Reflections ... Celebrating APM's Finest
“Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” - Herman Cain
Last week, we had the extreme honor to host five of APM’s top rated Superintendents and nine of the best craftsmen in the construction maintenance industry. We spent a day with these experts, listening and learning about what programs and systems work well and what can be improved to empower better safety, quality, and productivity in the field.
Some topics and themes from the good discussion included quality of tooling, field communication strategies, travel benefits, foreman development, branded materials for the jobsites, and other factors that drive APM’s opportunity to be known as the craft employer of choice. We recognize the feedback from our frontlines being crucially important, and we rely on the ideas and solutions generated in these discussions to help us build the APM we all want to work for.
After our morning workout, we hosted our guests at the APM LDC for a tour of our corporate campus, where they were able to see leadership development in action with our APM Specialty Services business and network with corporate support groups like Payroll and IT/Innovation.
To close out a long, productive day, we hosted a special awards dinner to recognize and appreciate our guests for all they have achieved throughout this year. During this time, we presented them with mementos and gifts to commemorate their honorable nominations. All our Craftsmen of the Year recipients were nominated by their peers in the field. We heard many stories of people who embrace and advocate safety in every task they complete while contributing peer leadership among the crews and inspiring new ways of working. Our top Superintendents were nominated by their Operations Leadership Team. This year, my decision to select one to distinguish among these men was extraordinarily difficult. Each nominee has contributed unique value throughout this year to raise the bar of leadership within their teams and expand APM’s work opportunities with customers. Ultimately, I selected a man who has inspired many people both horizontally – among peers – and vertically – within the crews and senior leadership … including myself. Our 2019 President’s Award Winner, Mike Bush, is an exceptional leader that challenges us all to be better, live the APM values every day, and put the development of our people first. He embodies the spirit of APM – to improve the lives of all within his reach. I was proud to present APM’s most prestigious award to Mike.
I was continuously humbled throughout the day and evening to hear from this group – about what it means to be an APM craftsman and leader – and I am inspired to continue the drive to make APM the very best place for all to work.
2019 Craftsmen of the Year
In order of the photos above:
Glenn Lowderman, Boiler Services
Gary Kothke, Boiler Services
Chris Coleman, Gas Services
Jon Martel, Gas Services
Chris Jensen, Gas Services
Brad Reimer, Specialty Services
Scott Foust, Specialty Services
Morgan Roberts, Steam Services
James Orth, Steam Services
2019 President’s Award Nominees
In order of the photos above:
Isaac Smith, Steam Services
Jeff Pynonnen, Specialty Services
Stuart Gibson, Gas Services
Morris "Clay" Harrell, Gas Services
Additional nominees which were considered for this award include:
Matthew Davis, Steam Services
Kenneth Kennard, Steam Services
Dana Winfield, Specialty Services
Derek Steel, Specialty Services
Allen LeMaster, Gas Services
Thomas Bernier, Gas Services
Shaun Simmons, Boiler Services
2019 President’s Award Winner
Mike Bush, Boiler Services
Please join me in extending a hearty congratulations and ‘thank you’ to each of the above leaders and experts. I thank you each for making our APM business better each day.
—Jake