Mindset Team

What is a mindset?  How can a mindset be changed?  Or can a mindset even be changed?  These are some of the questions that strategy teams may face when attempting to develop and institute a new initiative within The Hagerman Group.  Within the original format of Strategies I, several of the strategies had the common goal of establishing a mindset within the company.  When the strategies were re-engineered, one significant addition was the creation of one common Mindset Team.  This team would be charged with studying and understanding the most effective way to change a mindset; therefore, being able to serve as a resource to all other strategy teams.

The first task undertaken by the newly formed Mindset Team was for each member to read a book on the topic of mindset or change and report back to the team what was learned.  Next the team developed a protocol for implementing a mindset change, applied it to a test case, and analyzed the results.  Moving forward, the team is looking forward to working in unison with the other 13 strategy teams, to help ensure the success of each team’s own initiatives of change.  Once a mindset is developed, the goals and objectives of each strategy team will stand a much better chance at being accepted by the organization.

For questions on how the Mindset Team may be able to assist with your team goals or objectives, contact Terry Greene at tgreene@hagermangc.com.

THG and the United Way: Partners Once Again

For a third consecutive phase, The Hagerman Group has once again teamed up with the United Way of Central Indiana (UWCI) for involvement in the Central Indiana Child Care Ministry Improvement Project.  The goal of this initiative is to allow unlicensed, registered ministries in the central Indiana area to meet the Family and Social Services Administration’s Voluntary Certification Program (VCP) standards, as well as to participate in the new Paths to QUALITY rating system.

The Child Care Ministry Improvement Project was initiated back in 2005, when studies indicated a lack of quality child care available to low-income working families.  The UWCI recognized this deficiency and made a pledge to direct their time, effort, and funds to bolstering area child care facilities and enabling them to become compliant with applicable standards.  Through a series of interviews and assessments, the UWCI determines which ministries around central Indiana are willing and able to take the steps necessary to meet program standards, and begins the process of renovating the facilities.

Once a child care facility is on the UWCI’s radar, an architecture firm is brought in to conduct an initial facility assessment and suggest a plan of action moving forward.  From there, the construction management firm is selected and, along with their subcontractors, begins the work of transitioning the facilities.  Financially, the projects are supported by both UWCI Capital Improvement Funds and also through in-kind donations made by the construction manager and subcontractors.  The goal is to make the upgrades as financially feasible as possible to the participating ministry.

The Hagerman Group has been lucky enough to be selected as the construction manager by the UWCI through two phases of ministry upgrades thus far, and we have just begun work on the third project phase as well.  In all, we have successfully completed over 20 ministry projects to date.  It is a testament to our subcontractors, associate architecture firm, and the UWCI that we have been able to provide terrific facilities for a very worthy cause, and we look forward to continuing those partnerships for many years to come.

Adam Keller
Project Engineer

Volunteer Opportunity: Canstruction

The Hagerman Group is proud to announce that we will be teaming up with RATIO Architects to participate in this year’s CANSTRUCTION at the Indiana State Fair.  As part of our recent Strategies II initiative, the company has made a commitment to raise our level of volunteer participation in the community.  Here is your opportunity to help!

Hagerman volunteers are needed for whole or half-day shifts to build our exhibit out at the fairgrounds.  Since the company has already committed to making a generous financial contribution, all we need is your time and talent.  For more details about CANSTRUCTION and to find out who this food will ultimately serve, check out http://canstruction.org/.  The build date this year is Friday, Aug. 3. 

Contact John Kilbury or Terry Green to find out how you can help.

A 2010 International Winner in Canstruction

John Kilbury
Project Engineer

¡Viva España! (Spain Wins…Again!)

On Sunday, the Spanish national soccer team accomplished an extraordinary feat: winning a third major tournament in a row.  With their 4-0 drubbing of Italy in Kiev on Sunday, Spain has proven victorious in the last two European Championships as well as the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.  In the fifty-two year history of the European Championships (known as the Euros), no other team has won back-to-back titles. This Spanish team managed to do so in addition to winning on the world’s largest stage in 2010.

Spanish National Team celebrates in Kiev

With the victory, Spain has taken another step toward establishing this set of players as the greatest team in the history of international football. The team will now begin to focus on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, qualifications for which begin later this year.  While Spain has dominated in recent years, concerns about the increasing age of many key players add some doubt to their quest for another World Championship. Nevertheless, Spain will certainly move forward as favorites in 2014.

Spaniards cheering on a victory

Want to check out this team for yourself? Spain kicks off its World Cup Qualifiers against Georgia on September 11^th. If you can’t wait that long, the Spanish Olympic team (made up of U23 players along with a limited group of veterans) will face Japan at 2:45pm on July 26^th in Glasglow.

Steven Brisley
Marketing Intern

2012 Autism Awareness Golf Outing

Recently, The Hagerman Group proudly participated in the ‘2012 Drive for Autism Awareness Golf Outing’ held at Hickory Stick Golf Club in Greenwood, Indiana.  This was the 8^th annual event benefitting the Johnson County Autism Support Group.  Title sponsor Circle B Construction Systems hosted the outing that included 22 teams battling the summer heat all for a good cause.  Many other companies (including The Hagerman Group) were partner sponsors of the event.  A full listing of all the sponsors, as well as a plethora of information regarding the Johnson County Autism Support Group and their cause can be located on their website at www.jcasg.com. 

If you’re interested in getting involved in autism awareness and would like to find local events to participate in, or other ways to help, check out the Autism Society’s website at www.autism-society.org.

Adam Keller
Project Engineer

Full Circle: An Intern's View of Construction

On Tuesday afternoon, I enjoyed a very special opportunity to gain insight into the construction industry. As an intern, I work with many different people across departments, enabling me to learn tidbits about each of the moving parts within the construction process.  As a result, my touring of the new Hamilton Southeastern Middle School was an interesting glimpse into the full cycle of construction.

This cycle begins (at least as far as I’m involved) with the estimators (conveniently located in the room next to mine) using written plans to determine the approximate cost of completing a project. That estimate is then used to develop a project bid which, if selected, leads us to the pre-construction process.  Following more planning and mock-ups, the construction process starts, the ground is officially “broken,” and the building is built.  Simple, right?

While touring the new middle school, though, I was shocked to see just how much work contributes to the new building.  With this particular project, we’re utilizing the design-build process—a fairly new concept where the architect and general contractor are given more flexibility but are also responsible for the entire building process, down to the smallest details. That means that the planning for this building included not only concrete, masonry, and all of the normal construction-related work, but also the hanging of an American flag in each room and installation of pencil sharpeners next to the teachers’ desks.

Examining the new Media Center

Overall, viewing a nearly-finished product illustrated to me the enormous amount of planning and work required to execute a successful build.  I’m grateful for the opportunity to gain that experience and am sure it will help me in my time at The Hagerman Group. Plus I don’t think I will ever view my middle school the same way again.

 

Clockwise from top left: (Gymnasium, Outdoors, Industrial Technology Classroom, Computer Lab)

Steven Brisley
Marketing Intern

Lean Construction

On September 26, 2011, a group of people interested in Lean Construction made a presentation to the Leadership Team.  The presentation explained the primary goal of Lean Construction: eliminating organizational waste to improve the flow of construction information and material.  A better, faster flow of information and material results in construction projects that have higher quality, higher productivity and are delivered with more owner value and shorter project lead times.

The presentation team made a number of recommendations to promote this “operating system” in The Hagerman Group.  In response, the Lean Construction Team is now one of the Strategies II initiatives.  One recommendation included engaging Consultant WCM Associates in Lean integration training.  As a result, The Hagerman Institute will soon begin to market Lean Construction training to be held in both Ft. Wayne and Fishers on July 24 and July 25, respectively.  In this session, Larry Rubrich will introduce the principles and concepts of lean construction to an expanded group of interested parties.  If sufficient capacity exists, selected subcontractors will be invited to learn alongside The Hagerman Group.

Looking to the future, the Action Plan of the Lean Team includes learning how others apply Lean principles.  To accomplish this goal, the Fishers office recently hosted the Last Planner scheduling session for the IUPUI Neuroscience project, conducted by CM Messer.  Several contractors gathered to schedule this project and all became stakeholders in the schedule, offering a tremendous learning experience.

Lean Construction Team Planning Meeting

Currently, the Lean Construction team is using Lean principles in the development of a new Quality Management Executing Program.  This includes a review of the program to eliminate unnecessary steps and redundancies.  In an effort to combine lean concepts with new technology, the Lean Team will be researching how to utilize iPads and smartphones in the field for quality and safety issues.

The Lean Team is also reviewing various Lean Certification programs.  At this time, Purdue University offers yellow belt, green belt, and black belt certification for Lean Healthcare. 

The Lean Team is one of the largest and most active groups of Strategies II and includes the following professionals:

Jay Bangert
Tony McGlockin
Evan Sutton
Brian Boss
Brad Miller
Tom Werling
Chris Harmon
Brian Hoeppner
John Sondergrath

Bruce Molter, Team Mentor

                                   

Watch for Lean Construction training information from the Hagerman Institute in the near future.  

Terry Greene
Lean Construction Team Leader