After a busy spring including our annual regional kickoff meetings, the construction season is in full force at Ames sites across the country. We’re onboarding new team members, welcoming interns, and hitting milestones on a vast array of projects. And in May, three companywide events bring into focus our calling to build great projects together as ONE AMES.
Construction Safety Week
The 2023 theme for Construction Safety Week, “Strong Voices, Safe Choices,” reminds us that everyone has a role to play in construction site safety. We are fortunate at Ames to have strong teams that keep safety at the forefront of every task, along with experienced safety professionals at every job site who lead the way.
We take pride in our safety record, but safety is something we can never take for granted. Everyone at Ames, from experienced team members to new hires, is empowered and obligated to stay alert, speak up, and take action in the face of potentially unsafe conditions. In doing so, we live out our commitment to care for each other and make sure that everyone goes home safely every day.
Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for Ames, this is another opportunity to build our culture of care. In this culture, we have an understanding of the mental health challenges that are especially prevalent in the construction industry, and we are strong enough to be present for each other and initiate tough conversations when necessary.
I especially want you to remember that we have fantastic, confidential resources available to you and your family through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), which you can access at 1-888-267-8126. And be sure to check your mailbox—resources you can use at home are on their way.
Team Member Appreciation Week
In the third week in May, we celebrate YOU, our Ames team members. On behalf of all Ames management, thank you for showing up each day ready to give it your best, going above and beyond for our clients, facing down challenges with persistence, and staying connected to one another. Ames is a success today, and we will continue to be successful in the future, because of our amazingly talented and dedicated people. On top of my gratitude, I have a challenge for you this week: Tell someone on your team how much you appreciate them. Making someone’s day can be that simple.
Safety.
Mental Health.
Appreciation.
Three campaigns that may seem to pull our focus away from our critical day-to-day tasks and responsibilities. We take time for each of these efforts because they are all tied to our duty to care for one another. We want everyone to be physically safe on our job sites and go home to their families. We want everyone to experience mental well-being and feel comfortable asking for help when needed. And we want everyone to know how much they are valued and how much value they bring to our work.
There’s a reason why “People” is first in our list of core values at Ames. It’s because our people—including you—come first in everything we do.
And Remember—Be Ames and Flourish!
Jerry Ouimet
