THE PARK PRESS: Q1 2024

Mission Statement:

Park Construction is dedicated to improving the infrastructure of our communities by providing exceptional construction services. Guided by our core values of safety, quality, integrity, and teamwork, our goal is to exceed expectations and raise the bar of excellence.

In This Issue:

• Project Update: New Shop
• Employee Spotlight: Scott Erickson
• End of the Year Party
• Park Attends AWC Meet the Estimator & Associate Expo  
• Safety Message
• Off-Season Training Opportunities
• New Hires 
• Project Spotlight: BNSF Shoo-fly Projects
• Mental Wellness Holiday Announcement
• Strategic Initiatives Update
• Safety Days Video
• Recent Wins
• Park on Social Media
• It Pays To Have Friends!
• EEO/Minority Outreach

Project Update: New Shop

This year's unusually mild winter allowed our team to continue working on our new shop facility and cold storage warehouse in Blaine. This photo from mid-February shows the precast concrete panels being set. Currently the exteriors of the building and warehouse are fully built, and our crews are working on the interiors.

Situated on a 40-acre parcel near the Blaine airport, this new facility is set to redefine our capabilities and enhance our operational efficiency. We are excited to share more updates with you as we progress towards our anticipated project completion in June.

Employee Spotlight: Scott Erickson

Scott Erickson has been an important part of our success story for over 30 years, embodying our core values every step of the way. As we honor this milestone, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Scott for his hard work and significant contributions to our company's growth. To commemorate this achievement, we are creating a custom-made watch for Scott, symbolizing our appreciation for his journey with us. Here's to Scott Erickson and 30 years of excellence at Park Construction!

End of the Year Party

We recently held our annual end-of-the-year party to celebrate the achievements we've made together as a company. Our team enjoyed a fun evening at Whirly Ball in Maple Grove, filled with laughter, camaraderie, and friendly competition. Our staff members tackled an escape room together, using the teamwork they learned across many construction projects. We also hosted a prize raffle for our employees as a token of our appreciation for their continuous dedication and hard work.

Events like these not only allow us to unwind and enjoy each other's company but also serve as a reminder of the team spirit and collective achievements that define Park Construction. Here's to another successful year ahead!

Park Attends AWC Meet the Estimator & Associate Expo  

Park Construction was honored to participate in the Meet the Estimator & Associate Expo this week, hosted by the Association of Women Contractors. We really enjoyed connecting with W/MBE Members and Associate Member service providers, and building important relationships within our industry. Thank you to everyone who made this event a success!

Park Nominated for General Contractor Partnership Award  

The Minnesota Subcontractors Association (MSA) General Contractor Partnership Awards honor community individuals and companies that showcase the construction industry's diverse talents. Park Construction is honored to be nominated for General Contractor of The Year Over $75M.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to the MSA for this recognition and to all our staff members, partners, subcontractors, suppliers, and clients who have played a vital role in our success. Your unwavering support and collaboration inspire us to raise the bar higher with each project.

Safety Message

As we kick off the 2024 Spring construction season, let's take a moment to reflect on the accomplishments and setbacks of the previous year. It was a year marked by productivity and teamwork. While hard lessons were learned along the way we use our mistakes to learn from and grow together as a company striving for excellence.

First and foremost, let's recognize our achievements in excavations. Throughout the last year, our excavations demonstrated exceptional skill, efficiency, and attention to detail. Park employees executed each task with precision and dedication, setting a high standard for quality workmanship. It was also another spectacular year for Park Avenue. They played a crucial role in our success. Timely deliveries, thorough planning, and a focus on safety ensured that materials and equipment reached our job sites. Your hard work behind the wheel kept our projects moving forward smoothly and efficiently.

Lastly, we continue to outpace the competition with our outstanding safety record. With incident rates below the industry average, we demonstrated our commitment to keeping our team members safe and secure on the job. This achievement is a testament to your dedication, awareness, and adherence to safety protocols.

Recently, we proudly hosted our annual Safety Days event not only in Minneapolis but also for the very first time in Fargo. It was fantastic to see both returning and new employees coming together for training sessions focused on industry-leading safety protocols and procedures. The turnout was fantastic, and the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive.

During Safety Days, we didn't shy away from addressing the challenges we faced last year. We confronted issues such as equipment damage, utility hits, and incident reporting head-on, emphasizing the importance of near-miss reports.

Near-miss and incident reporting play a crucial role in our safety culture. They provide valuable insights into potential hazards and allow us to take proactive measures to prevent incidents and injuries.

Another area of concern highlighted during Safety Days was the rise in utility hits and equipment damage. To address this issue, we've made the decision to invest in additional resources, including a vac truck. This investment not only demonstrates our commitment to safety but also stresses the importance of protecting important infrastructure and minimizing costly damages.

As we move forward into this new season, let's remember that safety is personal. Each of us has a responsibility to prioritize safety not only for ourselves but also for our coworkers and loved ones. Let's make safety a fundamental part of our daily routine, ensuring that it shapes our actions both on and off the job site.

Welcome back, team! Let's aim for an upcoming season of growth, success, and above all, safety.

-  Bob Bruski, Safety Coordinator

Off-Season Training Opportunities

Park encourages you to take advantage of this off-season by getting training!

Taking classes through your Union is FREE! The Union will likely cover your hotel, fuel, and airfare expenses, too!

With ever changing technology, continuous equipment improvements, and being a life long learner, we highly encourage you to take advantage of the various opportunities offered through your union.

Improving yourself in the workplace opens many more doors – professionally, personally, and financially. If you are unsure of a class you should take, or a skill you should improve upon, please ask your Superintendent for their input.

“The road to success is always under construction.” – Lily Tomlin

OSHA 30:

All individuals overseeing or managing personnel at Park Construction must have completed an OSHA training within the last five years. A text message has been sent to all supervisors to confirm their training status or assist in setting up training if needed. If you are a field supervisor and did not receive the text message, please inform Jeff Slusser at jslusser@parkconstructionco.com so that we can ensure you are promptly set up for training.

Safety Leadership Academy:

The Safety Leadership Academy is a mandatory program for individuals overseeing or managing personnel at Park Construction. If you have not fulfilled this requirement or wish to refresh your knowledge, please consider the dates provided below. The course spans 2.5 days and has garnered positive reviews, emphasizing its significant value. Even if you are not currently supervising anyone but aim to enhance your safety leadership skills, attendance may be possible based on availability. New supervisors who joined Park Construction this past season, those yet to take the course, or those seeking to augment their safety leadership knowledge are encouraged to reach out to Jeff Slusser for RSVP at jslusser@parkconstructionco.com.

New Hires

Park Construction has recently welcomed five talented new staff members to our team - be sure to stop by and say hello if you get a chance!

Rick Norenberg, Project Manager/Estimator – Commercial Division

Noah Juliar, Project Manager/Estimator – Paving Division

Josh Ferris, Project Manager – Western Division

Brady Grummons, Project Manager/Estimator – Commercial Division

Mike O’Brien, Project Manager/Estimator – Paving Division

Project Highlight: BNSF Railway Shoo-fly Projects

You might have heard someone say “shoo, fly!” to address a buzzing insect, but did you know that a shoo-fly is also a railway term for a railroad bypass track? Shoo-flies are constructed around a construction project to allow trains the ability to pass while the original track is obstructed or being rebuilt.

We are currently working on 2 different shoo-fly projects for the BNSF Railway Company in the Fargo area. On these projects we are providing earthwork moving and excavating to prepare the project area for the BNSF team to install bypass railroad tracks.

These temporary realignments are a vital component of the railroad construction and repair process. By seamlessly facilitating the movement of trains during essential upgrades, we contribute to the smooth functioning and reliability of the railway network in the Fargo area.

Park Mental Wellness Holiday – Friday August 2, 2024

Park Construction would like to give notice of our upcoming Mental Wellness Holiday on August 2, 2024. During this time, all Park Construction employees will be provided with the day off to disconnect from work related tasks to focus on self-care and activities that promote mental wellbeing.

In our industry, workers often face high levels of stress, long working hours, physically demanding work, and a high risk of workplace accidents. All these factors can take a toll on a worker's mental health. Park believes that taking this time off will not only benefit our employees’ mental health, but it will also allow employees to return to work with renewed energy and focus.

Park’s Project Managers and General Superintendents will be communicating this with all clients and project teams on active projects. We look forward to providing an opportunity to promote a culture of wellbeing in the construction industry and at Park Construction Company.

Strategic Initiatives Update

We are pleased to provide you with a summary of the insights and initiatives discussed during our annual senior leadership off-site retreat. This retreat aimed at identifying key areas of focus for Park Construction in 2024 and beyond. With results from our Employee Engagement survey in mind, Park brought in a 3^rd Party Consultant to facilitate a portion of our meetings. Our collaborative efforts have resulted in the formulation of initiatives that are geared towards enhancing our organizational efficiency and fostering a positive work environment.

2024 Strategic Initiatives:

• Divisional Alignment for a Common Goal – Division Managers
• Training – Jeff Slusser
• Mental Wellness – Jake Droessler
• Recruiting and Retaining Employees – Charlie Borene
• Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Efficiencies – Shawn Bloch

The senior leadership team extends its heartfelt gratitude to every Park Construction and Park Avenue employee. Your dedication and hard work have played a pivotal role in making Park a great place to work and contributing to our continued success. Together, we look forward to implementing these initiatives and creating a future where Park Construction thrives as both a workplace and an industry leader.

Safety Days Video

We are proud to have recently held our annual Safety Days conference, bringing together all of our team members for training and education on the latest safety precautions in our industry. As we gear up for the spring construction season, it's crucial that our staff members are equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to stay safe on the job site.

At Safety Days, our team participated in classes, workshops, and hands-on training to refresh their skills and learn about new safety processes. We believe that investing in our employees' safety not only helps to prevent accidents and injuries, but also leads to higher morale and productivity.

We're proud of our team for taking safety seriously and taking part in Safety Days. It's just one example of the dedication and professionalism that sets Park Construction apart in the industry.

Recent Wins

Here are some of the projects we recently won bids on:

• North Moorhead Flood Mitigation
• Dakota county CP 11-27
• Chanhassen 2024 City Pavement Rehab – Utility Work
• Hopkins Crossroad CSAH 73 Minnetonka – Utility Work
• ASN RFP 0083-2024 I-94 – Utility Work
• ASN RFP 0089-2024 CR 6 – Utility Work
• KO & Prosper Bridge - Earthwork  
• ASN I94 Settlement & Bypass - Earthwork
• CR 81 & BNSF Hillsboro Bridges - Earthwork
• ASN CR 6 – Earthwork- Earthwork
• USACE Southern Embankment Reach SE-1B
• International Paper Foundation Work
• POET FAM-06
• Hope Academy Phase 3
• Masonic Home
• MN Governor’s Residence
• POET FOS-09
• POET CAR-12
• Justice Alan Page Site Improvements
• Tartan Highs School Stadium
• Lino Lakes - 2024 Rehab
• North Oaks - 2024 Imp
• Chanhassen - 2024 Recon
• Anoka County CSAH 32, CSAH 1, and CSAH 49 
• Brooklyn Park - 110-103-017 63rd Ave
• Minnetonka, Hopkins Crossroads CSAH 73
• Brooklyn Park 110-102-016 Zane Ave
• Shoreview
• Anoka County CSAH 9 002-906-022
• Dakota County Cp-11
• Lake Elmo - Stillwater Blvd
• Minnetonka West Tennis Courts
• TPC - Blaine
• St. Paul Schools - Highland Park Middle 
• Park Construction - Blaine Shop
• St. Croix Lutheran Academy Track
• Robbinsdale Schools - Tennis Courts
• St Louis Park Central Community Center
• Anoka Schools - Coon Rapids H.S.
• Anoka Schools - Ramsey Elementary
• Eagan Art House
• Pine Point Park Townhomes
• Anoka Schools - Franklin Elementary Parking Lot Addition
• Anoka Schools - Washington Middle School
• ISD 622 District Education Center 
• Target - North Campus
• Monticello H.S. Tennis Courts
• Victoria - Row Apartments
• Circle K - Bloomington
• Honeywell - Plymouth
• Edina - Fire Station 2
• Mn Governor’s Residence
• MJR Bus Garage Change In Use
• Plymouth - The Meadows Playfield
• Tartan H.S. Track Project
• Anoka-Blaine Lexington Hockey Rinks
• White Bear Lake Schools - Th 61
• Eaglebrook Church - Plymouth
• Shoreview - Hilton Garden Inn
• Roseville - Parallel Apartments
• New Brighton Hansen Park
• Anoka Franklin Elementary
• Culvers - Lino Lakes
• Justice Alan Page School Parking Lot

Park on Social Media

One of our goals for 2023 is to have a bigger presence on social media. We are posting weekly content on multiple platforms, and we encourage you to follow us, like our posts, and leave a comment or share it if you feel inspired. You can find us on the following sites:

It Pays To Have Friends!

Remember our Referral Bonus Program! It’s Simple – if you refer someone and they get hired, you get a bonus!

We believe that our employees are our most valuable asset and that they are in the best position to recommend qualified candidates to join our team. If you know someone who would be a great fit for our company, please reach out to your supervisor or HR for more information on how you can participate in this program. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to growing our team with your help.

EEO/Minority Outreach

It is Park Construction’s commitment to support our Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy & Affirmative Action Plan (AAP) to create a workplace with diversity, inclusiveness and fair treatment. In effort to achieve and maintain this commitment, our Company is continually striving to diversify its personnel to reflect the changing demographics of the construction industry. We highly encourage employees to refer candidates who are women, people of color, or any member from a protected class for employment opportunities at Park.