Thoughts from The Hagerman Group

Project Spotlight: Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation

2012-02-22T13:09:00.000-08:00

If you’ve traveled along Meridian Street recently in the Meridian Hills area, you may have noticed the significant upgrades taking place on the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation temple. The Hagerman Group has spent the last year completing major renovations to the facility’s sanctuary and social hall, chapel, office spaces, gift shop, corridors, and entrances.

Working alongside Ratio Architects, The Hagerman Group ensured that not even the smallest detail was overlooked. From the imported Jerusalem stone flooring to the eucalyptus wood used throughout, the new temple provides an impressive upgrade to what had become a somewhat outdated facility. The renovated building, which combines a modern flair with more traditional religious elements, has drawn rave reviews from congregation members and visitors alike.

New entrance canopy with stone-wrapped and Ipe wood columns

View from outside new gift shop; imported Jerusalem floor tile in foreground

Chapel interior with existing stained glass incorporated into new wood storefront

Written By

Adam Keller

Emerging Energy Markets

2012-02-16T05:28:00.000-08:00

Although the nuclear power industry could hardly be referred to as an “emerging energy market”, the fact remains that it has been 30 years since our country was actively involved in the construction of nuclear power plants. Ergo, I’ll classify this market as “re-emerging”…possibly.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) less than two months ago, and with little fanfare and press, approved the design of Westinghouse’s AP1000 nuclear reactor. The AP1000 (nominal 1100 MW unit) is touted by Westinghouse as “simply more advanced than other nuclear power plant technologies available today in the worldwide commercial marketplace.” The AP1000 is a pressurized water reactor (PWR), designed so that the core stays inside of the reactor vessel during a severe accident. In other words…no China Syndrome. As a former power plant builder (fossil and nuclear), I remember the old reactor building containment domes of concrete and steel containment vessel inside. The new AP1000 has a totally different look, primarily due to the rooftop passive containment cooling system (a big tank). In case of a shutdown situation, water in the containment cooling tank gravity drains automatically and cools the top and sides of the steel containment vessel. Less visible innovations include: 50% fewer valves; 35% fewer safety grade pumps; 80% less pipe; 45% less seismic building volume; and 85% less cable.

It is expected that the NRC will issue combined construction and operating licenses (COL) shortly for two new AP1000 units each at Southern Company’s Units 3 and 4 in Vogtle, GA and SCANA’s Virgil C. Summer Nuclear Generating Station, Units 2 and 3. The cost of Vogtle 3 and 4 is estimated at $14.5 billion. Virgil C. Summer 2 and 3 are estimated to cost $9.8 billion, plus transmission facility and financing costs. With the cost totaling well “north” of $10 billion for a two-unit, 2200 MW facility, nuclear power still remains a costly proposition in the U.S. Projected online dates for Virgil C. Summer 2 and 3 are 2016 and 2019 respectively. Vogtle 3 and 4 projected online dates are 2016 and 2017 respectively.

If this generation of regulators, owners, designers, builders and other stakeholders involved in the development of highly complex, safety-sensitive nuclear power stations can bring their projects in on-budget and within schedule, they will be far more successful than the previous generation of nuclear power plant developers/builders. I remain cautiously optimistic.

Dave Hall

Executive Vice President Corporate Development

Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV)

2012-02-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

Here we are in the second month of the year and I have already achieved one of my 2012 goals – I purchased a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)! People are often surprised that I didn’t already drive a hybrid. Nope, I was still driving my beat up old Cavalier that I had been driving since my early college years, and had mixed feelings about making the leap to a new vehicle.

Generally my philosophy is that we should use things until they are no longer useful before throwing them away or replacing them (have you seen The Story of Stuff? I highly recommend it). My Cavalier was an excellent car. Sure there were some dents and dings; but in the 10 years I drove it, the little coupe never gave me a single problem. The car was reliable and had been on many fun road trips. About 11 months ago I found out that I was going to have my first child and knew that the time had come to start thinking about replacing this old beater. For starters, it was a two door. Two door car + infant car seat = lots of frustration and backache! Besides, I was really starting to feel the need to drive a vehicle that says to the world… I care about the environment. So the search began.

Long story short, in June of last year Karen Schutte and I went to Cincinnati together for Greening the Heartland and I had the opportunity to drive her Toyota Camry Hybrid. It was love at first… drive! I narrowed my search to the make and model vehicle that I wanted, however, my husband and I decided to wait until I returned to work from maternity leave to make our purchase. Lo and behold, on my second day back to work we found “The One”… a 2010 model! In addition to using less gas, I also managed not to contribute to carbon emissions that a non HEV vehicle would produce. 2012 is already off to a great start!

Hybrid Electric Vehicles, often referred to as “hybrids,” combine the benefits of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor for better gas mileage. Regenerative Breaking powers the electric motor so it does not need to be plugged in to be recharged. The US Department of Energy offers a great animated explanation of how HEVs work. Click here to take a look.

Laura Bailey

Sustainability Director

Super Bowl Time

2012-02-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

As the Super Bowl and all the events surrounding it are finally upon us, Indianapolis will be front and center in the national spotlight this weekend. From sports talk shows broadcasting from the Pan Am Plaza, to popular musical guests appearing on the newly completed Georgia Street, the eyes of the world will be upon us.

Almost anyone that lives in and around Indianapolis has had some part in preparing the city of Indianapolis for the Super Bowl. As a company, The Hagerman Group is no different. Our most notable involvement was in the construction of the unbelievable, new Lucas Oil Stadium….or “The House that Peyton Built” as some refer to it. Hagerman Construction did most of the concrete work and masonry on the beautiful new stadium and was an integral member of the large construction team.

During this unique and exciting time in the city, I would encourage everyone to get out and see our collective work in preparing for this event. It really is quite an honor to host the Super Bowl and have people from all over the country in town for a few days. I know the people and the city itself will not disappoint. With a great showing from Indianapolis this weekend, hopefully we can have the opportunity to host again in the near future!

John Kilbury

Estimator

Getting Involved: Do I Really Know?

2012-01-25T10:44:00.000-08:00

It’s been very interesting for me to experience and witness people’s behavior when asked if they want to “get involved.” Responses immediately vary from “I’m too busy,” to “I do not have a passion for that activity or function,” to “Absolutely, what a great opportunity!” What I have found to be the most difficult task, when being asked to get involved throughout the years, was taking the time to make an EDUCATED decision. Too often we rush to what we believe to be the correct answer without weighing the pro’s and con’s. A couple quick questions I always ask myself prior to making a commitment to get involved are as follows:

1. Why am I being asked to get involved?

2. Would I be ACTIVELY involved in the opportunity, or PASSIVLEY involved?

3. Do I truly have a passion for the opportunity?

4. What is my personal return on investment for my time?

5. Is there a corporate return on investment for my time?

6. Who ultimately benefits from my commitment (Charity, Board, Community, Corporation, etc)?

7. Would I have to delete something from my current schedule to get ACTIVELY involved?

8. Would the company or my family suffer from my involvement?

If you are able to generate positive responses to these questions, then you have found an Activity/Committee/Board/Association to get involved in! It is OK to say “no thank you” to an opportunity to get involved, if you truly feel value will not be brought to either you or the benefitting party. But you should always challenge yourself prior to jumping to that potential conclusion; because you never truly know how much value you could add that would benefit you and others for years to come!

Jeff Hagerman,

President

The Hagerman Group

Award Winning Project: Ruth Lilly Visitor’s Pavilion

2012-01-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

We are extremely proud to be a part of another award winning project that included a team atmosphere with the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) and Marlon Blackwell Architects. The new visions that make up 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park are truly a site. The IMA has done a great job at bringing international attention to the city we call home…Indianapolis!

“Building the Visitors Pavilion at the IMA was a once in a lifetime experience. The building was situated in a flood prone wooded area to the west of the museum. Directly to the north was a canal, to the south was White River and to the east, as well as west, was a dense forest that could not be disturbed. We had one narrow path to and from the building that was maintained throughout construction. This includes installing the 300’deep wells for the geothermal system, domestic water well, foundation placement, structural steel, and the unique curtain wall system. Hagerman crews also installed thousands of feet of IPE lumber that makes up the floor and roof system of the structure. It is an amazing place to visit; and to think, the whole concept came from what an artist saw when looking at a leaf.”

-Chad Baker, Hagerman Inc. Superintendent for the Ruth Lilly Visitor’s Pavilion

Chad’s excitement for the success of this project is well deserved. There were several challenges presented that the Hagerman team had to overcome in order to deliver the vision of Marlon Blackwell to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. That vision became this wonderful award winning structure placed in the middle of nature with the idea of becoming a part of that natural setting.

For most of us, we choose to make a career of this business because it provides a team environment, opportunities to build a variety of structures, and a very satisfying sense of accomplishment when the project is completed. The IMA is the type of owner that contractors love partnering with. They provide the opportunities to build exciting and unique structures that make Indy a great place to live and work. The IMA understood the building process; this helps to keep the integrity of the vision, and the team goal for success, as the leading priority.

Thomas Whitaker,

Superintendent

Hagerman Inc.

Hagerman and Tindley: Build a Better Future

2012-01-12T05:23:00.000-08:00

This past summer, The Hagerman Group became a first-time participant in the Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School Construction Partnership Program. The Tindley School, located in Indianapolis, is a public charter school for students in grades 6 through 12, many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds. The intent of the Tindley School is to prepare its students sufficiently for a secondary education.

In addition to preparing students for the future educationally, The Tindley School also strives to ready their students for the working world by providing them with real-life employment opportunities. This is how the Tindley School Construction Partnership Program came to fruition. Currently managed by Milestone Contractors, the program is designed to match Tindley students with construction companies from around the state in order to give these young adults an initial look into potential careers within the construction industry. The majority of the students come into the program with little to no construction background, yet end up leaving with a new appreciation for work of this nature.

Hagerman’s first experience with this program over the summer of 2011 was a great success. Our student (a senior at the Tindley School) worked alongside our masons on a large K-12 project. She was excited to learn new skills each day, while at the same time earning a little extra spending money for her upcoming freshman year of college. The Hagerman Group is excited to be part of a program that affords such wonderful opportunities to students who otherwise may not be so fortunate.

For more information on the Tindley School Construction Partnership program, contact Adam Keller with The Hagerman Group, Ted Brunner with Milestone Contractors, or visit the Tindley School.

Adam Keller

Estimator

Hagerman Offers A Helping Hand for the Holidays

2012-01-06T14:33:00.000-08:00

In the holiday spirit of giving this year, The Fishers Office of The Hagerman Group chose to support Second Helpings, a United Way agency. As an office, we set our goal for the amount of food we could donate to help those who would otherwise go hungry.

On the THIRD day of giving, we surpassed our original goal of 150 pounds. The office decided, “Why stop there?” and very quickly, our original goal was doubled. I am happy to report that through teamwork and giving hearts, we reached a total donation of 301 pounds!, Those who participated really pulled together to promote our core value of Teamwork!

We chose this organization because we appreciated how they take the spirit of giving, just one step further. Helping hands prepares and delivers food to those in need, but simultaneously trains many out-of-work individuals to become more skilled in the culinary arts field. Ultimately, their service provides long-term employment within the Indianapolis area.

The Hagerman Group is proud to have been a part of assisting Second Helpings collect their 15 millionth pound of food, nearly 5.6 million meals, and 450 adults that have graduated from their Culinary Job Training Program to date.

Our Fort Wayne Office participated in the “Card-A-Teen” program through the Salvation Army. This program was specifically designed for teens ages 15 to 17 years, who were ineligible for the Toys for Tots or Angel Tree Programs and certainly deserved a gift under the Christmas Tree. The Fort Wayne Office sponsored and provided gift cards for 21 teens this year. What a blessing!

Our Fort Wayne Office also participated in the Food Drive through Community Harvest Food Bank. Community Harvest not only is set up for individuals to come in and get food when in need, but also for non-profit organizations who reach those who may not visit the food bank but are still in need of help.

Through the generous giving of our employees, we delivered 333 pounds of dry food and 44 pounds of non-food items. Along with the food items, $100.00 in food gift cards were also given. Attached are photos of the donations and loading. A huge thank you to all of you, it was greatly appreciated by the food bank.

I’m proud to be a part of a company that realizes the meaning of giving, and always finds a way to live it. May the true spirit of giving remain in our hearts long past the Christmas holiday, until no one has to go to bed hungry again!

Written By,

Linda Cauger

Mary Anne Berron

Leigh Ann Leazier

The Grass is Greener, on the Hagerman Side

2011-12-23T10:34:00.000-08:00

The Hagerman Group takes every opportunity to celebrate our successes. With that being said, and in the spirit of the ever so common end of the year lists, I would like to take the time to celebrate some of the Sustainability Department’s successes in 2011.

This year marked the formation of our Sustainability Department; with the appointment of Laura Bailey as our Director, and myself as the Sustainability Coordinator. In addition to defining our department’s mission, vision, and goals, the Sustainability Department made sure to have some fun!

The Earth Day 2011 competition was as fierce as ever between the competing North and South offices; with the North office pulling ahead in the final week to win the prized Harbinger Trophy. Our Fall Initiative congratulated Steve Larracuenta for suggesting the winning resource-reduction initiative. Steve suggested we have our faxes forwarded directly to an email address versus being automatically printed; therefore only those pertinent faxes would have to be printed. Kudos to all in The Hagerman Group for your sustainable spirit throughout 2011!

We saw yet another one of our construction projects reach LEED certification, and are proud to announce having another 10 registered projects awaiting certification. Moreover, the 100 Acres: Virginia B. Fairbanks Arts & Nature Park was awarded the Indianapolis Sustainability Award from the Mayor’s Office in the Land Category. The Hagerman Group was the Construction Manager on this project, and served an integral role in the project’s successful completion.

Outside our office walls, Laura and I have been able to network with some like-minded folks in various organizations and conferences throughout the state. While we didn’t make the trip up north to Toronto for Greenbuild this year, we did enjoy networking with our regional cohorts at the Greening the Heartland conference, in Cincinnati. Additionally, we look forward to having Indianapolis host the 9^th Edition of this regional conference on May 16-18, 2012.

http://www.greeningtheheartland.org/

As 2011 winds down and we plan for the upcoming year, we intend to narrow our focus a great deal by measuring and reducing The Hagerman Group’s carbon footprint. Furthermore, we anticipate additional fun competitions and initiatives to help involve all members of our Hagerman family in being active environmental stewards, while increasing our market share of sustainable construction.

Karen Schutte, Sustainability Coordinator

Are you SAD?

2011-11-29T08:00:00.000-08:00

Winter’s on its way. Business is not quite as booming as in those strong summer months when the construction industry enjoys more of the fruits of its labor, so to speak. Combine the winter blahs with the building blues, and what might you get? S.A.D.

It has actually been documented that especially during this time of year; many people are prone to a condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder, or S.A.D. Below is an explanation of this disorder and its symptoms:

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder?

According to Wikipedia, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that tends to occur (and recur) as the days grow shorter in the fall and winter. It is believed that affected people react adversely to the decreasing amounts of sunlight and the colder temperatures as the fall and winter progress. It is important to note that although SAD usually presents in the fall and winter there are those who suffer from this condition during the summer instead of, or in addition to, during the fall or winter.

SAD has not been long recognized as an official diagnosis. The term first appeared in print in 1985. Seasonal Affective Disorder is also referred to as winter depression, winter blues, or the hibernation reaction.

The incidence of SAD increases in people who are living farther away from the equator. Statistics on SAD in the United States show the disorder occurs in about 5% of adults, with up to 20% of people having some symptoms of the condition but not sufficient enough to meet diagnostic criteria for this disorder. SAD is less common where there is snow on the ground. The average age of people first developing this illness is age 23. People of all ages can develop seasonal affective disorder.

What are the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder?

Although there is no specific diagnostic test for the illness, it is understood that symptoms of SAD include tiredness, fatigue, depression, crying spells, irritability, trouble concentrating, body aches, poor sleep, decreased activity level, and overeating, especially of carbohydrates, with associated weight gain.

The symptoms of SAD typically tend to begin in the fall each year, lasting until spring. The symptoms are more intense during the darkest months. Therefore, the more common months of symptoms will vary depending on how far from the equator one lives.

So what do we do if we find ourselves far from the equator and feeling blue? Here are just a few suggestions for combating this seasonal issue:

Regular exposure to light that is bright, particularly fluorescent lights, significantly improves depression in people with this disorder when it presents during the fall and winter. Individuals who suffer from SAD will also likely benefit from increased social support during vulnerable times of the year.

Phototherapy (regular exposure to light) is commercially available in the form of light boxes, which are used for approximately 30 minutes daily. The light required must be of sufficient brightness, approximately 25 times as bright as a normal living room light. Contrary to prior theories, the light does not need to be actual daylight from the sun. It seems that it is quantity, not necessarily quality of light that matters in the light therapy of seasonal affective disorder. The most common possible side effects associated with phototherapy include irritability, insomnia, headaches, and eyestrain.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, be encouraged that it lasts only for a season and should improve by spring. Until then, follow the tips mentioned here and see if your mood doesn’t improve. If not, may I suggest a few weeks in Quito, Ecuador?

Linda Cauger, Administrative Assistant

Giving Thanks

2011-11-22T08:00:00.000-08:00

Although the economy has dampened the mood of our industry for the past three years; there are many things for which we can be thankful.

Safety: Construction owners are demanding stricter safety standards for their projects. This pushes contractors to improve their safety programs and make sure everyone goes home safely at the end of the day.

Sustainability: The world is becoming more environmentally conscious and the construction industry is looking for ways to protect our resources.

Education: During this down turn, many contractors, designers and engineers are investing in training for their employees. The Hagerman Group created the Hagerman Institute to provide continuing education to our employees. We are fortunate to be in an industry that values education and training.

Technology: There are days that I want to throw my iphone away but I’m not sure I could live without it now. Improved technology has aided our industry in building better buildings.

People: I’ve never met a better group of people than those in the construction industry. They work hard, constantly look for ways to improve and strive to build a quality building that will exceed the owner’s needs.

For me, Thanksgiving is a peaceful holiday. My youngest sister is kind enough to host Thanksgiving dinner and only asks that I bring sweet potato casserole and help with the dishes. It’s a holiday that I am able to enjoy with my family and reflect on the many blessings in my life. I am thankful many things this holiday season; my family, my career, my health and my friends. Happy Thanksgiving from The Hagerman Group!

Molly Burns
Vice President of Business Development

Preparing for Winter

2011-11-15T08:00:00.000-08:00

With the onset of fall weather upon us, the window for winter preparations is closing. At my home, I have been cutting and splitting the firewood I will need, while on the job we have been making strides for temporary enclosures and prepping for paving.

Fortunately at home, I am a season ahead on the firewood. Everything I cut and split this year won’t be needed until the following winter. On our projects, we can also get ahead of the climate by making early adjustments to our schedule and planning. Maybe not a full year, but every week counts in the world of asphalt and enclosures.

Asphalt plants will normally shut operations down for the year after Thanksgiving depending on the temperatures. Every effort to get the base down before closure needs to be made so the site has paved roads and work surfaces. This allows equipment and personnel to move and operate more efficiently during the winter months.

The same is also true for interior work. Having temporary enclosures up and heat ready to burn will allow finishes to continue through the coldest months without sacrificing time to the project schedule. Coordinating permanent permanent utilities to the building as early as possible will ensure a productive winter.

Fighting through winter conditions safely is must. Cold and wet weather can create tricky footing. Taking a few minutes each morning to discuss a safe work plan then executing the plan is the best way to be sure work is completed on time and safely.

Remember to plan for winter in the spring, and execute your plan as early as possible to beat the cold wet months of winter. Working through rain, snow, and driving winds while trying to prepare for finishes cuts production and creates the potential for injuries. Making sure workers have a comfortable work environment will help them stay sharp, positive, and safe.

Tom Whitaker
Project Superintendent

Finding value in professional organizations

2011-11-08T09:04:00.000-08:00

Often I am asked about the value of my membership in professional organizations. Does involvement in a professional organization provide value to you and to your firm? In these economic times we all want to be assured that each dollar we invest creates a return on that investment. Throughout my career I’ve been a member of several professional organizations. The lesson that I have learned from my participation in these organizations is that the more I participate in an organization the more value I receive from my membership.

One of the professional organizations that I have received great value from is the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS). I joined SMPS Indiana in the fall of 1999 when I began my career in the A/E/C industry. On my first day at The Hagerman Group, my supervisor sent me solo to a SMPS meeting. I was nervous attending as I was new to the industry and knew no one at the meeting. Also, it was a tour of the NCAA Headquarters and I wore the wrong shoes and did not bring a hard hat. Fortunately, SMPS members are a friendly group. I was welcomed and introduced to several members. And someone brought extra hard hats.

As I look back my membership in SMPS, I realize that joining SMPS was one of the smartest decisions of my career. Through my participation in SMPS Indiana, I’ve built a large network of Marketing and Business Development professionals, attended excellent educational seminars, meet some great friends and have had a great deal of fun. I have learned a great deal about Business Development and Marketing from some nationally recognized leaders in our industry and in our community. I have used many of the lessons learned in SMPS meetings in my professional life as well as shared those lessons with my co-workers.

How was I able to extract so much value from SMPS? It’s simple; I participated in the organization. I began attending meetings regularly, served on a committee, and then I joined the board. After 4 years on the board I became president of the organization. As a Past President of SMPS Indiana I am extremely proud of the growth our chapter has experienced while continuing to improve the quality of the organization.

If you want to find value in a professional organization, you need to become involved. Have I received value from my membership in SMPS? Absolutely!

Molly Burns

Vice President of Business Development

What does an Estimator do?

2011-10-28T07:49:00.000-07:00

Often when I tell people that I am an Estimator for The Hagerman Group they look very confused. The term “Estimator” is a broad and vague term that I hope doesn’t lead people to believe we sit in our offices all day and guess how much things cost.

Although the needs and requirements for every job are different, there is a process that we repeat for every job in order to put a bid together. Hopefully the explanation that follows will clarify to the “non-construction” folks the basics of what I do as a project estimator.

1. Obtain/post bid documents – The first step after we decide to bid a project is to obtain the documents. In an effort to streamline document distribution Hagerman has invested in an FTP site to help us distribute documents to our subcontractors. The address of the website is www.isharedocs.com and a link can be found on our home page: www.thehagermangroup.com.

2. Perform Takeoff – Hagerman has the ability to self-perform a variety of different types of work. Examples of some items that we typically self-perform on past projects are concrete, masonry, and carpentry.

3. Solicit Subcontractor Quotes – Obtain pricing on all items that Hagerman does not self perform such as Mechanical, Electrical, and Earthwork.

4. BID DAY MANIA! – Bid days are almost always hectic and extremely busy. We collect all the subcontractor quotes and finalize our pricing just in time to submit a bid. This is my favorite part of the process.

Hopefully, now the difference is clear and nobody will confuse “estimator” with “guesser”.

John Kilbury, Project Estimator

Constructive Discontent

2011-10-25T07:17:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite topics that was discussed in the The Hagerman Group’s EQ (emotional intelligence) training was the concept of constructive discontent. A majority of what I learned on the topic was from a chapter of Robert K. Cooper’s book Executive EQ. Cooper interjects case studies throughout the chapter to explain how successful a company can be if it encourages its employees to practice constructive discontent. The quote I like to reference to explain this concept comes from Aristotle:

“Anyone can become angry – that is easy. But to be angry with the right person, to the right degree, at the right time, for the right purpose, and in the right way – this is not easy.”

The case study from Cooper’s book that best describes constructive discontent is from the Honda Motor Company. Honda has a slogan “Listen, Ask, and Speak Up” which spawns from its management style encouraging discordance amongst employees. Honda staffs its development teams with engineers from other disciplines to encourage an outside critical eye. Honda believes that discontent leads to a better end product for the consumer.

The culture arose from the experience of a young engineer who challenged co-founder Soichuro Honda over the comparative qualities of the water – and air – cooled engines. He felt so strong in his position of switching to water-cooled engines, that when Honda did not agree to his point, he went on strike for a month and entered a Zen monastery. Honda was so impressed with the passion of this young man that he changed his mind and reconsidered the engineer’s proposal. Luckily, that innovation led Honda to develop the first engine to pass the US’s emissions standards and that same engineer went on to eventually become CEO of the Honda Motor Company, Tadashi Kume.

“When two people in business always agree, one of them is unnecessary.” -William Wrigley, Jr.

Karen Schutte, Estimator/Sustainability Coordinator

The Hagerman Group

It's a girl!

2011-10-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Hagerman employee, Laura Bailey, on the birth of her daughter. Sydney Ann Bailey was born on October 19th and weighed in at 6lbs 1 oz. Mother and daughter are doing well.

Laura is our Director of Sustainability and is passionate about maintaining a sustainable lifestyle. We look forward to hearing her sustainability tips as it relates to baby products.

Best wishes to Laura and Shannon on the birth of their first child!

Emerging Energy Markets

2011-10-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Google and rooftop solar company SolarCity recently announced a $280 million investment deal...the largest of its kind for home-based solar power systems in the U.S. The investment will give SolarCity the funding to build and lease solar power systems to 7,000 to 9,000 homeowners in the 12 states where it operates (Indiana not currently included).

Founded in 2006, SolarCity has 15,000 solar projects around the nation completed or under way. Customers who wish to have the company’s solar system installed at their home can pay for it outright, but most choose instead to let SolarCity retain ownership of the equipment and rent back the use of it through monthly solar lease payments. As SolarCity’s financing partner, Google plans to recoup its investment over time through those lease payments.

Dave Hall
Executive Vice President of Corporate Development
The Hagerman Group

Winter's Coming!

2011-10-11T14:48:00.000-07:00

“Winter’s coming”. I had to chuckle a bit when I heard one of our superintendents utter these words. Mind you, it was the middle of May and 95 degrees outside. A quick snow storm would have been a welcome respite from the brutal Midwestern summer heat. Now, looking back, his proclamation doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all. As we approach mid-October and enjoy the cool, crisp autumn weather, we Indiana residents know what lies just around the corner: ice, snow, sleet, freezing temperatures, and all the other fun stuff that Mother Nature will throw at us in the upcoming months.

While the winter elements can often be a thing of beauty, this time of the year can present a difficult test to construction firms. Being an Indiana-based contractor, The Hagerman Group is quite familiar with the challenges posed by winter weather. Maintaining a project schedule is key, as clients do not want to hear excuses about adverse weather conditions. Oftentimes, this involves performing activities that are not typically meant to be done in cold temperatures, such as pouring concrete. To combat the effects of the temperatures, temporary heat is utilized in the form of propane heaters and tent-type enclosures. As one might expect, this can be a costly venture. However, some careful pre-planning and prior experience can certainly help ease the burden substantially.

The main priority on a Hagerman jobsite during the winter months remains the same as in all other months: safety. Snow and ice obviously present slippery conditions, and workers are encouraged to take extra precaution to ensure that everyone goes home at night unscathed.

So enjoy the fall weather while you still can, because we all know the inevitable truth…winter’s coming.

Adam Keller

Project Engineer

Turning an internship into a Career

2011-10-05T08:16:00.000-07:00

Having just celebrated my one-year anniversary of full time employment at The Hagerman Group, I started to reflect on three summer internship experiences I was offered with The Hagerman Group. As a requirement for my Construction Engineering Management degree, I worked three summers in three different positions Hagerman.

I strongly recommend and encourage students to work as an intern during college. Learning your future craft sure beats trimming bushes or pumping gas during the summer and provide young professionals with valuable experience and perspective that cannot be learned in any classroom or lab.

Internships not only provide invaluable work experience and industry contacts, but you might even come out of it with a great new story or two and a few new friends. You might even get lucky like I did and end up with a great full time job after college.

John Kilbury

Project Estimator

The United Way of Central Indiana

2011-09-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

Since 2007, The United Way of Central Indiana has seen a 90 percent increase in calls to their 2-1-1 Help Line.
One in three children born in Indiana today is born into an economically disadvantaged household.
Many families in Indiana lack access to quality child care.
Several children, for various reasons, are not read to on a regular basis (if at all) and therefore begin school at levels far behind those of other children.
One in five Marion County 9^th-graders won’t graduate in four years (6,000 children dropped out of school in Central Indiana in the past four years).

These and other statistics indicate why, for three generations, The Hagerman Group has chosen to partner with The United Way and share in their mission/our vision of reaching out to help Build a Better Future for those in need. To date, our company as a whole has donated several thousands of dollars to this cause.

The mission of the United Way is to assist in sustaining vital human services for those who need help most while reducing such needs for future generations. They seek to complete this mission with the help of over 100 agencies and more than 10,000 volunteers (in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties in Central Indiana, and Allen County in Northern Indiana). Their priorities include providing basic needs such as food, housing, safety, winter assistance, homelessness intervention, youth and family support; and educational needs such as early literacy, quality child care, kindergarten readiness, reading tutors, enhanced math instruction, and more.

Under the leadership of Jeff Hagerman, President of The Hagerman Group, we serve the United Way in a variety of capacities for the United Way, including Jeff’s service as Chair of the Professional Portfolio for the 2011 Capital Campaign (3 years running); Member of the Child Care Ministry Task Force, Member of the Success by Six Leadership Council, and various other volunteer programs throughout the year. On August 24, 2011, Jeff and other United Way Board Members volunteered their time to the United Way Day of Caring, which took place at the Purpose of Life Academy in Indianapolis, Indiana. Walls were painted to brighten up the rooms, and a “Reading Corner” was created by placing donated bean bag chairs in one corner of the room so the children could enjoy a more focused study area.

The Hagerman Group has been instrumental in completing at least 24 United Way Daycare / Childcare / Preschool Ministries to date, and are tracking some 30 more ministries to see where we might become involved. Hagerman has donated construction services to assist with the minor upgrades to the ministries.

On Fridays each week, The Hagerman Group allows its employees to pay $1.00 to wear jeans, with the proceeds going directly to our United Way Fund. That money is then given as a lump-sum donation at the end of each year.

The Hagerman Group is proud to be affiliated with the United Way.erever possible. If you or your organization would like more information about the various programs sponsored by The United Way, or to find out how you can donate, visit their website at uwci.org.

Linda Cauger

Administrative Assistant

The Guiltiest Shopping Trip

2011-09-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

Reading Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle book will likely lead most average citizens to experience an incredibly guilty grocery shopping trip at least once before the book is through. I had mine this week. And considering the produce I picked up (organic though it may be) that probably came from California and Mexico, and the meat raised in CAFO’s that will likely hit my table, perhaps some of that guilt is rightfully experienced. The oil burned alone to ship my peppers puts my slight savings from my hybrid car to shame.

However, when I'm overwhelmed with facing a complete lifestyle change (and trust me, becoming a locavore would be a lifestyle change for me) I am reminded of a concept my coworker Laura introduced to me: “Do One Thing”. The idea is simple: it may be hard to completely change one’s life, but if we all just try to do one thing, these actions or “DOTs” can really add up. Then, once your “DOT” becomes a habit, pick a new one!

So maybe I decide to forgo the tempting asparagus that I know cannot be grown anywhere local this time of year, but still pick up my hard to pass up blueberries with a promise to attend my local Farmer’s Market for fresh in-season apples this weekend….. hopefully, with a lot less guilt.

Karen Schutte

Estimator/Sustainability Coordinator

The Hagerman Group

Sustainability in Action at The Fort Wayne Children's Zoo

2011-09-21T12:31:00.000-07:00

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has been a Fort Wayne jewel since 1965. Today, the world-class zoological facility is a well known community leader, carrying out the mission of “connecting kids and animals, strengthening families, and inspiring people to care”. What you may not know is that the zoo’s Resource Conservation Taskforce is doing great things to make the zoo a greener place. The taskforce is a group of employees who participate voluntarily to help reduce the zoo’s use of resources and impact on the environment.

Recycling is a good way to send less waste to the landfill. The FWCZ does its part by, not only providing recycling containers for both visitors and employees, but by also recycling old electronics, toner cartridges, and scrap metals when they are no longer useful. What’s more impressive is that the zoo actually ‘recycles’, or composts, all of its hoof stock dung and straw bedding. To top it off, the sea lion show incorporates recycling as an educational element.

Zoos use a lot of water. The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has found creative ways to save water. That log boat ride the kids love? It uses water that is collected in a well behind the Australian Adventure. The sea lions do their part again by using recycled back-flush water in their exhibit. This means that the water is filtered, cleaned, and reused. The zoo also uses drought tolerant landscape plants, mulching and sprinkler timers, and they have switched to dry cleaning or sweeping paved areas instead of hosing them down.

The Zoo’s Resource Conservation Taskforce has recognized that the little things add up to a big impact and have made some changes that help all Zoo employees be a little greener. The use of technology has helped the Zoo reduce paper usage by creating an electronic employee newsletter and utilizing an “intranet” system for updating employees on new policies and procedures. Break rooms use permanent-ware dishes and utensils instead of disposable picnic-ware. Incandescent light bulbs are being replaced with compact fluorescents and some newer buildings get skylights to supplement lighting needs. Bleach free paper towels and recycled plastic HDPE garbage bags are also used.

The Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo is committed to education and is currently working on ways to add green elements to its programs. The Zoo is also a Certified Member of the Northeast Indiana Sustainable Business Council (NISBC). NISBC is a non-profit that emerged to take-over and broaden the City of Fort Wayne Green Business Program.

Visit the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo today to see the beautiful new entry plaza and membership building. In addition to many of the practices mentioned above, this revamped entry uses automatic light sensors and membership cards are now plastic to eliminating printing new paper ones each year. The Hagerman Group completed the new entry plaza and membership building in April 2011. Hagerman is proud to partner with the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo on their projects.

Laura Martin

Project Estimator/The Hagerman Group's Director of Sustainability

Emerging Energy Markets

2011-09-19T12:42:00.000-07:00

Drops in solar cell prices and rapidly increasing interest in developing nations led to a 32% increase in investments in renewable energy globally in 2010 according to a United Nations report.

Overall, the $211 billion in 2010 investments in renewable energy...wind, solar, geothermal and related technologies...was driven by policies in nations that increasingly require such power worldwide. The United Nations Environment Programme report finds that Chinese wind farms and German solar rooftops led investments but, surprisingly, developing nations spent more on renewable energy utility projects ($72 billion) than developed nations ($70 billion). Among the findings:

China led all nations with about $49.8 billion in investments; Germany spent $41 billion; and the U.S. spent $29.6 billion
Big gains were in small-scale projects such as rooftop solar panels (up 91% to $60 billion) and government research (up 121% to $5.3 billion)
Not counting hydroelectric facilities, renewable energy supplied 5% of global electricity, 30% of all new electrical capacity.

Total investment in more traditional fossil-fuel fired power plants was $219 billion last year, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration figures, slightly ahead of renewables.

Domestically, regulations in 30 states (but not Indiana) require that renewables generate some portion of their total power needs. This is a leading factor in investments.

For more information about The Hagerman Group or Emerging Energy Markets, please contact Dave Hall.

Dave Hall

Executive Vice President of Corporate Development

The Value of Internships

2011-09-12T15:45:00.000-07:00

As we wrap up yet another successful summer of internships at The Hagerman Group, we are reminded of the importance and value of these seasonal work opportunities. Too often, college students are thrown out into post-college life (a.k.a. the “real world”) without any actual experience in their chosen profession. An internship, or better yet, several internships throughout the college years can help tremendously in the development of a young adult’s work ethic and knowledge base within their desired field. Not only do internships assist students from an experience standpoint, they most certainly make these potential hires more appealing to companies upon graduation.

Depending on the field of study, internships will vary in location, availability and relevance. However, when it comes to preparing yourself for the foreseeable future, any on-the-job experience is good experience. Many colleges and universities are cognizant of this fact, and as a result will require that students acquire a certain quota (be it a set number of weeks or hours) of internship experience over their college career in order to receive their diploma. A requirement such as this definitely provides motivation for students to apply themselves and discover the types of opportunities available to them after graduation.

At the Hagerman Group, we have found that our interns have become an asset to our company during their months of service, and we in turn strive to continue to provide them with the type of education and training that will help them progress into well-prepared professionals. Whether the interns come back to work for us full-time after they graduate or go elsewhere, we hope that we have equipped them to take on the scary reality that can be the “real world”.

Adam Keller

Internship Coordinator

Emerging Energy Markets

2011-09-07T12:41:00.000-07:00

Electric utilities are buying more solar power facilities in addition to augmenting their portfolios with more solar capacity, according to the Solar Electric Power Association’s “2010 SEPA Utility Solar Rankings” report released on June 9^th.

In 2010, seven of the top 10 utilities with the largest additions of new solar capacity were located outside California...about 63% of the new solar capacity. “Solar power has largely been associated only with California and the Southwest, but this is no longer the case”, according to Julia Hamm, president and CEO of SEPA.

Much of the added capacity was utility-owned, central plants, which rose to 226 MW in 2010 from 46 MW the previous year. Of the 561 MW of solar power added in 2010 by the top 10 utilities (776 MW of total solar capacity was added in 2010), 140 MW are actually owned by utilities, an increase of more than 300% in utility-owned solar over 2009.

For more information on Renewable Energy please contact Dave Hall at The Hagerman Group.

The Hagerman Group Blog

2011-09-02T08:38:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the first post of The Hagerman Group blog. The Hagerman blog is a place for our employees and guest writers to debate topics that are of interest to our clients, subcontractors, suppliers, architects/engineers and others who have an interest in the construction industry. We have a group of bloggers who will write about several topics including renewable energy, sustainability, green construction, legislative issues, new construction methods and materials, industry events, delivery methods and safety.

Last month we launched or new website http://www.thehagermangroup.com/. As we began the re-design process we decided that we wanted a site that was more interactive than our previous sites, thus the idea for the Hagerman blog was born.

When I joined The Hagerman Group in the late 1990’s, we did not have a website, email was a new communication tool, Facebook, texting and Twitter did not exist and the primary source of news was the daily newspaper. Technology has changed the way people communicate and how they seek information. For The Hagerman Group to be a 21^st Century Company we must constantly seek out new ways to communicate the Hagerman brand.

The site we launched in 1999 was an online brochure about The Hagerman Group. It was great website for 1999 but a site that would not work today. Since then, we have re-designed our website twice. My guess is that we will re-design our site again in a few years. I met with a software consultant this week who said websites have a shelf life of 2 to 3 years. What will be the next trend in websites? I'd love to hear from you and learn what trends you are seeing in website design and programming.

Thanks to Brand Acceleration for their leadership on our website re-design.

Happy Blogging!

Molly Burns
Vice President of Business Development
The Hagerman Group