by Jessica Igo | Dec 15, 2023 | News, Uncategorized
Chief Buildings has been collaborating with the United Way in the communities where we live and work for decades, and hosting an office toy drive for the annual Toys for Tots campaign is one of our favorite traditions.
This year was no different, but there was an added sense of urgency to the campaign when it was reported that there were more than twice as many children in need than there were toy donations.
Tarryn Fulton, Administrative Manager, sent out a last-minute message to staff with an extended donation deadline. By the following Monday, the bins were overflowing.
“117 total gifts were donated by the employees at our Technical Services Office in Grand Island. From Barbie dolls to action figures, Lego sets, Hot Wheels, Play Doh, tractors, books, puzzles, and even some scooters and remote controlled cars, we had something for all ages and interests. It was one of our best collections to date,” said Tarryn.
Brian Davis, who has been a Drafter with Chief Buildings for 6 of the 16 total years he was worked for the company, brought in his 6 year-old daughter and 9 year-old son to add donations to the bins.
“My wife and I have our kids pick out a toy that they would really enjoy and would like to have, and we have them donate them themselves. We explain to them that not every parent has the resources to get their kids new toys for Christmas like we do, and we have a responsibility to our community to do our part to help out. We want to teach them the meaning of giving – from the heart, expecting nothing in return. Plus, I have a soft spot for kids and hate to think of a kid waking up to nothing on Christmas morning,” said Brian.
Thanks to the generosity of people like Brian in the greater Grand Island area, we are thrilled to report that the Heartland United Way was able to reach their toy goal and fulfill the need, adding a little bit of that Christmas magic to the lives of children in our community.
by Jessica Igo | Oct 13, 2023 | News, Uncategorized
It is mid-October, and Rensselaer, Indiana’s Milroy Park is alive with the spirit of Spooky Season. Local businesses and organizations – from restaurants to sororities to healthcare providers – have set up their annual “Scarecrow Trail” displays, to include “Cold Steel Scarecrow,” designed and produced by our very own Chief Buildings Team. But the real mastermind of the project is Maintenance Supervisor, Terry Miller.
Terry has been with Chief Buildings since 1990, but it was a trip with his son to the Rensselaer Parks Christmas Tree Trail in 2018 that sparked his interest in creating a Chief display.
“I saw other local industries had displays and thought to myself, ‘Why isn’t Chief displaying?'”
The very next year, Terry worked with other Chief employees to come up with a concept, design and fabricate a display for the Halloween “Scarecrow Trail,” and get it set up in the park. That was 2019, and he has been coming up with bigger and better display ideas every year since!
“It is a team effort. The ideas have come from different people and then we find a way to make it happen. These are primarily done by the maintenance department, but we have had some artistic help from various department floor employees. We just roll with it. I have dreams of things I would like to do, and hope we can make them reality in the future.”
The displays are judged by a panel of community members, and there is also a “People’s Choice” winner selected by votes on the Rensselaer Parks Facebook page. To vote for us or view other entries, you can access that page here – https://www.facebook.com/RensselaerParks
by Jessica Igo | Sep 29, 2023 | News, Uncategorized
Schools across the country are back in full swing, and Otto Kasten, Quality Assurance Manager at our Indiana manufacturing plant, has been busy visiting high schools in and around the town of Rensselaer with donations to their welding programs.
“At the start of school we put together a care package of various PPE items for four high schools in our immediate area. Safety is our number one priority here at Chief and we want them to know that their safety is our number one priority as well,” said Otto.
Every year, Otto and his team deliver safety glasses, weld gloves and jackets, and one head gear and grinding shield for each school. But he doesn’t stop there.
“A couple times a year we donate scrap steel for their programs – approximately 1000-1500 pounds of scrap steel to each high school. At the end of the school year, we give weld test to the students. Sometimes 30-40 students per school take the 2G weld test and if they passed it the prior year then they take the 3G weld test. The beginner classes take a fillet weld test. We also do plant tours for the high schools, and I am on the Advisory Committee for all four high schools.”
The four high schools served by this program are Rensselaer Central High School, South Newton High School, Tri-County High School, and West Central High School. There are a total of 211 students enrolled in the welding programs across all four schools.
In addition to his work with the high schools, Otto is also on the Advisory Committee at Ivy Tech, a local College, and Chief Buildings donates approximately 2000-2500 pounds of scrap steel to their programs twice a year.
Otto and his team in Indiana are not the only Chief Buildings location actively involved in educating the youth in their community, however. Our manufacturing plants in Nebraska and South Carolina both regularly donate scrap steel to local welding programs and offer plant tours to high school and college students.
by Jessica Igo | Aug 8, 2023 | News
Just as Chief Buildings are set on strong foundations, we believe the communities where we work and live are the foundation for our employees and their families to grow. To that end, Chief has always been a strong supporter of the United Way. When our new manufacturing plant opened in Lancaster, South Carolina nearly a year ago, establishing a relationship with the local United Way was a priority. Stacy Catoe, HR/Payroll Administrator, set to work creating a workplace campaign, which was recognized last month at the United Way Celebration of Community.
Business and non-profit leaders from Lancaster county came together at the Arnold Room of USC Lancaster’s Bradley Building on July 12th to celebrate 65 years of the work of the United Way of Lancaster County. The United Way raises funds to help provide services to improve the overall health and stability of the community. This can include assistance with housing, food insecurity, prescription costs, and more.
Many awards were presented at the event to business and community leaders who made a significant impact on the campaign through either their gifts or their service. Although we are new to the community, we are proud to announce our impact was acknowledged in the form of an award for New Campaign of the Year!
We are excited to see where the future takes us in Lancaster, and we are thrilled to be a part of the community. Thank you, United Way of Lancaster, S.C.
by Jessica Igo | Jul 10, 2023 | News, Uncategorized
Nathan Fries, Senior Sales Engineer, has been with Chief for over 9 years, but his commitment to service and community goes back even further than that. For the past 11 summers, he has volunteered to work with at-risk youth at Teen Reach Adventure Camp (TRAC). We sat down with Nathan to learn more about TRAC, and how others can get involved too!
What exactly is TRAC, and what do they do?
“TRAC is a three-day, single-gender camp designed for youth, ages 12-15, primarily residing in foster care. Through camp, these at-risk youth experience the outdoors, while learning teamwork and participating in activities which improve trust, self-value, and teamwork.”
How did you get involved with the organization?
“Prior to being a volunteer at TRAC, I also volunteered with an organization called RFKC (Royal Family Kids Camp) designed for younger kids. It was actually my dental hygienist at the time – she found out I had done RFKC in the past and asked if I would be a part of TRAC. Now, my wife and I both serve at the camp.”
What are your goals in participating?
“Even though it is only 3 days for the teens at the camp, we have heard from past participants that it makes a lasting impact on them. For me, it is a blessing to be able to serve these teens who normally wouldn’t have this opportunity.”
How does the organization benefit the participants and the community?
“It is great for the kids and the parents/guardians because the camps is free for the kids to attend due to great donors who generously give.”
How can others get involved?
“People can go online to https://www.teenreach.org/camp-list to find the closest camp near them and email the director of that camp. It takes a lot of volunteers to make camp happen and without the volunteers, these teenagers wouldn’t be able to go to camp.”
Nathan and his wife, Amanda, have been married for 14 years and have four children. Nathan is also active in the community by volunteering at his kids’ school, coaching youth sports, and leading the middle school group at church.
