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Sullivan designBUILD to Manage Certco Facility Expansion

Posted on by Allison Wallner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 16, 2016

Contact
John Riley
608-661-6809

Sullivan designBUILD to Manage Certco Facility Expansion

(MADISON, Wis.)—Sullivan designBUILD announced today it will serve as the general contractor for the 150,000-square foot cooler addition to grocery wholesaler Certco’s existing freezer building at 4802 Femrite Dr. A groundbreaking ceremony will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

“We appreciate opportunities like Certco’s cooler addition to continue our long-standing history of building cold-storage warehousing,” John Riley, President of Sullivan designBUILD, said.

The anticipated completion date is November 2016.

The existing building is 172,285 square feet and opened in 2010. The expansion will allow Verona, Wis.-based Certco to increase its refrigerated offerings to independent supermarkets in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and Iowa.

“This is an exciting time for Certco, and we’re happy to partner with Sullivan designBUILD on this important expansion,” Certco President and CEO Randy Simon said.

JSD Professional Services is providing architecture and engineering services.

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Resulting Media Coverage:

Capacity Building in Healthcare

Posted on by Brian Lee

INTRODUCTION

hospital
Image courtesy of kengmerry at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Capacity building, a process of individual and institutional development that leads to higher levels of staff skills and a greater ability to perform useful research, is a trend many hospitals and healthcare providers are adopting. At its core, capacity building is about improving effectiveness at the organizational level. This ranges from dealing with crises (e.g. Zika, Ebola) to identifying ways to promote social services.

HOW CAPACITY BUILDING HELPS COMMUNITIES

For communities, the outcomes of a healthcare provider’s capacity building should include more involvement in problem solving, increased access to resources and a sense of how to best co-exist.

Community members often will become healthier, showing signs of optimism and trust and a focus on unification. Rather than saying “nothing works,” healthy communities embrace a “we can do it” attitude.

HOW HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS CAN START A CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM

To start a capacity building program, you must start with internal buy-in from top-down. Make sure you include internal audiences in the process, speak in a language they’ll understand and engage them as early as possible. Also, be explicit about the benefits of the program, identify and manage risks and listen to any concerns.

Next, make sure you have the resources and readiness to sustain a campaign for an indefinite amount of time. Consider applying for a capacity building grant; projects that may be eligible for grants include strategic planning, board development and staff training.

Lastly, seek out external stakeholders, such as community leaders, educators and vendors. Invite these stakeholders to a few capacity-building events, including visits to project sites. Stay in communication with them through social media and e-newsletters.

Calming Down Your Networking Nerves

Posted on by Brian Lee

networking img

Do I have to go? Whom will I talk to? What do I say?

These questions used to flood my mind anytime a networking event was presented.

I envied those that waltzed into a networking event with such relaxation and grace and that could approach strangers. I’d much rather be sitting at a table with my friends sipping a cocktail having a fun, effortless conversation.

The purpose of networking events is to enhance your career through making professional connections. Name tags, beverages of some sort (not always alcohol), and/or appetizers may accompany a networking event to give a relaxed atmosphere. It didn’t relax me. Once that name tag was on, I was feeling alone in a crowd of people. It’s where my nerves would immediately kick in.

Thankfully, with some practice, I learned some ways to calm down, take a breath and enjoy myself. This is how:

People are there to talk! Believe me, I know it is intimidating to walk up to a stranger and introduce yourself. But the chances of being completely ignored are very slim. People expect to be approached and talked to at networking events.

Have a conversation. This is your chance to wow them. No pressure right? Try to think of it as a conversation you’re having with a close friend. This relaxed me and I was able to speak more freely without the nervousness. Exchange of professions is common but it can go anywhere from there. I’ve found that asking general questions (regarding: venue, where they are from, etc.) can lead to topics that are easy to talk about.

These brief conversations can lead to good things. Perhaps I’ll see this person at another networking event, thankful I know a familiar face. Who knows? Eventually that person could turn into a friend who sits with me at a table while sipping cocktails.