The Owners' Manual | Issue 24 | Spring 2022

2022 ▬ issue 24 ▬ spring

issue 24, spring 2022

Photo credit: Lisa Pavano, Meriden (Lisa Lyn Photography) A dahlia in Elizabeth Park, West Hartford, CT

BL Buzz Around BL..........................................1-2 Get to Know.....................................3-17 Energizing Ourselves Recap........21-23 Question of the Quarter................24-31 Wellness Update.................................33 Multistory Warehouse ..................36-37

FYI Proposal Writing..........................18-19 IT Tip..................................................20 Safety Tip....................................34-35 Client Care Corner.....................38-39 Legal Tip...........................................40 Upcoming Events.............................41

Front & Back Covers: Potential multistory warehouse in NYC - featured on pages 36 & 37.

We love seeing our teams getting together in person! The Architecture group in Charlotte (left) and the Melville office - both with some special visitors took the opportunity to get together for lunch.

The Leadership Development Foundations Program class 17 learned about their compass points. Haven’t attended Foundations yet? You will soon, and you’ll learn what your compass point is!

Nick Giardina and Dominick Celtruda represented BL at the MRPA Tradeshow. MRPA is the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association.

Christen Robbins (far right) attended a ribbon cutting for a new facade project for Dollar Tree & Granite Supply Electric Company.

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Congratulations to Pedro Martinez, who was honored with the Excellence in Mentoring Award from PWC. A group of BL employee owners attended the awards event!

Congratulations to Jess Fasi who won the Member of the Year Award from WTS. Another great opportunity to gather with colleagues & friends at the Awards Banquet!

Thank you to the ESOP Communications Committee for organizing a fantastic March Madness- themed coffee break for all our offices!

Another lunch get-together for Charlotte! Who doesn’t like an excuse to go out to lunch? Have you groups been gathering? Please send pics to Heather Halotek!

Mike McGowan and Joe Michiels were on the search for the next employee owner at a career fair.

GET TO KNOW OUR NEW EMPLOYEE OWNERS Joined Fall 2021

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Sydney Clark Norwood | Energy October 2021

Do you have a talent or hobby? I can play 5 instruments (tenor and alto saxophone,

flute, piano, violin), sing pretty decent, and used to be a nationally ranked equestrian.

What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Be afraid, but do it anyway (within reason).

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Hawaii. We went there for our honeymoon,

and I absolutely loved the culture, people and beautiful landscape.

Who’s your celebrity look alike? I’ve heard Anne Hathaway, Katharine Hepburn, etc, but I think the only accurate one I’ve heard is Ingrid Bergman. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommeding? Do you have an hour to hear all my

Tell us about yourself! I graduated from the University of Vermont with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Before that, I was 1 of 16 in pre-k through 12 at Shelter Island School, on Shelter Island, NY where I was born and raised. I have a huge extended family but my sister, Mia, is one of my favorite people in the world. My black lab puppy, Goose, is the light of my life, and Poncho, the horse I share with my sister (even though they’re both in Ithaca), is the other light of my life.

recommendations? I always do. Movies: Fried Green Tomatoes and O Brother Where Art Thou?; TV: Bob’s Burgers, Big Mouth, Rick and Morty, Stranger Things (based on a place 30 min from my hometown!); Books: absolutely anything by Toni Morrison or Alison Bechdel; Music (though this doesn’t touch the surface): Jimi Hendrix, Joan Jett, Kurt Vile, Courtney Barnett, Wutang Clan, Earthgang, JID, Green Day, Skegss, Lucy Dacus, Glass Animals,

What made you decide to come to BL Companies?

My great friend, Sam Hojnowski recommended it to me, and I loved that it’s employee oriented.

John Hiatt… the list could go on forever… My favorite song right now is “I Wanna Be a Cowboy, Baby!” by CMAT. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? For some reason since starting at BL I’ve started to have a green thumb with plants after killing so many, but my Fiddle Leaf Fig has yet to lose a leaf *knocks on wood*.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love mountain biking, gravel/road biking, skiing, horseback riding, sailing, hiking, camping, painting, reading, cooking, working out, spending time with friends, and hammocking in the sunshine somewhere in the woods (normally while camping). Biking, cooking, and reading are probably my most frequent ones, though.

My car and camper I lived in last year, Little River State Park, Waterbury, VT.

Skiing the famous Stein’s Run while working at Sugarbush resort…with a broken left wrist.

View of Mount Mansfield from Cady Hill in Stowe, VT while mountain biking.

Goose (my puppy) in the field across the street from my mom’s house.

My horse, Poncho, and his late best friend, Symon.

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Robert Boyer, EIT Warwick | Transportation (Sports & Rec) October 2021

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? The south coast of Algarve, Portugal is my favorite place on the planet. My grandfather is from the port city of Faro, which is considered “the Southern Florida of Europe” and a big vacation destination. My family and I (we total 24 people) have planned a trip to go there in June 2023.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies?

The ESOP environment, which I’ve been a part of before at another company. People care more here and want to help as much as possible. Tell us about yourself! I live in Riverside, RI with my wife of 5 years. I went to school at Umass Dartmouth where I got my Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering (2009). I also played 2 years of college hockey during my tenure. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I help run a growing online poker league, which was a brainchild of the pandemic, but is still going strong. I also play competitive hockey and golf whenever I can. I’m also a big fan of the hometown sports teams, especially the Bruins. Try to be self-aware as much as possible and whenever you receive constructive criticism you use it as fuel to challenge yourself to become a better engineer and person. Do you have a talent or hobby? I’m in my 30’s and I am still playing hockey and competing with the college age players. I’m not ready to pass the torch yet. I’m also a moderately low handicap on the golf course. What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was really young, I wanted to be a professional hockey player and as I matured, What is a good piece of advice you’ve received?

What is one of your favorite quotes?? “To be the best you have to be around and work with the best” (thought I was going to say something else, right?).

I turned my attention to Limnology (It’s like a marine biologist except the study is exclusive to the freshwater biome).

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I would love to learn how to fly a plane. It has always been an interest of mine. If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? I would make sure my family was more than comfortable and then build a world class indoor athletic facility that would rival anything in the country. Who’s your celebrity look alike? When I was younger my wife’s friends always said I resembled Robert Downey Jr. but I don’t see it. Who inspires you and why? My mother does. She successfully raised me and my two siblings on her own while putting herself through nursing school without ever complaining. She is still doing amazing things that continue to inspire me today.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Coming back from a major concussion from a hit in a hockey game during college. It was hard to continue to rest when I felt like my body was ready to go. It was hard to understand that even though my body felt great, my brain was still repairing itself. What do you miss most about being a kid? Having few responsibilities most of the time and none at all in the summer. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending? I’m a big fan of history and the early medieval era so I would recommend Game of Thrones, Vikings, and The Last Kingdom. They are all great books and each have their own TV series worth taking the time to watch. I am a big astronomy nerd and read up on every update given on the James Webb Telescope. I really enjoy to planet and stargaze whenever possible. I am currently looking to purchase a new and improved telescope that will help me with celestial navigation. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? I would have to say I’ve learned a new level of teamwork since joining BL. I’ve worked in teams at other companies in the past, but not as in depth as you need to here. The way we tackle deadlines together to make sure everything is delivered accurately and on time is very impressive. What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?

Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but turned out to be good? Yes. I left a job that I was not happy at (felt like I wasted 2 years of my life) and a year later I ended up here at BL where I am using many of the skills I learned there. The Warwick office is much closer to where I live, and my everyday work life has been better than anything else I’ve experienced.

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Joseph Faucett Charlotte | Structural October 2021

Tell us about yourself! I studied Civil Engineering with an emphasis in Structural Engineering at Clemson University and graduated in December of 2016. I am originally from Rockville, MD, which is where my two brothers and parents still live. I enjoy just about anything outdoors, such as golf, running, mountain biking, snowboarding, and basketball. During the transition into Spring each year, you can find me outside most of the day when I’m not working. What made you decide to come to BL Companies? I joined BL because I saw a lot of opportunity for growth as a structural engineer in my position. When I spoke with Bret Boudreaux, Hayden Willis, and Aaron LaDue, I gathered that the team that I would be working with is very helpful and knowledgeable of the industry. This was very important to me because I want to continue to grow and learn

new things throughout my career. It was also clear to me that BL offers a lot for employees not just in the workplace but outside of work as well. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? upgrades over the past few years... with little end in sight. However, there is a lot to enjoy in the transformation this year - it was a bathroom and tree clearing. Still have about 400 LF of pine tree trunks across my yard and 2 more 100 ft trees to come down this winter. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? Effective communication skills. I am participating in the Foundations Cohort 17 program this year and have learned more about myself and how to work with people more effectively. My free time has mainly been consumed by home and yard

Kyle Banville Hartford | Energy October 2021

Tell us about yourself! I went to Porter and Chester Institute in Chicopee and graduated with a certificate in Architectural Drafting. I live in Chicopee, Massachusetts with my wife Kim and our son Nolan. What made you decide to come to BL Companies? BL Companies was recommended to me by Anthony Guarnieri. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy coaching my son’s baseball and basketball teams and getting him out on the golf course. Spending time with family and friends. Movies and video games. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Favorite vacation is Las Vegas. Dream destination would be Ireland or Australia.

What is one of your favorite quotes? It’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? I’ve always wanted to learn sign language.

What do you miss most about being a kid? I still think of myself as a kid but with more responsibilities. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending? The Expanse series is great – Book and TV series.

What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? I still play video games with my friends when I can.

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Heather Grove Harrisburg | Environmental September 2021

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? I would love to travel to Japan someday.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Learn another language.

What do you miss most about being a kid? Not having any responsibilities. What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? I play video games, especially Pokémon. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? I have learned a lot about Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments.

Tell us about yourself! I grew up in Elizabethtown, PA, and currently live in Hummelstown, PA with my boyfriend Alan and my cat Mitzi. I went to school at Millersville University for Environmental Biology. I also played tennis throughout high school and college.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies?

I love the outdoors and traveling, and I wanted to get into the Environmental field. I was also looking for an opportunity to grow in my career and do something different every day.

Do you have a talent or hobby? I love going to concerts.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a vet.

Jacqueline (Jackie) Maurer Harrisburg | Environmental September 2021 Tell us about yourself!

I currently live in York, PA and graduated from York College of PA with a B.S. in Chemistry.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? It seemed like a great opportunity to learn new skills and technical knowledge while providing the opportunity for career growth. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy hiking, yoga, exploring new places, caring for my plants, and spending time with my cat, Yoshi. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? My two favorite places I’ve traveled since joining BL are New Mexico and Colorado, neither of which I had visited before! What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Identifying plants and fungi on my hikes. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending? Aside from the technical knowledge, I’ve gained a lot of expertise in planning travel arrangements!

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Kevin Rodgers Melville | Energy September 2021

Tell us about yourself! I come from a large family – one of fourteen (14) children. (See photo from a Newsday article about my father) I grew up on Long Island, and attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point. My wife and I live in Huntington, NY and are empty-nesters – with four children and nine grandchildren. When the children were younger we had a dog, but have never replaced her since she passed away.

Do you have a talent or hobby? I like to work on puzzles (crossword / Sudoku, etc.), and am very good at trouble-shooting. I also tutor physics as a volunteer. What did you want to be when you grew up? An engineer at a Nuclear Fusion plant (but they still don’t exist). What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? I still need to get to my original roots in Ireland. What is one of your favorite quotes? From George Washington: “Good judgment comes from experience, and experience comes from bad judgment.” Most people do not realize he lost more battles than he won – but he did win the big ones. If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? Helping friends and family – and taking vacations around the world. Who inspires you and why? My real-life inspirations have always been my parents. As mentioned earlier, they had fourteen children, and always found a way to make things work – and even helped a lot of other people beyond their own children. Who’s your celebrity look alike? I have never thought about what celebrity I look like but have long been fascinated by how much I look like my own father at similar ages. (See a side- by-side of me and my dad -taken 35 years apart) . If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Play the Piano.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies?

The opportunity to work in a world class environment. BL Companies has a culture that actually “walks-the-walk.” What do you enjoy doing in your free time? When I have the chance to go skiing I definitely enjoy that, but since we have a pool I spend a lot of the spring and summer time maintaining it, and really enjoy being able to use it. I like having family and friends over to enjoy the pool as well. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Be careful what you wish for – you might just get it (only to find out it was not what you really wanted after all).

Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be good?

I am not sure where to start on this one, and it may be unusual to use something this personal, but I went through a divorce and felt like an utter failure. Then, almost like a bolt of lightning from the sky, I wound up meeting someone who I have now been married to for almost 33 years. My life is definitely much better than it would have been otherwise. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Sticking it out at the Merchant Marine Academy for the required four years was definitely the greatest challenge in my life. Our official motto is “Acta Non Verba” (Deeds Not Words), but our internal saying is: “It’s a lousy place to be at, but a great place to be from.”. What do you miss most about being a kid? The free time I once had. On the flip side, I really can not remember the last time I sat down and said “I’m bored.” Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending? This is too easy for me. The movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” is my favorite movie of all time (despite being both a Star Trek and Star Wars fan). As anyone might be able to figure out from everything else here, George and Mary Bailey remind me very much of my own parents. I think this is a long list, but I like to fix things. My wife complains that she can’t buy new appliances because I keep figuring out how to repair them on my own. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? I knew I was coming to BL for good reasons, but the company is filled with people who are results-oriented and willing to help / pitch- in for anything that has to be done. As I have said – it’s not just talk around here. What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?

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Christa Mandler Meriden | Environmental October 2021

Who inspires you and why? Speak of the devil, Carl Sagan for sure. The man was a poet as well as a great scientist. His words have the power to turn the pursuit of science into a spiritual experience. “The Pale Blue Dot” sends chills up my spine every time I hear it or read it.

What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?

Oh gods... um... I AM a nerd so, everything? I play Dungeons and Dragons on weekends?

What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL?

Tell us about yourself! I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona, but always wanted to live near/study the ocean. I majored in marine biology at University of Rhode Island, but discovered during my undergraduate studies that I SCUBA diving gives me horrible anxiety! So I switched over to environmental science for my graduate degree. Upon graduating, I decided I liked New England and wanted to stay here. I now live in Rocky Hill, CT with my husband and our school of colorful tropical fish. Do you have a talent or hobby? I study karate! Currently I hold brown belt rank, but I hope to make black belt soon. I also am working on my own sci-fi novel. What did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be a scientist! What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? I would love to visit Australia. There’s so much unique wildlife there. It’s just so far away! What is one of your favorite quotes? Basically anything Carl Sagan ever said, but if I had to pick a favorite “The sky calls to us. If we do not destroy ourselves, we will, one day, venture to the stars.”

learned that sometimes environmental restoration can be messy. Sometimes it involves just spraying sediment all over a wetland to bring it above water level so the plants can grow back.

Christy Quagliaroli Meriden | Environmental September 2021

Tell us about yourself! I live in Enfield, Connecticut with my daughter (11 year old aspiring veterinarian), my husband (wilderness survivalist and hippie dude extraordinaire), and our menagerie of special needs pets. We have 5 resident cats, 4 chickens, and a ball python. There is also a constant rotation of special needs foster kitties living in our home.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? Opportunities for growth.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Animal rescue is part of daily life in our family (Side note: I went to college with the intention of becoming a veterinarian). Despite my change in studies, I am now one of the few neonatal critical care fosters for kittens in my area of CT. I have partnered with several rescue organizations over the last 15+ years to care for critically ill/injured cats and kittens. I primarily partner with Enfield Community Cat Project (ECCP) out of Enfield, Connecticut to assist with critical neonates and special needs adult cats. My family and I enjoy spending our free time hiking, camping, exploring the great outdoors, and attending music festivals together. My favorite bands will always be The Dave Matthews Band and Phish. What is one of your favorite quotes? “We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”- Dr. Suess If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? A beautiful cat rescue facility constructed next to the beach… It would include a kitty-themed tiki bar with kitty-themed beverage. I also enjoy boating, fishing, and anything that involves spending time out on the water. The ocean is my “happy place”.

What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL?

I am currently taking the Foundations Course. I can now define myself in terms of nautical direction (South-West).

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Kinga Kosciuk-Sejdor Meriden | Survey September 2021

In 2005 I met my future husband Jarek (also Polish) and we got married in 2008. We have two kids, James and Maya (12 and almost 10 years old).

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? I learned about BL Companies when I was browsing ZipRecruiter

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy spending time with my kids, family, and friends. I like travelling, reading history books (in Polish), taking photos and watching good movies..

Tell us about yourself! I was born and grew up in Poland. I went to college at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn , Poland. I have a master’s degree in surveying engineering and cartography. My father is a civil engineer and a surveyor. Growing up I watched him draft maps by hand, and I really liked it. Following his steps, I went to the same college and earned my degree in 1999. I have a sister, ten years older than me, who emigrated to America in 1990. I visited her for the first time when I was 17 years old. We traveled across America with her and her husband and visited 19 states. We went to Grand Canyon National Park and Mount Rushmore National Memorial among other places. That was the trip I would never forget, and I really fell in love with America then. And travelling in general :-) In 2000 I decided I would move to US. My father wasn’t happy about it (he wasn’t sure if I could work as a surveyor in America) but my mom encouraged me to do it. I got a job as civil drafter at Nafis & Young Engineers in CT and through them I got my green card and eventually became U.S. citizen.

Do you have a talent or hobby? I can bake Polish pastries and cookies.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a flight attendant.

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Hawaii. We went there for our honeymoon,

and I absolutely loved the culture, people and beautiful landscape.

What is one of your favorite quotes? “I’ll think about that tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day.” Scarlett O’Hara Who inspires you and why? My mom. Living in communist Poland she was always positive and open minded. She was reading a lot of books and was telling me stories about life behind the “Iron Curtain”. She was telling me stories about famous artists, poets, painters, journalists etc. Thanks to her I was always curious about the world and other cultures. She has great sense of humor and keep our family together. She still lives in Poland but I try to visit her once a year.

Who’s your celebrity look alike? I have been told Cameron Diaz, especially on the beach where I don’t wear makeup, lol. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? The hardest thing I’ve ever done was moving to America and starting new life in a different country. I missed my family and friends terribly. It all changed when I got my green card and I could visit them again. And they started visit me in US. Many family members, my cousins and my best friend came to my wedding, and it was the best day in my life. After the wedding we all traveled to New York City, Washington DC and Niagara Falls. I could show them a little bit of America and they absolutely loved it. What do you miss most about being a kid? Even though I grew up in communist Poland I was happy. My father taught me how to ski, my mom baked the best pastries and cookies (we couldn’t buy any candies or chocolates in stores). I was a part of a dancing and signing group in elementary school (girls only) where I learned what real friendship is. We traveled across the country, and I visited many places and cities in Poland. I even went to France when I was just 10 years old!

What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? I learned soooo many things since joining BL! For example I learned how to make a surface in AutoCAD.

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Proposal writing is hard. Between tight deadlines, multiple authors, and vague requirements – it’s enough to make even the most experienced writer overwhelmed. And for technical staff or project managers new to proposals, the task can feel impossible. But with the right tools and some best practices, anyone can create a persuasive The most important person in any proposal pursuit is the client. They are the ones who decide whether BL gets the project, and they are the ones we are trying to impress. Before you start working on a proposal, you should think about your audience, what they value most, and how that will impact your content. This is especially important at BL, because we have such a diverse portfolio of clients, services, and geographies. Each client and project is different, but when you understand who the client is and what is important to them, you will be able to create more impactful proposals. 02. SHOW DON’T TELL One of ways you can demonstrate your understanding of a client and project is to back up claims with specific examples and past successes. Don’t rely on buzzwords or statements of fact to prove your qualifications. If your client has a limited budget, it’s not enough to say, “We have experience working within tight budget constraints.” Give examples of past projects and explain how that experience will translate directly to the client’s proposed project. 03. SPEND TIME WHERE IT COUNTS At BL Agility is a core value, and for good reason. Time is one of the most important resources in our industry – and one of the rarest. That’s why you need to learn how to prioritize your time. Think about how the proposal will be judged and what’s going to make or break your submission. When you’re low on time and juggling multiple deadlines, you don’t want to rush through what’s important. No one has ever lost a project because their cover isn’t exciting enough, or their project sheets weren’t in the perfect order. However, plenty of firms have lost projects because their approach feels boilerplate, confusing, or rushed. PROPOSALWRITING BEST PRACTICES Julia DeFrances, Marketing Coordinator and compelling proposal. 01. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE

04. BE BRIEF People have short attention spans, and that includes selection committees. Your proposal is one of many submissions they will be reviewing, so you need to make your case clearly and concisely. By keeping proposals brief, you are more likely to keep the audience fully engaged throughout. Don’t overwhelm them with information and think about ways to supplement text with easily digestible graphics, photos, or charts. If a client starts skimming sections because your proposal is too text heavy or long; they could miss the most important details. 05. BE PROACTIVE, NOT REACTIVE One of best ways to improve your proposals is to be proactive. Don’t wait until a deadline is approaching to create new staff resumes or project sheets; get them done before the next proposal even starts. At BL, there’s a lot of small things you can do to be proactive. Even something as simple as updating CRM with new references, writing a new win announcement, or keeping project data easily accessible can make a huge difference come proposal time. When materials and information is easy to pull together, you can avoid making needless mistakes when rushing. 06. TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK Proposals can be challenging, time consuming, and stressful, but the good news is you aren’t alone. Pursuits are led by a team of proposal experts - Marketing! They are there to guide you through the process and are responsible for the majority of the work that goes into proposals. Marketing can even help on sections that Project Managers are responsible for, like project approaches, schedules, and fees. They can help edit write-ups, create charts and graphics, and even check your math. In the end, practice makes perfect. The tools above are great, but they won’t help you improve unless you put them into action. Try volunteering to take on more proposal responsibilities or look back at past proposals to see where you can improve or save time in the future. Proposal writing can be intimidating, but you have to leave your comfort zone in order to grow.

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IT

New FTP Service Reminders

TIP

Consider setting a file expiration date for your posted files. From the Files left tab, browse to the project folder. Select the “Folder settings” button on the right side, then pick “File Expiration”.

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Within the Sharing settings tab, be sure to always enter an Internal Note as “ ProjectNumber-ShortProjectName-LoginName ”. In addition, always enable the “ Require Registration ” option.

2

Energizing Ourselves & Others In March, our employee owners met in groups to discuss languishing - the sense of aimless stagnation that precedes burnout - and how to get back your energy, your spark, and your passion. Here’s what we learned.

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What is languishing & How does it impact us? Languishing is a feeling of “meh”. It’s a persistent sense of emptiness and stagnation. It’s going through life with low motivation and low enthusiasm. Languishing isn’t as severe as burnout or depression - you still have energy and aren’t hopeless - but things aren’t bright or dynamic anymore. Languishing impacts us in several key ways, both personally and professionally. When you’re languishing you may be easily distracted, unmotivated, and/or overly emotional. At work, it means you’re less productive, less engaged, and at risk for serious burnout. What causes Languishing? Languishing can happen whenever things feel out of our control. Things like a big life change, economic downturn, global conflicts, and pandemics create a sense of uncertainty and a loss of control which can lead to languishing. How do you overcome languishing? To overcome languishing, you need to create flow. Flow is created when we fill our lives with new challenges, enjoyable experiences, and meaningful work. That may seem like a no brainer, but with constant interruptions, notifications, and distractions it’s nearly impossible to stay present and find flow. The good news is there’s a way to find flow, even with a full inbox. How do you create flow at work? One of the best ways to create and maintain flow is to check-in with your manager (and yourself) to assess where you are and where you need help. Think about both what and how you are doing in terms of mastery, focus, and purpose, because these things together create flow. See the next page for suggestions to maximize check-ins to combat languishing.

Are you languishing? Read the list below and write down how often your felt each characteristic over the last 12-18 months. Did you feel these things Never, Occasionally, or Often?

□ My thinking feels foggy □ I am doing atypical

behaviors: being overly angry, impatient, frustrated with others, etc. □ I feel stuck on whatever I’m working on □ My work tasks don’t seem too important □ I’m not as energized as I can be or usually am □ I can’t get my creative juices flowing □ I’m easily distracted and/or not able to complete tasks □ I don’t feel as productive as I know I can be □ I find much of how I spend my day meaningless □ When I wake up, I’d prefer to just go back to sleep than start my day □ I’m not invested as much in outcomes of my work □ I bounce from one thing to another □ I spend too much time on distractions □ I do fear-based cleaning, sanitizing things (COVID germs)

How to build Mastery • Before you check-in with your manager, ask: “How am I doing personally and professionally? What does my manager need to know to support me?” • Inventory what is going well and where you are getting “small wins.” • Notice any recent experiences at work where you felt energized, productive, and engaged. What was happening? Talk to your manager about doing work like that. • Describe work challenges where you experience frustration, lack of progress, or discouragement. No need to overexplain or blame. Just describe the facts as you see them.

• Clarify with your manager what work challenges are within or outside your personal control. Focus first on what is in your control. Then ask your manager about your authority to make decisions and take more responsibility for things that help you get work done. • What’s your current appetite for growth? Some want variety and new responsibilities. Some want consistency and opportunities to increase the impact of what they do. BL needs both. How can your manager match opportunities to your current goals?

How to build Focus • Consider how you might be able to protect time on your calendar to focus on a project you need to complete soon. • If you’re working remotely, think about how you can create boundaries between work time and personal time. • Be sure to take breaks during the day – get up from your desk, go for a walk, get outside, etc. • What goals seem most relevant to you right now? • Which of your goals might benefit from new approaches? • Are there things you haven’t been able to get done that you think are important? What are they? Is there a way for you to make time for them? • What work could you get done with extended, focused, and uninterrupted effort? • Ask for what you need: e.g., resources your manager can provide – such as uninterrupted time, help from others, permission to say “no,” more frequent check-ins, or feedback.

How to build Purpose • Think about the work you do and how it impacts others. • Reflect on why you took your job and why you stay. Beyond a paycheck, most people want their work to matter. What can you share with your manager about what matters most to you in your work? • Is there work you’d like to do either instead of, or in addition to, the work you do now because it is more meaningful to you or uses more of your skills? If so, talk to your manager about opportunities. • Notice good things that happen to you – write them down and spend time appreciating/ being grateful for them. • Celebrate your accomplishments – small or large, at work or at home.

• Consider how the work you do now builds experience that can help with whatever your interest is in career advancement • Teamwork relies on sharing resources and making connections. Teams can work together in the same space and virtually. Reflect on how and when you prefer to connect with your colleagues? • Reach out to let people know that you appreciate them. • Volunteer to work on an issue you care about or offer to help someone else. • Try Negative Visioning: for a brief time imagine what life would be like without things you have – your job, friends, family, etc. – and then appreciate that you have those things.

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Robert Wilcher Job Captain I

During the 2008 recession, I was one of 12 left in my firm (was a firm of 75). As you might have experienced, cut pay and benefits were standard and I was struggling with a mortgage. Things were going from bad to worse in my personal life also, the world sucked! Then an old friend helped me out with some moonlighting (which was allowed by my firm). I didn’t expect the payback to be so nice. After I got my finances back into shape, I felt a spark. I looked for months for the right price. Then it appeared 200 miles away, the exact match to my dreams. I flew from Tampa to Jacksonville to a little motorcycle shop that was going out of business with only a helmet and jacket. I walked into the shop and jumped on my new Ducati Monster! It was a huge splurge and a great way to turn around a bad time in my life. My Duc may be long and gone now, but the best part of the whole story, is that it’s how I met my wife. That’s another story! Thanks for listening.

John Carroll Principal Environmental Scientist

After sailing boats owned by my family and friends for many years, when I was fresh out of college I saved up and bought my first boat! She was a high performance race boat that I named “Jammin”.

Michael Burgess Senior Construction Administrator Either the KitchenAid mixer for my wife or the PS5 for my teens.

Barbara Joslin AIA, LEED AP Senior Project Manager, Principal I feel I have to reply to this one as buying a bus is the most ridiculous “splurge” I have ever done! The weekend after Carolyn’s Friday call in the fall of 2020 when she said we were going to be working from home for at least another 4 – 6 months I was reading about skoolies* and thought that sounded super fun and an interesting way to work, well there was one for sale down in Atlanta and I called the guy and literally bought it over the phone that same day. (I’d say this goes under the definition of an impulse purchase). I then had to figure out how to get the bus up to CT, so I flew my son and his girlfriend to Atlanta to pick up the bus that week, and they were to drive it back to CT. Neither of them had ever driven a bus of course, but they are young and adventurous and were not in the least bit intimidated with the idea, and in fact turned it into a bit of a eastern sea board road trip to see a handful of their friends (I was unaware of these plans of course, just kept seeing more snapchats of different friends “in the bus”). Everyone made it back to CT and the bus, which we have named “Frizzle”, became a great covid project for the entire family to work on between November and May of 2021. My son and I changed out some of the interior to work better for us, and my talented nephew painted the outside – transformed from the original “prison bus” vibe into our mountain vibe. In May of 2021, my son and I took Frizzle on her inaugural road trip from CT to TX (go big or go home theory). We have found most private campgrounds are snooty about our bus and don’t allow us to camp, so we tend to Hipcamp, use Harvest Hosts and have spent a few nights at Cracker Barrels! There are a ton of lessons we’ve learned about diesel engines, plumbing, electrical and all sorts of fun gray water/black water things, but for a crazy impulse purchase this bus has definitely been worth it! For those of you that have seen me on video lately, I am currently living in the bus outside Nashville TN to help grow our BL team here! *skoolie is a converted school bus into a camper/RV.

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Michele Smith Construction Coordinator

During the pandemic, BL gifted us appreciation bonuses and it was the perfect time to not spend money on anyone but myself. No Pokémon cards, no house projects – nothing. So, with it, I bought myself a membership with a personal trainer. Since December of 2020, I’ve gone once a week to meet one on one with someone to reach goals and to clear my mind. 3 other times a week I do this with a group of other people to burn through stress and to focus on my mind and wellbeing. By investing in myself, I’ve grown as a person and my muscles have grown too! Yes! Girls can do some seriously weightlifting and it’s so much fun! Every time I walk in, I become driven, excited and fierce. I get to train along some awesome folks that are also pushing to be better versions of their self. As a woman, there is something very powerful about outlifting a dude…or watching the faces of the people around me as I deadlift 165 pounds. It’s amazing!! In addition to the personal training, I’ve also invested in seeing a dietician once a month to make sure that I have the right nutritional needs in order to perform my best. She’s helped me fix my tummy and eat foods that will drive my energy during those sled pushes or backloaded squats. Nothing feels better than loving yourself and loving the things that you do. My splurge has put me in the position to love my whole self and feel like the inner tough chick that I am.

Ian McPhillips, P.E. Senior Project Manager – Energy I had given up my old Triumph after my daughters were born. Last July, after over a year of pandemic-driven cabin fever, I decided it was time to get back out there so I bought a new motorcycle. I couldn’t be happier with that splurge. Having the opportunity to take some rides for the sole purpose of enjoyment has provided some much-needed wind therapy and helped me make the most of the pandemic years.

Jesse VanCamp CPD MEP Team Leader / Project Manager I When we built our house we wanted a pizza oven in the kitchen, but it got removed from the budget and we decided to get a larger garage. After saving up for a couple of years I opted to buy the wood fired oven in the photos (2019). Typically after heating up for about 30-40 minutes it will produce a fantastic pizza in about 2 minutes. We’ve cooked a thanksgiving turkey, steak, paninis in it also. We also found that it makes great fajitas since it provides a little smokey flavor to chicken and steak (also cooks in a fraction of the time). I’ve been growing San Marzano tomatoes, garlic and basil in my garden, which are all great complements to homemade pizza.

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Christa Mandler QA/QC Coordinator I

An all-inclusive vacation to Tahiti, French Polynesia. We sprung for the overwater bungalow too. It was glorious.

David Mancuso, RA Principal Architect, Principal Probably not what you were expecting as someone’s splurge item! It’s physically big, but small displacement. It’s only 281 cubic inches (Ford). Some of the people I’ll be racing against have 900+ cubic inches. I’ve always wanted a four cam motor because it’s easy to get them to make a lot of power. With my single 80mm turbo it will make around 1,200- 1,400 horse power to the wheels. It runs on alcohol instead of gasoline which helps to make more power. It’s going in a 2003 Mustang. We have a lot of tracks (drag strips)down here but mostly eighth mile. My tuner expects the car to run about 4.7 seconds at 150 mph. In the quarter mile it should run high 6 seconds at about 200 mph, give or take a few mph.

Dan Wenzel Project Manager I Bought a new John Deere lawn tractor a couple weeks ago!

Samuel R. Haydock, MS, LEP Director, Client Relations and Business Development

We bought a house in VT. We have been going to Woodstock VT forever and staying in a little schoolhouse owned by my cousins. It is very cool and very rustic. We wanted to buy it, but my cousins did not want to sell, even though they rarely use it. So we splurged and bought a little house a few miles away in South Woodstock. It used to be a general store in the late 1800s – early 1900s. We closed on March 20, 2020, right as the world shut down due to Covid. We almost did not go through with the purchase. We are really glad we did because now we are completely priced out of the market.

Kevin D. Rodgers, PMP Senior Project Manager Right before the pandemic hit – in January 2020 – my wife and I decided to go all out and fund a trip to Disney World for all the children and grand-children. Since they are a bit spread out these days, some of the “cousins” (grandchildren) had never gotten together face-to-face before. Attached is the group picture with

our custom Disney T-shirts. It was definitely worth it!!

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Have an idea for the newsletter? Suggestions? Comments? Questions? We’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to Heather Halotek or Jessica Fasi

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Wellness Committee Survey in March. Below is a sneak preview for how we plan to incorporate the feedback we received into our upcoming initiatives and events.

We’ll continue to offer challenges (BikeaBLe, WalkaBLe) and will introduce a virtual 5K as well as training opportunities. There will be categories for all experience & interest levels.

In order to continue to share wellness-related topics with those that are interested, we’ll be creating a group in MS Teams (when it’s fully launched) as a way to share all things wellness. Whether it be a suggestion for a great place to hike, or a recipe to share, this will be a go-to spot for wellness topics galore!

There’s a demand for “micro” wellness opportunites. Many people find it difficult to fit in any wellness-related activities due to time constraints. We’ll be offering some suggestions for small, quick and easy ways to incorporate wellness into your day!

Stay tuned for weekly wellness tips and periodic wellness- related reminders (posted in the Daily Blast on the intranet). We received feedback that small snippets of wellness information are helpful to keep this top of mind.

Stress relief is a big topic that we’ll continue to cover through sharing resources and offering stress relief yoga

sessions. Additionally, there’s a demand for healthy eating and meal preparation education, which we’ll be covering through wellness webinars beginning in June. Stay tuned!

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Preventing Tick-

Tick-borne diseases Lyme disease is one of the most common diseases carried by ticks. It’s most frequently reported in the upper Midwestern and Northeastern United States, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms show up three to 30 days after a tick bite. They can include fever, chills, headache, fatigue, and muscle and joint aches. About 70% to 80% of infected patients get a rash, which expands over time and sometimes has a bull’s-eye appearance. Other tick-borne diseases include anaplasmosis, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, spotted fever rickettsiosis and tularemia. These are also mostly found in the Northeast and Midwest regions of the US. Preventing illness Ticks are most active in the warmer months -- April through September -- according to the CDC. They live in grassy, shrub-laden or wooded areas, and can latch on to you if you brush past whatever they are resting on.

So if you’re on hiking trails, for example, walk in the center of them. Another precaution the CDC recommends is using Environmental Protection Agency-registered insect repellents that contain DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, para-menthane-diol or 2-undecanone. After you come indoors, you’ll want to check your clothes and skin for ticks. Tumble-dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes to kill ticks on garments that aren’t being washed. If you do wash your clothing, use hot water. Do a full body check, especially under the arms, in and around the ears, inside the belly button, the back of the knees, in and around the hair, between the legs, and around the waist. If you find a tick on your skin or that of your children, remove it right away. Use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the tick as close to your skin as possible. Steadily pull straight up. Then disinfect your hands, the affected skin area and the tweezers. If you have a rash or fever within several weeks of removing a tick, the CDC recommends seeing your doctor.

k-borne Illness

discoveries, scientific advancements and more. Keep ticks away from pets in your backyard by applying pesticides outdoors, removing leaf litter and tall grasses, placing a 3-foot-wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas, and stacking wood neatly and in a dry area. Keep playground equipment, decks and patios away from yard edges and trees, use fences to keep out unwelcome animals, such as deer or raccoons, and remove old furniture or trash from the yard that may give ticks a place to hide.

Don’t forget your pets Your pets can also get tick-borne diseases. The CDC says dogs are very susceptible to tick bites, which may be hard to detect. Signs of tick-borne disease may not show up for at least one to three weeks after a bite, so watch your dog closely for changes in behavior or appetite if you think that has happened, the agency says. Sign up for CNN’s Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating

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