision for the facility to fruition. Weekly supervisor and foreman meetings and daily schedule checks helped to keep the project moving on a fasttracked schedule. “We were all in this together. If one of us fell here, the other picked it up over there. That really
Photo courtesy of Craig Peck.
developed a sense of trust,” said Rick Stoudt, HCC President, of this collaborative effort.
A project of this magnitude that would typically require 30 to 36 months to complete, was accomplished in just 18 short months, allowing the College to open its doors in time for the Fall 2016 semester. The $65 million facility includes state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories, offices, auditorium, workout spaces, administrative offices, kitchen, dining rooms, and meeting rooms. The 27-acre campus also features ample parking for the College’s 1,400 students and 300 staff members, as well as visitors to the facility.
“The PA College is a Central Pennsylvania treasure,” said Mike Shirk, CEO of High. “We share the same values and commitment. This truly advances their mission, and it could not have happened without mutual trust and professionalism. Together we overcame the challenges with extraordinary teamwork.”
To view the video, scan the QR code, or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erfrB0LBG0E.
HCG Expands Midwest Sales Activity
In June 2016, High Concrete Group LLC resumed its sales efforts in the far and northern mid-west areas of the United States. To facilitate growth, Timothy Barnett joined the sales force and is based out of Indianapolis, Indiana. By networking and reconnecting HCG with major customers, he has already gained a foothold in Indiana with the Deaconess Gateway Hospital project with Barton Malow Company, as well as a winning a contract with a new customer, J.C. Ripberger Construction Corporation, for the Purdue University Controlled Environment project.
In the northern part of HCG’s mid-west territory, Dwayne Robinson has found success in Michigan. Through the company’s expertise as an architectural precast producer, he has established a partnership with Kerkstra Precast, Inc. in Grandville, Michigan, on several projects, including the VA East Parking Structure, and three planned Ford Deck Parking Garages, with two in the works, and one scheduled for 2018. HCG anticipates collaborations on future projects.
With the support of the Sales, Estimating, and Marketing Teams, HCG’s reach is successfully expanding. We look forward to building relationships in the region, and to opportunities for continued work acquisition.
Ford Deck Parking Garage. Rendering courtesy of Smith Group JJR. The College’s President, Mary Grace Simcox, gives a demonstration to High’s CEO, Mike Shirk, of the facility’s state-of-the-art clinical simulation lab.
eLearning Comes to High
By now, you have heard or read about High’s commitment to supercharging organization and talent development. As a result of the company’ growth, coworkers’ retirements, and turnover, High will need to fill several hundred jobs over the next five years. That will open a wealth of development opportunities, making it more important than ever for leadership to be aware of co-workers’ interests and skills, and to encourage development in areas that sustain, strengthen, and grow the company. Just as important, co-workers must share accountability for their careers and take ownership of their developmental needs.
To support this important strategic priority, High is investing in various resources and tools, and has begun offering a variety of learning methods that reach beyond the classroom. For starters, 1,400 on-line courses have been made available to co-workers through our learning management system. Included are eLearning courses, supporting content, and technology designed to enable you to develop new skills. Every co-worker has been provided access to this on-line learning solution. To get started: (1) Open your internet browser; (2) Visit mytraining.high.net; and (3) Log in. The format for your username and password is located on the landing page.
Training is convenient and is designed to accommodate your busy lifestyle with 24x7x365 access. Courses are interactive and will keep you engaged for a learning experience that will “stick”. Best of all, training is self-paced to satisfy your unique learning style.
To get all co-workers involved in this exciting strategic initiative, High began a Co-worker Development Challenge in September that continues through the end of January 2017. The challenge is to complete four of the featured courses during the five-month period. Featured monthly topics include:
Our goal is to ensure co-workers have skills that will enable High to adapt as the business environment continues to change. We passionately believe our organization will grow stronger and continue to be successful as co-workers and managers work together toward that goal.
High Co-Workers and Spouses Know Their Numbers!
From August 23 through September 22, High co-workers and covered spouses were encouraged to participate in Biometric Screening events. Held at various company locations, the screening results provide measurements of key health indicators, including cholesterol (both LDL and HDL), triglycerides, glucose, waist circumference, and blood pressure. To receive the preferred premium rate for 2016 health benefits, covered co-workers and spouses were required to meet or improve upon four of the six measure values.
If you have questions about improving health habits or specific biometric screening values, or if you have any other health-related questions, contact Health Coach Andi Dean at (717) 293-4516 or adean@high.net.
HCC Begins Landis Homes Construction
High Construction Company was awarded a $22 million contract to provide construction management services for a new Learning and Wellness Center for Landis Homes, a not-for-profit retirement community in Lititz, Pennsylvania. HCC has been involved with the project since December 2014, providing estimating, value engineering, scheduling, and other pre-construction services to support the planning and design for the facility.
Located in the heart of the Landis Homes community, the new center spans 101,101 square feet in four stories. Spaces for learning, wellness, community, and living are planned, including an indoor pool, exercise space, bistro, salon, pharmacy, bank, auditorium, and a classroom. Also within the footprint are 22 residential living apartment homes, offering four floor plans.
Construction began in September, and completion is scheduled for the beginning of 2018.
HSS Steel Day Fall Open House Boasts Record Attendance
2016 marked the 10th anniversary of High Steel Structures LLC’s Steel Day Fall Open House. The event has grown to become an important marketing tool for HSS, allowing co-workers to meet with customers and demonstrate the quality and value the company brings to the industry.
To focus on contractors whose jobs are currently being fabricated in the shops, HSS debuted its VIP event on September 29, 2016. Guests from Tioga Construction and Mumford and Miller toured the Lancaster facility, and Williamsport hosted guests from Tappan Zee Constructors. These tours allowed the contractors to see their projects in fabrication and afforded HSS the opportunity to express its appreciation for their business.
On September 30, 2016, the Open House main event was held in Lancaster. More than 200 guests attended, including 158 design consultants, project owners, and general contractors, as well as 45 civil and structural engineering students from Penn State University’s main campus and the Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey.
The day began with a technical session featuring the East End Crossing Ohio River Bridge project. Guest speaker was Benjamin Soule, PE, of International Bridge Technologies in San Diego, California, who shared Engineer of Record responsibilities with Marcos Loizias of Jacobs for the project. The session also featured presentations by HSS co-workers Steve Bussanmas and Tom Wandzilak on metalizing and fabrication and market overview.
Following the technical session, guests enjoyed a picnic barbecue lunch and guided tours of the HSS facilities. Highlights of the day’s events included group photos with the High Welding Company’s antique truck, and a virtual welding competition hosted by Lincoln Electric.
Said one guest of the experience, “I wanted to thank you for the opportunity to attend your open house and tour your facility. As an entry level engineer, I found the experience very informative and equally as interesting. I would highly recommend the experience to others, and look forward to possibly attending again in the future and seeing the presentations.”
An event like this takes a great deal of team effort. More than 50 HSS and High Transit LLC coworkers assisted as tour guides, technical session and afternoon activities staffing, signage and tent logistics, and facilities preparation. Thank you to all who helped make this year’s Steel Day Fall Open House a great success!
HIGHSL Quality Helps HSSC
Maintain a Trustworthy Relationship
High Steel Service Center LLC recently recognized Hearth and Home Technologies for its valuable business and for highlighting the advantages and benefits of HIGHSL stretcher leveled sheet and plate. Hearth and Home’s use of stretcher leveled hot rolled sheet and plate averages between 2,500 and 3,000 tons annually, making it one of HSSC’s top customers.
Prior to acquiring the stretcher leveler in 2012, HSSC was already a key supplier to Harman Stove. The addition of panel-flat that stays flat sheet and plate to its product line earned HSSC a long-term agreement with Harman’s new ownership, Hearth and Home Technologies. Hearth and Home discovered that its lasers were able to cut more reliably, parts bent on press brakes met required tolerances more consistently, heat distortion during welding was eliminated, enabling them to produce a quality product while reducing operating costs and increasing throughput efficiency.
Jim Cunningham, Vice President of Sales for HSSC, said, “It is important customers like Harman Stove/Hearth and Home Technologies that helped us to justify our investment in the stretcher leveler. Using these products for the last couple of years has demonstrated the quality and value that HIGHSL provides.”
representatives.
Mark Lukes and Jim Cunningham, second and third from left respectively, present the plaque to Harman Stove
The S. Dale High Family Foundation Awards College Scholarships
The S. Dale High Family Foundation recently presented scholarship awards to Rachael Rudis of Landisville, Pennsylvania, and Makenna Sensenig of Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Both students have been awarded $20,000 scholarships, which provide $5,000 per year for four years.
Rachael Rudis is the daughter of Kimberly B. Rudis, Manager of SelfStorage and Executive Offices with High Associates Ltd. Rachael graduated from Hempfield High School where she participated in Orchestra, was a member of Pit Orchestra and Chorus, and served as Editor and Chief of the student newspaper, The Flash. In addition, Rachael was a member of the National Honor Society in her Junior and Senior years, and she volunteered with organizations including James Buchanan’s Wheatland as a tour guide, played viola and sang at nursing homes, and distributed meals at Water Street Mission. Rachael plans to pursue a degree in social studies/history education from Shippensburg University.
Robin Stauffer; Steve High; Suzanne High; Greg High; Kimberly and Rachael Rudis; Mike, Makenna, and Terri Sensenig; Sadie High; and Dale High.
Makenna Sensenig is the daughter of Michael S. Sensenig, Checker with High Concrete Group LLC. Makenna graduated from Ephrata Area High School where she participated in Soccer and Lacrosse. She was a member of the National Honor Society her Junior and Senior years, including the Spanish National Honor Society. In addition, Makenna led the Youth Girls Lacrosse Camp in 10th grade, volunteered as an aid in the Emotional Support Classroom, and participated in Penn Legacy Soccer Tournaments. Makenna plans to attend Penn State Berks Campus where she will study Forensic Science.
The S. Dale High Family Foundation is a non-profit organization that was established by members of the High Family. Its overall mission is to give back to the community by providing support to non-profit organizations in communities in which High does business and assist High co-workers in meeting the costs of college education for their children through The S. Dale High Family Foundation Scholarship Program.
President Profile: John W. O’Quinn III, HSS
If you have an opportunity to speak with John O’Quinn, High Steel Structures LLC’s President, you will find he often uses football metaphors. “It’s in my DNA. My late father, Red O’Quinn, played for the Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles, before moving on to become a Hall of Famer in the Canadian Football League.”
John was born in Canada, but came to the United States after high school to attend college. It was during that time that he became acquainted with the steel industry. “A friend’s mother was the human resources director at Carolina Steel and offered me an entry level job. I learned the business from the ground up - maintenance worker, fitter, shear operator, and welder.” John stayed with the company through a period of substantial growth, while earning promotions to positions of greater responsibility.
In 1993, he cleaned out his 401k and formed O’Quinn Enterprises, a steel fabrication and erection company. His wife, Sherrie, took an active role in the company at a time when few women were involved in the steel industry. “We each had our own strengths and made a great team. Together, we built a very profitable business,” said John. Then, in 2001, the perfect storm hit: The September 11 terrorist attacks caused money to be diverted from Transportation to Homeland Security, drastically reducing the company’s backlogged work, and; the Enron scandal came to light, and $1.25 million worth of the steel already fabricated and sitting in the yard for a recently bankrupted customer netted the company $.25 on the dollar. “Through no fault of our own, we went from being well-off to beyond broke in a matter of a few weeks,” said John.
They were able to keep the business afloat for another four years before John accepted an offer to return to Carolina Steel/Hirschfeld as part of a succession plan that led to being named President in 2015. “I spent a lot of time in airports commuting between the offices in Dallas, Texas, and Greensboro, North Carolina, and then my family home in Knoxville, Tennessee. Not only did coming to High Steel give me the opportunity to work for a well-rounded and grounded company at the pinnacle of the industry, it gave me back a home base and a quality of life,” said John. “High was also attractive for its culture; a family-owned business that respects its co-workers, supports the community, and has a long-term view to position the company for the future.”
John and Sherrie have been married 30 years, and have three children who are also married and live in Tennessee - Jessica, Jeff, and Tyler. They have three grandsons, and one on the way. “Sherrie and I are especially fond of children’s charities and over the years have supported food banks, shelters, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. We look forward to getting settled and becoming involved and contributing in the Lancaster County community.”
GMA Grand Prize Winners Named
Good Measure Award Grand Prizes are presented annually to co-workers who achieve the pinnacle of Good Measure. Members of High’s Executive Committee are involved in the process of selecting the winners from among all coworkers who received GMAs during a specified 12-month period. GMA recipients were invited to attend the High Forum on October 25, 2016, where Darryl Gordon, Vice President of Human Resource Services, and Greg High, Chair of The High Family Council and Vice President of Corporate Culture, announced Grand Prize winners for High Real Estate Group LLC and High Industries Inc.
Brad R. M. Wright, Maintenance Technician II
Staci J. Harbold, Area Housekeeping Manager
JJ Chronister, Director of Sales and Marketing
David C. Jacobs, General Manager
HIGH HO HIGH
TownePlace Suites-Harrisburg West Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
William L. Whary, Architectural Engineer
George G. Burnley, Senior Engineer
David W. Bosch, Design Team Leader
Pennsylvania
Each team was awarded a $3,000 prize. Congratulations and thank you for providing Good Measure!
Good Measure Award Nominations are accepted throughout the year. If you know a co-worker or team of co-workers who go above and beyond the scope of their job responsibilities, nominate them for the GMA! Nomination forms are available from your Good Measure Award Committee and Human Resource Services Representative, who are happy to assist you with completing the form. Forms are also available by clicking on the Good Measure Award link on High Home. The current nomination period runs from August 1, 2016, through July 31, 2017. Nominate worthy co-workers today!
They Give Good Measure!
Samantha N. Martin, Quality Control Technician II
High Concrete Group LLC, Denver, Pennsylvania
NOMINATOR: George A. Savant
Samantha exhibits a proactive approach to process improvement. Recently, she brought an issue to the attention of HCG’s Engineering team, prompting a change to the placement of lifters, minimizing stress and cracking of concrete members during the shipping process. Sam shares her findings with co-workers throughout the inspection process so that future non-conformances can be prevented. She checks load lists, daily piece releases, and notifications to ensure that work is complete and ready to ship.
Sam has written 10 SAP training modules for use across the company, and holds training sessions to help co-workers improve their skills. She demonstrates innovation by simplifying cumbersome tasks, including assisting with the development of an Excel Workbook to track inspections.
Through her strong work ethic and commitment to process improvement, Sam makes significant contributions to HCG’s success.
KEY POINTS OF THE HIGH PHILOSOPHY:
✓ Valuing our customers and meeting their needs.
✓ Creating an environment for innovation.
✓ “Right the first time” – High quality products and services.
Catherine M. Birdsall, Administrative Coordinator I
High Associates Ltd., Parkland Center Corporate Park, Sarasota, Florida
NOMINATOR: Jon P. Kleiber
As part of her job responsibilities, Cathy processes invoices and interacts with vendors. During a phone conversation with the vendor that monitors the park’s fire alarms, Cathy discovered that an alternative, cell-based service could save the company money. She coordinated the conversion, cancelling phone lines at each of Parkland’s building and switching all of them to the new communication system.
This change resulted in aggregate savings to tenants of more than $20,000 annually. By taking the initiative to update the fire monitoring process, Cathy has enabled HAL to reduce tenants’ CAM charges, and made Parkland Center more competitive in the marketplace.
KEY POINTS OF THE HIGH PHILOSOPHY:
✓ Valuing our customers and meeting their needs.
✓ Strengthening our partnerships with suppliers.
✓ Investing profits to secure our future.
Adam B. Blandy, Night Auditor
High
Hotels Ltd.
Hampton Inn-Harrisburg West, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
Nominator: Jason J. Schultz
When a hotel guest left his vehicle’s rear gate open for the night, he awoke to the unpleasant reality of a dead battery. Having already waited 30 minutes for AAA to arrive, the guest was frustrated and anxious to be on his way to a collegiate rowing event.
Adam, who had just completed his overnight audit shift, was leaving the hotel when he overheard the guest’s dilemma. Without hesitation, Adam offered assistance, retrieving the proper equipment, and helping the guest start his car. The guest expressed his gratitude, saying, “I could not have made it to the event on time without his help. Adam was a true ambassador for Hampton Inn and Hilton.”
By providing this service long after his work shift had ended, Adam made a very positive and lasting impression on this guest, and built a trustworthy relationship that enhances not only his reputation, but that of the hotel, its staff, and the Hilton brand, as well.
KEY POINTS OF THE HIGH PHILOSOPHY:
✓ Valuing our customers and meeting their needs.
✓ Contributing to a world of beauty and prosperity and peace.
George A. Savant, Quality Control/Batch Supervisor
High Concrete Group LLC, Denver, Pennsylvania
NOMINATOR:
Ryan P. Rosenberger
George dedicated personal funds and countless hours to the development of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) career programs for children. These engaging programs highlight the benefits and rewards associated with STEAM careers, and get kids excited about learning. George also stresses the importance of teamwork, leadership, and personal responsibility, preparing children for success now and into the future.
George presented STEAM programs at North Museum of Nature and Science’s “What in the World” career fair, and during Leola Elementary School’s Career Day. He tackled the program with enthusiasm, and opened children’s eyes to future career possibilities. Who knows –maybe one day, these kids may even work for High!
KEY POINTS OF THE HIGH PHILOSOPHY:
✓ Respecting the dignity of all co-workers and their families.
✓ Contributing to a world of beauty and prosperity and peace.
Jacqueline “JJ” Chronister, Director of Sales and Marketing
Staci J. Harbold, Area Housekeeping Manager
David
C. Jacobs, General Manager
Bradford R. M. Wright, Maintenance Technician II High Hotels Ltd.
TownePlace Suites-Harrisburg West, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
NOMINATOR: J. David Aungst
Opening a new hotel and getting operations up to speed is a challenge, even under the best of conditions.
Achieving that while facing difficulties beyond the staff’s control requires great leadership. That is just what David, JJ, Staci, and Brad provided in awardwinning fashion!
From the get go, the team built a relationship with Marriott International, diligently following its preopening critical path which led to the hotel achieving its room night goal prior to opening. The team also partnered with sister hotels –Hampton Inn- and Homewood Suites-Harrisburg West – striving for collaboration, instead of competition.
In addition, the TownePlace Suites team faced a significant hurdle when a parking lot drainage issue, estimated to be resolved in one week, stretched to four months. They rose to the challenge, delighting guests, and garnering prestigious awards from Marriott International, including:
● Ranking in the top three out of more than 260 hotels in the brand for Maintenance and Upkeep based on guest satisfaction;
● Earning Platinum Circle honors by placing in the top five percent in the brand for guest satisfaction, and for meeting certain other brand requirements. It was one of only six of the more than 260 TownePlace Suites hotels to achieve this status;
● Achieving Service Excellence-General Manager-David Jacobs. This award recognized David for leading his team through significant challenges during the hotel’s opening year.
While these impressive results required a total team effort, the outstanding leadership of these co-workers paved the way to success.
KEY POINTS OF THE HIGH PHILOSOPHY:
✓ Valuing our customers and meeting their needs.
✓ Energizing our teamwork with participative management.
✓ “Right the first time” – High quality products and services.
JJ Chronister
Staci Harbold
David Jacobs
Brad Wright
David H. Green, Final Finisher A High Concrete Group LLC, Springboro, Ohio
NOMINATOR: Gregory D. Brown
While in Denver, Pennsylvania, for a work assignment, nominator Greg was informed of his grandmother’s passing. Because he had traveled with Dave from Springboro, Ohio, to Denver, Greg was without a car. Without hesitation, Dave offered to drive him home. After their shift, they both piled into the car and Dave drove the entire trip – more than 500 miles and nearly nine hours – so that Greg could be with his family.
Greg said of his co-worker, “Dave missed hours of work, but said that getting me home was more important than his paycheck. I really appreciate his sacrifice and friendship.”
Dave’s compassion and selfless actions made a meaningful impact on Greg and his family during a difficult time.
KEY POINTS OF THE HIGH PHILOSOPHY:
✓ Respecting the dignity of all co-workers and their families.
✓ Contributing to a world of beauty and prosperity and peace.
Pietropola Named Forty Under 40
Daniel R. Pietropola, Vice President for High Construction Company, was selected by Central Penn Business Journal as a 2016 “Forty Under 40” award recipient, an award presented to 40 area business leaders who are under the age of 40.
Dan joined High Construction Company in 2007, and moved to High Concrete Group LLC in 2011, where he served as Vice President of Construction Services. In this role, he was responsible for project management and field operations, as well as General Manager of StructureCare ®, HCG’s service and repair company. During his tenure at HCG, Dan led the construction operations group through many challenging projects, forming a first-class team and developing strategic relationships with many key customers. In 2014, he took on the leadership role at StructureCare, creating a repeatable model to expand the market served and double its revenues. Since the award was announced, Dan transitioned to a Vice President position with High Construction Company.
In addition to being recognized at an awards ceremony in November 2016, Dan and other honorees were profiled in a special supplement to the Central Penn Business Journal.
Congratulations, Dan, on earning this prestigious recognition.
High Honors
Matthew B. Hensley
...earned the Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) designation from the National Apartment Association. Matt joined High Associates Ltd. in 2013, and serves as Residential Maintenance Leadperson for York Ridge Apartments in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Susan Steele
...was granted a Delaware Professional Engineer’s license from the State of Delaware Division of Professional Regulation in September. She joined High in 2001, and currently serves as Senior Bridge Erection Engineer for High Steel Structures LLC.
High Awards
Jasmine O. Gates
...was named one of two winners of the Second Annual Praise for Performance Award, which is presented to a frontline employee who has demonstrated superior service. Jasmine joined High Hotels Ltd. in 2013, and serves as Lead Guest Services Representative for SpringHill Suites-Ewing, New Jersey.
Bentley Ridge
...earned honors during the Pennsylvania Apartment Association-Central’s 15th Annual Best of Living Awards Gala for communities built between 1985 and 1996 with more than 150 units: 1st Place - Curb Appeal Excellence; 1st Place - Maintenance Excellence; 2nd Place - Leasing and Marketing Excellence; and 2nd Place - Overall Community Excellence.
Greenfield Estates
...was recognized for apartment communities built between 1973 and 1984 with more than 250 units during the Pennsylvania Apartment AssociationCentral’s 15th Annual Best of Living Awards Gala: 1st Place - Curb Appeal Excellence; 1st Place - Maintenance Excellence; 1st Place - Leasing and Marketing Excellence; and 1st Place Overall Community Excellence.
Greenland Village
...received awards during the Pennsylvania Apartment Association-Central’s 15th Annual Best of Living Awards Gala for communities built between 1973 and 1984 with 175 to 250 units: 2nd Place - Curb Appeal Excellence; 2nd Place - Maintenance Excellence; 2nd Place - Overall Community Excellence.
Orchard Ridge
...received Maintenance – Gold and Community Presentation – Bronze during the Pennsylvania Apartment Association-East Annual Best of Living Awards Gala.
Plantation Oaks
...was recognized at the Charleston Choice Awards by readers of the Post & Courier for being voted the #1 Pet Friendly Apartment Community in Charleston, South Carolina.
From Scraps to Dust, HSS Recycles It All!
High Steel Structures LLC recycles many different production-related streams. Many of you are probably aware that they recycle scrap steel. From October 2015 through November 2016, HSS’s Lancaster facility recycled 13,165,975 pounds of scrap steel, including unprepared, heavy melt, slag, blaster dust, turnings, used paint cans, and maintenance scrap. The Williamsport Plant recycled 4,030,180 pounds of scrap steel, including unprepared, heavy melt, slag, turnings, used paint cans, and maintenance scrap. Each facility also recycles its spent shot, as well as other items such as zinc floor sweepings from the paint operations, and ferrous and MG Dust.
Slag, a byproduct of the welding process, is recyclable. While scrap steel contributes the most weight to HSS’s recycling program, paint cans would require a great deal of landfill space, if not recycled.
The most recent addition to HSS’s recycling efforts at Williamsport is zinc metalizing streams from their metalizing operations, which began in 2015. This material includes zinc metalizing dust and floor sweepings, zinc wire scraps, zinc-laden air filters, and the blast dust from blasting the steel beams prior to metalizing.
The total of all these materials recycled equals an astounding 18,718,117 pounds or over 9,359 tons. This is a win-win for HSS (who gets paid for most of these items) and the environment. Thank you to all co-workers who help segregate, package, and ship these materials for recycling.
Co-Workers and Retirees
Give Generously to Support United Way
High co-workers and retirees showed support for those in need by giving generously to United Way during the annual campaign. In fact, the 2016 company-wide total of $243,994 topped last year’s campaign results by nearly $21,000!
● Greenfield Architects Ltd. .......$
● High Associates Ltd. ........$
● High Company LLC ........$
● High Concrete Group LLC* ......$
● High Construction Company ......$
● High Environmental Health & Safety Consulting Ltd.$
● High Hotels Ltd. .........$
● High Steel Service Center LLC ......$
● High Steel Structures LLC* ......$
● High Structural Erectors LLC ......$
● High Transit LLC .........$
● High Retirees and Others .......$
Setting records were:
✓ Homewood Suites by Hilton-Reading, Pennsylvania, with 58 percent coworker participation, followed by High Company LLC and High Environmental Health and Safety Consulting Ltd., tied at 50 percent each. SpringHill Suites by Marriott-Ewing, New Jersey, was a close third with 49 percent co-worker participation.
✓ High Structural Erectors LLC more than doubled the amount pledged compared with its 2015 results.
✓ High Steel Structures LLC saw the biggest dollar increase, with co-workers pledging $7,186 more than last year.
✓ And just to prove that community commitment continues even after employment ends, this year retirees increased giving by more than $3,000.
*In addition to campaign pledges, special events were held at High Concrete Group and High Steel Structures, which amounted to just over $6,500, and are reflected in each company’s total giving.
Thank you to High’s Campaign Coordinator Carolyne Jordan, and to co-workers who assisted with the campaign events, as well as to co-workers who gave generously. Your support of United Way helps to support agencies that provide services to those in need in the communities in which we live and work. 1,573 18,318 70,896 26,161 3,622 3,120
United Way Recognizes High for Its Support
On June 8, 2016, High was honored with the LIVE UNITED award during the United Way of Lancaster County’s annual dinner. This award is presented to a company or organization whose engagement in the Lancaster County community – through giving, advocating, and volunteering – results in a significant contribution toward improving the quality of life for those in need.
High’s commitment includes: providing senior leadership support on the United Way Board and key volunteer committees; following United Way’s best practices with its annual campaigns resulting in co-worker and corporate investments in excess of $100,000 annually; holding special fundraising events at its various locations to support United Way; investing in sponsorships to support specific United Way activities; and support of co-workers who turn out in force each year for the United Way Day of Caring. In addition, The S. Dale High Family Foundation has carried forth a mission of making a significant difference in the community’s quality of life by aligning with service organizations to support positive change within areas of identified need in the community.
Chief Executive Officer Mike Shirk accepted the award. Speaking to a crowd of nearly 300 supporters, investors, volunteers, company coordinators, labor representatives, businesses, and board and committee members, Mike credited this achievement to High co-workers for their enthusiastic support of United Way and its mission. Thank you for your commitment to LIVE UNITED!
Co-Workers Unite for a Day of Caring
In September, United Way’s annual Day of Caring was observed by coworkers in the Lancaster and WilkesBarre, Pennsylvania, communities.
In Wilkes-Barre, co-workers from the Hilton Garden Inn joined other companies to remove debris and weeds from the River Common along the Susquehanna River. Working in half-day shifts, they left the area trash-free for others in the community to enjoy. Lending a hand in the clean-up were Cathy Conway,
Wilkes-Barre Hilton Garden Inn Team.
Mike Shirk (center) with United Way’s Sue Suter and Randy Patterson.
Amanda Cromer, Hildy Ide, Carolyne Jordan, Amanda Oliveras, Louise Pellman, and Des Storm.
In Lancaster, High co-workers banded together at historic Woodward Cemetery to weed, rake, prune, and power wash, to make this resting place of the nation’s 15th president and Lancaster native, James Buchanan, beautiful. Participants in the Day of Caring were Josh Cox, Maureen Cruz, Kurt Engel, Jeremy Geib, Erika Glass, Sean Heymann, Rick High, Carolyne Jordan, Duane Martin, Cody Reifsnyder, Calin Risser, Sue Thomas, Rob Vasko, and Mark Walton.
Thank you, co-workers, for volunteering your time for a Day of Caring!
“Bridge Mania” Inspires Future Bridge Builders
This Summer, High Steel Structures LLC hosted a camp for area children at The Lancaster Science Factory. Entitled, “Bridge Mania: Arcs and Arches,” the five-day camp was developed and hosted by HSS coworkers Bob Cisneros, Brad Dillman, Chuck Gillenwater, Scott Krause, and Ronnie Medlock, along with Mike Bresch of High Structural Erectors LLC. To engage the kids, the program featured hands-on activities such as competitive arch building, paper bridge building, a balsa truss design and building competition, construction of a model steel truss, and virtual and actual welding.
On day four, HSE brought a crane and two I-beam stringers, then campers installed plate diaphragms using air wrenches to tighten fasteners in the construction of a 16 foot-long steel bridge. The week wrapped up with a tour of the HSS facility during actual fabrication.
Special thanks to all co-workers who helped to make Bridge Mania a successful and exciting week! By loaning time, talent, and equipment for this camp, as well as providing financial support for The Lancaster Science Factory, High hopes to inspire young minds to consider future careers in steel bridge building.
To view the video, scan the QR code, or visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVTMh2bxTjY&feature=youtu.be
As campers watch, co-workers guide the steel beam into the yard at The Lancaster Science Factory.
The Day of Caring Lancaster Team.
