Bombard Electric employees raise almost $4,000 for Las Vegas-area toy drive

This view of the Bombard Electric lobby from the second floor shows the large assortment of toys employees purchased and donated to the 98.5 LKUC Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive in Las Vegas.

 

Employees at Bombard Electric in Las Vegas, Nevada, opened their hearts and their wallets to raise almost $4,000 to purchase toys and gifts for less fortunate families in the area. Their efforts were in support of the 23rd annual 98.5 KLUC Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive.

Bombard employees used the money they raised to purchase and donate the following items to the Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive:

  • Eight large crates full of toys;
  • 39 bikes and scooters; and
  • $340 in gift cards.

The Chet Buchanan Show noted the efforts of Bombard employees and mentioned them on the radio. This year, the Chet Buchanan Show Toy Drive gathered enough items to provide gifts to more than 1,800 qualified families around Nevada.

“It’s so amazing to see the generosity from our employees,” Jamie Makue, purchasing assistant at Bombard Electric who coordinated the company’s efforts, said. “Many of us don’t know how many lives we touch just by giving one toy, one bike or one gift card. To say that we are part of the reason more than 1,800 families get to have a good Christmas just warms my heart.”

Bombard Toy Drive 2021  Bombard Electric Toy Drive 2021 load up
Bombard Electric employees raised almost $4,000 for a regional toy drive. They then purchased eight large crates of toys (right), 39 bikes and scooters and $340 in gift cards. 

Bismarck, North Dakota, employees provide gifts for 67 families

The holiday season got a little brighter for 67 Bismarck-area families, thanks to the generosity of employees at MDU Resources, Montana-Dakota Utilities, WBI Energy and MDU Construction Services Group.

Employees supported the Abused Adult Resource Center’s “Hope for the Holidays” program by purchasing, wrapping and delivering gifts for families, consisting of 162 individuals.

The Abused Adult Resource Center is a nonprofit organization that serves victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in seven North Dakota counties.

This year’s support of 67 families is a record high since the company started participating in the program in 2005.

Employees from 41 departments from across the company — a record number — participated this year. Employee volunteers gathered the gifts over two days, and the first collection nearly filled a 15-foot trailer.

Lone Mountain wins prestigious safe digging award

 

Lone Mountain Excavation recently received the 2021 Silver Shovel Award from the Nevada Regional Common Ground Alliance. From left are Larry Hanson, safety director; Stefan Hoffman, president; Alex Slocum, foreman; Haley Burger, project engineer; and Darren Blitsch, foreman.

 

Lone Mountain Excavation & Utilities recently took home the top prize at the Nevada Regional Common Ground Alliance’s annual awards dinner. The NRCGA honors one excavation company each year with the Silver Shovel Award in recognition of excellence in safe digging.

To be eligible for the award, contractors must have had no at-fault damages to underground utilities during the previous 12 months. Nominees also undergo a 45-minute interview with the NRCGA board of directors. Lone Mountain was nominated for the award by NRCGA and the Nevada Public Utilities Commission.

Lone Mountain President Stefan Hoffman and Safety Director Larry Hanson fielded the board’s interview questions.

“One question was about calling in for re-marks,” Hanson said. “They asked about our process and communication to the field. We have one person who handles all 811 calls. The more hands involved, the greater chance something will get missed, so we dialed it down to one person. They liked that.”

Hanson said during the interview he and Hoffman emphasized that it’s always about the team and not the individual, and that the health and well-being of employees comes first.

Hoffman credits the entire Lone Mountain team with earning this award.

“Our team works together so well, and we take these initiatives about underground utilities so seriously,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman and Hanson shared a few company best practices that contribute to their safe digging record.

  • Slow down and think. Taking five to 10 extra minutes to plan work could prevent an accident that causes property damage or injures someone.
  • Constant education. Safe digging is constantly being talked about in the field and is drilled down from leadership to field leaders to all employees.
  • While Lone Mountain always calls 811 before digging, the company recognizes even that process has room for errors. Therefore, they spend a little extra time and money to hire a hydroexcavation or vacuum excavation contractor to open things up before they start work. This allows their crews to see exactly what they’re dealing with before they put a bucket in the ground.

Lone Mountain is a leader in the field of commercial earthwork and paving preparation for the greater Las Vegas metropolitan and surrounding areas.

Duro Electric named 2021 Accredited Quality Contractor

Duro Electric recently was named a 2021 Accredited Quality Contractor by Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. The AQC program documents a company’s commitment to quality, its community and its employees. Duro Electric, located in Englewood, Colorado, has been AQC certified since 2009.

Duro Electric President Mark Stark said earning this prestigious recognition is a team effort.

“I’m proud of our team for their continued focus on safety, quality and community,” he said. “They are the reason we earned this certification.”

To be considered for recertification, Duro Electric provided detailed information on its safety practices, financial strength, orientation and training programs, benefits, community relations and diversity activities, and more. The application also requires five recommendation letters from clients, architects and subcontractors attesting to the company’s merit.

Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. is a national construction industry trade association representing more than 21,000 members. ABC and its 69 chapters help members develop people, win work and deliver that work safely, ethically and profitably for the betterment of the communities in which ABC and its members work.