The Owners' Manual Newsletter | Issue 23 | Winter 2022

2022 ▬ issue 23 ▬ winter

issue 23, winter 2022

Photo credit: Heather Halotek, Meriden Some Kindness Rocks with a BL flair.

BL Buzz Around BL..........................................1-2 Get to Know.....................................3-11 Keep Our Services in Mind...........12-13 Question of the Quarter................15-24 Costco Drone Images........................23 Zweig Group Article......................28-29

FYI IT Tip..................................................14 Client Care Corner.....................26-27 Safety Tip....................................30-31 Legal Tip...........................................32 Upcoming Events.............................33

Front & Back Covers: Stoneham, MA Self Storage Facility.

By now, all employee owners should have received their Covid test kits. Thank you to our queen mailer Mina Almentorg (pictured), Heather Halotek and Graylon Clemmons for spearheading this effort!

Congratulations to our the Leadership Development Essential Program (LDEP) participants! They kicked off 2022 with a presentation of their projects to the Board of Directors.

Thanks to all our generous employee owners who contributed to National Wreaths Across America Day on December 18, 2021 (organized by our Giving Back Committee).

Greg Holtzman, Dan Salameda, and Mark Heeb attended a fundraising event in November.

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Our Business Development teams were able to attend several trade shows this Fall, before Covid threw a wrench into our plans -- shortly after, a few other trade shows were cancelled or postponed. We look forward to getting out there again soon (when it’s safe to do so)!

Costco in South Winsdor opened in time for the holidays! Members of the project team attended the ribbon cutting - Jessica Bates, Michelle Carlson and Kevin Kilguss. Check out page 23 to see some of the drone pics!

GET TO KNOW OUR NEW EMPLOYEE OWNERS Joined Summer 2021

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Timothy Houle Hartford | Civil August 2021

Tell us about yourself! I grew up in Western Mass, went to college at the University of Arizona for Civil Engineering and currently live in Easthampton, MA. I am married to my lovely wife Kirsten and have two sons, Logan and Bradley.

What do you miss most about being a kid? I miss the largely responsibility free life. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? I’ve learned some of the finer details of Civil 3D grading and how to use StormCAD.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies?

I came to BL because of the good benefits, the type of work I am now doing, and most importantly the good feedback I received from friends who also work here. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy spending time with my family and fishing. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Don’t confuse effort with results.

Do you have a talent or hobby? My favorite hobby is bass fishing.

What did you want to be when you grew up? My childhood career aspirations changed a lot as I grew up, but the most consistent

dream was to become an aerospace engineer working on military aircraft.

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? I love going back to Arizona to visit friends and family. My dream destination would either be to the Amazon Rainforest or Australia. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? The hardest thing I’ve done was to move to Arizona for college, not knowing anyone in the area aside from my aunt and uncle.

Chad Wolf Harrisburg | Environmental June 2021

Tell us about yourself! I graduated from Penn State University in 2005. I live in Elizabethtown, PA, with my wife, two sons, daughter, and labrador Chester.

If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? A vacation home, most likely.

Who inspires you and why? My father, his work ethic has no limits.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? The opportunities.

Who’s your celebrity look alike? No clue.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My children occupy my free time.

Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be good? I have a small leak in my roof, and when I had a roofer come out to look at it this week, it turned out to not be as bad as I thought. What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Earlier this year, we had to put down our pet Corgi, Rex. It’s up there with one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending? When cartoons aren’t on our TV, The Office is always on for some reason. What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Comic book collecting and reading all the way. What do you miss most about being a kid? Having no bills.

What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Always split Aces.

Do you have a talent or hobby? I currently collect and read comic books.

What did you want to be when you grew up? I don’t recall that I had anything in mind.

What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? I would love to go to the Maldives, but I would settle for Hawaii.

What is on of your favorite quotes? “Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica.” If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Play the piano.

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Tell us about yourself! I am a Masshole at heart (descriptive choice of words) and grew up in a small town on the north shore of Boston called Nahant. I went to school at RPI (Rensselaer Polytechnic) and moved down to Connecticut after (which is now way longer than makes me feel happy to say out loud... 14 years). I live in Hebron, CT with my girlfriend Rachel and, as anyone who has been on a video chat with me knows, Gambit a 14 month old GSP (German Short-haired Pointer) who runs my life and a cat named Kade who is definitely the easy child. Matt Colson Meriden | Architecture August 2021 I joined the BL team because of the potential I saw for continued growth both for the company and for myself. The employee ownership culture has translated well into the working atmosphere where I feel, as an individual, I am truly part of tapping into that potential and am much more than just a cog in a machine. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? My free time has mainly been consumed by home and yard 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 made you decide to come to BL Companies?

Do you have a talent or hobby? I would say my two best hobbies at the moment are mixology and gardening. My interest in mixology started with a love of Old Fashioned’s and a search for the best one (currently the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza, but no promises the bartender is still there). I started to take some notes and just make my own and it grew from there. Unlike some other hobbies this one pays as you go as trying out new drinks and perfecting them takes lots of iterations! Speaking of hobbies that don’t pay as you go, I’ve been building up the gardens at my home for 4 years trying to manage sunlight and a woodland setting. Lots of trial and error and some weird looks from the furnace repairman when he saw my pink grow lights in the basement. I offered him a tomato plant but think he was hoping they weren’t veggies and flowers.

What did you want to be when you grew up? In first grade we did a time capsule and the questionnaires were given back to us when we graduated high school. By that time when I got the paper my first thought was pro soccer or veterinarian or something more typical for a 6 year old but... it even surprised me that I wrote architect that early. So yes I was doomed from the start, haha! Although over the years my understanding that drawing slides into ball pits from the second floor of houses instead of stairs was highly likely to not make it into my Revit models, the passion has not gone away. And also if you want to replace your stairs with a ball pit slide I’d love to help!

Who’s your celebrity look alike? I’ve been told Jason Segel “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “How I Met your Mother” time frame, mainly because growing facial hair is not something I have the genetics to do well, haha.

Glen Grove Meriden | Accounting June 2021 Tell us about yourself! I went to ESCU and live in Berlin, CT with my girlfriend and two step children.

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

I’d say this list is pretty long as it was basically a prerequisite to go to RPI for college. I am a bit of a gamer enjoying Total War and strategy style games. Also a big fan of most movies/shows that would push me into that territory: Game of Thrones, Marvel stuff, Tolkien stuff, Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc. I mean, my dog (Gambit) is named after an X-men character so I guess I could have just started with that... or went further and pointed out that I also have a Storm, Jubilee and a Raven (named chickens) out in the chicken coop. What is something you learned in the last week? Or since joining BL? Multifamily housing was something I have not had much experience in before joining BL. So I have been able to learn a lot about that since joining and many things about large scale wood framing in the process.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? Heard about BL through conferences and user groups. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? Traveling, MLB games, golfing. Do you have a talent or hobby? Golf and tennis. What did you want to be when you grew up? MLB pitcher What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Tuscany If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Guitar

If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? Lamborghini

Who’s your celebrity look alike? John Cusack (when I was younger)

Who inspires you and why? Derek Jeter, for how great of a player he is, and how well respected by all fans. What do you miss most about being a kid? Wiffle ball

What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Watching Hallmark with girlfriend.

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Luana Andreianu Warwick | Architecture May 2021

Do you have a talent or hobby? My talent… hmmm…designing (I know I am modest), but I love it and I hope others share the joy of my designs. I use design from architecture, to writing a papers, to pottery, and if you are wondering no, I don’t draw on written papers … it’s more in the lines of the concept there. What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was a kid I wanted to be a neurosurgeon, but then chemistry happened and I hated it. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Favorite vacation? I would love to go to the Moon…maybe in another life!

Tell us about yourself! I was born in Romania and came to USA in 2009. I have a 6 year professional degree in architecture and a master in architecture from Virginia Tech. I have two wonderfully inquisitive, energetic and smart girls that drive me bananas at times, but also make my life absolutely perfect. We have no pets (to the kid’s chagrin…except maybe dust bunnies, to my chagrin). I came looking for a variety of experiences, but the main attractions were: the beautiful amount of PTO and hybrid working possibility. What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I love skiing, reading and learning new things. I have a black belt in Tae Kwando (recently earned) but most of all I love designing. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? I want to say the best piece of advice was given to me recently, which sank in quite heavy and shook me back to reality, was “the world doesn’t stop for you”. If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? If I were to win the lottery I would build my own house (I would be the least picky client I ever had) and I would invest in good architecture. What made you decide to come to BL Companies?

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? If I were to learn to do something new it would probably be wood working. There is something elegant about wood that makes it such a great material.

Who inspires you and why? A lot of people inspire me, but I have no one special in mind.

What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? The hardest thing I’ve ever done was leave my country. Starting somewhere new with different culture, different traditions, different manners of doing things (no metric system among others) …not as easy I thought it would be! What do you miss most about being a kid? What I miss most about being a kid: not having to worry about all the dangers I see now as a parent for my kids.

What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time? Puzzles by far is the nerdiest thing I do.

Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending?

I would whole heartedly recommend “Why Nations Fail” by Acemoglu and Robinson (an economic history of the world). A fun read “Storm in a Teacup: The Physics of Everyday Life” by Czerski (where one can find out, for example, the physics of popcorn popping…quite lovely), “Child of the Dark” Maria Carolina de Jesus (the hardship of Brazilian slums) and the list goes on. I have a stack of books recommended by others I still haven’t gotten to.

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

What have I learned in the last week? What I learn every week and never accept: all the things I run away from catch up with me and turn out to be the best thing ever (aka Christen R. convinced me to come to the Meriden holiday lunch and it was so great meeting everyone in person)

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Samantha Sottile Melville | Energy July 2021 (January 2021 as an Intern)

Tell us about yourself! I went to school at Stonybrook University for electrical engineering. I live with my family on Long Island consisting of my mother, father and brother.

What is one of your favorite quotes? “There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow shining at the end of every day.” – Walt Disney

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be? Gymnastics.

What made you decide to come to BL Companies? Meeting with Michele Smith and Paul Curcio at my college job fair.

If you won the lottery, what’s your splurge? A house for my sister’s family.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time? I enjoy being with my family and friends. My sister lives in Buffalo with her husband and kids so I like to go visit when I can, and spend time with them when they are visiting me. My family tends to watch a lot of shows and movies together as well, the most recent are Hawkeye and Lost in Space. I also enjoy reading, literally anything, from fantasy, sci-fi, poems, memoirs, etc. What is a good piece of advice you’ve received? Remember to be kind to yourself, and others. Do you have a talent or hobby? I enjoy being active by participating in Ballroom dancing and Tae Kwon Do practices. I also love soccer and any type of dancing. I also do a lot of writing, either poems or random short stories. What did you want to be when you grew up? I wanted to be a teacher. What is a favorite vacation or dream destination? Disney World is my go-to vacation, my dream destination is Japan, where I plan on going in a couple of years! You never know what others are going through, and you are your worst critic.

Who inspires you and why? My parents who, despite both having full time jobs in utility companies, were able to take time to be with my siblings and I as kids, taking us to our soccer games, school plays, and always doing their best to be there for us and support us. Who’s your celebrity look alike? I have been told Kate Winslet, but I don’t see it haha. Have you ever had something happen to you that you thought was bad but it turned out to be good? What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done? Being formally diagnosed with mental illness. By learning about what I had and getting the proper help, I was able to improve a lot of things about my life. The hardest thing I had to do and am still doing, is re-wiring my brain to create a healthier headspace for myself to be in. I have also been able to help many others who suffer from similar issues, and have made deep, genuine connections that I did not realize would positively affect my life as much as they have. What do you miss most about being a kid? Being able to wake up early and be fully energized haha.

Do you have a TV binge/Movie/Book/ Music worth recommending? Arcane, a new Netflix series.

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

I play a roleplaying game with my friends called Dungeons and Dragons ( and other variations of the game). I have also recently started to make and wear cosplays of characters from various shows and animations. I am also currently trying to learn Japanese.

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

The importance of office culture is not something I thought too much about when looking for jobs. As someone fresh from college the first thing I thought of was “I need a job” not necessarily thinking of the type of people I would be working with. I feel really lucky with the group I have been put in at BL. I learned a lot about being a coworker and being a part of a quality team.

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Cultural Resources are the bridge between present day and understanding the past. Often times, various state and federal regulatory aspects of a project with land disturbance will require review and clearance from the State Historical Preservation Office (SHPO). Cultural resources include both above-ground (historic structures) and subsurface (archaeological) sites that the SHPO may request to be assessed for potential impacts from a project. Our Environmental Resources Group has the experience and expertise to initiate project reviews and state agency consultations. If additional field studies are required, we can help to guide projects through the process. If stream or wetland impacts are part of a project and a federal US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permit is required, part of the permitting process typically requires demonstration that coordination under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) has been completed prior to issuance of any Department of the Army Permits pursuant to Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. If cultural resources are identified on-site or in close proximity to a project, the permit review process includes working with USACE on identifying consulting parties and initiating consultation with these identified parties to ensure the public has an opportunity to comment on potential effects to cultural resources. States may also have a permitting nexus that is triggered when land disturbance is proposed (i.e. NPDES, Sewer Planning, Fine Grading, etc.), additional coordination or field studies may be required prior to the SHPO recommendation of approval for the proposed permit. We have the experience and expertise to guide projects through this process from start to finish to ensure Section 106 obligations are met and completed in the best interest of the project and our clients. As a multi-discipline firm, we have a wealth of in-house expertise that can enhance many projects that we perform. Our Environmental Resources Group can help our clients to prevent unwanted delays on their projects. Please be sure to keep BL’s in-house services in mind!

If you have questions about our environmental resources services and how they can benefit a project you’re involved in, please reach out to Wesley Wolf .

Wes Wolf is a Senior Project Manager in the Environmental Group out of the Harrisburg, PA office. Wes can be reached at wwolf@blcompanies or at 717-943-1672.

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IT 1

Docking Station Setup and Usage

TIP

2

3

DOCKING STATION

1 | Monitor with Camera You will only use 3 connections for this monitor. The USB 3 Type B is required for the camera. 2 | Monitor without a Camera You will only use 2 connections for this monitor 3 | Laptop Connect the Thunderbolt connection with the laptop off and closed. This will start the laptop normally and you should see activity on either or both of the monitors. Docking Station The Docking Station only has 3 USB connection ports. If you need more you can use the ports on your Monitor with a Camera, External Keyboard or on the Laptop directly. There are external USB Port Expanders that you could purchase separately.

Display Port (DP) Looks like a large USB port but with 1 slanted corner. Power Use what is available but it is best to use a Protected Power Strip where possible. Network A wired connection is better than WIFI where possible. Extra Cables Please hold on to the EXTRA CABLES that are not used in this setup. They can be used in different configurations. Thunderbolt Please be careful with this connection as for bending, twisting.

QUESTION OF THE QUARTER What Winter Olympic Sport or Event would you want to win a medal in?

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skiing

Robert Burke, Charlotte I would go for freestyle skiing. I love to snow ski and I am a bit of an odd duck on the slopes. I use ski blades on the slopes aka Big Foot skis, and I am often the only person using them when on the slopes. Ski blades are kind of like trick skis since it is so easy to maneuver them, they can turn on a dime (unless there is deep powder), which we very rarely have in North Carolina or even in West Virginia. I don’t use any poles but they are super easy to use and to learn. They are way easier to use than normal skis so when I do tricks that look hard, they really aren’t difficult. I can do multiple 360s down the steepest of slopes and ski backwards, turning around whenever I want. You can’t go quite as fast on them since they are short you can not get top speeds but if I tuck I can keep up with average skiers that I may be with. Ski blades are so much fun! My buddy tried them years ago as a rental option and he quickly begged me to try them. I traded my rental skis in that day that one time and afterward I went right out and bought a new pair. I have been enjoying them ever since, except for when I hit a pile of snow, the skis don’t glide over the pile so you can from time to time be stopped cold at your feet and get body slammed to the ground. That has happened pretty dramatically to me a couple of time, but not too often, it can knock the wind out of you… Ski blades are so much fun and easy that I would win a medal!

Rebecca Ford, Meriden A medal in skiing! (Practicing with family near Bristol, NH)

Sydney Clark, Norwood It would be my life dream to win gold in the Freestyle Skiing event. I’m not the best by a long shot, but I was on UVM’s Freestyle Ski Team in college, and it is the most fun and incredible sport. I look up to so many freestyle athletes, what they do seems almost impossible, especially having broken my ribs trying to do a fraction of what they can do with ease. Regardless, I can’t wait to go out skiing this year! I’m lucky to enjoy multiple Olympic sports, I’m a skier, mountain biker, sailor, and equestrian. I’ve never been to the Olympics but have been lucky enough to learn how to sail from my cousin Amanda Clark who is a two-time (Beijing and London), and use to go to clinics with three-time Olympic equestrian Michael Page. I love too many Olympians to count, but I’m really hoping Eileen Gu makes the Olympic Freeski team this year!

Jesse Vose, Meriden I have always dreamed of winning an Olympic medal in Mogul Skiing, as it is a sport I competed in when I was younger. Many years ago after college, I competed in mogul skiing while I lived and worked in Killington, Vermont. It was a great pleasure to frequently ski and train with quite a few World Cup and Olympic athletes. I have a passion for any type of alpine skiing, and particularly love skiing in powder, trees, and moguls. My favorite recently has been skiing deep powder in the backcountry of British Columbia, Canada.

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Mark Heeb, Harrisburg Alpine Skiing specially slalom racing. Raced the tight gates for my high school and PSU – loved the beauty and rhythm of carving through the gates. One of my favorite athletes in the sport is Lindsey Vonn. Pure professional who represented the best of the US. She won four World Cup overall championships— one of only two female skiers to do so. Included a shot of my hot dog days.

Kinga Kosciuk-Sejdor, Meriden I would like to win a medal in Alpine Skiing because I love skiing and I think it’s a cool sport. I love watching Alpine skiing on tv and I admire people who can ski soooo fast!!! My father taught me how to ski back in Poland when I was a little girl and now I ski with my kids in America. Me and my family enjoy skiing and cross country skiing. My favorite athlete of winter sports is Justyna Kowalczyk – Polish cross-country skier who won many medals and World Championships.

Luana Andreianu, Warwick Ah, snowball fighting would be my favorite activity (non- Olympic) and skiing Olympic. I have not attended any Olympic games, and I have no favorites. A bit boring I know!

curling

Doug Campbell, Meriden Curling - There is more skill required as a team in understanding the field and placement while sliding on one foot pushing a broom. Ian McPhillips, Melville Considering the number of times I’ve seen the movie Cool Runnings, I find it hard to believe my answer isn’t bobsledding, but I think I’d have to go with curling. There’s something intriguing about it - it looks so simple yet I’m sure requires a unique combination of teamwork and skills to be remotely good at it.

Kevin Rodgers, Melville I would want to be able to win a medal for “Curling” because it is the only event I think I would ever have a chance of competing in. The activity I enjoy the most is skiing, much like the slalom events, but on much more gentle slopes with smaller moguls. I have never actually attended any Olympic events. The closest approach for me was having to send a technician to Atlanta during the Summer Games there and he had to work on equipment for Delta Airlines. The only way we could get a room for our guy was that Delta needed the service so badly they got the room! Probably my most memorable moment was the Miracle on Ice in 1980 when the highly over-match, truly amateur US Olympic Hockey team defeated the Russian “Army” team for the Gold!! That was so amazing they even made a movie about it.

Dan Turner, Hartford I would have to say Curling because it is closest to bowling and I probably won’t get hurt doing it.

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luge & bobsled

John Carroll, Meriden I would want to win a gold medal in luge. Years ago I had the opportunity to take a run on the Olympic luge track in Lake Placid, NY. This is not a sport for the faint of heart! The first part of the process is signing a waiver that releases the owner/operator of the track from any liability associated with injury (or worse) that occurs on your run. Then you lay down on your back on the luge with your feet in front of you. For beginners there’s a cage over your head that’s supposed to protect you in case of an accident; yeah right! You then get a nice shove off from some smiling people who know better than to try something this crazy. You accelerate uncontrollably to a speed that feels like a hundred miles an hour with your body less than a foot off the ice and you’re subjected to rattling and movement that makes you think your eyeballs are going to fall completely out of your head! Once you start to feel like it’s exciting and fun, you’re at the bottom of the run and there’s another group of smiling people that somehow get a hold of you and your luge and stop you and its over, instantly. You stand up from the luge with a shaky feeling in your legs with a big laugh and smile and ask yourself, when do I get to do that again! You never forget it!

Chelsea Reynolds, KOP I don’t really participate in winter sports, but I would like to win a medal in the bobsleigh because it’s the only true team sport. I’ve never attended the Olympics, but my favorite Olympian is Sydney McLaughlin and my favorite moment was when she crushed the 400 M hurdle record last year.

skating

Patrick Corless, Meriden Figure skating simply because the image of me spinning and leaping in one of those outfits is an image you’ll never get out of your minds now.

Christa Mandler, Meriden If I could choose to be good enough at a winter Olympic sport to the point where I could get a medal in it… probably figure skating. I am utterly hopeless at skating myself, but figure skaters are so graceful and they make it look so easy! Bonus Question: It’s a summer Olympic sport, not winter, but I study Kyokushin (full- contact) karate. I’ve been doing it for… 4 or 5 years, lost track, and I have a brown belt. I’ve never been to the Olympic games but I used to watch them on TV with my family. My most memorable Olympics was waaaaaaay back in the mid-90s when I was a child. There was this rivalry between two American figure skaters- Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. I watched them both compete, and I remember thinking it was funny that there was this big to-do about who between them would win the gold and it turned out to be… neither. This young woman (16-years old I think!) from Russia with an absolutely fantastic routine ended up taking the gold. Just goes to show, can’t discount anyone from anywhere when it comes to the Olympics.

Marshay Ryan, KOP I’d probably win in ice skating because it looks like soo much fun and I can do flips. I’ve never been to the Olympic Games but I competed in 2016 Olympic trials for triple jump in track and field.

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snowboarding

Joseph Faucett, Charlotte I would definitely want to win a medal in Snowboarding. I grew up snowboarding with friends and family around the Northeast. I’ll usually go snowboarding a few times a year and will also take a trip out west to try and snowboard a new mountain/resort with a group of friends. I enjoy watching the snowboarding halfpipe competition at the Olympic games.

Hockey

Michael McGowan, Cherry Hill Ice Hockey!! Shocker there, huh? Lol!! My love of the game as a player/coach/spectator and history of the game are the main reasons. I was too young to remember the 1980 games, but have seem the movies/ documentaries and read a few books written by the players. Speaks volumes to the need to be agile and think outside the box to achieve a collective goal. Shows the importance of teamwork and work ethic. Obvious Ice Hockey is a huge winter (er, year-long activity. We do enjoy sledding when mother-nature provides us enough snow to do so and heading to the local mountains for some snow-tubing. Never had the opportunity to attend an Olympic Game, but it is on the bucket list. Favorite winter athlete would have to be Jim Craig, 1980 Team USA Goalie.

Brian Skelcher, Meriden I’d like to win a medal in Hockey because I played hockey in high school as a goalie. My junior year we had another goalie transfer to my high school. His name was Jonathan Quick and he beat me out for the starting position. For those who have never heard the name, he went on to play in the NHL, played in three all star games, won the Best NHL player award, won the MVP award, holds the record for highest save percentage in a season, won two Stanley cups, and a silver Olympic medal. I went on to play intramurals in college. Therefore, I propose, after some brief stretching to limber up, given the chance in net, I could bring home the gold and finally prove that starting position should have been mine! If the Olympic committee rejects my offer then we should at least get a BL hockey team going!

Intramural champs at UConn!

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Kathy Rodo, Meriden I always wanted to compete in ice hockey and it is my favorite winter Olympic sport to watch. I always wished I had learned how to ice skate better and asked for years for hockey skates, but only ever got women’s figure skates. I was never interested in getting up so early and having to travel so far, so never joined an ice hockey team since we never had anything like that where I grew up. My favorite winter Olympic athlete was Pat LaFontaine who was on the 1984 U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team. I watched all of the hockey games and then watched his games when he played for the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, and Buffalo Sabres. I went to so many of these hockey games while he played and got a real team jersey when he played in Buffalo. I wore this jersey into Boston Garden in a playoff game and was shown on the Buffalo TV Station throughout the entire game. We also went to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Canada and saw his exhibit there.

Jason Silver, Meriden Hockey. Even though I can’t skate, I am a huge hockey fan so that would definitely be the one I would want to win. The only one that would be possible to win would be curling. Favorite event other than hockey would be the luge and bobsled. I haven’t attended the Olympics but I toured the Montreal Olympic site.

Costco in South Windsor, CT opened in time for the holidays! Our Fall issue of the newsletter featured the project under construction.

One of our drone pilots (Kevin Kilguss) captured some great footage of the project on opening day. Congratulations to the project team!

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A recap of some of the best practices in Client Care from the Client Care Committee >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

COMMUNICATION IS KEY! When working remotely and during this period of growth, it is more important than ever to make sure the lines of communication remain open with internal and external clients. >>>Here’s what you can do>>> When changes do occur, be sure to communicate them to the team! Even the smallest change can have a big impact on a project. Express ideas clearly and concisely. If your method of communication isn’t working, it’s time to try another one Keep confidentiality at the forefront of your mind. Respect it. Understand the lines of communication and use good judgement while presenting information to the person you are speaking with.

Remember: Ensure all critical data, decisions and commitments are appropriately documented.

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Committees for engagement By: Julia DeFrances as featured in The Zweig Letter Jan ‘22 Committees give employees a chance to lead, contribute, effect change, and make an impact beyond revenue. It’s a well proven fact that engaged employees make a positive difference on a firm’s success. Engaged employees have a positive impact on recruitment and retention, productivity, and client relations, as well as both a firm’s financial and cultural wellbeing. While it’s clear that engagement is important, there isn’t a clear path to engaged employees. A lot of firms mistake fun or socializing with engagement and are then mystified when employees leave or underperform. While building strong relationships between employees is important, the fact of the matter is no amount of pizza parties or happy hours can replace true engagement. True engagement comes when employees feel their contributions and ideas are meaningful, respected, and rewarded. It comes when employees feel that their voices are heard and that they can effect change. There are lots of ways to achieve this and any good engagement plan will utilize a variety of strategies. At BL Companies, we’ve found one of the most effective ways to build engagement is through a robust committee program, and if we look at the definition of true engagement above, it’s easy to see why. Committees give employees a chance to lead, to contribute, and to effect change, and they provide an opportunity to share ideas, get creative, and make a tangible impact on your business beyond revenue.

For a committee program to be successful for engagement, however, it needs to have certain features in place: + Committees need structure. Which committees make sense for your firm? How will committees operate? At BL, we have more than 10 committees ranging from culture- focused committees like the Giving Back Committee, to technical-focused committees like the Safety Committee, to benefit-focused committees like the 401(k) Committee. There is a clear process for joining and participating in committees as well as revolving off committees. These rules make it easy for new employees to get involved and start making an impact. + Committees need to matter. This is two-fold: Committees need to be appreciated and have a tangible impact on your firm, and they also need to have a tangible impact on your employees. Employees won’t be engaged if committees are just a mouthpiece for senior leadership, with no real influence. Likewise, employees won’t be engaged if their efforts are unappreciated or unrewarded. BL gives our committees a lot of freedom and weget better,more innovative ideas as a result.Wemake sure todocument the impact of our committees, including an end-of-year report which details each committee’s goals, achievements, and members. But most importantly, we value and reward committee involvement. Development plans and performance reviews can include committee contributions, and our employees are paid for time dedicated to committee work. While not required of all employees, committees are treated as one of the ways an employee can go above and beyond at BL and involvement is appreciated by senior leadership for their role in completing important work that may not get accomplished otherwise. + Committees should be a unique opportunity for growth. They should give employees the chance to try something new or out of their comfort zone. They should provide an opportunity for more junior employees to develop leadership skills, no matter their level of experience. They should connect employees of all disciplines, offices, and levels. And ultimately, committees should enhance an employee’s work experience. Committees are just one way we’ve increased engagement at BL, and they remain a highly effective tool for creating engaged employees. More than 35 percent of employees currently serve on at least one committee, and the impact our committeemembers make is meaningful, tangible, and appreciated. Their ideas are respected, and their voice is heard. And most importantly, committee efforts are rewarding both personally and professionally. Overall, committees should be an enriching experience, and if you design your own committee program well, they will foster a culture of true engagement.

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// WINTER DRIVING SAFETY Driving safely in winter weather can be a challenge for even the most experienced driver. It’s easy to forget after months of mild conditions that snow and ice demand careful driving and special preparation for your vehicle. But when 17 percent of all vehicle crashes occur during winter conditions it’s clear that we could all use a refresher when it comes to making our way through a winter wonderland. // READY YOUR VEHICLE Driving safely begins before you even get on the road. Regular tune-ups and maintenance are the starting point for safe driving year-round. In winter, pay special attention to your vehicle’s battery, wipers, coolant, tires and other systems that can take a beating when the temperature drops. If you’re using snow tires, have them installed before the snow begins to fall. When you know your vehicle is ready for the road, clear your car of snow, ice or dirt from the windows, forward sensors, head- lights, tail lights and backup camera. // READY YOURSELF Drive slowly. It’s harder to control or stop your vehicle on a slick or snow-covered road. Increase your following distance enough so that you’ll have plenty of time to stop for vehicles ahead of you. Also re- member that every vehicle handles differently; this is particularly true when driving on wet, icy, or snowy roads. Take the time to learn how it handles under winter weather driving conditions. Before heading out, know the weather and traffic conditions, and plan your route accord- ingly. Give yourself more time to get where you’re going because you’ll be driving more slowly in inclement weather.

// READY FOR AN EMERGENCY Even if you and your vehicle are prepared, crashes happen. Vehicles break down. Any of us can get caught out in the elements and help might not be just around the corner. Make sure your vehicle is stocked to help get you out of trouble or to keep you safe until help arrives. Keep blankets, flashlights, jumper cables, and flares or emergency lights in your vehicle. Even if you don’t need them, they can be used to help someone else in need on the road. // SAFE DRIVING: RAIN, SLEET, SNOW OR OTHERWISE Winter driving demands special care; safe driving is a year-round habit. You and everyone in your vehicle should be wearing seat belts for every ride. Children should be in age- and size-appropriate child seats. Never drive after drinking. Never drive when distracted by an electronic device or anything else. Those are the essentials for safe driving, whatever the weather.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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1 Calling the client to inquire as to the status of payment and getting a date certain. 2 Holding, as leverage, deliverables that the client needs until we are paid. 3 Stopping work and/or not attending a hearing or meeting until we are paid. 4 Sending a letter from the Accounting Department 5 Sending a letter from the Legal Department 6 Sending the receivable to a collections agency to have them try to collect – note that the collections agency takes a 30% cut. 7 Putting a mechanic’s lien on the property where we did the work. This ties up the property in the event that there is a sale or a refinancing and gets us paid before either of those events can take place.

Legal Tip BL’S AR PROCESS You’ve heard the term “AR.” Perhaps you’ve heard that your Director, your Executive Director or your PM needs to attend an AR meeting with Kathy Devito from Accounting and needs a status update. What is AR and why is it important? AR stands for Accounts Receivable. A receivable is money that is owed to BL by a client. A more formal definition is the following, “… the balance of money due to a firm for goods or services delivered or used but not yet paid for by customers. Accounts receivable are listed on the balance sheet as a current asset. “ More on the balance sheet part below. When we contract with a client, our payment terms specify that all invoices are due to be paid no later than thirty days after the date of the invoice. Many clients pay on time. But some do not. For those that do not, we have to employ multiple strategies. Now, back to the balance sheet. When a receivable is deemed uncollectible, we need to remove the asset from our balance sheet. This is a direct expense to the business and reduces our income and profitability. In addition, BL undergoes several financial and bank audits each year. Large amounts of AR outstanding over a certain amount of time, including those eventually deemed uncollectible, can negatively affect these audits, unfavorably impact our cash balances and increase our business risk profile. Bottom line We did the work, we should be paid for it. PM’s should actively work to collect their receivables and use Accounting and Legal as a resource when needed. These strategies may involve

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

Wednesday, February 9: Giving Back Lunch & Learn | Be the Match / Blood Drive

February 4 - 20: Winter Olympics

Monday, February 21: Presidents’ Day (a BL day off!)

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2022 ▬ issue 23 ▬ winter

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

CONTRIBUTORS: David Parent & Doug Campbell Julia O’Brien

Question of the Quarter Participants (thank you!) Wes Wolf & Joe Kempf