Livewire V3 2013 by IB Abel

2013 | VOLUME 3

THE IB Abel COMPANY NEWSLETTER

Celebrating 100 Years Four Generations of Success

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PRESIDENT LETTER | TOC

Celebrating 100 years A Message From Our President In previous letters I have looked forward. As we celebrate IB Abel’s 100th Anniversary, I think it is appropriate we look to the past. A big part of who we are today is rooted in our past. Our history has shaped our values and traditions, and we owe a great debt to those who came before us. When you consider that Israel Abel was born shortly after the end of the Civil War, it becomes clear that today’s IB Abel has the benefit of almost 150 years of collective wisdom. This wisdom comes from an impressive group of people who have been associated with the company throughout its history. Now— as in the past—IB Abel is successful because of highly skilled, motivated, innovative, and loyal employees. All of these people have contributed to the “institutional knowledge base” and corporate culture we draw upon every day. IB Abel was founded in a period of change. In the early part of the twentieth century, the electrification of the United States and other countries was gaining momentum with the build-out of generation and distribution facilities. Israel and Norm Abel had the vision to start IB Abel and Son to meet the resulting demand for electric appliances and electrical wiring. IB Abel continued to adapt and change as the world transitioned from the industrial age to the information age. The company and its employees have weathered social, political, and economic turmoil. As each new generation embraced the new and exciting, the previous generation provided stability. They provided counsel based on their experience and the knowledge that had been passed to them. IB Abel is a family business that has survived four generations; two generations of the Abel family and two generations of my family. Each generation’s desire to pass the business on to the next is one of the secrets of why the company has endured. The idea of passing your business along to your children is not a new idea isolated to the owners; many sons have followed in their father’s footsteps and taken up the electrical trade at IB Abel. This is a tribute to the health of a company and the confidence the employees have in it. I feel very privileged to be part of an organization that has been around for 100 years. The percentage of companies that accomplish this is very low. I believe IB Abel has survived and prospered because of people who could see change in the world around them and adapt to it. They knew how to take advantage of new opportunities without losing the core values that made them successful in the past. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you to do our part to maintain that tradition as we steward this impressive organization into its next century. Sincerely,

Patrick A. Kinsley, President

2013 | VOLUME 3

“If you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people.” —Confucius

Contents 3

Customer Feedback

4 6

Celebrating 100 Years

Long-term Employees/ New Hires

Safety

What our customers are saying

Division Updates

Communication Division Electrical Division Utility Services Division

Meet the Safety & Quality team

IB Abel Incorporated 620 Edgar Street York, PA 17403 (717) 845-1639 www.ib-abel.com Live Wire is published in partnership with: The YGS Group 3650 West Market Street York, PA 17404 (717) 505-9701 www.theYGSgroup.com Editorial Editor Kayla Resh VP, Editorial Services Kelly Crane Winkler Managing Editor Lori Racey Senior Writer Ian Murphy Editorial Assistant Ashley Reid Design VP, Marketing Services Jack Davidson Creative Director Jen Soucy Senior Art Director Mike Vucic Account Director Tina Enck

customer feedback

What Our Customers Are Saying About Us “The purpose for this letter is to formally and publicly commend both Jeremy Smith and Jeff Harris for the excellent service they provided to Johnson Controls December 14, 2012 throughout the planning and implementation of our Network Remediation Project. In my opinion, and others that worked closely with your technicians, the level of service that Jeremy and Jeff extended to our company was far beyond our expectations. I was so impressed by the support and service provided by these gentlemen and their small team that I felt compelled to go on record with my praise. In an era where exceptional one-to-one customer service excellence has virtually disappeared from our industry, the work that your team did should be held up as an example for others to emulate. What particularly impressed me about the level of service provided was the 0% failure rate. It appears that it was simply the team’s extraordinary commitment to excellence in customer service and support that motivated them to always go the extra mile. In closing, I believe that Jeremy Smith and Jeff Harris truly deserve to be congratulated and rewarded for their professionalism and support, and for going far beyond the expectations of our company on the Data Center portion of our LAN Remediation. I look forward to the next phase of this project working in coordination with IB Abel.” —Tom Colsher Johnson Controls

“Working with you has been a great pleasure and I wish you and your family the best. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication over the years. The quality of work you turn out is extraordinary and you can see the personal pride you incorporate in each project. You have set the standard that we measure everyone else to. Thank you again for making my job so easy. God bless you throughout the coming years and much success to IB Abel.” —Steph Bentley PA Turnpike

“I just wanted to let everyone know … the guys have been doing an excellent job in regards to maintenance. Paperwork and pictures (separated by site) are perfect. They are getting me packets back that day or a day or two later. This is a great change from the last round of maintenance. Keep it up and pat your guys on the back. Also, Abel, thanks for giving us a more experienced tech with Aaron while he has been “training.” He is learning a lot and we appreciate your flexibility for that transition.” —Alicia M. Meyer BIG Wireless, LLC

“Just wanted to take this time and say how much we appreciate all your help over the past couple months. I know we have hit some walls, but I feel we are making a good team to power through these stopping blocks and finding logical ways around them. Last week I know was a challenge, but your technician, Jeremy, was very professional and always found a solution to the problems. Everything looks great so far and we are very happy with all the progress and can’t wait for things to be completed. Big thanks to Jeremy for all his help and ingenuity throughout the install.” —Brian Schittler Caron Treatment Centers

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Celebrating 100 Years

1871

Israel Borger Abel is born to David and Catherine Abel

1935-1940

1896

Norman Elsworth Abel is born

IB Abel & Son signs on with IBEW Local #229

1863

1865

1895

1914

1918

Abraham Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address after Battle of Gettysburg

Civil War ends

George Westinghouse opens first major AC power plant in Niagara Falls

World War I begins

World War I ends

1916

IB Abel & Son wire York Fairgrounds for Israel and Norman found light and power IB Abel & Son to sell electric appliances and provide electrical wiring

1913

1929

1939

World War II Great begins Depression begins after Black Tuesday Stock Market Crash Israel Abel retires and

1940 John Lennon is born

1934

Norman becomes sole owner of the company

1941-1945

IB Abel scales up from about 20 men to over 150 to support war industries in York

1980

1973

Bob Kinsley buys IB Abel, and Clair Shearer, Kent Bushey’s longtime vice president, becomes president

IB Abel begins working at Harley-Davidson York Plant

Norman abandons electric appliance business and focuses solely on electrical construction

1923

1986

1983

Bob Kinsley becomes president of IB Abel

IB Abel moves to its current 620 Edgar Street location

1970

1975

1976

1979

1980

1981

1985

The Beatles breakup

Fall of Saigon occurs and the last American personnel is evacuated, ending Vietnam era; Bill Gates and Paul Allen found Microsoft

Apple Computer is founded and Apple I computer goes on sale

World’s first commercial automated cellular phone network launches in Japan

John Lennon is fatally shot

Berlin Wall falls

Columbia makes first Space Shuttle flight

Microsoft introduces Windows operating system

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Celebrating 100 Years

1946

Israel Abel dies and is buried in Mount Rose Cemetery

1943

IB Abel & Son becomes IB Abel-Son

1945 World War II ends

1950

Norman Abel dies suddenly and his brother-in-law, Kent Bushey, becomes president

1950

1953

1957

Korean War Soviet Union Korean War ends launches begins and Sputnik, first United States earth satellite sends military advisors to Norman’s widow, Ethel, and Kent Bushey form Vietnam IB Abel-Son, Incorporated

1989

IB Abel-Son begins work at Pennsylvania Power and Light Brunner’s Island Power Plant

1960

1961

1965

The Beatles form in Liverpool, England

Berlin Wall is erected

1995

and communication business

2008

IB Abel

NStar awards United Fiber and Data awards IB IB Abel contract to build 18 Abel project to miles of 345kV build fiber optic transmission line network from in southeastern New York to Massachusetts Washington

2012

1991

1993

2001

2007

2010

2011

2013

World Wide Web is publically available on the Internet

Mosaic web browser is introduced; first phone-to-phone text message is sent

9/11 terrorist attacks

Apple introduces iPhone

Apple introduces iPad

Atlantis completes last Space Shuttle flight

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address

2003

IB Abel completes electrical work for new Toyota Arena at York Fairgrounds

Woodstock Music Festival; Neil Armstrong walks on the moon

1962

IB Abel installs solar powered electric car charging station for Phoenix Contact

1966

IB Abel-Son, Incorporated is renamed IB Abel, Incorporated

1969

United States escalates air war and sends ground troops IB Abel-Son begins to Vietnam work at Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station

IB Abel completes electrical costruction for Energy Works IB Abel begins work Bob Kinsley IB Abel utility Biopower at ES3 automated names his IB Abel acquires services crews and Nutrient K&R Electronics and grocery distribution oldest son, respond to Recovery project center Patrick Kinsley, enters into voice data Hurricane Ike in Gettysburg president of

2001

1965

IB Abel wires new dormatory at York College

Kent Bushey buys out Ethel Abel leaving him as the company’s sole owner

1951

Tom Loughry becomes president of IB Abel; Bob Kinsley remains chairman

1961

1958

2010

IB Abel becomes IB Abel is PPL “Contractor awarded the of Choice,” providing services electrical contract including electrical for new 5-story dorm at York distribution and College transmission

2013

IB Abel celebrates 100th Anniversary

IB Abel communication crews begin contracts to assist in roll out of 4G cellular network

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DIVISION UPDATES

communication division Boosting Signals

ne of the tasks for IB Abel’s Communication Division these days is to install a distribution antenna system (DAS) inside a building to help wireless signals reach everyone and all systems within the structure. “If you don’t get coverage inside the building, we put an antenna system up to boost the signal,” says Jim Trebilcock, vice president of the division. “It’s an area of good growth. Since everybody is connected wirelessly nowadays, DAS systems are going to get more popular and more complex.” The division has installed DAS systems for Gleim Excavation, Adams County, Kinsley Construction, and other clients. Jobs tend to be straightforward and can often be completed in about one week on site. Corey Mensinger, project manager, takes care of system design and pricing ahead of time, arranging the antenna and wiring to deliver the most boost for the buck, and IB Abel technicians install the antenna and connect it to an amplifier that enhances wireless signals throughout the buildings. Since concrete, masonry, and metal tend to retard wireless signals, the materials used in the structure often have an effect on system design. “That’s why we’re doing a lot of these installations,” Trebilcock says. “The way office buildings and warehouses are constructed today, they’re basically big radio-frequency (RF) shields. I see this whole area continuing to grow, just because everybody wants full signal, all of the time. As cellular companies upgrade, they are forced to put more money into the premises. That’s where IB Abel comes in and helps solve wireless signal problems.”

2013 | VOLUME 3

DIVISION UPDATES

Providing Security Solutions

B Abel is experiencing fast growth in the area of security, including closed-circuit television (CCTV), access control, and intrusion detection as customers demand more high-tech Internet protocol (IP) systems that can be checked from a smartphone or tablet. The company has completed many integrated security projects in the last year, and there are many more to come.

The typical installation is a larger commercial or industrial building; one recent project required card access for all employees, a CCTV system with hundreds of cameras and security gates with push-totalk communication capabilities. The speed of change is a challenge, with technology advancing every day. While Estimator and Project Manager Keith Menges helps IB Abel stay ahead of the curve with emerging technologies, the projects can often take a lot of upfront time. Customers don’t always know what they want in a security system, and can become overwhelmed with the large amount of options available today. “When it comes to security today, the world is your oyster,” says Trebilcock. “We help our customers figure out what they want their security system to do, and how we can make it happen. We work through their needs and come up with a cost-effective solution.”

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DIVISION UPDATES

Unwiring Utilities Management

ast year, IB Abel’s Communication Division along with our affiliated company, Business Information Group, helped complete a Smart Grid network project for PECO Energy, installing an extensive wireless network that includes more than 30 base stations and repeater antennas, more than 130 subscriber antennas, and several point-to-point connections with 4- and 6-ft. microwave dish antennas mounted up to 200 feet above the ground. Equipped with these relays, the Smart Grid system allows PECO to control its metering, address outages, and perform additional network functions remotely via the cellular network. The PECO project took more than a year of specialized, detailed, and often precarious work in all kinds of weather. “It takes a certain type of person to work these projects,” says Trebilcock. “You’re

2013 | VOLUME 3

dealing with heights on towers, poles, and water towers, typically 200 to 400 feet up. It’s a high-adrenaline job—you love it or you hate it. But you’re tied off to the structure at all times. Once you get above 300 feet, there’s wind, even if it’s calm on the ground, and training prepares our crews to handle those kinds of situations safely.” Another challenge on the project and others like it is the constant of change, says Project Leader Dan Stremmel. “You have to understand new equipment configurations and new installation technologies,” Stremmel says. “This technology moves so fast that every time we get a new contract, we have to send guys to training. Sometimes, something you learned six months ago is obsolete.”

DIVISION UPDATES

Electrical division Powering Green Initiatives

B Abel spearheaded a new era in green technology with longtime customer Phoenix Contact, which produces electronic components for charging electric cars. The company helped install a prototype solar-powered charging station that will help showcase Phoenix Contact products and generate interest in green technologies among municipal customers. The station took

months of planning, but only two weeks for a single IB Abel electrician, Scott Moul, to complete. “Scott has been trained in, and teaches classes on, solar installation,” says Denny Geiger, vice president of IB Abel’s Electrical Division.. “That was a big help for us.” IB Abel keeps an electrician on site with Phoenix Contact to offer ongoing

maintenance, but the station’s heavyduty construction will most likely not require that much. “There was a lot of design involved in placing and mounting the solar panel,” Geiger notes. “We took components supplied for us by the manufacturer and assembled them in the parking lot. For IB Abel, it was a great way to get into green energy. We can now say that we’ve done these.”

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DIVISION UPDATES

Custom Built

outhwire Co., a large manufacturer of wire used in all kinds of electrical projects nationwide, recently needed a new, 350,000-sq.-ft. warehouse and distribution center close to its current location—and it needed the new facility fast. Kinsley Properties, the developer and owner of Orchard Business Park in York, Pa., was selected for the build-to-suit project based on

its ability to meet Southwire’s requirements for speed and customization, and IB Abel joined the project to help with construction. The companies brought the project in on time and on budget by using the client’s products to slash installation times. A leader in creating strategies for added efficiency, Southwire often delivers

spooled wire precut to fit specific projects, as well as specialized tools to help speed installation. “We were able to work with Southwire to utilize some of the ideas they have,” says Geiger. The project soon became a training tool for the wire company. “While we were on site, people flew in to watch us use their labor-saving technologies and products.” On the warehouse project, wiring was delivered custom-printed with numbers corresponding to HVAC controls, process equipment, lighting, and other systems. On the HVAC equipment, for example, “We took one spool and went to each control box,” says Lou Mulato, project manager. “All we had to do is stick the wire into the equipment. It usually takes three days to pull wires, and we did it in one.” The project included engineering, design, estimating, and project management, and an IB Abel team of 10 to 12 workers finished the job with no incidents, injuries, or lost time. “We learned a lot as a company,” Geiger says, “and finished the job in about seven months, in spite of sometimes challenging winter weather days.”

2013 | VOLUME 3

DIVISION UPDATES

Power from Waste

B Abel recently participated in a project that is taking what once was just waste, and turning it into renewable energy. A collaboration between Hillandale Farms Gettysburg and EnergyWorks BioPower, LLC, the Gettysburg Energy and Nutrient Recovery Facility (ENRF) will be able to process the manure of up to 5

million egg-laying hens and transform it into electricity. The first plant of its kind in the United States, the facility uses gasification technology to generate 2.5 megawatts of electricity and recycle more than 13,000 tons of mineral by-products every year, slashing the farm’s ammonia emissions, greenhouse gas production, and chemical runoff.

For IB Abel, the project kept up to 25 employees busy for about 10 months. Led by Joe Luckenbaugh, project manager, and Bryan Henry, foreman, the team wired all machinery in the facility, including industrial dryers that prepare the chicken waste—known in manure-management circles as egg-layer material, or ELM for short— for gasification, the turbine that turns the resulting steam into electrical power, and a cooling system. Being a prototype plant, constant change was the challenge. “There were lot of different components from a number of different manufacturers that were all supposed to work together,” Luckenbaugh says. “We worked with engineers onsite to get the controls and the instrumentation right. The design never stopped until the end.” Once online, the ENRF exceeded expectations for performance, spurring interest in building more power plants like it. “This was a state-of-the-art, one-of-akind, R&D project,” says Geiger. “We’re looking forward to working on more projects like this.”

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DIVISION UPDATES

utility SERVICES division Lines over Water

B Abel is now completing its largest and most challenging utility project to date—the construction of 18 miles of new, high-voltage overhead transmission line from Carver, Mass., to West Barnstable, Mass., for NSTAR/ Northeast Utilities. Officially called the Lower SEMA 345kV Transmission Project, the new installation is intended to improve electrical service to area consumers, and featured an overwater line installation at the Cape Cod Canal and extensive environmental considerations. Employees participated in NSTAR’s environmental program before construction began, reviewed

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2013 | VOLUME 3

environmental concerns daily, and engaged third-party monitors to keep the plan green. The company also dealt with regulatory bodies including the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Army Corps of Engineers, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Aviation Administration, MA Department of Conservation, Cape Cod Commission, and the MA Department of Transportation. “We’re always trying to mitigate the effects of transmission line construction on habitats,” says Thomas Tacconelli, project executive for the Utility Services Division. “A tremendous amount of environmental cautionary measures were taken.”

One of the more difficult parts of the project was the installation of conductors across the Cape Cod Canal. After construction of the supporting towers, crews could only work when ships weren’t using the channel and when the wind speeds would allow safe operation of our equipment. We utilized helicopters to install the lead lines across the canal and were challenged by unrelenting wind and fog. “We had to do everything in the air, and that was quite a challenge,” Tacconelli says. “It should have taken a few days to cross the canal, and it took a few weeks.” Nonetheless, the new 399 Line went live in June which is attributable to the perseverance and commitment of a great team.

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new hires | long-term

Years of Service WALTER A SHIPKOSKY Foreman Electrician Hired: 08/14/72 40 years

BRIAN J FAHS Foreman Electrician Hired: 09/17/93 20 years

SCOTT A MOUL Foreman Electrician Hired: 04/27/98 15 years

JEFFREY L SNELBAKER Foreman Electrician Hired: 09/18/00 13 years

JAMES B BRENNEMAN Foreman Electrician Hired: 07/16/84 29 years

ANDREW L LONG Project Manager - Electrical Division Hired: 04/12/94 19 years

STEVEN R WALLACE Foreman Electrician Hired: 06/26/98 15 years

BRYAN S HENRY Foreman Electrician Hired: 05/21/01 12 years

SCOTT A BOWMAN Project Manager - Electrical Division Hired: 09/24/84 28 years

LYNN A MECKLEY Project Manager - Electrical Division Hired: 05/23/94 19 years

CLARK D GERVER JR Foreman Electrician Hired: 11/05/01 12 years

GREGORY T MECKLEY Foreman Electrician Hired: 03/10/88 25 years

DENISE K FERREE Project Assistant - Electrical Division Hired: 09/29/94 19 years

MICHAEL L COSTELLA Project Manager/Estimator - Communication Division Hired: 07/20/98 15 years

MARY C LINEBAUGH Admin Manager/Corporate Secretary Hired: 04/04/88 25 years

ANTHONY W WEAVER Foreman Electrician Hired: 06/05/95 18 years

DENNIS L GEIGER JR Vice President - Electrical Division Hired: 01/02/90 23 years

DANIEL J WOLFE Foreman Electrician Hired: 06/12/95 18 years

JAMES R TREBILCOCK Vice President - Communication Division Hired: 01/22/90 23 years

EUGENE W SMITH JR Warehouse Hired: 09/05/95 18 years

TROY E KRAUT Foreman Electrician Hired: 12/03/90 22 years

CARL R HOWELL Chief Estimator - Electrical Division Hired: 05/06/96 17 years

MELANIE S CRONE Payroll Manager Hired: 03/18/92 21 years

EDWARD P YOUNG SR Estimator - Electrical Division Hired: 11/21/96 16 years

THOMAS J KNAUB General Superintendent Operations & Service - Electrical Division Hired: 04/28/93 20 years

DANIEL S STREMMEL Project Manager/Estimator - Communication Division Hired: 11/12/97 15 years

New Admin Employees

CRAIG A SMITH Foreman Electrician Hired: 09/08/98 15 years HAROLD D KING Foreman Electrician Hired: 09/29/98 15 years MICHAEL W McCLEARY Foreman Electrician Hired: 04/19/99 14 years GREGORY L GROVE Estimator - Electrical Division Hired: 05/11/99 14 years DOUGLAS S TAYLOR Project Manager/Estimator - Communication Division Hired: 07/22/99 14 years BRIAN N KOONTZ Foreman Electrician Hired: 06/12/00 13 years

COCHISE W KEEFER Communication Technician Hired: 04/11/02 11 years MICHAEL B CHAPMAN Safety & Quality Coordinator Hired: 12/12/02 10 years BARRY L NESS Accounts Payable Hired: 01/13/03 10 years RANDY E SPAHR Communication Technician Hired: 03/17/03 10 years BRIAN L KING Foreman Electrician Hired: 06/16/03 10 years ROBERT J FINK Communication Technician Hired: 10/03/03 10 years THOMAS P MARRERO Communication Technician Hired: 10/08/03 10 years

Since September 2012

ROBERT J MACK JR Senior Engineer Hired: 01/03/12

JENNIFER L IMMEL Accounting Manager Hired: 11/12/12

EDWARD A HOLDER Project Engineer - Utility Services Division Hired: 01/21/13

JACK J THOMAS JR Construction Supervisor Hired: 03/11/13

ALAN R MANN SR Material Handler/Warehouse Delivery Hired: 06/04/12

VICTOR H GODOROV Material Handler - Utility Services Division Hired: 12/12/12

JOHN C LINK Estimator - Utility Services Division Hired: 01/21/13

RICHARD E DEVERY Fleet Manager Hired: 06/24/13

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safety

Meet the Safety & Quality Team

B Abel’s Safety & Quality Department is dedicated to providing the safest, highest-quality and most cost-effective services in the utility, communication, and electrical construction markets. The team offers education and training, suggestions for method improvements, and advice on best practices and risk management to guarantee employee safety and productivity on all projects, start-to-finish. It’s a progressive approach. “Some companies view their safety departments as ‘just safety,’ ” says Rob Zillweger, team leader. “We have safety and quality with a projectmanagement focus. That is a cultural change.”

The Team Rob Zillweger is director of the Safety & Quality Department. A lineman by trade, he joined IB Abel after serving as assistant director of the apprenticeship with the Northeastern Apprenticeship and Training (NEAT) program. He completed an apprenticeship with the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) and additional coursework in training, safety, performance metrics, and risk management at the National Labor College and through the Management Education Institute. In his free time, he “chases” four young children around, plays basketball and soccer, and follows Philadelphia’s professional sports teams closely.

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Mike Chapman is a Safety & Quality coordinator who has been with IB Abel for 13 years, holding foreman and crew leader roles in the company’s Electrical and Communication Divisions. He holds a B.A. from Penn State and apprenticed with the Independent Electrical Contractors program. In his free time, Chapman enjoys hunting and fishing throughout the United States and Canada, often with his seven-year-old daughter, Rachel. “I am excited to have the opportunity to assist field personnel with safer and more efficient ways to complete tasks and projects, and to be a resource to both management and field personnel with issues that come up throughout the course of any given project,” he says.

The team’s leadership will not only ensure employee, customer, and public safety in the traditional sense, but also investigate incidents to discover their root causes, develop curriculum, and initiate process improvements. To ensure quality, the department will encourage best practices from the onset of a project by selecting equipment, materials, and tools. “The Safety & Quality Department has to be involved from the start,” Zillweger says. “If you don’t have the appropriate tools or

Ralph R. Daveler is a Protective Permit and Tag (PTAG) coordinator with the Safety & Quality Department. After serving in the Pennsylvania National Guard, he joined PPL Electric Utilities in 1968 and attended a company-run Power Dispatchers course before working as a system operator for much of his career. He has been married for 45 years, and has a son and two grandchildren. He enjoys do-it-yourself projects, Broadway shows, and “any activity in the mountains,” Daveler says. “I am looking forward to helping further the goal of promoting and maintaining a safe, efficient and productive work environment for IB Abel crews.”

safety

equipment, for instance, you may be conducting the job unsafely.”

“The Safety & Quality Department has to be involved from the start.”

The team will provide training to prepare IB Abel’s workforce for continued growth—and as the company grows, the department will grow with it. Managers will specialize in specific safety objectives such as preconstruction safety, work methods, and job training. The department will also serve as a communication channel between different areas of the organization, and ease transitions from estimate to project management to completion.

The department’s guiding principles dictate that while people are fallible, error-prone situations are predictable, manageable, and preventable. By understanding why mistakes occur and applying lessons learned from past events and errors, that the

Department can help avoid them. And with the support of company leaders, peers, and crews, the processes and values that the team promotes will help IB Abel and its employees achieve exceptional levels of performance.

Donald L. Kreider is a safety and training specialist and Protective Permit and Tag (PTAG) coordinator with the team. Kreider started in construction with PPL Electric Utilities after high school, becoming a lineman with the company and serving in several capacities over a 40-year career. Kreider holds a Bachelor of Social Science from Penn State and a number of industry certifications. He has a daughter in Arizona and enjoys going to car shows and auctions, motorcycle riding, and hunting and shooting sports. “The success of IB Abel relies heavily on its safety record,” Kreider says, “and I feel fortunate to be part of the team that I believe has made a difference.”

Ed Milukas is a safety and quality coordinator, and conducts training programs to ensure workers perform their jobs safely from planning through construction. After high school, Milukas served as an Army paratrooper in the Persian Gulf War, then joined an apprenticeship program to become a journeyman electrician and a journeyman lineman for PPL. In his spare time, Milukas is “kind of a homebody” who enjoys cooking and spending time with his wife and eight-year-old daughter. As part of the team, he enjoys “interacting with the people, meeting the crews, and making IB Abel a great place people want to work.”

Bernard Razawich held a number of educational positions prior to joining IB Abel in 2011 as its Safety & Quality manager. He entered the trade in the early 1980s following a Northeastern Apprenticeship and Training (NEAT) apprenticeship, serving as a journeyman lineman for 15 years. Active in IBEW Local 1319, he became the safety and training director for its Occupational Safety Health and Education Trust Fund for the next 15 years. He is a graduate of the National Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NJATC) National Training Institute and has conducted coursework in crane operation, protective grounding, cable splicing, audit survival, first aid, safety, leadership, and more.

—Rob Zillweger Director of the Safety & Quality Department

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620 Edgar Street York, PA 17403

For general company information, contact one of our divisions:

Electrical Division: Denny Geiger (717) 324-2205 dgeiger@ib-abel.com

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Communication Division: Jim Trebilcock (717) 577-3081 jimt@ib-abel.com

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Utility Services Division: Willard R. Wolf (717) 577-1685 wwolf@ib-abel.com