The Pipeline - July-August 2023

Our Vision

The vision of W. W. Gay is to be a leader in our industry and our community through an unrivaled commitment to our craft and our people.

Our Mission

The mission of W. W. Gay is to provide the best service, at the best value, with the best people

A Message From Our CEO

Dear W. W. Gay Family,

As I sat down to write this letter for this issue of The Pipeline, I realized that so much will be taking place between now and the next newsletter. With the new building nearly finished, excitement is definitely brewing here in Jacksonville. After almost three years of displacement, it will be wonderful to have everyone under one roof again, allowing us to experience the collaboration we have missed for so long. While it will certainly be another adjustment for us, I have faith that we will overcome any challenges as a team and gain unity being together once again.

Speaking of the new building, the entire company should soon be receiving an invitation to our Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Ceremony scheduled for Thursday, August 31. This date has become a symbolic piece to our history as not only was it the date of the fire in 2020, but it was also when we officially broke ground on the new building just last year. It is only fitting that we will open the doors to our new building and the next chapter of our company on this date, too. The invitation will provide more details on this special event and the entire company is encouraged to attend. I hope to see many of you at this celebration as we welcome the future together!

“It’s our people who bring the most value”.

As we move closer to closing this chapter, I’ve had the opportunity to reflect on many things, especially our employees. Each of you is resilient and together you help continue our legacy of being the best.

More than anything else, our people keep this ship moving. Yes, our customers, clients, and vendors are important, but it’s our people who bring the most value. I don’t say enough how thankful I am to every person. I often think of you, your family, and the sacrifices you make daily. With every decision that is made, I keep our employees’ best interests in mind and constantly strive to serve you better.

Someone recently shared an acronym with me regarding leadership and employees and I thought it spoke perfectly to who we are: B.E.S.T.

Believe in your employees.

Encourage your employees.

Share with your employees.

Trust your employees.

This is a great example of what should be at the root of all teams, no matter where you are within the company. If we truly desire to continue the legacy of being the “BEST in the Business”, we should all believe, encourage, share, and trust one another. And if we all choose to incorporate this mindset into our daily work, we will see that legacy continue.

As always, thank you for being the Best in the Business!

Paul Jones CEO

Marketing Update

So much has happened since the last time I gave an update in The Pipeline! From the new building to internal events like the Town Hall and the 2nd quarter Forging the Way Awards, there is certainly a lot happening with our company.

Thank you to everyone that not only attended the Forging the Way Awards, but who also submitted nominations. I’m super passionate about our employees so it is always heartwarming to see you building up your fellow coworkers and honoring them in this way. Nominations will soon open for the next awards, so stay tuned for that announcement. All nominations are kept on file, so if your nominee was not a recipient, please know that there is plenty of opportunity, as this will continue each quarter every year.

As you have probably already heard, the Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening Celebration is scheduled for August 31…right around the corner! The invitation is set to be sent out companywide and to our partners/customers later this week. While you’ve hopefully been keeping up with the weekly updates through the Flyover Friday segments, I personally can’t wait for each of you to see the minor details of the building. From the conference room names to the photography throughout the building, we wanted it to really reflect our people and the hard work they do every day, as well as pay homage to the rich history of our company.

The 50% off sale in our online company store is still going strong. Thank you to everyone that has placed orders so far…it’s been a record sale already! The sale will close next Friday, August 4, but the store will still be available for orders, just at regular price. If you have any issues regarding your orders, or if you had any suggestions for future items you’d like to see, please reach out to myself or Peyton Beasley. We always try to make accommodations when we can and want you to be excited about what’s available.

Last but certainly not least, I’m very excited to introduce the newest addition to the Marketing team, Caroline Carter! Caroline officially joined the W. W. Gay family in mid-July as our Events and Sponsorship Coordinator. In this role, Caroline will be spearheading internal events such as the Forging the Way Awards, employee engagement activities and others as well as events directly relating to company sponsorships. Caroline will work closely with HR to increase our student outreach within high schools and colleges, ensuring that we’re well-known in these institutions. In addition to events, she will also be focusing on strengthening our relationships with community partners and finding more opportunities for our employees to make a difference. I’m thrilled to have her on the team and look forward to seeing how she can impact us companywide!

With the addition of Caroline, this gave me the opportunity to promote Peyton Beasley as our Creative Services Coordinator. As you may know, Peyton has been on my team for nearly two years and has done an amazing job at helping me juggle all aspects of marketing from brand collateral, sponsorships, events, community outreach, communication and more. In her new position, she’ll be focusing on all aspects of the W. W. Gay brand. This means anything from collateral, advertisements, business cards, presentations, company store and many others. Peyton is passionate about our brand and with her graphic design background, this is the perfect niche for her!

Moving forward, if you are looking for anything creative related (business cards, brochures, presentations, etc.) please reach out directly to Peyton Beasley. For anything event or sponsorship related, please reach out to Caroline Carter. In the coming months, we hope to release a process that will help make your marketing-related requests much easier, so please be on the lookout for that.

In closing, I’m looking forward to the future and can’t wait to see our company grow!

Forging ahead,

Emily Andrews Vice President, Marketing & Community Relations

Caroline Carter Events & Sponsorship Coordinator

Peyton Beasley Creative Services Coordinator

New Building Update

Work in our new HQ building has rapidly accelerated as we near our Ribbon Cutting/Grand Opening on August 31. If you have not joined one of our New Building Tours and have missed the latest Flyover Fridays, you would not believe how different the jobsite looks.

Outside the new building, we have parking lots, site lighting, a generator, precast walls, and the first coats of paint. On the inside, we have cabinetry, utilities, plumbing fixtures, lights, accent walls, storefront glass and doors, a fully functional elevator, and SO MUCH furniture.

The construction team and many of our leaders are hard at work to have the space ready for us to occupy the week of Labor Day. Delivering this project on time is going to be a tremendous

testament to the hard work of so many people, and something our entire company can be proud of.

In the weeks ahead, there will be even more work getting done, milestones to celebrate, and lots of planning and communication regarding move-inbut the thing I’m most excited about is the impact this building will have on our company.

We are one company, spread across several hundred miles of offices and jobsites, and this is our headquarters. Company leadership has cast a vision of unity, and we are taking one step toward that by bringing together over 100 team members that have been dispersed across our Jacksonville campus for years. We have endured and overcome so much since 2020. As we make our way into the new building it is chance for us to move into a new chapter for all of W.W. Gay.

Thank you,

Matthew Furlong Vice President, Special Projects

Earlier in July, we were thrilled to honor our quarter two recipients of the Forging the Way Awards! If you didn’t get the chance to read about each individual recipient, please view their stories on the following pages.

Nomination forms for the next quarters ceremony will be sent out comanywide soon, so be sure to submit yours! The ceremony will be held on Thursday, September 28 with formal invitation to follow.

BRETT WATSON

Jacksonville

Humble and hardworking, Brett Watson consistently puts in a significant amount of effort and dedication to his work. Born and raised in Jacksonville, the construction industry or W. W. Gay were both never on his radar until he met his wife. Her dad, Randy Horton, happened to be a long-time employee and it was Randy that suggested Brett consider a career with W. W. Gay. Interested in the opportunity, Brett applied for the apprenticeship with Local 234 and was hired on with W. W. Gay in 2014. By the time he turned out in 2019, Brett knew he had made the right decision. He gives credit to his apprentice classmates as they were all competitive and helped keep him on his toes year after year.

Now a Foreman in our plumbing division, Brett finds himself on long-term jobs, improving his craft every day. A highlight of his career has been the work he’s done for UF Health, helping every phase come to life. Currently out at Mayo Clinic, Brett is part of the big Tower Expansion and will be there to see it through to the end. While it’s still in the beginning phases, he works closely with the VDC team to ensure everyone is on the same page. Constantly facing challenges on the job, Brett is a refreshing reminder that you must always push forward no matter what. When placed in a tough spot between a GC and W. W. Gay, he does his best to find the happy medium, so he makes the right call but also stays true to our company.

In My Own Words...

Proudest Moment

I’m most proud to work in the construction industry. I’ve always been intrigued by its growth, especially in Jacksonville, so it’s neat to be a piece in all of it.

Biggest Influence

My father-in-law Randy Horton and Bill Childers. Randy was the one who got me interested in this career, so it was nice to see what he was doing day in and day out. It was him that helped me see potential and really why I made the move.

Bill Childers is also another influence. He has kept me under his wing for most of my career and has taught me so much. I wouldn’t be where I am if it weren’t for him.

What Motivates You

My wife and 2 kids are the reason I do what I do. Being able to provide for them motivates me to keep going every day, even when it’s tough. They are definitely my inspiration.

Define What Success Means To You

Success is when you give your full effort and leave everything out there. If you’re able to say at the end of every job that you put everything on the line, you can call that success.

Core Value That Best Describes You

I wouldn’t say that one particular core value describes me. Honestly, I come in each morning prepared to work hard and do my job to the best of my ability.

BRIAN MILLER

Jacksonville

Ask any of Brian Miller’s coworkers why he is deserving of this award, and they’ll immediately tell you it’s because of his determination and ambition. Passionate about his job, Brian genuinely cares about W. W. Gay, always lifts up fellow coworkers across all offices and is on board to help the company achieve future success. Serving as the HVAC Service Department’s Billing Administrator for the past 7 years, Brian has always done what he could to ensure his work was accurate and completed on time. His hard work certainly paid off as he is currently moving into the Project Manager role, ready to take on more to support customers and employees alike.

Born and raised in Jacksonville, Brian left the state to attend Coastal Carolina University where he received his degree. His first job after graduation brought him back to the River City where he worked in the patient accounting department for Baptist Health.

From there, he moved on to work for a land surveyor until the 2008 financial crisis hit and left that industry upside down. A big turning point in his life, a friend offered him a billing position for a local residential HVAC company. Enjoying the field, he enrolled in a continuing education program through Duval County and began night school for HVAC. His experience and job knowledge would eventually bring him to W. W. Gay where he would become heavily involved in moving the HVAC Service Department forward. As a Billing Administrator, Brian understood the billing process began as soon as the phone rang and that it was important to qualify that customer from the beginning. In his new role, Brian is focused on incremental growth for not only himself, but for the company as well, and is motivated by each person around him.

In My Own Words...

Proudest Moment

I’m really proud of how the Service Department overcame the hurdle of COINS. That was such a big challenge, and it took every single person. From Ronnie and the Project Managers to the guys out in the field, everyone took ownership and learned the system. It was cool to see what happens when everyone works together towards a common goal. While it was tough, it was necessary and turned out to be a huge benefit for our customers.

Biggest Influence

I can’t name just one person because there have been so many people that have influenced me along the way, both current and former employees. Margaret, Chrissy, Ronnie, Ted…they have all given me so much support and the freedom to make decisions. I trust each of them and appreciate the knowledge they all bring to the table. Our PMs, especially Ryan Hudgens, have been instrumental in my career and they always make an effort to include me. Our Accounting team is second to none and definitely set me up for success.

I have learned so much from our guys in the field. They embody our core values every day in every situation, and I admire them for that. No matter the weather or how far from home the job takes them, they make it happen for all of us. Because of that, I will always give them the support they need.

What Motivates You

Progress motivates me. I’ve seen the transformation of our company and the advancements we’ve made for our customers, and it excites me that our business is moving forward. I’ve had the opportunity to watch apprentices grow and I love to see that growth in people’s personal and professional lives. I can’t wait to see what we can do next for our customers.

Define What Success Means To You

Success is learning from one another. When you’re able to master a task and share it with someone else so they can succeed, that is success at its finest. The perfect example of this was the COINS Service Training meeting the Gainesville staff organized, specifically Megan, Heather, and Brittany. They took the time to put together an entire day of training and the effort that was made to ensure we were all on the same page was just unmatched. It was the best meeting I’ve ever attended. I hope to one day be able to present something to others in the same way.

Core Value That Best Describes You

Stewardship I love that we’re entrusted with resources and it’s our responsibility to make the most out of them, for ourselves and for the company.

CRAIG MILLS

Jacksonville

The always cheerful Craig Mills has been a staple in the Jacksonville office as an expert crane operator for nearly 40 years. A Jacksonville native, it was his dream to one day work for W. W. Gay. Before that dream was made reality, Craig started out working for another plumbing contractor in the area. After some time, his plans changed, and he set his sights on the Operators and Electrical apprenticeship with Local 673 in hopes of becoming a crane operator. During his 4-year apprenticeship, Craig was mentored by some talented operators who helped him learn the trade including W. W. Gay retirees Troy Lee and Robert Simmons. Upon turning out, Craig remembers his first job out at Westrock as a highlight of his career. Officially on his own, he spent 6 months at the paper mill putting his skills to the test. He learned many valuable things during that job, but what made it special was that his dad was right around the corner working for Milton Wood.

That job led to many others, where no two days were the same and Craig was given the opportunity to run lead on more and more jobs.

After many years in the field, there came a need for a full-time operator in the yard, and Craig was the obvious choice. For the past 7 years, Craig has been the point person in the yard and enjoys helping employees find what they need. Whether it’s loading and unloading pipe for different jobs or working with Receiving to rig up a particular unit, Craig finds enjoyment in every day. No matter the weather, you can always expect a smile and friendly wave from Craig as he’s sitting in the seat of his crane. He gives the good Lord credit for his positivity and is grateful for the opportunity to do a job he loves for a company he would do anything for.

In My Own Words...

Proudest Moment

The Jacksonville Port Authority job was a proud moment for me. The head of that job specifically asked for me because he knew I would get the job done right. That was important to me because it meant he saw how dedicated I was to my job.

Biggest Influence

From the beginning, Mr. Gay has always been a big influence. He was so down to earth, and I always loved hearing his stories. Troy Lee, Marttie Simmons and David Ray (Mudfish) have also meant a lot to my career. Troy was one of the best and I learned so much about the trade from him. Marttie in the Crane Department has been instrumental in helping me with the new computers on the cranes. Mudfish is a great boss who teaches me something every day.

What Motivates You

Being around good people motivates me. When we all try to help one another, it makes work enjoyable. I’m only as good as the people around me and luckily, we have some good people on our team.

Define

What Success Means To You

When I get to help with a job and see the customer happy at the end of it, that is success.

Core Value That Best Describes You

I would choose dedication, but I truly believe they all go hand-in-hand. When you have all three together, it means that you want to take care of the job you’re doing, without complaint. You wake up every day prepared to do the job, even if you’re not necessarily happy with a particular piece of the job.

DALLAS READ

Gainesville

If you’ve ever needed something delivered, Dallas Read has more than likely been your go-to employee to get the job done. Serving as our Delivery Driver for the past 8 years, Dallas puts in hundreds of miles each week and is as hardworking and reliable as they come. Housed out of the Gainesville office, Dallas is ready and willing to make anything happen for anyone on a moment’s notice. No day is the same, but it’s a guarantee that you’ll find him in the Jacksonville office on a daily basis. Some days begin at 2:00 or 3:00 am in Gainesville, while others bring him to Jacksonville in the late afternoon.

Life out on the road is something Dallas has always known and where he’s spent his career, even before coming to work for W. W. Gay. During his years with a different company, he’d spend months at a time on shutdowns across the United States.

While he loved the work he was doing, the time away from home and his family was difficult. At the same time, Dallas’ wife was going back to school to pursue her dream and wanted him to be closer to home. He made a promise to his wife that as soon as her student loans were paid off, he would quit that job and come home. After some time, the debt was paid and Dallas quit and came home, remaining true to his promise. That move led him to W. W. Gay where he’s been for nearly a decade. Yet to miss one single day of work, Dallas is dedicated to his job and will pick up whatever is needed for any job. While he is mostly associated with the Foreman across the company, Dallas loves that his job gives him the opportunity to interact with different people every day. No matter the miles, Dallas does whatever the job calls for and we’re grateful for his commitment to the company.

In My Own Words...

Proudest Moment

I’m most proud of working at W. W. Gay. Having Chris as a boss is a real honor and I’m thankful that everything with my job just fell into place.

Biggest Influence

Frankie Mack is a big influence. He always helps me find what I need and makes my days run smoothly. I’m always blown away by the professionalism of every person I meet. They are ready to lend a hand whenever they can.

What Motivates You

Loving what I do keeps me motivated. I wake up excited to go to work every morning and always try to give it my best. I’m thankful for the opportunity to work for such a great company.

Living life to the fullest. If I can make everyone as happy as I am, that’s success to me. Define What Success Means To You

Core Value That Best Describes You

Dedication because I’m dedicated to what I do. It doesn’t matter when someone calls, I will always be there. I love this company and will do anything for it.

KELLY POFF

Orlando

Kelly Poff is no stranger to the W. W. Gay team and is a name you’ve probably heard frequently over the last few months. In her 8th year with the company, she was recently promoted to Office Manager in the Orlando office, and is a go-getter, always up for any challenge that’s thrown her way. And she does it with great positivity!

Like many employees, Kelly found W. W. Gay by way of family. Not only does her husband, Jimmy Poff, work in the Orlando office, but her father-in-law has spent much of his career with the company, too. Before taking on the Office Manager role, Kelly wore a few different hats in the company, beginning her career out in the field.

From there she spent three years as a delivery driver, ensuring the field personnel had everything they needed for their jobs. Then taking over as Shop Manager, Kelly shifted her focus to all aspects of the shop. She credits so many of her work relationships to these positions as it allowed her to interact with so many different people. Still fresh in her new position, Kelly is enjoying the challenge and is focused on growing the relationship between herself and the employees.

In My Own Words...

Proudest Moment

I’m very proud to have my name on the Cape Canaveral job that took place from 2015-2018. Not only did we get to see all the different pieces from the rocket, but we had a front row seat for the rocket launches. Being on that jobsite, it didn’t matter what you were working on, when that rocket went off, everything and everyone stopped to witness it. Such a great experience and unique job to have under my belt.

Biggest Influence

On a personal level, the trust I have in myself has always been a big influence. When you learn to trust your gut, you can’t go wrong. Professionally, Laura Jones has been my biggest influence. She’s always been my biggest cheerleader and we work extremely well together.

What Motivates You

My past is a huge motivator. I learned from a very young age that if I wanted something, I had to work hard and always push forward, no matter what.

Define What Success Means To You

Success has nothing to do with money or material things. To me, success is about being at peace with yourself. It is the people around you and your overall happiness in life. It’s the things that money cannot buy.

Core Value That Best Describes You

Dedication. I’m absolutely dedicated to this company, my job, and the vision of our leader. It’s easy to be committed to this place when you are treated like family and enjoy coming to work every day.

July Anniversaries

07/01 – Michael Logan – 27 Years (Jacksonville)

07/01 – Joshua Waters – 4 Years (Gainesville)

07/01 – Chase Sallie – 3 Years (Gainesville)

07/01 – Michael Cooper – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

07/02 – Kenneth Murph – 33 Years (Jacksonville)

07/02 – George Macfadden Jr. – 8 Years (Orlando)

07/05 – Megan McIntire – 18 Years (Gainesville)

07/05 – Micha McFarland – 1 Year (Gainesville)

07/05 – Kristopher Dehart – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/05 – Andrew Gleaton Sr. – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/05 – Chaddrick Dixon – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Joe Brabham lll – 31 Years (Gainesville)

07/06 – Christian Holmes – 3 Years (Gainesville)

07/06 – Brair Shaffer – 2 Years (Gainesville)

07/06 – Derrick Woods – 16 Years (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Douglas Colley – 13 Years (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Jonathan Kelly – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Justin Dixon – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

07/07 – Larry Hammonds – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

07/07 – Katherine Liotine – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/07 – Christian Cook – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/07 – Clayton Brinlee – 1 Year (Gainesville)

07/08 – Conor Lewis – 4 Years (Gainesville)

07/08 – Matthew Hunter – 3 Years (Orlando)

07/08 – Carlos Alcantara – 2 Years (Orlando)

07/08 – Ronald Loder Jr. – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/08 – Michael Ruf – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

07/08 – Aaron Gann – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

07/08 – Lucas Chapman – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

07/09 – Joshua Stringer – 22 Years (Gainesville)

07/09 – Fredrick Carter – 5 Years (Gainesville)

07/09 – John Culbreth – 5 Years (Gainesville)

07/09 – Angela Jones – 5 Years (Jacksonville)

07/09 – John Reynolds – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/10 – Blaine Hopkins – 11 Years (Jacksonville)

07/11 – Clifford White – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/11 – Joseph Roach – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/12 – Victoria Fawthrop – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

07/12 – Antonio Pratt – 4 Years (Orlando)

07/12 – Ezra Johnston – 2 Years (Gainesville)

07/12 – Eduardo Marrero – 1 Year (Gainesville)

07/13 – George Schwab – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

07/13 – Jayce Rodgers – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

07/15 – John Hilderbrand – 30 Years (Jacksonville)

07/15 – Kevin Nobles – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/15 – Darrell Heath – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/15 – Lee Hodge – 4 Years (Orlando)

07/15 – Jeffrey Teetzel – 3 Years (Orlando)

07/16 – Jason Wheeler – 2 Years (Orlando)

07/16 – Haylee Graham – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

07/17 – Dalton Deloach – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/17 – Bryce Olds – 4 Years (Orlando)

07/18 – Ashley Butler – 10 Years (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Nicholas Bailey – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Leford Alexis – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Taylor Gibson – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Coen Purvis – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Jason Tuchardt – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Kyle Asbell – 1 Year (Gainesville)

07/19 – Kenneth Andrews – 11 Years (Jacksonville)

07/19 – Nathanial Taylor – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/19 – Christian Reece – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/20 – Heather Liddon – 7 Years (Gainesville)

07/20 – Joseph Pinna – 3 Years (Gainesville)

07/20 – John Galarza – 1 Year (Orlando)

07/21 – David Wiltshire – 9 Years (Jacksonville)

07/21 – Halle Perez - 7 Years (Orlando)

07/21 – David Opachich – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Monte Graham – 10 Years (Orlando)

07/22 – Seth Mobley – 21 Years (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Douglas White – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Mitchell Rizer – 3 Years (Gainesville)

07/24 – Jack Barnes – 17 Years (Jacksonville)

07/24 – Timothy Rose II – 4 Years (Gainesville)

07/25 – Macie Ray – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

07/25 – Clinton Avant – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

07/26 – John Culbreth – 17 Years (Gainesville)

07/26 – Adam Baich – 6 Years (Gainesville)

07/27 – Stephen Napoli – 40 Years (Jacksonville)

07/27 – Mary Crews – 8 Years (Jacksonville)

07/29 – Wanda Reaves – 8 Years (Jacksonville)

07/29 – Michael Everett – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/29 – Ottavia Twiggs – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

07/29 – Alec Cason – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

07/29 – Dylan Pilcher – 4 Years (Gainesville)

07/30 – Mark Garcia – 22 Years (Gainesville)

07/30 – John Wilson – 9 Years (Gainesville)

07/30 – William Willis – 11 Years (Jacksonville)

07/30 – Travis Denmark II – 10 Years (Jacksonville)

07/31 – Justice Geiger – 16 Years (Gainesville)

07/31 – Jonathan Gullion – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/31 – Thomas Johnson – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

07/31 – Patrick Bozeman – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

**If you find that any of the above information is incorrect, please reach out to Marketing Coordinator Peyton Beasley at pbeasley@wwgmc.com so that it can be corrected in our system.

July Birthdays

07/01 – David Foster (Jacksonville)

07/01 – Jeremiah Combs (Jacksonville)

07/03 – Austin Moore (Jacksonville)

07/03 – William Joiner (Orlando)

07/06 – Clifton Harrison III (Gainesville)

07/06 – John Culbreth (Gainesville)

07/06 – Clayton Gill (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Enrico Ramsey (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Robert Lee (Jacksonville)

07/06 – Robert Lovett (Jacksonville)

07/07 – Daniel Mullis (Jacksonville)

07/08 – Melissa Clay (Jacksonville)

07/08 – Joanie Jones (Orlando)

07/08 – Scott Hostetter (Jacksonville)

07/09 – Calvin Kirkpatrick (Orlando)

07/09 – Lucas Chapman (Jacksonville)

07/09 – Joseph McCaffrey (Gainesville)

07/10 – Julio Arauz (Orlando)

07/10 – Luis Rios (Orlando)

07/11 – Joseph Lloyd (Orlando)

07/11 – Megan McIntire (Gainesville)

07/12 – Rebecca Brown (Jacksonville)

07/13 – Calvin Franklin (Jacksonville)

07/13 – Jeffery Strickland (Jacksonville)

07/15 – Michael Bertsch (Orlando)

07/15 – Michael Kennard (Gainesville)

07/15 – Derek Williams (Jacksonville)

07/15 – Steven Weldon (Jacksonville)

07/16 – Andrew Gleaton Sr. (Jacksonville)

07/16 – Junior Rodney (Orlando)

07/16 – Spencer Pollard (Orlando)

07/17 – George Lee (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Jayce Rodgers (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Joseph Howland (Jacksonville)

07/18 – Valerie Polk (Jacksonville)

07/19 – Aaron Hemmans (Orlando)

07/19 – Joshua Gallaway (Orlando)

07/20 – Grenville Beattie III (Jacksonville)

07/20 – John Mitchell (Jacksonville)

07/20 – Scott Long (Jacksonville)

07/21 – Christopher Bilodeau (Jacksonville)

07/21 – Daniel Andrews (Jacksonville)

07/21 – Gerald McLendon (Jacksonville)

07/21 – Michael Rollins (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Brett Watson (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Cassidy Musgrove (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Ebonia Williams (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Michael DeBrule (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Robert Quillen (Jacksonville)

07/22 – Corey Lavoie (Gainesville)

07/23 – Steven Dukell (Orlando)

07/23 – Kaylob Carnley (Gainesville)

07/23 – Garrett Davis (Jacksonville)

07/23 – George Broughton (Jacksonville)

07/23 – Matthew Maynard (Jacksonville)

07/24 – Cristian Arias (Orlando)

07/24 – Daniel Cupp III (Jacksonville)

07/24 – David Wiltshire (Jacksonville)

07/24 – Franklyn Mack (Jacksonville)

07/24 – Justin Chila (Jacksonville)

07/24 – Randall Glisson Jr. (Jacksonville)

07/25 – Jeffrey Teetzel (Orlando)

07/25 – Timothy Patterson (Jacksonville)

07/26 – Joe Brabham III (Gainesville)

07/26 – Joshua Grealish (Orlando)

07/27 – Kaleb Davis (Gainesville)

07/27 – Kenneth Sanders (Gainesville)

07/27 – Mitchell Rizer (Gainesville)

07/27 – Christian Cook (Jacksonville)

07/28 – Levi Ferguson (Gainesville)

07/28 – Blaine Hopkins (Jacksonville)

07/28 – Matthew Gay (Jacksonville)

07/28 – Micah Powers (Jacksonville)

07/28 – Ryan Young (Jacksonville)

07/29 – Trent Beckham (Gainesville)

07/30 – Dametre Lynch (Jacksonville)

07/31 – Brair Shaffer (Gainesville)

07/31 – Edward Green (Gainesville)

August Anniversaries

08/01 – Brian Miller – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

08/01 – Charles McLaurin – 4 Years (Orlando)

08/02 – Harvey Sessions – 12 Years (Gainesville)

08/02 – Cody Downing – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/02 – Jeremy Green – 2 Years (Orlando)

08/02 – Jacob Smith – 2 Years (Orlando)

08/03 – Amy Britton – 18 Years (Gainesville)

08/04 – Walter Baum Jr. – 9 Years (Gainesville)

08/04 – Scott Niederwemmer – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/05 – Ito Simon – 2 Years (Gainesville)

08/05 – Tashad Lake – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/05 – Adam Snellgrove – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/06 – Daniel Kutylo – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/07 – Charles McLaurin – 28 Years (Orlando)

08/07 – Garland Pierce III – 22 Years (Jacksonville)

08/07 – Joshua Arp – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

08/08 – Dustin Parrish – 18 Years (Gainesville)

08/08 – Christopher Pittman – 16 Years (Jacksonville)

08/08 – Robert Fakess – 5 Years (Orlando)

08/08 – Harrison Tharpe – 5 Years (Jacksonville)

08/08 – Scott Griffin – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

08/08 – Bruce Scott – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

08/09 – Remington Hoke – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/11 – Roy Romines – 25 Years (Jacksonville)

08/11 – Patrick Todd – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

08/11 – David Broome – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

08/12 – Frank Harriman II – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/12 – Todd Selby – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/12 – Shane Kennard – 4 Years (Gainesville)

08/12 – Dennis Frangos – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

08/13 – Leroy Brown – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/14 – Enrico Ramsey – 9 Years (Jacksonville)

08/14 – Daron Morgan – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

08/15 – Henry Beckwith Jr. – 33 Years (Jacksonville)

08/15 – Scott Long – 12 Years (Jacksonville)

08/15 – Colicia Chavis – 7 Years (Orlando)

08/15 – Christy Smith – 6 Years (Jacksonville)

08/16 – Donald Palmer – 21 Years (Jacksonville)

08/16 – Robert Carter – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/17 – Patrick Mitzel – 2 Years (Gainesville)

08/17 – Michael Rizzo – 13 Years (Orlando)

08/17 – Michael Rollins – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

08/18 – James Poff – 25 Years (Orlando)

08/18 – Brian Fogarty – 19 Years (Gainesville)

08/18 – John Mitchell – 15 Years (Jacksonville)

08/18 – Kevin Williams – 9 Years (Gainesville)

08/18 – Jason Craven – 9 Years (Jacksonville)

08/18 – Steve Cornelio – 8 Years (Jacksonville)

08/18 – Chad Cook – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

08/21 – Jon Byrd – 23 Years (Jacksonville)

08/21 – Benjamin Culbreth – 11 Years (Gainesville)

08/21 – Eric Crider – 9 Years (Jacksonville)

08/21 – Patrick Price – 4 Years (Gainesville)

08/21 – Edward Green – 4 Years (Gainesville)

08/21 – Rayvon Lewis – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/21 – Nicholas Echoff – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/22 – Robert Wasson – 12 Years (Jacksonville)

08/22 – William Holley – 7 Years (Gainesville)

08/22 – Joshua Epps – 5 Years (Jacksonville)

08/22 – Andrew Thomas – 5 Years (Orlando)

08/23 – Harris Phelps III – 23 Years (Jacksonville)

08/23 – Kyle Davis – 2 Years (Gainesville)

08/23 – Daniel Crane – 1 Year (Gainesville)

08/24 – Tyler Fernandez – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

08/24 – Wadelyn Stalnaker – 16 Years (Gainesville)

08/24 – Gabriel Corbin – 25 Years (Gainesville)

08/24 – Charles Gutbrod – 11 Years (Orlando)

08/24 – Ashleigh Rondon – 7 Years (Jacksonville)

08/24 – Jessica Dunkley – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

08/25 – Dylan Mcvey – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

08/26 – Timothy Moegenburg – 27 Years (Jacksonville)

08/26 – Corey Griffin – 8 Years (Jacksonville)

08/26 – Ebonia Williams – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/26 – James Noviello II – 4 Years (Jacksonville)

08/27 – Dean Neyrinck – 22 Years (Orlando)

08/27 – James Young – 10 Years (Gainesville)

08/27 – Richard Espinosa – 3 Years (Jacksonville)

08/28 – Kenneth Hohorst – 33 Years (Jacksonville)

08/28 – Bryan Strickland – 21 Years (Jacksonville)

08/29 – Ryan Hudgens – 12 Years (Jacksonville)

08/29 – Justin Smith – 22 Years (Gainesville)

08/29 – Matthew Gay – 9 Years (Jacksonville)

08/30 – Logan Mcvey – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/30 – Clayton Roerig – 2 Years (Jacksonville)

08/31 – Eric Bracken – 1 Year (Orlando)

08/31 – Daniel Cup III – 1 Year (Jacksonville)

**If you find that any of the above information is incorrect, please reach out to Creative Services Coordinator Peyton Beasley at pbeasley@wwgmc.com so that it can be corrected in our system.

August Birthdays

08/01 – William Brown Jr. (Jacksonville)

08/02 – Dylan Collins (Jacksonville)

08/02 – Cody Davis (Jacksonville)

08/02 – Eric Bracken (Orlando)

08/05 – Jacob Arias Sheridan (Jacksonville)

08/05 – Michael Cooper (Jacksonville)

08/05 – Michael Landon (Jacksonville)

08/06 – Adam Perschino (Jacksonville)

08/06 – Thomas Filosi (Jacksonville)

08/06 – Ricky Jackson (Jacksonville)

08/06 – Neftali Adorno (Orlando)

08/06 – Roy Strickland III (Gainesville)

08/07 - John Wilson (Gainesville)

08/07 – Joseph Napoli (Jacksonville)

08/07 – Richard Holder (Jacksonville)

08/08 – Karl Zink (Jacksonville)

08/08 – James Losco Jr. (Jacksonville)

08/09 – Juan Muniz Jr. (Orlando)

08/09 – Jacob Boyette (Gainesville)

08/09 – Joshua Willis (Jacksonville)

08/09 – Morgan Andrews (Jacksonville)

08/10 – Kyle Seas (Jacksonville)

08/11 – Daniel Crane (Gainesville)

08/11 – Scott Robinson (Orlando)

08/11 – Frederick Miller (Jacksonville)

08/11 – Dominik Schalk (Jacksonville)

08/12 – Caleb Brill (Jacksonville)

08/13 – Jay Edwards (Gainesville)

08/13 – Mark Hamelin (Orlando)

08/14 – Rachel Roper (Gainesville)

08/14 – James Cassels (Gainesville)

08/14 – Ernest Jones (Jacksonville)

08/14 – Micky Prince (Jacksonville)

08/14 – Kyle Coffman (Orlando)

08/15 – Joshua Bishop (Jacksonville)

08/15 – Joshua Hodges (Jacksonville)

08/15 – Jacob McCaffrey (Gainesville)

08/15 – Zacary Bulow (Orlando)

08/16 – Myles Edgy (Jacksonville)

08/16 – Richard Hayes (Jacksonville)

08/17 – Joshua Whitley (Jacksonville)

08/17 – Dylan Dominey (Jacksonville)

08/17 – Maxwell Petty (Jacksonville)

08/17 – Ellis Ard (Jacksonville)

08/18 – Noah Rook (Jacksonville)

08/18 – Rudy Peeples (Jacksonville)

08/18 – Richard Curl (Gainesville)

08/18 – Joshua Stringer (Gainesville)

08/18 – Dylan Julio (Orlando)

08/19 – Charles Owens (Gainesville)

08/19 – Melinda Harden (Jacksonville)

08/19 – Floyd Bowen (Jacksonville)

08/19 – Justin Jeffers (Jacksonville)

08/19 – Ryan Moody (Jacksonville)

08/19 – Victoria Fawthrop (Jacksonville)

08/20 – Arthur Kight (Gainesville)

08/21 – Austin Remsen (Jacksonville)

08/21 – Bruce Burns (Jacksonville)

08/22 – Tonya Brabham (Jacksonville)

08/22 – Marcus Schaefer (Jacksonville)

08/22 – Robert Shaver (Jacksonville)

08/23 – Michael Everett (Jacksonville)

08/23 – Jack Barnes (Jacksonville)

08/23 – Jessie Ruiz (Jacksonville)

08/23 – Martin Jusino Cintron (Orlando)

08/24 – Wadelyn Stalnaker (Gainesville)

08/24 – Aaron White (Gainesville)

08/24 – Hunter Groves (Gainesville)

08/24 – Christian Graham (Jacksonville)

08/24 – Amanda Davis – Crider (Jacksonville)

08/24 – Katherine Liotine (Jacksonville)

08/24 – Mark Warwick (Jacksonville)

08/25 – Eric Crider (Jacksonville)

08/25 – John Caserta (Jacksonville)

08/25 – George Macfadden Jr. (Orlando)

08/25 – Michael Ruf (Jacksonville)

08/26 – Ralph Wical (Jacksonville)

08/26 – Jose Orozco (Jacksonville)

08/27 – David Thompson (Jacksonville)

08/27 – James Hopkins III (Jacksonville)

08/27 – Jose Padro (Orlando)

08/27 – Robert Tomlinson (Jacksonville)

08/28 – Lesdy Rodriguez (Jacksonville)

08/28 – Jessica Norman (Jacksonville)

08/28 – Ryan Hudgens (Jacksonville)

08/28 – Tristan Fernandez (Jacksonville)

08/28 – David Carr (Gainesville)

08/28 – William Simmons (Jacksonville)

08/29 – Cato Lembrick (Jacksonville)

08/29 – Josh Childers (Jacksonville)

08/29 – Tyler Fernandez (Jacksonville)

08/30 – Ottavia Twiggs (Jacksonville)

08/30 – Christopher Arthur (Jacksonville)

08/31 – Robert Baker (Jacksonville)

08/31 – Shaun Guardiola (Jacksonville)

08/31 – William Sorensen (Orlando)

In The Know

Summer Interns - VDC Department

We’re excited to spotlight a group of interns, pictured here with VDC Manager Jessie Burrell, who worked in our Jacksonville office this summer! Students from Creekside High School and Florida Institute of Technology spent six weeks training in our VDC department and learning all about W. W. Gay. In addition to the VDC department, the students also had the opportunity to spend time with multiple departments including Estimating and our Fabrication Shops. They even visited an active jobsite at Mayo Clinic, seeing our work first-hand. The interns did terrific work this summer, and we’re happy to have had them!

YMCA Summer Camps

Employees from our Jacksonville office attended YMCA’s Riverside and Fleming Island summer camp workshops on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

We were thrilled to volunteer with our engineering workshop and introduce the kids to a small piece of what our company does. Each group got the opportunity to follow blueprints and build a chair or cross out of PVC pipe.

We had a blast connecting with the kids and hopefully inspiring them to pursue a career in STEM!

Wayne Durban’s Retirement

After 47 years of service, Senior Vice President Wayne Durban officially retired from W. W. Gay in mid-July. Needless to say, Wayne has been an icon for our company and he will surely be missed. We owe so much of our success to him and would not be where we are if it weren’t for him.

Staff Shout - Out

Cartur Ferguson

We’re thrilled to introduce Cartur Ferguson as the new Shop Manager in our Orlando office!

Cartur comes to us from Ohio where he was first introduced to the trades through cabinetry work. Carter attended vocational school at the age of thirteen, where he received the proper training. In his new position of Shop Manager, Cartur will be dealing with packaging, assisting with job site transfers, tracking equipment, purchasing tools, and tracking vehicles.

Outside of work, Cartur enjoys picking up new hobbies. He has taught himself how to juggle and build computers. He also attends competitions to play pool and likes to take long weekend trips to Ohio to visit his family of five brothers.

Carter is always open to learning new skills. He is passionate about growing as a person and loves the communicative culture that W. W. Gay has to offer. Congratulations Carter! We are excited to have you as a part of the W. W. Gay family.

Carlos Garcia

Carlos Garcia joins the IT team as our new IT Manager!

Originally from Puerto Rico, Carlos has moved back to his hometown of Jacksonville, after working in Flagler County for 16 years as their Court Systems Chief Information Officer. He will be bringing his leadership and IT experience to W. W. Gay as he ran the technology division for Clerk of the Court, State Attorney, Public Defender’s office, and Court Administration.

Carlos began his schooling at Florida Community College and graduated with his degree in Project Management from Colorado Technical. As an IT Manager, Carlos will be evaluating existing technology, making recommendations for change, and working alongside his team to provide the best training and access to W. W. Gay.

Outside of work, Carlos is a professional tournament angler where he competes throughout southeast Florida. Carlos is newly engaged and loves spending time with his family that includes three grandchildren.

Carlos is grateful for the opportunity to join our team and already plans to retire with W. W. Gay, as it allows him to be closer to his family and church. He is most excited to be working with the company for our exceptional reputation of being a pillar in the community. He mentioned that “growing up in Jacksonville, everyone knew of Mr. Gay.”

Isaac Hayes

Congratulations Isaac Hayes on your promotion to Plumbing Service Project Manager!

Isaac Hayes attended Jacksonville University for two years before eventually joining the W.W. Gay family. Isaac began his apprenticeship in the plumbing service department and has remained in the department for the last 11 years. When the opportunity to become a Project Manager for the Plumbing Service department came along, he quickly jumped on it.

Going from a technican to a Project Manager, Isaac is excited to grow into his role as he builds his relationships with customers and continues to bring business to our plumbing service department.

Outside of work, Issac loves spending time with his wife and two children, surfing, and fishing. Issac mentioned that he cannot see himself working anywhere else. We are proud to have you in the W. W. Gay family Isaac!

Leslie Blankenship

Leslie joins the Orlando team as a new Project Administrator!

Coming to us from rural Oregon, Leslie has spent much of her career in the construction industry. She started out working for her father, a general contractor specializing in reconstruction defects. She then moved to Nevada and provided cost analysis and purchasing for a specialty contractor on large commercial buildings. After seven years as a project coordinator in Oregon, she visited friends in Orlando and decided that the Florida lifestyle was for her.

She moved to Orlando in February and officially joined our team! In her new role, Leslie has been preparing PO’s and SPO’s for field employees, requesting releases from suppliers, communicating between insurance, and maintaining project files. Leslie shared that the transition to our company has been so smooth, and she feels like she has worked with her team for years. Outside of work, Leslie enjoys visiting nature preserves, exploring historic landmarks throughout the state and spending time with friends and her mother. Welcome to Orlando Leslie!

Staff Shout - Out

Mary Powell

Mary Powell joins the HR team as our new Talent Acquisition Specialist!

Mary comes to us with over 20 years of experience in talent acquisition. At age 21, Mary moved to Germany for 7 years and immersed herself in the language and culture, gaining dual citizenship. She met her husband of 25 years in Germany and moved back to the states to work for several recruiting agencies.

Mary is excited to be back in the office and around the W. W. Gay family, especially after working remotely for the last four years. In her new position, she will be recruiting new team members for all offices. In doing so, Mary hopes to expand the company by bringing on employees that demonstrate dedication, quality, and stewardship.

Outside of work, Mary enjoys spending time with her husband and son. Mary describes herself as an animal lover, having a cat and dog of her own. In her free time, you can find Mary at home, cuddled up with her pets.

Jason Williams

Congratulations Jason Williams on your promotion to Jacksonville’s HVAC Service Manager!

Jason Williams has been with W. W. Gay for 22 years. He discovered W. W. Gay though a high school field trip and decided that he wanted to join the Local 234. Jason started service in plumbing and eventually made his way to the HVAC department as an HVAC technician. In his new position as the HVAC Service Manager, Jason will be focusing more on the customer aspect of the job and is growing more in the position daily.

Outside of work, Jason loves hunting, bass fishing, and spending time outside. Congratulations on your promotion to Service Manager Jason!

Sarah Kendall

From our Jacksonville office, Sarah Kendall was recently promoted to Project Manager!

Sarah Kendall was recently promoted from an Assistant Project Manager to Project Manager. Sarah began her career as an electrician in the Navy for four years. She then joined the W. W. Gay family as an electrician for the entire compound. One of Sarah’s most memorable experiences from her career was after the tragic building fire. Sarah worked hard revamping all the existing buildings in order to accommodate us in just under two months. Her hard work on the building paid off. As she was standing on a ladder while working on the lights, Tom Smith interviewed her for the position of Assistant Project Manager.

In her new position as Project Manager, Sarah is responsible for all UF Health cost plus and small projects. She is continuing to assist in the UF Health North Phase 3 Tower and other large UF projects. Sarah takes pride in the morals and trustworthiness that her team and this company uphold. She will always remember the quote by Mr. Gay: “Pigs get fat and hogs get slaughtered.”

Outside of work, Sarah enjoys spending time with her husband, son, and seven daughters. She loves any activity that includes water such as swimming holes, rivers, and oceans. Congratulations Sarah on your promotion!

New Project Engineers!

Congratulations are in order for three of our employees in the Jacksonville office: Matthew Furlong, Bridget Guthrie and Chase Roberts. All three were approached by senior leadership regarding this certification opportunity and incentivized to continue their education.

After months of study and preparation, all three took the difficult PE exam in July and all three passed! This is a huge accomplishment and something our company is extremely proud of. A true testament to dedication! Great job Matt, Bridget and Chase.

Employee Spotlight

John Wilson

Gainesville

John Wilson with our Gainesville office has been interested in mechanical work for as long as he can remember. Both his father and stepfather were in the construction business, and they inspired him by showing him the ropes of their construction sites when he was just a kid. One summer, John was able to visit his father who worked in construction for Local 234. He had the opportunity to join him on a job working on a high-rise building in Miami. He remembers looking over the city in amazement. This was a pivotal moment in John’s career as he realized that he wanted to be involved in creating something of this magnitude.

When John’s mom remarried, he gained a stepfather who owned a construction company. Starting at age 15, John spent his summers working around the shop until his high school graduation. After high school, John decided to take a break from the construction industry and earned his degree at Santa Fe College. John enjoyed his college experience but knew his heart would always be in construction. After graduation, John went back to his Stepfather’s business and became a foreman. During this time, he gained

exposure in estimating and project management.

After 30 years, John’s father retired from Local 234. John saw how content his father was in his retirement and decided he wanted that for himself. In 2014, John followed in his father’s footsteps by joining 234. With John’s experience, he was immediately accepted as an apprentice and began working for Gainesville’s Plumbing Service Department. After some time, he found his way into the HVAC Service Department.

“The company is always willing to challenge you yet will do everything to ensure we won’t fail.”

One day, fellow coworker Jeremy Geiger pulled up in his HVAC Service truck in search of an apprentice. John, eager to join his team, quickly hopped in. He continued to stay on Jeremy’s truck for the next two years. John’ s most memorable project while working with the HVAC team was the GTI Greenthumb in neighboring Ocala. This project stood out to him because he gained much knowledge and experience by working closely with the team.

John stays with W. W. Gay because he feels as though the company is always willing to challenge you yet will do everything to ensure we won’t fail. John says the people at this company are hard to find and keep him grounded. Whether he is put on a job in Jacksonville or Gainesville, “from the field to the office, the way all of us mesh is something you don’t find just anywhere.”

Outside of work, John is a father to two daughters, a six-month-old and a twoyear-old. Most of his time is spent being a girl dad but he also enjoys hunting and fishing in his free time.

Our employees are what continue to make this such a special place. Thank you for your continued dedication to W. W. Gay, John!

Quick Answers

Favorite quote:

“Never sacrifice your integrity for anyone else’s gain or short shot of success”

Favorite book:

“Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Willink & Leif Babin

Dream dinner guest: Thomas Jefferson because I’d love to ask him what he had in mind for our country

Best Gainesville recommendation: Down in Alachua, Brown’s Country Buffet on Thursdays (If you know, you know)

I’m happiest when.. I get home at the end of the day because my 2 1/2 year-old daughter runs to me screaming my name. That’s the best part of my day.

Safety Corner

FROM YOUR DIRECTOR OF SAFETY

Believe it or not, hurricane season is already well underway! Although northern Florida has been spared so far this season, a major storm could be on the horizon. Hurricanes can produce winds in excess of 155 miles per hour, causing catastrophic damage to coastlines and several hundred miles inland. Hurricanes can also lead to storm surges along the coast and cause extensive damage from heavy rainfall. The Atlantic hurricane season lasts from June to the end of November. Being prepared for a hurricane can mean the difference between life and death. Preparing for a hurricane should start well before the storm arrives. Here are a few important hurricane safety tips to follow before a storm:

Preparing Your Home

Build an emergency supply kit and make a family communication plan.

• Learn the elevation level of your property and whether the land is flood-prone to best protect against the likelihood of storm surge or tidal flooding.

• Cover all your home’s windows. Permanent storm shutters offer the best protection for windows. A second option is to board up windows with 5/8” marine plywood, cut to fit and ready to install. Tape does not prevent windows from breaking.

• Install straps or additional clips to securely fasten your roof to the frame structure. This can reduce roof damage.

• Be sure trees and shrubs around your home are well trimmed so they are more wind resistant. Make plans to secure your property. Bring in all outdoor furniture, decorations, garbage cans and anything not tied down.

Emergency Supply Kit: What to prepare & where to keep it.

• Water: At least one gallon daily per person per person for three to seven days.

• Food: Enough nonperishable food for at least three to seven days – include a manual can opener.

• Radio: Battery-powered and a NOAA weather radio with tone alert.

• Flashlights, batteries, and extra batteries.

• First aid kit, medicines, glasses, and prescription drugs.

• Fully-charged cell phones with backup battery power.

• Cash (including small bills), traveler’s checks and change.

• Copies of important documents in a waterproof or watertight bag: (Insurance policies, identification records and bank account records)

Kit Tip: Keep this kit in a destinated place and have it ready in case you have to leave your home quickly. Make sure all family members know where the kit is located. In case you are stranded, keep a kit of emergency supplies in your car.

After the Hurricane: Inspect. Report. Recover

• Contact your Broker and claims representative.

• Take photographs/videos of all damaged areas (property, products, etc.).

• Report injuries, state of building, impairments of utilities, community services and conditions (roads, sewers, water, etc.) to managements. Check foundations and piping. Secure the site (lock doors, fences, etc.).

• Inspect roofs (entire area and perimeter), roof mounted equipment, walls, windows (outside and inside), doors and entire yard. Clean roof drains and remove debris from roof to prevent drainage problems.

• Eliminate safety hazards such as live wires, leaking gas, flammable liquids and hazardous materials releases.

Thank you for your help and stay safe,

Steve Ray Director of Safety