DETROIT, MI — The Heart of Walbridge Awards are a chance to celebrate project dedication, hard work and innovation on job sites and offices throughout the country.

This year awards were given to a record-number of 13 employees and subcontractors for their benefit to Walbridge, a global construction company headquartered in Detroit, Michigan. The long-time program celebrates exemplary efforts throughout the company.

Walbridge’s Employee Meeting, held at the Detroit Institute of Arts and broadcast to offices and job sites, was a chance to celebrate those winners.

Winners included:

Joe Piliszko and Marc Herceg, Huron Valley Electric

At a project site at the University of Michigan, the two saw a news article about an electrician who was injured on a construction site on I-75 near Detroit.

Although the two had no affiliation with the injured electrician, they helped raise money for his rehabilitation through 50/50 raffles and cash donations.

Steve Reap, Superior Electric

During a project pursuit, Steve joined Walbridge’s team to support a customer in a re-engineer of the complete electrical distribution concept, which benefitted the customer greatly.

“Steve and the Superior Electric team were instrumental in our team’s success on this project,” said Walbridge Group Vice President Mike Smiley.

Barb Brown, Hoyt Brumm & Link and John Young, Walbridge

Brown and Young, a Walbridge Engineering Manager, were instrumental in developing a strategy and implementation plan for a steam distribution system update on a highly complex project.

With timing being very critical, they took a highly complex design and sequenced approach during holiday shutdowns on the site.

“The quick and innovative thinking of John, Barb and their team saved the day. It would not have been possible without their extraordinary efforts and tenacity,” said Walbridge Project Director Dave Green.

Dave Belica, Walbridge

Given a Heart of Walbridge award for his commitment to teamwork, Belica, an Accounting Manager at Walbridge, supported transition challenges for project management software. Through that transition, he investigated potential information gaps and invoice prompts that expedited payments.

“He always takes the time to dive into things and correct things,” said Walbridge Cost Control Manager Kandice Kameg. “I know I couldn’t be as good of a Cost Analyst without Dave.”

Paul Visioni, Walbridge

Visioni, a Chief Estimator for Walbridge, had the idea to utilize specialized lists for lead times, which helped eliminate time waste and improve communications between project teams.

“This is the type of lean savings that really drives efficiency across many team members,” said Walbridge CEO Mike Haller.

Tim Heather, Walbridge

When there was a water main break at a customer’s trackside campus, Heather, a Senior Superintendent, and a team worked into the night to restore service the following day with minimal impact for the customer.

“A Senior Superintendent in every sense of the title and beyond,” Green said. “He is a company leader who is able to maximize resources at hand to successfully analyze, plan and execute.”

Greg Keresi and Joel Walendowski, Walbridge

Keresi, a Senior Mechanical Estimator for Walbridge Southeast, and Walendowski, an Assistant Project Manager for Walbridge Southeast, worked to improve Walbridge’s vStart process through creation of a QR code system. Working with Walbridge’s IT Department, the team eliminated the need for paper and hand signatures to cut down on electronic check sheets.

“Because of this innovation and pushing to make the vStart process easier, they are helping to develop an app with IT to replace the QR code system,” said Walbridge Senior Project Manager Scott Ashe.

Sheila Eicher, Walbridge

Eicher, the Director of Marketing and Communications for Walbridge, is a key impact team player in the development and execution of strategically important pursuits.

Majd Hammoudeh, Walbridge

Hammoudeh, a Project Engineer, took 360-degree photos in every room of a U-M project to allow up-to-date info. A communication display rolls through pertinent job site info with historic photos.

Michelle Luft, Walbridge

Through a 2019 Veterans Day initiative, Luft, an Office Manager in Detroit, spent extra time outside of the office with a team of quilters creating quilts for veterans through the Quilts of Valor Foundation. She will help honor the veterans for their service later this year.

“One day they sewed 12 hours straight. What she has done in service for others — complete strangers — is amazing,” Eicher said.