– Tony Sullivan, Director of Project Management – Healthcare
We are joining in the celebration of dedicated healthcare staff this week!
During National Hospital Week, we at Findorff would like to recognize and honor the ongoing efforts and work of our dedicated hospital staff and caregivers, as well as all the workers that keep our healthcare system strong during demanding times. Whether it be a minor renovation or the construction of a new, state-of-the-art medical facility, we send the best of the best, healthcare-certified team members to take on these projects.
But our efforts are empty without close collaboration with frontline staff to ensure that our projects go above and beyond their research and care needs. Every day we are inspired by the skill and dignity of every staff member who provides significant services to every person who walks through their doors. Your efforts do not go unnoticed or unappreciated!
Hard work and compassion are always at the forefront when it comes to our healthcare projects, with every facility designed and built in a way that we could picture ourselves and our loved ones getting top-tier care within them. Atmosphere holds power in the reassurance we need in a medical emergency, so Findorff strives to create settings of comfort and peace for all patients and staff.
Our business is giving you the space to do yours, and together, we create facilities that deliver top-tier care to those in need.To learn more about Findorff’s hospital work, check out our Healthcare Experience. For information to work with Findorff on healthcare opportunities, please reach out to Jeff Eckstein, AIA.
On Friday, April 1, Findorff Youth Apprentice, Bella, officially signed on as a Carpenter Apprentice working in our Special Projects Group! Bella started with Findorff in June of 2021 while still in high school. A huge thank-you to Bella’s high school alma mater, Muskego High School. We love this partnership and appreciate our shared goal of identifying opportunities to kickstart the careers of young adults interested in the trades.
What made it even more special was that she put the pen to paper at the Marquette University College of Business Administration jobsite, her first project at Findorff. Congratulations, Bella – we cannot wait to celebrate your continued accomplishments.
Check out this article for more insights.
The Couture in downtown Milwaukee has reached another project milestone! The first major concrete pour took place yesterday, establishing the foundation at this soon-to-be community landmark. We are thrilled to see things start to take shape. Check out this article for more information.
National Women in Construction Week is a week we love to celebrate and embrace at Findorff. There aren’t enough adjectives to accurately describe the exceptional qualities of the ladies who contribute to the success of our company. Each day, our Findorff women continue to break down barriers and prove that the sky is the limit for women in the construction industry. We’d like to thank all our dedicated, hardworking, and extremely talented ladies who make up the Findorff family.
Are you interested in learning more about what makes some of our team members proud to be in the industry, or advice they would give to another woman entering? We did a Q&A with some of the ladies on the Findorff team – see below to learn more about each of them, and some interesting insights and advice they have!
Q: What advice would you give to a woman in or entering the industry?
A: My advice would be to insert yourself and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. Before working at Findorff, I had no experience with construction so I’ve tried to ask as many questions as possible and volunteer for things that in my previous work experiences I usually wouldn’t do. (Rory, Project Engineer Co-op)
A: Be prepared to learn. There are so many different areas in the construction world. Finding your niche is key. (Kelly, Yard Operations Specialist)
Q: What makes you proud about working/being in the industry?
A: I’m proud to work in an industry that serves people in every area of life – from education, healthcare, arts, residential, and more. All to help make the world a better place. (Kamila, Project Engineer Co-op)
A: I am most proud knowing the struggles I face, and work through today will be less prevalent for women that come after me. Each competent woman builds upon the next one, and through our own examples we show that women can do this work. In doing so, we change the minds of those that might think women don’t belong in the construction industry. (Lynn, Journeyman Carpenter)
Q: What about being a part of the Findorff Family brings you the greatest fulfillment?
A: I strongly believe that my team motivates and supports me in completing my responsibilities and in achieving my personal career goals. The opportunity to take initiative with new responsibilities, and to work on great projects with amazing teams is the best part of being a member of the Findorff family. (Kshethra, Project Engineer)
A: I enjoy the journey. We work with great people… from the newest hire to field leaders and executives who have been here for decades. It’s fulfilling to grow in the company and see us grow and build amazing things. (Laura, MEP Group Lead)
Q: What is your favorite project you have been a part of or your favorite experience of a project you are currently working on?
A: I have been lucky to be on a lot of really cool projects, but my favorite project to date is the Meriter Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Addition & Renovation. It was a challenging project that had a lot of unique characteristics paired with a really great team. Ultimately the project was a success and the owner was happy. (Jenna, Project Manager)
A: I am currently enjoying being part of the team building Marquette University’s new College of Business Administration. It is always so fun to see a new building rise from nothing but a hole in the ground into a fully-fledged structure! (Justine, Assistant Project Manager)
Approved in fall 2020, the MMSD referendum allows for renovations and expansions. Light renovation construction is slated to begin this spring. Construction will ramp up during summer break. For more information, check out this article.
We are proud of the progress taking place at The Couture in downtown Milwaukee! When complete, The Couture will be a 44-story skyscraper with breathtaking city views. Get an inside scoop from Findorff’s very own, Eric Sadler, Senior Project Manager, as he gives project details regarding construction and what is to come, as well as Craig Glover, Crane Operator, who provides a glimpse of his daily job duties and what the crane’s main functions are. Read more here.
Carle Foundation Hospital expects to complete construction of their new reFresh Eatery space by April 2022. The reimagined spaces include new dining and serving areas, a robot that makes custom salads, and more. Beyond continuing to serve fan favorites, like made-to-order omelets, the cafeteria will roll out a daily wellness entree to help folks reach their nutrition goals at an affordable price. Read more information on Carle’s new, state-of-the-art cafeteria.
– Pierre Rideau, Project Manager at Findorff
My interest in concrete began long before I joined Findorff—it started with DIY projects around my childhood home in France, continued throughout school, and then ultimately propelled me into my professional career. After graduating from a Paris/Liverpool structural engineering exchange program, I started my construction career working on a variety of projects, from schools to a music conservatory to luxury apartment complexes. The common thread on these projects was the amount of concrete in their design, driven by the French building code that uses concrete as the main material for fireproofing and acoustic concerns.In June 2016, I moved to Wisconsin and joined Findorff, where I put my expertise in complex concrete projects to good use. My first project was Epic‘s Jabberwocky, the second largest underground parking ramp in the United States. This project demanded the highest level of quality on a massive scale. We would regularly place over 1,000 cubic yards in ten hour-long concrete slab pours. With such quantities, the smallest impact on productivity had far-reaching effects. It was impressive to see the level of coordination needed to accurately put in place that amount of material day-in and day-out.
My more recent work on Shine Technologies – Isotope Production Facility required an even more exact and highly calculated approach than past projects. Extreme accuracy was vital to meet the requirements of working with nuclear grade construction, with NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) Quality Level (QL)-1 Standards. With five full-time inspectors on site and regular NRC inspections, all the work accomplished needed to be highly precise. The structure is composed of many mass concrete walls, with thicknesses varying from 4′ to 11′-8″, in a very tight footprint. The complexity of the work was heightened by the vast quantity of cast-in-place items (embeds, conduit racks, anchors, sleeves, etc.) to be placed in wall formwork that already needed to present multiple specificities (brick ledges, boxouts, elevation changes, grade A finish, etc.).
It has been fun and rewarding to utilize my knowledge of complex concrete structures on projects that require this unique skill set. I am lucky to be surrounded by talented field and office teams who helped make these projects a success.
From Findorff intern to Executive of the Year, we are excited to celebrate Jim Yehle’s leadership and share his recognition featured in In Business magazine’s first issue of 2022! We know first-hand how Jim’s commitment to Findorff’s employees, clients, and the community sets a high bar for what others expect from us, making us all better at what we do. Congratulations to Jim and the great group of leaders receiving recognition this year. Read more about Jim here.
I would like to extend my best wishes to Findorff clients, partners, employees, and the community as 2022 begins to take shape. Despite the uncertainty of the pandemic and the challenges ahead of us, I am incredibly excited for the future and remain optimistic. I would like to share a few wishes for the new year.
As I look forward to 2022, I am particularly focused on three things that I believe will help us all succeed.
Continue a culture of innovation
- Whether developing new technologies, bringing new and productive ideas forward, or building on what was started in 2021, innovation is key within the construction industry.
Commit to extraordinary talent
- Findorff is committed to attracting and retaining top-tier employees who add value to the company, our projects, and the community. It is an incredible opportunity to continue to cultivate the professional growth of those who choose this company to share their talents.
Be kind, be good, and be positive
- Take care of yourself, each other, and your community. My hope is that we continue to support and uplift each other. A positive attitude at work, at home, and in the community matters. Last year I saw firsthand how strong relationships and resiliency helped carry many of us forward professionally and personally. Whether through exercise, meditation, or personal stress-relieving habits, we must take care of our mental health and physical health.
In 2022 we look forward to working with our clients and industry partners to contribute to healthcare, education, student housing, corporate, science & technology, and other transformative industries through new state-of-the-art spaces. Together we will continue to change the landscape of the communities we work and live in.
Wishing you good health and success,
Jim
Jim Yehle is the President & CEO of Findorff and In Business 2022 Executive of the Year. Read more about Jim here.