THE WRIGHT TRACK
HOLIDAY 2021 - Q4
LLOYD WISEMAN HONORED WITH SURPRISE 40TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY On Wednesday, November 24, Wright Brothers heavy equipment shop threw a wonderful surprise party for Lloyd Wiseman to celebrate his 40th Work Anniversary complete with a steak lunch, presents, cake and balloons. Hired on at Wright Brothers 40 years ago by Mr. James Wright, Lloyd is the embodiment of our core values and he is the true foundation of the shop…dedicating his career to caring not only for our equipment, but also for the operators and workers whose safety have depended on his hard work and diligence. His kindness and selflessness is always on display and we are so thankful to have him on our team. Thank you, Lloyd, for your years of dedication and hard work.
CONTENTS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
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THE CARING TEAM UPDATE
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CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
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CONTRACTING UPDATE
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INDUSTRIAL UPDATE
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SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
JAMES WRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
PIE CENTER FALL SEMESTER UPDATE
14 J. R. GREEN
15 WILL OLLIS
03 Mark Touchstone watches Lloyd Wiseman put on his new jacket at his 40th Anniversary party.
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IT'S CHRISTMAS TIME!
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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER WWW.WBCCI.COM
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Q4 2021 | ISSUE
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LLOYD WISEMAN CELEBRATION
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LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM BY CHRIS CALANDRINO Since I have known Steve Wright, he has always had a genuine care in giving people opportunities to better themselves. Of course, this can be sought out in many ways both personally or in the workplace, but ultimately, it's about being a better person, becoming better at what you do, and having a purpose in doing it. With the new development of "WRIGHT BROTHERS UNIVERSITY-(LMS)Learning Management System" we are developing training content in both technical and behavioral competencies. Until recently, hearing the word “training” made us think of a classroom with an instructor giving a lecture in front of students or a large conference with a day-long workshop. However, with improvements in technology, online training has gained popularity by increasing productivity as well as being more cost-effective than a standard classroom training when feasible.
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
LMS IS A SOFTWARE USED TO DEVELOP, DELIVER, AND TRACK TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES AND WILL ALLOW EMPLOYEES TO LOG INTO THEIR TRAINING PROFILE FROM ANY DEVICE AND VIEW ASSIGNED COURSES REMOTELY. . . Additionally, trainees have access to the material (courses, guides, quizzes, videos, etc.) at their convenience which ensures standard training material is available to all. We are now able create and integrate course materials, personal learning goals, align content and assessments, track progress, and create customized tests and surveys to meet the needs of the business.
You will see frequent emails from the training department as we continue to develop the LMS system. I encourage your honest feedback and support to make this successful for us all.
• growth • feedba g n i n ck trai
UNIVERSITY LMS
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Your Caring Team voted to distribute the Community Christmas Giving to these amazing organizations on your behalf...
New Vision Ministry A ministry that serves underprivileged with food and necessities.
Isaiah House Provide children physical and emotional support in a loving home as they await foster placement.
VFW Auxiliary This is the third year helping to pay for holiday food baskets for our veterans.
Cruso Fire Department This fire station is across the street from the washedout bridge in Cruso – they had a front row seat to our emergency job. They lost everything that wasn’t upstairs or secured on one of their trucks.
Beloved Asheville They help homeless and minority groups. They are in the process of building a micro village of cottages. They also have a free farmers market, food pantry, medical outreach and art studio for use by artists with housing insecurities.
BCCSA Also a repeat organization – Their mission is to counteract / eliminate poverty and promote selfsufficiency for low income families.
Deke, Inc. Serves the homeless with food, sleeping bags, coats, blankets, etc.
Mission of Hope Dora A ministry that includes a food pantry.
Pman Foundation This is the 2nd year giving to this organization. They promote sober living and helping those in recovery keep their balance.
CARING TEAM BY KELLY ROAN We expect a lot out of Christmas...laughter, joy, and amazing times filled with family and friends. However, the reality of the season can sometimes be very overwhelming. Too many events, crowded shopping malls, or experiencing the holidays without someone for the first time can be triggers for what is known as the "Christmas Blues." Despite the hustle and bustle of the season, it is imperative that we look out for each other...especially during this time of the year. If you, or someone you love, needs help with mental health, reach out! Our chaplains are eager to help. We also have the Employee Assistance Program which is a helpline available to all of us, 24/7, and will keep your information strictly confidential.
If you would like to join the effort and are not yet donating to the Caring Fund, please complete the form below and return to a Caring Leader, Kelly Roan or HR. The company matches your donation dollar for dollar to fund needs that make a positive impact in the lives around us. Are you ready to make a difference?
YES! I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE TO THE CARING FUND
I would like to commit $5/Week I would like to commit to $_____/Week
Print Name Signature Employee #
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ISSUE Q421
Construction COLLEGE STREET DESIGN BUILD WINS GPTQ AWARD On November 16, the Design-Build Team of Wright Brothers Construction and NeelSchaffer, Inc. was awarded top honors in the Bridge/Structural category of the Georgia Partnership for Transportation Quality (GPTQ) Pre-construction Design Awards. The $11 million design-build project was completed within budget and on schedule in February 2021.
JOB #01-0589
Owner: GDOT
Final Construction of College Street over Norfolk Southern RRT design incorporated reclaimed brick from the original structure as decorative panels on the barrier walls. Other aesthetic elements included a brick paver slope, ornamental fencing, a special design bus station, and two display panels that describe the significance of the bridge and railroad in Macon.
The original College Street Bridge – a historic structure at over 125 years in age – served as key connectors to state ports for rail freight. The replacements were necessary to provide adequate vertical clearance to accommodate double-stack rail cars on the Norfolk Southern Railway.
CONSTRUCTION
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Project proposals for the next month have been filed and ready for further budgeting preparations.
Contracting INTERNATIONAL PAPER PRATTVILLE MILL CELL JOB #02-0318 The project is for a new client requiring extensive pre-qualification before releasing for work. The work involves construction of a new landfill cell to support plant operations. WB is supplying all phases of construction including certification surveys, erosion controls, Quality Control, and HDPE liner supply & install. Activities include excavating 51,000 CY for construction of new diversion ditches with storm water controls plus 100,000+ CY of mass excavation in the landfill cell. 294,000 SF of HDPE liner will be covered with 18,600 CY of sand drainage layer. The project is currently running 3 months ahead of schedule.
CONTRACTING
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Industrial CIVIL UPDATE Wright Industrial was fortunate to be awarded the bulk earthwork and utility scope for a large facility expansion in the Chattanooga area. The project kicked off in March of this year and is scheduled to be complete in the first part of 2022. Wright Brothers was founded on major earthmoving, and this allowed the Industrial division to tap into the knowledge and resources of neighboring sites, as well as operating across divisional borders to make this project a success.
A considerable amount of concrete paving wrapping around the new expansion was also part a large part of the scope.
The scope we were awarded involved site preparation, stream diversions, bulk earthworks, a new employee parking lot, retaining walls and all the supporting underground utility work. This included storm water, new fire protection lines, domestic water, sanitary sewer, process sewer and gas.
INDUSTRIAL
Every project has its own set of challenges, and this one was no different. Coordinating new expansion activities with a very busy existing operation, while maintaining all services, takes a lot of attention to detail and communication.
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B&B MARINA CONSTRUCTION
Project Manager Jessica Molina and her crews have begun foundation work on two new 12,000 sq. ft. buildings for B&B Marina. The facilities, which will be subdivided into 44 separate units, will be used for boat storage.
COATINGS DIVISION Have you noticed the colorful hydrants around the City of Cleveland? The Coatings Division has contracted to repaint over half of the fire hydrants within the city limits. Painting one hydrant is a four-step process that takes four separate trips to complete.
A primed hydrant The hydrant must first be sandblasted to remove old pain. Then it must be primed and allowed to dry thoroughly. A first coat of paint is then applied, followed by the second and final coat of paint. This is a time-consuming, but well-worth it, process.
Finishing up with the final coat.
INDUSTRIAL
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Safety Spotlight With the year ending, review of the incidents across the company shows a large amount of vehicle and equipment incidents that happen because of lack of visibility or attention.
SAFETY FOCUS:
Do Your Part to Prevent Incidents Do a visual inspection of your equipment and surrounding area.
Take the Time to Look Every task we do involves some type of vehicles or equipment. Pick-ups, cranes, front end loaders, bulldozers, and haul trucks have blind spots, especially when backing up. When we get into our vehicles, we need to make sure we are focused on our surroundings and that we are prepared to move them safely. Park equipment in a way that helps with visibility. Back trucks into a parking area so it is easier to see when you leave. Do not park equipment near obstructions that could be an issue later By taking a few extra precautions, we can avoid incidents such as collisions, equipment damage, and injury.
SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
Look for any physical hazards you may contact while moving. Get out to look in tight spaces...ask for help if needed. Other vehicles and equipment may be entering and leaving the area. They may also park in blind areas. Just because you park your equipment in a clear area DOES NOT mean it will be clear (and easy) to move when it's time to move your equipment again.
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Scholarship recipient Madison Williams, right, is pictured here with Vice President Tony Boals
JAMES WRIGHT MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT Madison Williams has always been interested in STEM. She thought half-heartedly about architecture but knew quickly, even in high school, that her future was in engineering. With an interest in design, the Birchwood, TN resident quickly decided a career in civil engineering was perfect for her. A graduate of Walker Valley High School, Madison got her associate's degree from Chattanooga State Community College and is now pursuing a bachelors in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she is a junior. Madison is also an active member of the student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers on campus. She holds the office of Conference Chair, which means she will prepare the chapter for the annual conference competitions. Madison was thrilled when Vice President Tony Boals contacted her to tour the Wright Brothers facility. "I have scholarships that I know so little about where they came from. It was so wonderful to come to Wright Brothers and learn about James Wright and his legacy." 11
UTC junior Madison Williams stands next to a picture of James Wright in the home office lobby.
ISSUE Q421
Project proposals for the next month
PIE Center
have been filed and ready for further budgeting preparations.
Every Tuesday through Friday, the students are immersed in a job-like atmosphere at “The Proving Grounds” near the Wright Brothers main office. Emphasis on PPE, equipment safety, tool inspection, and continual learning about jobs-specific safety issues and case studies have been a staple for the class. Welding safety, rigging safety (including how to calculate capacity), and trench and slope safety were topics covered as well. Going deeper than just “construction 101,” their learning also included how to fill out time cards, daily cost analysis, and the basics of estimating quantities.
This has been a very productive semester of learning for the Wright Brothers / P.I.E. Center students from Walker Valley and Bradley Central. Wright Brothers is doing in-depth teaching on construction with six high school seniors that are wanting to make their way into the industry after graduation. Safety Emphasis
Thank you to Barry, Juan, and Kenny for assisting the students as they created pick eyes in the shop for bridge girders at The Proving Grounds. The students spent time planning and problem solving, stick and MIG welding, measuring, cutting, and grinding as the girders were fabricated. They were even able to experience welding in the field as they installed the pick eyes on the girders at the grounds.
Starting with a strong emphasis on safety, a culture of daily hazard analysis, visual inspections, and weekly tool box talks were established.
SAFETY SPOTLIGHT
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Project proposals for the next month have been filed and ready for further budgeting preparations.
Developing Skills...
...And Building Leaders
From an equipment standpoint, the students have been running a 745 articulated truck, D6T dozer, D6K dozer, and 336 excavator. Starting with some equipment operation classes, simulator time, walk throughs, and “first move” seat time, it wasn’t long before the students began operating the equipment with confidence and working in tandem, simulating a jobsite atmosphere. Beyond just loading and unloading trucks and moving a bunch of dirt, the students are continually working on skills like fine grading with the dozer, picking equipment with the excavator, grading with the excavator bucket, shaping slopes with the back of the bucket, fill work with the dozer, creating slopes and berms, haul road management, erosion control and more.
Beyond the day to day practical learning, sessions on character, personal growth, soft skills and leadership are continual. The goal isn’t just to build an employee, but to build a leader with strong character and work ethic. Special thanks to Steve Wright, Robert Wright, Mitchell Simpson, Tanya Ball, and others that have taken time out of their schedules to speak to the group.
PIE CENTER
This fall semester with the students will be closing out with an opportunity to give back to the community and families in need. They will be serving in partnership with ATS, Bradley County Schools and Jordan’s BBQ in an effort to feed families this holiday season.
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Giving Retirement the Green Light Superintendent J. R. Green is ready to retire from his 51 year career in Project proposals for the next month construction. We spent some time with him on the jobsite in Pelham, AL (01-0599) to hear have about the past filed and learn about the future. been and ready for further
preparations. Whenbudgeting J.R. Green graduated from high school, he was working in a steel mill. It was OK work, but his father told him that a bridge construction crew he knew of paid .15 cents more per hour ($7.00 in 2021 money, adjusted for inflation), plus offered more than 40 hours per week. That sounded great to young J.R.- he was getting married in a year and wanted to save up money for himself and his fiancée. His new assignment was building the I-59/I-20 Bridge over the Warrior River in Tuscaloosa, Alabama and he began, as most do, as a laborer.
When I asked him if he’s ready to retire, he sighed. “I’m really going to miss my crew.” He nods toward their direction as they head out to go to lunch. “They’re all really great guys. I’ve been with Alex Perez since I started. But they’re all really hard workers.” So what are J.R.’s plans after retirement? He smiles. “I’m not ready to just go to the house and not do anything. I’ve still got a lot to do.” And when he lists all of his future prospects, he really will be busy. Two part-time jobs, one as a web administrator for his church’s website, something he has always been responsible for, but not really had the time to fully dedicate himself to. These plans don’t include his hobbies as an amateur photographer, on which he also plans to spend more time.
Fast forward 51 years and J.R. has done it all, working his way up from carpenter helper to carpenter all the way up to superintendent. And in those years he’s built a lot of bridges. So many, he says, he’s lost count. J.R. joined Wright Brothers in 2012 after being with the Morris-Shea Bridge Company. “I was a foreman for Chris Brown’s father. I was familiar with the company and knew the kind of work they did. I knew it would be a great place to work.”
J.R. GREEN SPOTLIGHT
I wrapped up this interview with the bridge builder asking him which project was his all-time favorite. His answer surprises me, “Locks and dams,” he says, without hesitation. When asked why, his answer is simple, “something different.” It sounds like his retirement, too, will be exciting and different.
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Good Will Hunting Training Team Member and Heavy Equipment Operator Will Ollis (red shirt) has Project proposals for the next month criss-crossed the southeast training Wright Brothers crews on the proper way to operatehave equipment. Now he's and retiring. been filed ready for further Will began at Wright Brothers in 2005, budgeting preparations. and was hired on by Mitchell Simpson who Will Ollis is quick with a great story. had also recently joined the company. “I Whether it’s about growing up in White really like working for Mitchell,” says Will. Pines, TN, (located in Sevier County), his “He’s a straight shooter and so am I. He fast-racing days in the mountains, his tells you just like it is. There’s no guessing grandchildren, or about his days on the games and I like that. You don’t get that job site, Will always has a fascinating everywhere. But you don’t get what you yarn. get here at Wright Brothers everywhere, either. This is the best company I’ve ever Like most in the industry, he began his worked for.” career when a road crew near his home needed laborers. When I ask him about equipment operating, he says he just “took to it.”
For the past few years, Will worked for the training department, criss-crossing the southeast with the company’s custommade trailer, which houses the simulators that make good operators into great ones. He sums up, “I used to watch those old operators to learn. Those simulators are the same thing. They’re the best training tools we have. Steve Wright invested in them because he cares about investing in the workforce.”
“It just came natural to me. It just seemed like any equipment I got on it just took a little practice and I could do it real good. And I liked it. But I guess I liked it because I was good at it.” He remembers riding along with other operators and observing their technique, emulating later on his own piece of equipment. “That’s not something that’s allowed because of safety reasons now.”
WILL OLLIS SPOTLIGHT
Will retires after the Christmas holiday and when I ask him if he will miss it. “No. I think I’m ready,” he says. Then he reconsiders. “Well…I’ll miss my friends. But I'll come back and see everybody.”
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maass CChhrriissttm i meei si s TTi m re! HHeer e Christmas at the home office is here...with all of its fun and pageantry. The countdown to the 25th is filled with lots of celebration and excitement
Ladies Christmas Party The ladies at the home office had their annual Christmas party on December 7, complete with food, crafts and a "dirty Santa" gift exchange.
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Ladies Christmas Party Ashley Gerald (right) and Sydney Wyatt smile by their beautiful dessert table. Ashley designed and decorated the celebration with help from Sydney and Cindy Freeman.
Ugly Sweater Contest There's never a bah-humbug around here! This week has been full of Christmas cheer at home office with an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest! Monica Johnson was magnificent in her Christmas Tree tulle and was our winner. Second in our our fiercely competitive contest was "Santa Pants" Ian Manning. In a hotly contested race for third place, Paige Dalton triumphed in her Dorothy-inspired Christmas Tree ensemble. Sydney Wyatt and Kecia Cranfill each get an honorable mention for their creativity. Great job everyone!
All the Ugly Sweaters! All the Ugly Sweater Participants smile for the camera before judging begins. Thank you for all the participation!
Deck the Doors Contest Courtney Marlar stands outside her winning "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" door decor.
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DECORATIVE DOORS
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DECORATIVE DOORS
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DECORATIVE DOORS
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CHAPLAIN'S CORNER CORNER CHAPLAIN'S BY CHAPLAIN DONNIE JENKINS
CHAPLAIN DONNIE 1-877-322-2427 EXT 5016 DJENKINS@CHAPLAIN.ORG
BUSY, BUSY, BUSY Busy-ness: the state of being or appearing to be actively engaged in an activity (Princeton’s WordNet). The first known usage of the word
Often, I reflect back on a quote I heard from a pastoral mentor, Johnny Hunt, years ago, “You might actually do more ministry on your way to the pulpit than in the pulpit.”
busyness was in 1809. How many times have you asked someone how they are doing and their response be, “busy, just really busy.” Understandably, there are more demands on each of us today with family, work, church, life, etc. Does it appear, the art of developing relationships is fading away. We live in the most technologically sound society thus far, yet, the people we sometimes know the least are the ones around us. Many people these days devote more attention to their phone screens than face to face with an actual person. This can be a challenge in developing a relationship with a person, co-worker or family member. Does our busy-ness allow us to accomplish more or is it just keeping us busy for
Luke 10:38-42: As they went, He entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she came to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Then tell her to help me.” Jesus answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed. And Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken from her.”
the sake of being busy?
S E N D Y O U R C V A N D P O R T F O L I2O1 S T O C A R E E R S @ J E N K I N S . C O M 15
"...and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” LUKE 2: 7-12
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