Ssustaining Service Excellence
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HIGHLIGHTS P3 Safety plays a starring role P4 Continuing to take great care P6 Poised for a rewarding retrofit VOLUME 2 | QTR 4 | 2014 Sustaining service excellence :+ : BY MARK DEWEIRDT Truitt has been in business in Oregon for over Chad and John Van Camp from the Oregon Bryan Nix collaborated with Transformative 40 years, growing from their cannery roots to BPG energy team met with Bill to strategize a Wave to engineer the wireless, VFD, Tridium operating multiple USDA and FDA approved long term plan that would deliver efficiency based BMS software solution and managed food production facilities. Truitt has maintained measures while having a positive impact on the installation. After six months of operation, a solid commitment to sustainability, as they plant productivity. the energy savings are strong and the client consistently identify ways to use less energy in is looking forward to MacMiller focusing The first phase of that plan was to add their plants and distribution methods, and then our energy expertise on other plants in the Catalyst fan speed control to the (6) Trane put those plans into action. company network. S 20 ton constant volume Intelipak rooftop As it is the hallmark of how we do business, units (RTUs) serving the production floor. Bill MacDonald-Miller’s relationship with Truitt felt using Catalyst to control the RTUs would Brothers is grounded by a superior service help keep his people more comfortable and relationship. Bill Herring, the Maintenance significantly lower his utility spend. The project Manager, is a big fan of Chad Hollmeyer. Bill had a 1.7-year simple payback after BPA/ FACES says, “Chad does a great job of identifying and Energy Trust incentive funding, and allowed IN THE communicating issues and solutions for us.” the units to be reset remotely – thus it was a huge win. A percentage of the energy savings will be invested in engineering and mechanical FIELD modifications in phase two of the energy plan. They do whatever it takes to make a difference :+ : BY KELLY JOHNSON Hard working and steadfast, MacDonald- Miller Maintenance Technicians provide the essential day-to-day service to customers, keeping them comfortable and happy 24/7, 365 days a year. Through preventative maintenance and repair of HVAC systems, these diligent employees serve as the face of the company and are truly why buildings run better with MacMiller. In each issue, we’ll highlight a different “face in the field” to help you get to know the person in the van a little better. In this issue you’ll meet Glenn Venera, a 26-year veteran of MacMiller. :.CONTINUED ON P3 “FACES IN THE FIELD” PAGE 1 Gus Simonds Helping the community President always comes first :+ : BY GRANT GUMMOW In January of 2014, “One Night Count” counted over 3,100 men, women and children living on streets of King County without shelter, a 14% increase over 2013. In an effort to help reverse this unfortunate trend, Plymouth Housing Group created “Housing First”, a program that addresses this growing homeless problem. Founded in 1980, Plymouth helps people who have been homeless for years by providing them with a safe, affordable place to live, accompanied by one-on-one case management and supportive services, mental health counseling, treatment for drug and alcohol addiction, 24-hour building security, referral to job opportunities, and social activities in the community. MacDonald-Miller recently partnered with Plymouth to help make their buildings run better, and we’re dedicating a spot to educate people about the great work Plymouth Housing does for our local community. We are impressed with the Plymouth mission and admire their great efforts to demonstrate the affordability of sustainable building designs for low-income Climbing Higher Still housing. In 2013, the Plymouth’s Pat Williams Apartment received the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Homes Mid-Rise Platinum certification. Here, Plymouth The construction recession for the Northwest is clearly provides safe, supportive living for 81 of the 1,000 formerly homeless adults over, as tower cranes return in full force to the horizon! served every day in 13 of their buildings. At $180 million this year, MacDonald-Miller will surpass The tremendous work of Plymouth not only supports individuals who need such our previous all-time high water mark for company assistance, but also saves the taxpayers millions of dollars a year – a fact revenue. Compared to last year, 2014 illustrates an derived from the American Journal of Public Health in 2013. increase of New Construction work of over 50%! To learn more or to find out how you can support Special projects are up 10%, and Service is up 11%. Plymouth Housing Group, please visit I’m very proud of the company we've built – and www.plymouthhousing.org. doggedly improved – through the long recession. The results of our efforts around LEAN and silo busting can be seen by how gracefully MacMiller is ramping up while delivering on time, safely, and on budget, project after project, large and small. For 2015 we expect to exceed $200 million revenue. While this may seem like a big number, we’re actually already operating at that rate now. And our backlog is building for a strong 2016 as well! In this issue of Perspective, you'll get a sense of the diversity of the work we're currently doing: an Energy Retrofit Project in Oregon, the UW Medical Center Expansion Project in Seattle, and a Building Control Retrofit in Bellevue. And most belly warming is how our service department and our special projects group teamed up to design and build the mechanical system for a coffee roasting plant. As in the picture above, there’s still a peak to summit, but we can see clearly the way to the top as we look forward to an even more exhilarating 2015. CONTINUED FROM COVER SAFETY FACES IN THE FIELD Safety plays a starring role :+ : BY LEE PYFROM One of MacDonald-Miller’s most critical Glenn Venera YEARS safety goals is to encourage all employees 26 to be on the lookout for hazards, correct them, and work safely. Through our new Safety Star and Safety Champion Reward Glenn Venera joined the MacDonald-Miller team 26 years ago Program we‘re confident that we’ll as a third-year apprentice. Since that time, the industry has grown continue to achieve superior levels leaps and bounds, just like Glenn’s knowledge and expertise. of workplace safety. Known for his great customer service and immense capabilities, Glenn To meet the new award criteria, has served as a Foreman in the south sound zone, which covers South nominated employees should: Seattle to Federal Way, for over the past decade. Fully support our safety program G “I’ve learned from a lot of great people over the years and I really enjoy the guys and policies I lead now,” Glenn commented. “As a Foreman, I encourage the crew to use the Have good knowledge of workplace wide-range of resources that exists at MacMiller – what we have available to us hazards here is truly incredible..” Maintain excellent overall safety performance With his high level of proficiency, Glenn is the primary technician for many critical Data Encourage others to work safely Center environments that require him to maintain and repair specialized equipment. He appreciates that as customers run into issues with their building he can not only Assist in the correction of safety hazards provide his assistance but can also recommend other MacMiller resources. The safety department will choose Safety Star award winners on a quarterly basis “As we’ve grown with the electrical, plumbing and controls division we’re not via nominations and direct observations. just out there alone,” Glenn said. “This company never throws you out there Each award winner will receive $100 and to fail – there’s always someone to call and someone to help.” be individually recognized at the Quarterly Operations Meeting. Up to one employee in each department is eligible to win Glenn has seen many changes at MacMiller during his each quarter. years of service. In his early days, he recalls when Consequently, at the October 2015 technician’s used pagers and pay phones to communicate. Operations Meeting, the Safety Star winner from the past year who best represents the above criteria will be designated the Safety Champion for the “The company has advanced so much,” Glenn recalls. year. This outstanding employee will be “Safety is also getting better all the time – the requirements awarded $1,000 for his or her efforts. were not quite as stringent back then.” Nominations can be made by simply Glenn is the proud dad of two great kids – a daughter emailing Lee Pyfrom a quick note on who who’s in her second year at Central Washington University you are nominating and why you are and a son who’s a high school junior. The family loves to camp doing so. Let the nominations begin! and has recreational property in Cle Elum and near Mt. Rainier where they enjoy riding quads and hiking. MacMiller is fortunate to have Glenn as an integral member of the team! PAGE 3 University of Washington | OWNER Sparling | ELECTRICAL ENGINEER NBBJ | ARCHITECT Notkin | MECHANICAL ENGINEER DB the team MORTENSON | GENERAL CONTRACTOR Contract | $28-$35 MILLION THE PROJECT | DESIGN-BUILD | University of Washington Medical Center Phase II | Seattle, Washington Continuing to take great care :+ : BY NICOLE MARTIN This challenging hospital project provides the requirements. The work will occur in or adjacent individual room will have to be accomplished physical structure for the second phase of to mechanical, electrical and other infrastructure simultaneously.