Hagerman and Tindley: Build a Better Future

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

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

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?

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

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

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

 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