The Owners' Manual | Issue 21 | Spring/Summer 2021

2021 ▬ issue 21 ▬ spring/summer

issue 21, spring/summer 2021

Photo credit: Lisa Pavano, Meriden Ribbon cutting for the new I-91 Exit 29 on the Charter Oak Bridge. See more pics on pages 2-3.

BL Buzz Around BL..............................................1 Ground breaking & Ribbon Cutting................................................2-3 BL Trophy Case.....................................4 Welcome Aboard New Employees..............................5-12 Question of the Quarter................17-22 Kindness Rocks..............................23-24

FYI Cover Project...................................13 IT Tip.............................................14-15 Legal Tip...........................................16 Safety Tip..........................................25 Icebreakers......................................26 Summer Reading List.................27-28 Upcoming Events.............................29

Front & Back Covers: Sema4 labs - see page 21 for more information on this project.

Congratulations to the graduates of Class 16 of the Leadership Development Foundations Program!

Our employee owners (and future employee owners) take safety seriously!

Thanks to everyone who participated in Safety Work Zone Awareness week – orange and yellow looks good on you.

Our ESOP Communications Committee has been treating us to some fantasic social events. At the end of April, we had a virtual wine tasting with a sampling of Spanish wines and expert Sommelier. Next up: the Art of Charcuterie. Don’t forget to sign up!

#thatfeelingwhen your outfit matches your coffee mug. Bret gives us something to aspire to in our next RingCentral meeting!

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Bausch + Stroebel broke ground in April for a new office and manufacturing building in Branford, CT. BL is providing architectural and structural design services for the two buildings. The building will have three stories of office space totaling 26,000 SF and a single- story manufacturing space totaling 29,000 SF. We can’t wait for the ribbon cutting!

The Charter Oak Bridge in Connecticut opened the new Exit 29 northbound on I-91. BL has been a part of the project team since construction began in 2019. As part of the CTDOT on-call contract BL Companies was tasked with environmental monitoring on the site to ensure environmental compliance with numerous aspects of the construction project. Congratulations to the project team!

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We’ve recently added some awards to our trophy case! ALL Employee Owners have contributed to receiving these awards and rankings...so, congratulations to you all!

 Zweig Hot Firms List: #9  Zweig Best Firms toWork For  ENRTop 500 Design Firms: #158

 SMPS Marketing Communications Awards  2021 ESOP Company of theYear Award  2020WTS Employer of theYear Award

NOV 20’ - FEB ‘21

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SARAH BARTELS MERIDEN | LEGAL 02.08.21

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? I was most attracted to BL because of its strong female leadership, wholesome culture, and national presence. Tell us about yourself I grew up in Rhode Island and attended URI for undergrad (go Rams!), where I competed on the club gymnastics team and contributed to the team’s 2010 National Championship! I also had theopportunitytostudy “abroad” in Hawaii, so I spent my junior year exploring the beaches of Oahu and taking some interesting Hawaiian history classes. After graduating with a degree in Exercise Science and working for three years in that industry, I changed course and attended Syracuse University College of Law (go Orange!) where I met my husband. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy spending my free time being active outdoors no matter the season, cooking, and baking. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? No [wo]man is an island.

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? My family’s favorite vacation spot is in the red rocks of Sedona, Arizona. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? My lineage is 100% Russian, but I only know a handful of Russian words. I would/should learn how to speak Russian fluently! If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? A coastal vineyard. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Taking (and passing) the bar examon a broken computer that crashed in the middle of the test. Or living in New England as a Philadelphia sports fan. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/Music worth recommending? The Crown, The Office, Schitt’s Creek, Downton Abbey, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? I love a good puzzle.

SABRINA HAPP MELVILLE | ENGINEERING 12.01.20

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? After losing a job offer due to COVID, it was important for me to find a company that was able to retain their employees during challenging times. I was impressed to see the dedication to growth at BL Companies despite the difficult circumstances. Tell us about yourself I have a B.E. in Civil Engineering with a focus on Structural Engineering from Stony Brook University. I live in Holbrook, NY with my fiancé, who proposed to me at a Christmas tree farm one week after I joined BL Companies. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? When the weather is nice, I love riding my motorcycle out to eastern Long Island. I am an avid gardener and baker; in fact, I went to culinary school and worked as a pastry chef prior to doing structural engineering. I enjoy almost any outdoor activity – camping, hiking, hunting, fishing, and skiing in the winter. I have a compound bow and love to participate in the Total Archery Challenge (an outdoor 3D shoot). I also have two beautiful baby nieces and spend a large percentage of my free time with them. Do you have a talent or hobby? I love learning so I constantly take on new hobbies. Some include writing music, painting, making wine. Over the past two years, I started learning how to forage and identify mushrooms. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? I traveled to New Zealand by myself when I was 21 and have

been longing to go back ever since! The entire country is breathtaking. What is one of your favorite quotes? “Never trade the thrills of freedom for the fears of life’s sharp turns.” – Harley Davidson What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? I have a huge collection of brainteaser/puzzle books that I use to “exercise my brain” every day. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? I am currently going through the Foundations program, so I have been learning a lot about my “emotional intelligence”.

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CHRISTEN ROBBINS WARWICK | ARCHITECTURE 01.11.21

about entertainment opening up more, as we enjoyed going to Off-Broadway plays at PPAC in RI or seeing the Red Sox play at Fenway. We also visit my family often and uphold many family traditions. Despite Covid, we still do a Zoom with my family shelling almonds on Thanksgiving eve. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? My parents have several sayings they like to use when giving advice in more challenging situations, like this too shall pass. A favorite is asking how do you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. No matter how big the task, break it down into manageable parts. It will be less overwhelming and add a level of accomplishment I wanted to be a veterinarian until high school, which is likelywhywe have somanypets. I love animals. However, I did not enjoy the darker sides of the profession and found a passion for architecture in high school. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? We love to travel. Our favorite vacations are the trips to Disney, especially visiting Cinderella’s castle where my husband proposed, and the Mediterranean cruise we did for our honeymoon. Do you have a talent or hobby? Pre-kids, I had a lot of hobbies. I ran 5Ks, played tennis, and went skiing. Photography is one of my hobbies when I have the time. It’s a good thing Disney has photographers because I am usually the one taking pictures. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? Prior to coming to BL, I worked with a team that started in person and then went to remote. In that situation, I had to adapt to the remote environment, but I understand my team’s strengths, weaknesses, and preferences. Starting with BL required learning of both the system and the people remotely. I have learned how challenging it is to learn more about one’s colleagues when only working remotely. as each part is addressed. What did you want to be when you grow up?

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? The organization’s values aligned with mine, and I liked the idea of an employee-owned company. Tell us about yourself I am originally from Prospect, CT. I went to college at Roger Williams University and decided to stay in Rhode Island. I reside in West Greenwich with my husband and my two daughters, 3 and almost 7, as well as four cats and a 75-gal fish tank. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy spending time with my family – being outside, going to the zoo, playground, or aquarium. Also, my husband and I are excited

11.16.20

EDWARD F. FARRELL III CHERRY HILL | ENGINEERING

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? Recommended by a friend and former colleague to speak with Joe Michaels who runs the Cherry Hill office. Joe and I complimented each other’s styles and were looking to build BL’s New Jersey presence. Tell us about yourself I recently just turned 44. I have a daughter named Laylah who is 10 years old and hilarious and brilliant. I’m divorced but recently got engaged on Easter this year! I’m a Rutgers College of Engineering grad and my home office rocks some nice space and big monitors. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My free time varies between performing in community theatre, practicing martial arts, running, riding bikes with my daughter and learning to be a coach. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Be careful of the advice you follow. Do you have a talent or hobby? I can sing pretty well. I also think I’m funny. I used to teach self-defense wish I had time to do it more often.

What did you want to be when you grow up? I recently read an article I was in from 8th grade and I had said I wanted to be an architect/inventor. I guess I didn’t stray too far from that..? What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? There was a Western Caribbean Cruise and a trip to Aruba that were both amazing. Generally I’m happiest on vacation when it’s warm and there are “Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Successfully flip investment properties. And play guitar. I should be able to mix those together, right? If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? Beach property. Who’s your celebrity look alike? I was once told Nicholas Cage. But since I’ve lost my hair it’s been Mr. Clean. Who inspires you and why? My daughter. No matter the situation, she still seems to end up happy! beaches and an ocean. What is one of your favorite quotes?

Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be good? Leaving my first job. It opened up a whole new world of possibilities. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Face my daughter’s mother in court. What do you miss most about being a kid? Freedom from responsibility and ‘adulting.’ Haha Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/Music worth recommending? Friends. I have watched thru the series at least a dozen times. What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Binge on Star Wars and Marvel movies, then look up videos on Youtube explaining what I’ve missed in those movies! What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? Pressure does not always have to mean stress. How I react to the pressure is a choice.

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SAM HOJNOWSKI MERIDEN | ENGINEERING 12.14.20 What made you decide to come to BL Companies? It stood out to me that BL is employee owned and that everyone I talked to in the interviewing process emphasized that BL wants to build good employee owners and wants retention, rather than just to find someone to do the work. Tell us about yourself I graduated from the University of Vermont in 2020 and I now live in Somers, CT. My officemate is a Painted Turtle named Bernie who In my free time, I love to do anything active. I am an avid runner; I have run two marathons and hope to one day qualify for Boston. I also love rock climbing, though I am new at it. I also enjoy hiking and am always looking for trail suggestions. I also enjoy taking weekend trips to visit my boyfriend in New York City and my friends in Vermont. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? The best advice I have received is that nobody notices your flaws as much as you do. What did you want to be when you grow up? When I was younger I wanted to be an actress on Broadway and a veterinarian. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? My favorite vacation was when I is always begging for food. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

went to Spain (Madrid and Seville) right before the pandemic hit. I reflect on it a lot because it was the last time I got to travel and life was so different then. I had the best food of my life at a market in Madrid and saw some of the most gorgeous old buildings in Seville. What is one of your favorite quotes? “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” – Maya Angelou If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would learn to speak every language If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? I would build my own gym – I hate having to wait for the squat rack ! Who inspires you and why? My late grandfather is always a source of inspiration for me. He was always reminding us to keep a “positive mental attitude”, he was always taking in new information and changing with the times, he was a great humanitarian, and he was the hardest worker – with no complaints!

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ev Moving from Burlingto I had such a great com friends in Burlington an at the beach and the in the same day, so it w leave even though I wa closer to my family an What do you miss most about being Playing outside and bugs! Do you have a TV binge/Movie/B recommending? Schitt’s Creek is uplifting, and memeab What is the nerdiest thing you do in I listen to a lot of politic and read a lot about p What is something you learned in since joining BL? I learned how to effe feedback!

JULIE SCHEMBRI MELVILLE | ENGINEERING 02.01.21

When did you join BL Companies? I first joined BL in August 2012 in our New York City office. After 3 fun years in the greatest city on earth, I transferred to the Houston, TX office. There we got to experience Rodeo and some of the best TexMex and BBQ in the US. In April 2017, my husband’s company asked us to move to Oslo, Norway for what we thought would be a 1-2 year adventure. The adventure ended up lasting nearly 4 years when we made the decision to move home to New York with our 3.5 year old son, Alexander. If you are doing the math, yes, we had our son in a foreign country (in a different language) and that was quite the experience! What made you decide to come to BL Companies? One of my first calls upon deciding tomove back home, was of course to BL. I was beyond excited to be able to rejoin this amazing team and it feels like not a day has passed since I left! What do you enjoy doing in your free time? In my free time I love to cook, travel and spend time with family. All of which we were able to do plenty of while living in Norway. Living abroad definitely had its challenges, like trying to understand Norwegian or missing family, but it also enabled us to travel and explore so much of Europe. issue 21 // 11

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BRIAN GLEASON CHARLOTTE | ENGINEERING 02.22.21

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? I was recruited by a former co-worker, Robert Burke. Tell us about yourself I am an Architect by training. I grew up in Ohio, the youngest of 7, and attended The Ohio State University where I got my Bachelor of Science. I practiced for 8 years in Columbus, Ohio before moving to North Carolina to get my Master of Architecture degree. I’ve been in Charlotte 18 years now. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love live music and sitting on patios. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Never buy your underwear at a garage sale. It’s good advice for sure!! Do you have a talent or hobby? I am really pretty good at trivia. I know a little about a lot. It’s also great for breaking the ice and finding something to talk to nearly everyone about. What did you want to be when you grow up? I was groomed to be an architect by my father and grandmother. My great grandfather dropped out of

school in fourth grade back in the 1880s and eventually became a design/builder. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Domestically, I love Chicago. Internationally I love Italy and Germany. I still want to get to Australia. What is one of your favorite quotes? I have several, most of them are song lyrics that resonate with men. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I secretly want to have bartender skills so I could throw amazing parties and serve amazing cocktails to wow my guests. If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? An old JeepGrandWagoneer with wood paneled sides. Fancy isn’t it. I would also to travel. Who’s your celebrity look alike?

least of which is amazing adult children who are accomplished and respectful! Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be good? Many times, often when I was young and dating the wrong person! What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Parenting! Lots of second- guessing! What do you miss most about being a kid? The innocence of the world before Adam Walsh and being able to roam my neighborhood freely. Kids these days are sort of on lock-down. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/Music worth recommending? I read historical fiction and there are some great authors in that genre: Steve Berry and Katherine Neville are 2 great ones! What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Read “reference” type materials. When I was little I used to literally read encyclopedias! What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? The value of teamwork is very strong within our discipline.

I’ve been told a very young Ronald Reagan (when he wore glasses). Who inspires you and why? My oldest

sister

has and accomplished a lot, not the persevered

Sema4 is a rapidly growing, patient- centered predictive health company using genomic research to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, by matching patients to specific products and services. Using advanced analysis, Sema4 develops personalized health insights for patients.

BL Companies provided design services to renovate an existing two- story building on the waterfront in Stamford, CT, providing over 63,200 SF of space to facilitate Sema4’s continued growth.

The building was constructed in the early 1900s as a factory and has evolved through numerous adaptive reuses. The program was adapted to the complex roof system of concrete framed monitor skylights to benefit from daylighting.

Internally, it was important to isolate the clean labs from other spaces and to resolve the challenge of coordinating complex lab MEP, ventilation requirements in areas with limited headroom.

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IT

Working from Home Managing Remote Connectivity and Remote Desktop Please coordinate and contact anyone in the IT Department for issues pertaining to any of the items outlined below.

TIP Managing Remote Connections Quick VPN connection reminders 1. Have your cell phone ready for the MFA notification. 2. Double-click on the green Forticlient shield in your lower right taskbar. 3. Select your BL Office OR the closest BL Office to you from the dropdown (or SSLVPN if required). 4. Enter your Username {NOT YOUR EMAIL} and Password. 5. Look for the One Protect Notification on your cell phone as you will not be prompted to look for it. 6. If you receive the notification, pick Allow connection. If the notification does not appear within 5-10 seconds, you should restart your cell phone, close out of the Forticlient and then try again.

Connectivity Issues: 1. If you have trouble with a particular office, you can select another office from the dropdown. 2. If you have trouble with all offices that you select, then you may want to reset your modem/gateway at home and start the process over. Quick VPN Disconnect reminders 1. Double click on the GREEN SHIELD in your lower right taskbar to access the FORTICLIENT application console. 2. Select Disconnect from {BL OFFICE}.

Remote Desktop Reminders 1. Restart the remote computer at the end

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of your workday by picking Restart from the Windows 10 start menu on the remote computer. This will return the computer to its best performance. Closing the REMOTE DESKTOP CONNECTION will not restart the computer, it leaves the session running. 2. If you have 2 screens while remote, you can get dual screen support if you are not already doing so. You will need to set the option before connecting with Remote Desktop a. Lower left à Select “SHOW OPTIONS” b. Select the Display tab c. Check “Use all my monitors for the remote session” d. Select the GENERAL tab e. Enter the machine name {get your machine name}.blcompanies.com

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BL Intranet: Remote users** 1. Have your cell phone ready for the MFA notification 2. Launch Microsoft Edge {this should default to the BL Intranet} a. You can also browse to www.BLCompanies.com b. Select CONTACT and then EMPLOYEE PORTAL

3. Login with your Email & Password 4. You will be prompted to look for ONE PROTECT on your phone a. If the notification does not appear within 5-10 seconds, you should restart your cell phone, close out of the Forticlient and then try again. 5. If you receive the notification, pick Allow connection **These steps are not required on a BL computer when you are in a BL Office** Definitions: MFA = Multi Factor Authentication. Additional required security to protect your accounts from being accessed or hijacked without your permission or knowledge. VPN = Virtual Private Network. Allows you to securely connect to the BL Network remotely SSLVPN = Secure Sockets Layer Virtual Private Network. Some Internet Providers only allow this type of connection. issue 21 // 15

LEGALTIP Insurance Basics

On April 28, Julia O’Brien did a Lunch with Legal focusing on insurance basics where she broke down the insurance BL has and the insurance BL asks for from our subconsultants.

Below is listed out what BL has as well as a few things clients typically ask for.

• $1,000,000 per occurrence/$2,000,000 aggregate. • Protects us from a third party being injured on our property. Commercial General Liability

Valuable Papers

• $500,000 in coverage. • Protects all of BL’s paper files.

Cyber Insurance

Automobile

• $5,000,000 in coverage.

• $1,000,000 combined single limit. • Covers property damage and bodily injury resulting from employee’s driving on BL time. • Covers all vehicles – BL’s, rental cars, personal vehicle – BUT – if you are driving a personal vehicle, your personal insurance is primary and BL’s is secondary and damage to your personal vehicle is NOT covered by BL insurance.

Professional Liability

• $5,000,000 per claim/$8,000,000 aggregate. • Covers BL from claims made based on our negligent acts, errors and omissions. • Covers employees as well as BL. • Includes Pollution coverage.

Waiver of Subrogation

• This is allowed under both our CGL/Auto policies and Professional Liability policy. • Through this waiver, the insurance company foregoes its right to “step into the shoes” of the insured to collect against the party who may be liable for the claim. • By waiving this right, insurance companies ensure that projects move forward expeditiously. • Only on our CGL and Auto policies can the client, its successors and assigns, lenders, contactor, subs, etc. be added as additional insureds. • They cannot be added on ourWorkers’ Compensation policy nor on our Professional Liability policy. Additional Insured

Umbrella

• $15,000,000 per occurrence and aggregate. • Sits on top of CGL and Auto. • Can usually use the umbrella to achieve higher limits if client requires higher limits on the CGL.

Worker’s Compensation & Employer’s Liability

• Worker’s Compensation coverage is no-fault coverage for employees who are injured on the job. • Coverage is per state statute. • Employer’s liability protects BL from claims filed by employees, family members or third-parties for employment-related injuries.

If you have any questions regarding the information above, please contact the Legal department.

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Do You Have an Interesting Family Story to Share?

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Michael Fisher, Meriden I think I have a good one for you…My mother does a lot of research into our family ancestry. She actually traced my family tree back to Rebecca Nurse who was hung for being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials on July 19, 1692. But it doesn’t stop there. My mother has also looked into my wife’s ancestry and found that she is related to Susannah Martin who was also hung for being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials on the very same day alongside Rebecca Nurse and three other women. What are the odds? I took the wife and kids to Salem back in 2015 to see Rebecca Nurse’s homestead. Here’s a picture of my daughter pointing to Rebecca Nurse and Susannah Martin on a plaque in downtown Salem. There’s also a movie about Rebecca Nurse.

Brian Skelcher, Meriden

During covid quarantine my mother got interested in Ancestry.com and started searching for relatives as both her parents died when she was in her 20s and she never knew much about her mother’s side of the family. Over the course of several months and tracking down various birth and death certificates along with newspaper articles she traced her mother’s side back to the civil war and even found a letter written from her multi- great grandfather to her multi-great grandmother while he was away at war. Sadly, he died two days after sending the letter but the letter itself is a very interesting and heartbreaking glimpse into the civil war. She was able to continue tracking and found another multi-great grandfather who was in the American Revolution war. Having a relative in the Revolutionary War makes my family members eligible to join the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution organizations.

Pedro Martinez, Meriden

I am from Puerto Rico and growing up in Puerto Rican culture means spending a lot of time with family and close friends! It’s a little more challenging to see loved ones when we all live in different parts of the country, but that doesn’t stop us! Every Christmas season we all gather in one place: Florida! It is literally a convenient location for those that live in Puerto Rico and for others, like me, that live up in the Northeastern U.S. We also have many relatives that live in Florida which makes it easier for them to host and join the festivities! Christmas Eve, or as we call it, Noche Buena, is the time where our family reunites at my aunt’s home in Saint Petersburg. We greet, talk, and catch up with each other as the Puerto Rican Christmas music is playing in the background. We eat an array of food, like pernil (pork), arroz con gandules (rice with pigeon peas), pasteles, pasta salad, Abuela’s famous potato salad (with pieces of apple!), and tostones (fried plantains). For dessert, we indulge in Arroz con dulce (sweet rice dessert), pastelillos de guava (puff pastries filled with guava), flan (custard), mantecaditos (sugar cookies with guava paste on top), and cake (since it’s also my Abuela’s birthday!). After dinner, we usually spend some time singing and dancing to some of the Puerto Rican Christmas music playing in the background. We even pull out some instruments to create a livelier moment! To wrap up the night, we exchange and open gifts while still talking and laughing amongst each other. This reunion celebrates more than just Christmas and my Abuela’s birthday, but it ultimately celebrates life and the wonderful blessings that came with it for all of us in the past year. When then look forward to the greater opportunities in the new year.

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John Jenney, Meriden

Following the arrival of the Mayflower in Plymouth in 1620, two supply ships from Land’s End, England arrived in 1623, and on one of those ships, the “Little James”, was my Great-great-great-great-great- great-great-great-great grandfather, John Jenney, his wife Sara, and their three children. John, a brewer from Norwich, England, married Sara in Leyden, Holland in 1614. In 1623, after returning to England, and after three months and two days at sea, they landed in Plymouth. The first settlers who arrived in the Mayflower, the Fortune, theAnneand the Little James, were known as “First Comers”. John Jenney and his family settled on land between the Town Brook and

Strawberry Hill, along with their three cows, two ponies and two goats. John was one of the original sixty-eight Freemen of the Corporation of Plymouth. In 1633 he was appointed by Governor Winslow to establish the tax rate for the colony of Plymouth. He was later appointed as the Governor’s counsel, served on the coroner’s jury, and was on the committee that established and built the first meetinghouse. In 1636, John Jenney served on the Governor’s council that prepared a regular system of laws for the colony. In 1637, he was assigned the job to construct a mill for grinding corn, which at the time, was used as a form of currency and used in the making of beer. You could say that he was the first to bring European beer making to America. The Jenney Grist Mill was constructed using timbers from the original fort that had been built several years prior, and the mill is still in use as a museum to this day (rebuilt in 1970 after a fire destroyed it in 1837). In 1638, he was appointed Assistant- Governor under Governor Thomas Prence, and then served as Assistant-Governor to William Bradford in 1639. From 1640 on, John Jenney served as the delegate to the Massachusetts Bay Colony Assembly, representing Plymouth, and he managed the disposition of lands throughout the Plymouth colony. This included the job of surveying property boundaries. In 1643, “A Counsell of war for the towne” was appointed that was made up of seven men, including Governor Bradford, Edward Winslow, Captain Myles Standish and John Jenney. In December of 1643, Governor Bradford reported to Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay colony the passing of John Jenney at the age of 43 (+/-). His wife Sara lived for another twelve

years, and with her son, continued to manage the mill and other business endeavors. Since that time, all eight generations of my family, which included whaling ship captains, lawyers, ship builders and engineers, has maintained roots in southeastern Massachusetts. I plan to maintain that connection upon my retirement.

My Grandfather (Pop-Pop) on my dad’s side of the family is VERY interested in his heritage and sharing all of it with all the grandkids. He has gotten even more in depth with his research over the quarantine period and has some interesting findings. He has been told lots of stories throughout his life being able to piece together where he came from and what his family members had done in the past, Samantha Malmfelt, Charlotte

but he even sent his DNA to Ancestry.com to take it deeper. Through him, I know that I have Irish, German, Scots & Swedish from that side of my family. He has traced things back to 1600s. There is also some English & Iberian Eastern European traces. My grandma on that side has a very rare finding, 100% Scots-Irish. I also found out through him that I had several relatives that were engineers way before me, which was unique because I thought I was the first in my family. My great-great grandpa also received his mechanical engineering degree. I have copies of 2 patents he had. My Great uncle was also on his way to getting his mechanical engineering degree when WWII began & he served in the US Army. I have a slide rule & drafting kit from his career that has been passed down to me. There’s much more, but thought I would share some of that, which relates some to my career today.

Jessica Fasi, Meriden

I’m fortunate to have a great uncle who was a genealogist (he passed away several years ago), so I’ve been familar with who my ancesters are – way before Ancestry.com and other sites became popular. I’ve heard about several interesting ancestors, like one of the first famous opera singers, Anne Louise Cary and James Storrow (Storrow Drive in Boston is named after him). My great grandfather on my dad’s side was Ernest Henderson who founded Sheraton Hotels. Our family has had reunions in Dublin, NH every year for as long as I can remember. After a virtual reunion last year, this July we’ll have our 125 th annual reunion! I’m lucky to have an opportunity each year to get together with lots of aunts, uncles, cousins and more extended family... some of our traditions are a little whacky, but I guess that’s what makes us family. :-)

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Joe Kempf, Harrisburg My grandfather, Frank J. Kempf, was the Corporate Bridge Engineer for Michael Baker Company and was the lead design engineer on the New River Gorge Bridge project in West Virginia. At the time of construction, this bridge held the world record for longest single arch bridge at 1,700 feet. A record that was held for 26 years. From Wikipedia: The roadway of the New River Gorge Bridge is 876 feet (267 m) above the New River, making the bridge one of the highest vehicular bridges in the world; it is the third highest in the United States. When completed in 1977, it was theworld’s highest bridge carrying a regular roadway, a title it held until the 2001 opening of the Liuguanghe Bridge in China. Because of its height, the bridge has attracted daredevils since its construction. It is now the centerpiece of the annual “Bridge Day”, during which hundreds of people, with appropriate equipment, are permitted to climb on or jump from the bridge. In 2005, the structure gained additional attention when the US Mint issued the West Virginia state quarter with the bridge depicted on one side. In 2013, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. My grandfather worked on many other big projects, but this bridge was always his most proud work. When the U.S. mint printed this bridge on the WV state quarter, Baker Co. sent my grandfather a dozen rolls of all WV quarters to commemorate his work.

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K S ! ! ! When a Rock is More Than Just a Rock I N

issue 21 // 23

The First of its Kind(ness) The origin of how a rock became more than just a rock In May of this year, the Giving Back &Wellness Committees kicked off the BL Kindness Rocks Project. As creative as we are at BL, we did not invent the project but rather borrowed the idea from its creator and made it our own.The first Kindness Rocks Project was born by chance on the shores of Cape Cod. Megan Murphy, the founder of the Kindness Rocks Project, would often walk the beach to seek solace, peace, and connection. She found it was a place to connect with her parents who although no longer around would in send her signs that they were looking out for her. If she found a heart shaped rock – this was her sign symbolizing her dad. If she found a piece of sea glass – this was her mom sending her a sign that she was watching after her. One day, as she was headed out for her meditative walk, she grabbed a sharpie and wrote messages on five rocks and left them on the path. Later that day, she received a voicemail from a friend who said, “I found this rock with a message on it. Was that you who left it? If it was, I just wanted you to know that it made my day. I was feeling down, and it was just the message I needed at just the right time.” Simple, yet impactful.The Kindness Rock Project kicked off by chance and is a now a worldwide viral trend. Photos of the painted rocks and hints on where to find them are often posted on social media. Based in kindness, the idea of this initiative is that sometimes the world gives us a small sign of encouragement, just when we need it most.And, sometimes a serendipitous rock find can bring a smile to someone’s face and spark a little bit of joy. Now is your chance to join the movement. BL Companies has hosted a paint night, gifted kindness rocks to colleagues, and placed them along paths in hometowns, parks and trails. Not sure if your artistic talents will transfer to a rock, don’t fret. Inspiration for painting rocks can come from many places – even the rock itself. Our talented rock painters have drawn their inspiration from Pinterest,The Kindness Rocks Project website, their children or even just doodles. Kindness isn’t limited to the rocks BL paints. Feel free to share rocks you’ve found along the way and you’ll be surprised about how a rock can become more than just a rock.

Supplies for Painting Rocks • Clean Rocks • Multi-Surface Acrylic Paint & brushes • Paint Pens (Best Option!) • Sharpie • Sealer Some Inspirational Words • Today is the Day • Inspire • You look lovely • Celebrate little things • Be Kind • Reach for the Stars • You Rock • Trust • Make Magic • You Matter • It never rains forever • Hope • Be your own superhero • Be Brave • You are Strong • Give Thanks • Choose Adventure

• You Got This • Spread love

• Believe inYourself • You are awesome • Choose Happy

Please share pictures of your rocks with Heather Halotek: hhalotek@blcompanies.com

Safety Tip

Heat-Related Illnesses

What To Look For

What To Do

HEAT STROKE

• High body temperature (103 F or higher) • Hot, red, dry, or damp skin • Fast, strong pulse • Headache • Dizziness • Nausea • Confusion • Losing Consciousness (Passing out)

• Call 911 right away - heat stroke is a medical emergency • Move the person to a cooler place • Help lower the person’s temperature with cool cloths or a cool bath • Do not give the person anything to drink

HEAT EXHAUSTION

• Heavy sweating • Cold, pale, and clammy skin • Fast, weak pulse • Nausea or vomitting • Muscle cramps • Tiredness or weakness

• Move to cool place • Loosen your clothes • Put cool, wet cloths on your body or take a cool bath • Sip water

Get medical help right away if: • You are throwing up • Your symptoms get worse • Your symptoms last longer than 1 hour

• Dizziness • Headache • Fainting (Passing out)

HEAT CRAMPS

• Heavy sweating during intense exercise • Muscle pain or spasms

• Stop physical activity and move to a cool place • Drink water or a sports drink • Wait for cramps to go away before you do anymore physical activity

Get medical help right away if: • Cramps last longer than 1 hour • You’re on a low-sodium diet • You have heart problems

SUNBURN

• Painful, red, and warm skin • Blisters on the skin

• Stay out of the sun until your sunburn heals • Put cool cloths on sunburned areas or take a cool bath • Put moisturizing lotion on sunburned areas • Do not break blisters

HEAT RASH

• Red clusters of small blisters that look like pimples on the skin (usually on the neck, chest, groin, or in elbow creases)

• Stay in a cool, dry place • Keep the rash dry • Use powder (like baby powder) to soothe the rash

issue 21 // 25

12 Icebreakers For Your Next Team Meeting

1. Which of your past Halloween costumes is your favorite?

2. What topic do you know a lot of random trivia about?

3. What is the most unique thing on your bucket list?

4. What is your favorite movie and how many times have you seen it?

5. What weird thing do you feel nostalgic for?

6. What food do you love that others seem to hate?

7. If you could be reincarnated as any animal, which would you choose?

8. Who is your celebrity doppelganger?

9. You’re next up for karaoke! What song do you pick?

10. What is your favorite quarantine purchase?

11. Who is your favorite movie villain?

12. Which canceled TV show do you wish was still on the air?

Check out the full list of summer reads here

issue 21 // 27

‘Appleseed,’ byMatt Bell Three characters from distinct eras — 1700s Ohio, the latter half of the 21st century and a millennium from now — confront their roles in a disordered world (and eventually, an environmental apocalypse) but find some traces of hope, too. With its urgent warnings about our ecological future, this novel may not be textbook escapist reading, but it conjures up thought-provoking, immersive worlds. ‘The Plot,’ by Jean HanffKorelitz Writer, Jake Bonner, whose career has sputtered: After modest success with his first book, he can’t sell his next novel and is teaching at a no-name M.F.A. program. He meets a young, outrageously self-assured writer who is certain the premise of his manuscript is destined to make him famous. So when Jake learns that too-good-to-waste plot is up for grabs, he takes it — and finds all the success the other writer predicted... ‘The Maidens,’ byAlex Michaelides After a Cambridge student is found dead, Mariana, a grieving psychotherapist in London, is drawn into the murder investigation. The dead woman was one of the Maidens, a group of female students in thrall to a charismatic professor who is Mariana’s prime suspect. Pick up this novel if you’re after a bookish thriller with stunning backdrops scattered with clues in Ancient Greek. ‘Couple Found Slain: After a FamilyMurder,’ by Mikita Brottman In 1992, a young man named Brian Bechtold was judged “not criminally responsible” for the murder of his parents, a crime he had never tried to conceal. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, he was sent to a maximum security psychiatric hospital. Brottman’s real goal here is to shine a light on his decades- long captivity.

The Love Songs ofW.E.B. DuBois,’ by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers Jeffers traces the history of an African- American family from the arrival of its earliest enslaved ancestors. The story shifts perspective, opening with a Greek chorus that guides readers through generations but eventually focusing on Ailey, a teenager in the 1980s who balances her life in the city with annual visits to the family’s ancestral home in Georgia... ‘The Other Black Girl,’ by Zakiya Dalila Harris Nella is delighted when another Black woman is hired at the publishing house where she works: someone who can commiserate about microaggressions and awkward company seminars about diversity, and help elevate authors who may not otherwise get published. But Hazel — charming, confident and immediately successful — doesn’t turn out to be the ally Nella had hoped for... ‘A Slow Fire Burning,’ by Paula Hawkins This novel focuses on the murder of a young man on his houseboat in London. Could his killer be Laura, the off-kilter woman who went home with him and was later seen covered in blood? Miriam, his odd, uncomfortably nosy neighbor on the river who’s trying to play Miss Marple? And what to make of his aunt Carla, with whom he shared a lifetime of grief? The flaws of each character will surprise and perhaps even enchant you... ‘All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, a Black Family Keepsake,’ by Tiya Miles The historian Tiya Miles’s wide-ranging new book was inspired by one modest item: a sack passed from mother to daughter. The mother, an enslaved woman named Rose, gave the sack — containing a dress, pecans and a braid of her hair — to her daughter Ashley in 1852...

Fridays @ Noon: Weekly Audio Conference Calls with our CEO (“Moving Forward” Meetings)

ESOP Social Hour: The Art of Charcuterie - 6.23.21 @ 5:15 pm. RSVP to the invite sent by the ESOP Communications Committee. ESOP Year in Review sessions will be held this Summer. All are highly encouraged to attend. Keep an eye out for the invites.

Monday, July 5: Independence Day Observed (day off!)

issue 21 // 29

2021 ▬ issue 21 ▬ spring/summer

NEWSLETTER TEAM: Julia DeFrances Jessica Fasi Heather Halotek Lisa Pavano Jocelyn Taylor

CONTRIBUTORS: David Parent Julia O’Brien

Question of the Quarter Participants (thank you!) New Employees (Nov - Feb)