Opened March of 2024
Charleston, SC
for your help in producing this edition of High Spirit.
Danielle Bannon
Rick Bennett
Nick Capretta
Abby Hess
Sarah Maser
Tina McGinnis
Brad Mowbray
Stephanie Reese
Laurel Rolle
Fritz Shaak
Emily Shirk
Mike Shirk
Chris Snyder
Rebecca Sommer
Delayna Taylor
A Message from the CEO
2024 A Year in Review
Industry Leadership
High Concrete Goes Goth Landis Place on King
Introducing Founder’s Yard HSSC Builds Strong Vendor Relationships
York Hotels Celebrate Completion of Renovations
High Transit Drives Dreams Forward High Team Races Against Racism
2024 High Foundation Scholarships
Environmental Stewardship
High Foundation Presenting Sponsor for Water Week 01 04 10 13
Submissions, comments, and suggestions are welcome and should be submitted to:
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Krista Merkelr kmerkel@high.net 717.293.4545
MIKE SHIRK Chief Executive Officer
The High Companies
Because of your dedication and successful achievements, I am very optimistic about this new year ahead.
We are in a great position to keep winning in our markets, moving our companies forward, and investing in our future.
I’d like to take a moment to reflect on our important accomplishments in 2024 and congratulate you all on our success. 2024 was the first year under our new ownership structure for all the High companies. This innovative model is working very well. The High Foundation is receiving increased dividends from the companies, as planned, which will then be reinvested back into the communities where we operate. We will be sharing more news about some of the new and bigger High Foundation initiatives being planned – such as the Environmental Center and a new fund to tackle workforce and affordable housing in a unique and scalable way – throughout this year.
On the following pages you’ll find a sampling of some major 2024 accomplishments. This is by no means an exhaustive list. There are literally hundreds every year!
continued on page 2
Founders Yard apartment community (Charleston, SC): Opened this new extraordinary 348-unit community and ended the year ahead of schedule for lease-up.
Greenfield expansion: Leased up new industrial building 424 ahead of schedule and broke ground on two new developments: additional industrial building and a new apartment community.
Greenfield community growth: Our team conducted over 150 community events with 25,000+ participants, including launching the Greenfield Summer Concert Series.
476-acre Armstrong land parcel: Acquired in December. We are in the planning stages of a very exciting and impactful new mixed-use community that will keep us busy for many years to come.
High Steel Structures: Tied their previous profit record, and even more importantly, built a very strong backlog that puts us in great shape for 2025 and beyond.
StructureCare: Started staffing up four new territories in the Carolinas, Great Lakes, Florida, and Atlanta. Our team supported 30% more garages than in 2023, and we had a big win with our first potential national account, The Home Depot. They brought us in to do a major emergency repair at their Brooklyn store that was shut down and were so impressed that they asked us to inspect all their garages, including in California and Puerto Rico!
High Concrete Group: Achieved profitable growth in architectural precast in both the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West. This included working on eight data center projects, an important growth area for us. Most successful year in Mid-West ever, fueled by repeat data center clients.
High industries cont.
High Construction Company: Our team is extremely busy in Greenfield right now. In 2024, they completed a new industrial building, and they broke ground on another industrial building and a new 311-unit multi-family community, all for High Real Estate Group. Additionally, they had four other active projects with repeat customers.
Team High: In one of many great examples of collaboration between High businesses, recently High Steel Structures, High Transit, and High Structural Erectors teamed up to successfully install five 295-foot-long steel girder sections over a complicated I-495 Northbound overpass in Northern Virginia in a single weekend. An incredible accomplishment recognized nationally!
The “High Philosophers”: High now has a very talented coworker band, the “High Philosophers.” We’ll be keeping the band together and maybe adding members over time. You never know when or where the band might unexpectedly show up.
The High Health & Wellness Center: Opened in November, High now has a dedicated primary care office in Greenfield for all coworkers and dependents enrolled in our medical plan. This is an innovative approach to making healthcare more accessible, convenient, and affordable. Services include all typical primary care services, mental health counseling, health coaching, select lab services, and a pharmacy.
Family Fun: We had a lot of great opportunities for family fun in 2024, including Penn State football, Flyers and Sixers games, picnics at Hersheypark and Knoebels, Jingle Bell Breakfasts, bus trips to New York City, and much more! Over 6,000 coworkers and family members participated in making memories. Coming up, in 2025, is our first-ever overnight bus trip, heading to Niagara Falls.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Let’s continue to build on this momentum and make 2025 an even more successful year!
Conway School of Nursing at The Catholic University of America, Washington D.C., needed a new building for its school of nursing, and maintaining the existing gothic architecture on campus was of great importance.
To meet the project’s complex aesthetic design features, tight schedule, site constraints, and its location along a busy street, High Concrete Group (HCG) was selected to produce precast concrete panels for its construction.
This design assist/build project consisted of 60,000 square feet of precast panels and copings on a steel frame structure, and 30,000 square feet of post-installed thin veneer stone to maintain the look of the existing gothic architecture on campus.
The panels, fabricated at HCG’s Denver Plant, feature a stone veneer that was created from salvaged and recycled stone from a demolished Catholic church, making
this sustainability detail symbolically relevant. The structure also features an energy-efficient building envelope and other sustainable features including a green roof, bioretention facilities to treat stormwater, and energy-efficient LED lighting with occupancy sensors.
CUA’s Conway School of Nursing’s 102,000 square-foot state-of-the-art education facility blends seamlessly with existing campus buildings and is ready to serve its students for many years to come.
Rebecca Sommers, HCG
Landis Place on King (LPOK) is a striking addition to downtown Lancaster, PA for the over-55 community. High Construction served as the project’s general contractor, continuing its strong partnership with Landis Communities. LPOK addresses the residential middle market by providing affordable independent living options for seniors.
LPOK gives residents the ability to age in a place that offers a variety of homemaking and transportation services. This sevenstory, 122,587-square-foot development consists of 30 one-bedroom and 49 two-bedroom apartments with energyefficient systems and environmentally
friendly materials and has achieved the prestigious National Green Building Standard (NGSB) Gold certification. Additionally, it features a green roof that reduces the building’s carbon footprint, while providing residents with a healthier living environment.
High Foundation was instrumental in bringing this collaborative project to fruition, further demonstrating its commitment to environmental sustainability and affordable housing. With reduced rental rates, LPOK demonstrates that high-quality, affordable housing can coexist with environmental stewardship and sets a new standard for urban residential development in Lancaster.
Abby Hess, HCC
High Real Estate Group is thrilled to announce the completion of Founders Yard, a stunning 341-unit luxury apartment community in Charleston, SC. This property is a true testament to luxurious living with its four, four-story elevatored buildings and approximately 8,000 square feet of amenity space.
At Founders Yard, residents can indulge in a state-of-the-art fitness center featuring a yoga/wellness studio, a resort-style pool, multiple outdoor kitchens and firepits, a hammock garden, a business center with a conference room, and a spacious clubroom for residents to enjoy.
The construction of Founders Yard is complete, and we received the final certificates of occupancy in July 2024. The first units were delivered in March 2024, and the property was 60% occupied and 65% leased as of August 2024. We are proud to share that by the end of the year, we were 82% occupied and 85% leased.
We are especially proud of our onsite team, whose hard work and dedication have resulted in an average of more than 40 leases per month since March. This success speaks volumes about their commitment to the community’s prosperity. Founders Yard is not just an apartment community; it’s a lifestyle.
In February 2024, Nick Capretta, HCL Buyer/ Planner, and Andrew Prevoznik, HCL Supply Chain Manager, visited High Steel Service Center (HSSC) suppliers, Arcelor Mittal Calvert and Outokumpu, in Calvert, Alabama.
Arcelor Mittal represents a large portion of the hotrolled carbon steel purchased by HSSC annually. Right next door is Outokumpu, a mill that provides domestic stainless steel. These mills utilize similar equipment and operate from similar facilities; however, the products they produce are quite different. Both play a significant role in allowing HSSC to remain competitive in the market and are equally essential to HSSC’s business.
These in-person meetings aid in establishing and maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship while providing HSSC’s Supply Chain team with valuable industry knowledge. By understanding vendors’ capabilities, HSSC can better serve its customers while positioning the business for continued growth.
On May 2, 2024, High Hotels marked the completion of upgrades to its Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton York South and the Home2 Suites by Hilton York hotels at a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Local dignitaries were on hand for the event, where the $3.5 million upgrades and renovations were unveiled to the public.
The 100-room Hampton Inn & Suites and 107-suite Home2 Suites underwent extensive renovations from lobby to laundry, with eye-catching décor and modern features. “The extent of this renovation demonstrates our enthusiastic commitment to guest satisfaction and enhancing the travel experience for our York (Pennsylvania) visitors,” said Marci Paniagua, Area General Manager.
“We take tremendous pride in our role as ambassadors of this community, and we have been thrilled by our guests’ reactions to our new modern design.”
Stephanie Reese
Home2 Suites by Hilton York One-Bedroom King Suite
High Transit was honored to participate in the 35th annual Make-A-Wish Mother’s Day Truck Convoy. This remarkable event funds 75% of the wishes for Susquehanna Valley children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions.
High Transit (HT) truck drivers Richard “Smiley” Daughtrey, Josh Voth, and Justin Gehman were behind the wheels of HT’s big rigs. Families, friends, and local business owners and workers gathered along the 26-mile route to wave and cheer on the passing convoy, making the ride even more special for the children. For these coworkers and their young passengers, this year’s 380-truck convoy was an unforgettable experience, filled with moments of connection, excitement, and hope.
Since its inception in 1990, over 11,821 trucks have participated in the convoy, raising more than $9.2 million, and granting more than 920 wishes. Make-A-Wish strengthens bonds within the community, uniting everyone in a shared mission to bring smiles and joy to deserving children.
Danielle Bannon
High coworkers joined the Lancaster, PA community for the YWCA’s Race Against Racism (RAR). Held on April 27, 2024, this annual event builds awareness of the negative impact of racism. From the starting point in Musser Park, participants walked or ran the route through the city, showing their support for this important cause, which raises funds for anti-racism programs.
This year, the High Team included 44 participants, consisting of 20 coworkers, family members, and friends. High has been a long-time supporter of RAR, and many members of the team enthusiastically return each year, demonstrating an ongoing passion and commitment to this cause.
In June 2024, High Foundation presented scholarship awards to Chase Orinski of Bethlehem, PA, and Lincoln Dillman of Lancaster, PA. Each was awarded $20,000 scholarships, which provide $5,000 per year for four years. High Foundation values education and has been investing in the children of High companies’ coworkers for the past 40 years, encouraging secondary education in the form of college or trade school. A luncheon was hosted to bring together parents, students, and the High Foundation Board to honor the students and congratulate them on their accomplishments.
THE 2024 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM RECIPIENTS:
Chase Orinski is the son of Amy Orinski, Project Coordinator with High Construction Company, who joined High companies in 2020. Chase attended Liberty High School in the Bethlehem Area School District where he served as President of the Future Business Leaders of America Club, an organization that he participated in all four years of high school. He was a member of the golf team, serving as its captain his senior year, and participated in DECA Inc. and Science Olympia. Community service included participation in Greater Lehigh Valley Athletes, Bethlehem Area Public Library, Historic Bethlehem, and Lehigh Valley International Airport as a Junior Navigator. Chase plans to pursue a degree in Sports Management from the University of Iowa.
Lincoln Dillman is the son of Brad Dillman, Vice President of Engineering with High Steel Structures LLC, who joined High companies in 2007. Lincoln attended Conestoga Valley High School where he was a member of the National Honor Society as a junior and senior, Class Secretary in 10th – 12th grades, Commissioner of Line Crew his junior and senior year, and participated in Students Against Destructive Decisions all four years, serving as President his senior year. Community service included Founder and President of Readers Helping Readers, English as a Second Language Tutor, and Shop with a Buckskin. Lincoln plans to pursue a degree in Political Science and Economics from the University of Richmond.
2024 marked the Lancaster Conservancy’s largest Lancaster Water Week yet!
As Presenting Sponsor, High Foundation helped to share the Water Week story by participating in a promotional video, hosting a stream exploration in Greenfield, and hosting two events at the S. Dale High Leadership Center to celebrate the partners, sponsors, and volunteers who helped make Water Week happen.
During Water Week, 1,500 free native trees and shrubs were distributed to rewild our community for clean water. Additionally, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Keystone 10 Million Trees Partnership gave away approximately 900 pollinator plugs, and the Conservancy distributed countless packets of native wildflower seeds.
The Project Clean Communities volunteer cleanups, coordinated by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay and other partners, saw over 100 volunteers collect more than 7,300 pounds of trash, including 102 tires and four chairs, keeping this debris from entering our waterways or flowing further downstream.
The week also included over 60 events, such as a First Friday celebration, a week-long public art installation in downtown Lancaster, and wetland tours at Long’s Park. People also enjoyed paddles on the Conestoga and Susquehanna rivers, trivia, live music, creek stomps, educational hikes, bike trips, tours of restoration and rewilding efforts, volunteer clean-ups, and more.
High Foundation is proud to support the efforts of many partners, communities, organizations, and volunteers who are doing incredible work for our streams and rivers.
1853 William Penn Way
P.O. Box 10008
Lancaster, PA 17605-0008
IT’S CONVENIENT AND FREE
• Same-day/next-day primary care appointments
• Wellness, sick, virtual and minor procedure visits
• Counseling services with a licensed professional
• Lab work* and rapid testing
• Flu shots and vaccines
• Commonly prescribe medications available onsite or home delivery at no cost.
• Phone app for texting and care coordination with provider
• No co-pays
*Lab work that is sent out for testing and EKG professional reads may be billed through insurance.
OPERATING HOURS*
Monday 7:30am – 4:30pm Tuesday 9:00am – 6:00pm Wednesday 7:30am – 4:30pm
Thursday 7:30am – 4:30pm Friday 7:30am – 2:00pm
*Counseling Service hours vary.