Spring Speedy Sentinel 2020

SPEEDY SENTINEL

ISSUE #5 April 2020 LEADERS IN THE
CONCRETE SAWING &
DRILLING INDUSTRY SINCE 1988

WWW.SPEEDYCON.COM

FEATURES
TABLE OF CONTENTS

02 FROM THE HOMEFRONT & SOUTH FLORIDA NOTABLE PROJECT

South Florida office news and Notable Project featuring work at Pratt & Whitney for Hedrick Brothers.

Contributions by Chris Hess, GM and Todd Livingston, Sales & Estimating

05 CORE VALUE SPOTLIGHT - CAMERON JEFF, OPERATOR

Showcasing employees who embody The Speedy Concrete Cutting Core Values. Contribution by Keith McCormick, Operations Manager

06 A LIFE WELL LOVED

Preserving the Samantha Jade Trebbi Memorial at Palmetto Senior High School. Contribution by Miguel Chacon, Sales & Estimating

08 SOUTH FLORIDA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

A review of connections we've made in the last quarter. Highlighting our networking with clients, friends and professional
organizations in South Florida. Contribution by Darlene Quinones, Business Development

12 NEWS FROM O-TOWN / ORLANDO NOTABLE PROJECT
Longwood office news, Notable Project featuring The Blast Tunnel at Cape Canaveral for Ivey's Construction.
Contribution by John Gunther, VP /GM

18 CITY BY THE BAY
San Antonio office news and Notable Project featuring The Tower Place Project for Sutter Roofing, a 100+ year old family owned and operated
company located in Merritt Island. Contributions by Matt Ferguson, GM and Sean Zaccaria, Sales & Estimating

24 THE OFFICE OF CHOICE / JACKSONVILLE NOTABLE PROJECT

Jacksonville office news and Notable Project featuring The UPS Warehouse Expansion for The Kajima Building & Design Group.
Contribution by Courtney Williams, GM

28 HUMAN RESOURCES

Covid-19 is changing the way business is done. Featuring best practices  for our essential business. Contribution by Tara Philipp, Dir of Human Resources.

Article on Teamwork, Contribution by Leighann Delvaille, HR Administrator

36 PRO TIPS

Handling and operating 480-volt equipment. Contribution by Joe Kenney, District Manager

38 POLITICS

A closer look at the Cares Act and how the Covid-19 Public Health Crisis is exploited by politicians looking to further their agendas.
Contribution by Todd Barna, CEO

42 MONEY MATTERS

Managing Financial Stress During Covid-19. Contribution by Marie Brownstein, Cash Controller.

Quarterly update. Contribution by John Masterson, Controller

44 SAFETY IS OUR #1 PRIORITY

Combatting The Virus. Contribution by Todd Barna, CEO

48 ICC - INTELLIGENT CONSTRUCTION CONNECTIONS

Updates from the iCC on staying connected during a time of social distancing. Recap of 1st quarter event and an

invitation to connect on the iCC facebook page. Contribution by Vesela Marinova, iCC President

50 ANNOUNCEMENTS 

We're Hiring Experienced Operators

Welcome! CORE
VALUES
Thank you for your interest in the Speedy Sentinel, a quarterly
news publication showcasing some of the best concrete sawing SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER
and drilling professionals in the Country. ONE PRIORITY

Our team has been hard at work delivering exceptional service, EXCEED CUSTOMER
and quality craftsmanship for over 30 years. While we take pride EXPECTATIONS IN
in showcasing our work, we are dedicating this issue to the
Essential Personnel in our industry, and in all industries who QUALITY OF WORK,
continue to serve during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency. SAFETY AND LEVELS OF
Thank you for your relentless pursuit as you serve our
communities, the sick, those in need and our Great Nation. PERFORMANCE

During this time of unprecedented change, we are having to DISPLAY A WHATEVER IT
examine how we live, work and coexist, while remaining steadfast TAKES ATTITUDE AND
to our Core Values. At Speedy Concrete Cutting, Safety BE RELENTLESS IN
Remains Our #1 Priority. In this edition, we're featuring the COMPLETING YOUR
best practices we've deployed and excerpts from our Covid-19 DUTIES
Preparedness Plan.
MAINTAIN A
We urge each reader to think and act in any way they can to help PROFESSIONAL IMAGE
reduce the spread of the virus, while keeping critical infrastructure AND CREATE STRONG
and essential businesses running. In closing, we offer you our
heartfelt thanks, appreciation and respect for the work you are FIRST IMPRESSIONS
doing.
PEOPLE ARE OUR
We are a Great Nation and we will overcome this and be stronger, GREATEST ASSET,
wiser and more unified as the result of all of our efforts. Be well, PROMOTE YOURSELF
be safe and God Bless America.
THE CUSTOMER ABOVE
ALL ELSE, ALWAYS

PERFORM
EXCEPTIONALLY

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |1

FORT LAUDERDALE

HOMEFRONT

Greetings from the Fort Lauderdale office!
 
In this strange and socially distant time we are experiencing, I am pleasantly surprised to say
that the Fort Lauderdale Office has had an amazing surge in work, mainly from road and bridge repairs.
This comes from the Governor’s early release on projects in an effort to take advantage of the minimized
traffic on the roadways, but also, in an effort to keep the economy stimulated as much as
possible. This has benefitted us here in Fort Lauderdale immensely, with projects going at the same time.
 
We have continued our efforts on the Miami Signature Bridge Project, with Tommy Flanagan handling
the bulk of this work, which includes slab sawing, curb sawing and wire sawing. The Miami Airport Tarmac
Replacement Project has also released another 10,000 LF x 17” deep cutting. Operator, Matt Stepniak has
been dutifully taking care of that work and is doing a fine job. We have also started the Cow Key Channel
Bridge Deck Replacement Project in Key West, expected to run through August, and includes several
mobilizations.
 
We were recently contracted with Archer Western-DeMoya Group JV, at the I-595 Express Lane PH 3C
Project, which is expected to run over the next 2.5 years. The project will kick into high gear shortly and we
are ready. We also have a couple of large slab removal projects waiting for permits, which have taken a bit
longer due to the local government offices working with skeleton crews. One of these projects is a 41,000
SF interior slab removal at the Publix Distribution Center in Deerfield Beach, that will begin in early May. 

At Speedy, we anticipate weathering this storm and hope to onboard some very good talent who may be
looking for a future in our concrete sawing and drilling business. With all of these projects coming up we
expect to be in good shape for the foreseeable future! If you are an experienced operator, all of our
offices are hiring. Apply online at www.Speedycon.com/careers or call our offices for more info on how to
apply.
 
In closing, I would like to thank Courtney Williams, GM of our Jacksonville Office & John Gunther, GM/VP of
our Longwood Office for having some of our South Florida Operators cover work for them in late February
and early March. This not only helped our office here in Fort Lauderdale, but it also kept all of our
Operators working and providing for their families those few weeks. It is greatly appreciated and one of
the reasons why being part of the Speedy Family is a cut above the competition.
  
Until next time, keep the blades spinning!!! 
 

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  2

NOTABLE PROJECT

* DUE TO THE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS, PHOTOGRAPHY OF THIS PROJECT WASN'T ALLOWED

HEDRICK BROTHERS - PRATT & WHITNEY

Speedy Concrete Cutting was recently contracted by a full service construction company, Hedrick Brothers
to provide sawing and drilling at a Pratt & Whitney facility specializing in the manufacturing of Jet-Engines
for  Commercial and Military Aircraft. Due to the high level of security, our Operators were vetted through
the necessary background checks while management completed the required Job-Safety Analysis and
prepared to mobilized services. Our scope included ( 26 )  slab-openings up to a dimension of 13’  x  13' 
x  8”  without “over-cuts” because of existing epoxy finish at the work-areas.

This scope was necessary to facilitate the forming and pouring of proposed column-pads, allowing the
installation of a crane-system, enabling Pratt & Whitney to relocate the jet engines to different work-areas,
depending on the specialty of their technicians. Our team has worked on many projects over the years
and each comes with their fair share of challenges.  On this scope, our team's greatest challenge was our
inability to utilize gas-powered equipment because the proposed openings were approximately 600’ from
available parking. It was decided that we would  tap into “House-Power”, to provide 480-V, 3-Phase Power
on a 50 Amp Breaker, to our electric-saw. This work-around required our Operators to wear Co2
Monitors. Operator, Ryan Hewitt began the process of “double-cutting” the perimeters and cutting
openings into 1,600 lb. pieces. The cuts where then loaded by Jason Frank, our Bobcat/Dump Truck
Operator, onto our awaiting dump-truck, for daily disposal from the site. 

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |3

NOTABLE PROJECT

In an effort to avoid “spalling” of remaining edges, the Operator extracted the first couple pieces at the
center of each opening using “catch-plate”, thusly allowing the removal of the remaining concrete with the
bobcat’s forks. After the removal of ( 24 ) “primary” slab-openings, we encountered additional concrete to
a depth of 24”. Another unexpected challenge our team faced, was due to the opening size. We couldn't
use a  “walk-behind” saw within the confines of existing depression. It became necessary to score-cut @ 8”
O.C. each way to a depth of 10” and then “flush-cut” perimeters, with hand-held equipment. This allowed
for chipping and hand-removal of the remaining reinforced concrete / rubble. Thanks to Ryan Hewitt and
Jason Frank for their unmitigated work-ethic. Despite the additional scope, challenges and pivots in the
strategy, Speedy Concrete Cutting delivered exceptional service, almost according to the initial timeline.
As a result, Hedrick Brothers has assured us that we will be the “Cutting-Contractor-of Choice” for Phase II
at this site. This was indeed, a Job well-done and a project worth noting! 

NOTABLE PROJECT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT

https://hedrickbrothers.com/ Structured to serve the Southeastern United States and Florida
construction markets with headquarters centrally located in
West Palm Beach, Florida, Hedrick Brothers Construction is a
full-service quality-driven firm providing a range of building
services to both the public and private sectors since 1979.

Our team is passionate about building quality projects and
providing uncompromised excellence to national and regional
clients and design teams for their most demanding and complex
projects.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |4

CORE VALUE EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT HERE'S TO YOU

cameron jeff

CORE VALUE SPOTLIGHT

Cameron

  MEET CAMERON JEFF
Cameron "Cam" Jeff is a lead concrete cutter at our South Florida Office.
Cam has been with SCC for six years and began as a trainee. 
Cameron has shown himself to be a very reliable operator.
Cameron is always on-time and "Maintains A Professional
Image" both at the SCC shop and on the job site.

Since starting with us, he has shown initiative and interest in the business. He has invested time on
almost every tool Speedy runs.  He recently went to Cape Canaveral to complete some wire saw
work on a 150’ long duct bank.  The customer was very pleased by the quality of work and the speed in
which he completed the cutting. 

Another reason why Cam is our Core Value Employee this quarter is that he embodies a "Whatever it
Takes Attitude" by going above and beyond what is expected of him.  It isn’t out of the ordinary for
customers to call into the office and tell us that Cameron did a great job and that they only want him
back for future work. That is a testament to his skill, professionalism and rapport with our customers.
 
Cameron is about to start a new chapter in his career as he trains to be our next GPR Scanner & Core
Drill Specialist.  He is very excited about the opportunity and has started working with the GPR unit on
his own time and is starting to train with our other GPR scanners on job sites throughout South Florida.
We are glad to have Cam on our team and know he has a very bright future ahead of him here at
Speedy Concrete Cutting. Great job Cameron!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |   5

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  6

HONORING A LIFE WELL LOVED

Samantha "Sam" Jade Trebbi

Sam Trebbi is a beloved daughter, sister, and former student at Palmetto High in South
Florida. Despite her youth, Sam touched many people's lives. She brought joy and
happiness to those around her, especially her family and the students and faculty at
her school. When Sam passed away unexpectedly in 2010, her fellow students and
friends expressed their love and dedication to her memory by establishing a memorial
in her honor. Artfully designed tiles with messages of love, hope, inside jokes, and
friendship, created a beautiful and unique mosaic displayed to honor Sam and her life.
In 2020, after almost 40+ years of housing students, faculty and the Sam Trebbi Memorial, the two oldest
buildings belonging to Palmetto High were set to be demolished. Our clients at Thornton Construction were
called upon to do the work.

While we aren't exactly sure how all the details came to be, Thornton Construction was able to have the Trebbi
family come to the site while it was being cut and gifted them with an 8x5 section of the Memorial Wall.
Speedy had the honor of ensuring it was done right. Our experienced Operator, Lavelle Watkins, approached
the scope as if it was being cut from the Louvre in Paris! Lavelle reported that the family was very appreciative
of the care and respect that was given to the mural and that it was an emotional day for all.
Preserving a tangible part of Sam's legacy and memory was invaluable. For Lavelle, Speedy and Thornton
Construction it was more than a days work; it was a piece of history, a piece of pure heart and soul being cut
from that building. We are all glad it found its way home.  Sam, you will never be forgotten by those who hold
you in their hearts. Now you'll hold a special place in ours too.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |7

Rebuilding Together Broward Even - L-R Jeanette Alston-Watkins, Sophie Bassal, Darlene Quinones, Alexandra Labarr, Heather Phillips

SOUTH FLORIDA MARKETING & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Speedy’s Business Development Plan started off 2020 with a unique opportunity to attend a “Business
Development Retreat” at the Westin Hotel on Fort Lauderdale Beach. The event hosted Sandra Pabon,
Vice President of Itasca Construction and many others coming from different parts of the industry. The
weekend was spent learning and going over different business development strategies to gain the trust of
existing and potential customers. Speedy Concrete Cutting had a special invitation to attend the “Black
Dresses & Blueprints” event, celebrating women in construction hosted by Rebuilding
Together Broward. Their mission is "Repairing homes,
revitalizing communities & rebuilding lives". The event was
established to honor women in construction who are making
a difference in our community . Among them were, Beth Azor
- Azor Advisory Services, Debbie Danto - Danto Builders, Traci
Miller- Miller Construction and Alexandra Torti who received
the Young Builder Award. It was an amazing night and an
honor to be a part of.  

Speedy was the Title Sponsor for the CASF Florida Panthers vs Philadelphia Flyers game at the BB&T
Center. It was a perfect night to network and connect with over 200 guests in attendance.
 

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |8

In February, The National Association of Women in Construction & Moss Construction hosted a private tour of
the new Inter Miami CF Stadium (old Lockhart Stadium - pictured above) to do a walk through while under the
final stages of construction. Also, the Speedy Weenie Wagon served lunch to 200 of our friends at Archer
Western in Miami. Everyone enjoyed a chance to take a quick break and have a bite on us! Hosting sub
meetings, lunch ‘n learns, happy hour events and fishing trips, keep us connected to our loyal customers and
our industry. We are always looking for ways to show our gratitude and appreciation for all of their hard work.
Let us know when we can come and host one with you!

Our famous Bloody Mary booth made its appearance at
the ABC Spring Golf Tournament  at the Jacaranda Golf &
Country Club. It was a great day to golf and network
alongside fellow sponsors like ANF Group, Balfour Beatty,
JWR Construction, Southeast Mechanical Contractors,
Hypower, Mastec, Milwaukee Tools and many other friends
and customers from the construction industry. Since the
New Year, we’ve had two successful sub-meetings with
Baker Concrete / Kast Construction on the One West Palm
Project and with John Moriarty & Associates (JMA) for the
400 Brickell Ave Project. At Speedy, "Safety is our #1
Priority" and although our essential business is open
social calls and non-essential events will have to be postponed for now. During this time of social distancing,
please follow us on Facebook and Instagram for updates so we can stay connected!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |9

Procedures for Self- Self-quarantine is recommended for individuals
Quarantine under who have been directly exposed to Coronavirus
Covid-19 while awaiting or have history of travel in infected or heavily
results or testing populated areas.

Stay at home. Wash your hands.

Limit all your non- Practice good hand
essential travels. hygiene by washing
Unless you're going out for food, your hands with
medicines or other essentials. soap and water or
using 60% alcohol
Check your temperature. or hand sanitizer.

Check your temperature at Stay in a specific room.
least two times a day.
If you're sick or suspect
Watch for other yourself to be sick, it's
symptoms. best to stay in a
designated room or
Aside from fever, Covid-19 area away from others.
symptoms include cough, If possible, have a designated toilet
difficulty breathing, and and bathroom as well.
fatigue. The CDC says it may
now also include body aches, Call your doctor
loss of sense of smell. Fever or hospital before
is not always present. visiting.

Practice social If you need to seek medical
distancing. attention whether for viral
symptoms or other medical
If you need to go out, care reasons, contact your
maintain at least 6 feet doctor or hospital ahead of
distance from others. time so they can prepare
and take precautions for
SPEEDY SENTINEL   |10 your arrival. Cionsider
Teledoc or A Virtual visit at
Concentra. Ask HR for help.

MSooudricfeie•dCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (cdc.gov)

when in doubt stay home and let HR help you get
connected to a medical provider who can
assess your risk and give you advice

Know the

COVID-19
SYMPTOMS

The following symptoms may
appear 2-14 days after exposure:

Fever
Cough
Shortness of Breath

Seek medical advice if:

You develop worsening symptoms
You have been in close contact with a
person known to have COVID-19
You live in or have recently been
in an on area with ongoing
spread of COVID-19

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT CDC.GOV

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |11

SPEEDY
CONCRETE

CUTTING

ORLANDO

Since the onset of the Covid-19 Pandemic we've modified almost every aspect of how we run our business.
From vehicle occupancy restrictions and dispatching via text to making hand sanitizer and enforcing vigilant
social distancing measures at the shop and on job sites. The good news is that we have all remained
healthy, and the “Essential” status of our business and our great industry has kept the doors open and the
blades turning.

One thing that has not changed throughout this unprecedented time is that we are booked out a week and
a half going forward. As an essential business, we are thankful that we can retain the new talent we have on
board this year. Javoun Roberts has been training with Philippe Ocampo for a couple of months now and
has been performing  coring and cutting operations on his own, under the watchful eye of Mr. Danny Price
our Field Safety Inspector. He is developing some good skills and has been producing quality work! Our
newest trainee, Joshua (Big Country) Ulcena came to us with some hand sawing experience cutting for a
demolition company, and with some training from Gus Canicatti, and some tips from the master, Danny
Price, he has gotten hand sawing down laser straight and is starting to really grasp good coring practices.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  12

In the office Laurie Colletti has made a huge difference in the daily operations and administration of our
office. She is always quick to jump in and help wherever she is needed and has gotten pretty good at
getting basic scopes of work hashed out before passing it along to Mark Hart or myself. Laurie is even
writing work orders, processing job tickets, billing and handling purchase orders. We really appreciate her
efforts as they has given us more time to focus on the changes due to Covid-19 and ensuring safety and
maximum efficiency in the field.

Speaking of maximizing efficiency, Mark Hart, Sales & Estimating has solidified some great long term,
multiple operator projects which make dispatching more streamlined and efficient. Some of them include
780 feet of 4’-7’ high parapet wall track sawing, keeping Philippe Ocampo dedicated to the Advent Health
Kissimmee Project for Team Erectors, working under Gate Precast and Brasfield & Gorrie. Gus Canicatti has
a new home out at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex for Sunrise Systems of Brevard, under
another familiar name, Ivey’s Construction, Inc. For this project we are removing several elevated 24’ wide x
27’ high sections of tilt wall in machine removal pieces out of a spider lift, then cutting them into 1’x 1’ pieces
on the ground for customer to hand remove out of the building. Long time customers Falcon Concrete
Services, and parent company Williams Companies, have been running wide open having Coty Sexsmith,
Mike and Noah Walton, Javoun Roberts, and Jonathan Santiago making regular visits to the Target remodels
in Clermont, Lake Mary, Kissimmee, and the new store in Orlando at Vineland Pointe. Ian Shubin is wrapping
up his 5 month long adventure scanning and core drilling at the Daytona Convention Center Hotel for
Protogroup. Overall, we are busy and intend to stay so!

I am going to wrap this edition up by saying "Thank You" to our entire team and the Speedy family for your
patience with the ever growing changes needed to keep us all safe and able to work.  Your commitment and
dedication to our essential business has been stellar. While it has been frustrating for all of us, you have
been doing a great job making the best of the situation. In time, we will once again reclaim some of the
normalcy we may have taken for granted, until then, be well, be safe and Go Speedy!!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  13

ORLANDO NOTABLE PROJECT

IVEY'S CONSTRUCTION - BLAST TUNNEL

This addition of The Orlando Notable Project was a joint venture with the Speedy Concrete Cutting, Fort
Lauderdale.  Our customer, Ivey’s Construction, Inc. of Merritt Island, was hired by Hensel Phelps and the
United Launch Alliance to perform remediation work in the Blast Tunnel of Launch Complex 41, Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station-Space Complex.  LCH was initially built and put into service for NASA in 1965,
servicing the Atlas Class Rocket Program.  It was switched in 2002 to Cape Canaveral Air Force Base to
service Atlas Class Rockets still launching today.
 
Hensel Phelps was tasked with upgrading the steel structure and a new, larger “Deluge Tank” that floods
the tunnel at the moment of launch to suppress the rocket blast and direct it away from the launch
vehicle.  The concrete cutting scopes involved removal of (9) 2’6” x 2’4”-7” deep stainless steel
infused, high tensile strength, concrete gunite topping down to the virgin structural concrete to allow
anchor/weld plate installation to connect the new steel structure to the tunnel roof slab. 
The total scheduled window for concrete removal, prep work, anchor installation, weld plate connections
and replacement of the removed gunite topping was 6 weeks, start to finish. Our scope of work, 25’ off the
floor of the tunnel, removing concrete material overhead, working out of scissor lifts to access cutting
heights, was only set for a 2-week time frame.  There was a scheduled rocket launch 2 days after the 6
week shut down and our work was the key to the projects time line because no other work could begin
until we were complete with our scope.
 

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  14

ORLANDO NOTABLE PROJECT

At the onset of the project, Ivey’s consulted with 3 concrete
cutting companies and at the end of the process awarded the
work to Speedy based on our past performance, ability to
properly man the job, our commitment to manage the project
and the different methodologies we offered in case our
original plan of line drilling/snapping  wasn’t going to meet
their time line. 
We put together a team to start the work that included, Tevin
Lindsey, Tom Rhoades, Noah Walton and James Daniels from
Orlando. The Fort Lauderdale operators included Cameron
Jeff and Garfield Johnson.
Joe Kenney, District Manager was onsite directing the work, and we ultimately determined that a chainsaw,
score cutting and chipping method was going to expedite the work.  We used HEPA Vacs to control slurry and
dust during work and had larger 4 WD scissor lifts brought in to provide a more stable platform.  We were
faced with several setbacks due to stoppages of work for testing of new hydraulic piping systems, delaying us
for hours and even loss of an entire day at one point.  Despite delays beyond our control, and a somewhat
slow start trying for the best methodology, Speedy once again, “Exceeded Customers Expectations”,
finishing our work days before the end of our two week timeline. Thank you to all who made this a success.
Well done!

NOTABLE PROJECT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT

www.iveysconstruction.com Ivey's Construction, Inc. offers a full range of services “Speedy did a great
including General Contracting, Construction job.  It was a difficult
Management, Design Build and AISC Advanced Steel
schedule and they
Erection. Ivey’s is capable of self-performing all phases of steel erection, brought in
heavy rigging, rebar, concrete, carpentry, metal framing, and drywall.
reinforcements from
SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  15 other offices to meet

our (Ivey’s
Construction) needs to

keep the project on
time.  You guys came
through for us in a big
way and we are very

satisfied”
- Doug Garrett
Ivey’s Construction

#StopTheSpread

Physical
Distancing 101

SOURCE: WHO

Stay away from mass gatherings.
Keep a distance of 6 feet or 2 meters – about one
body length – away from other people.
Avoid touching other people, and that includes
handshakes.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |16 Physical distancing slows
down the spread of the

coronavirus, which keeps
our resources available to

those in need.

#StopTheSpread 01

Proper Wet your hands
hygiene stops before applying
the spread of
the virus. soap.

Handwashing 101 02

Bring your palms
together and rub
soap all over the
palms and backs of
your hands, including
between the fingers.

03

Wash your hands for
at least 20 seconds.

04

Wipe your hands
with a clean towel or

paper towel and
avoid rubbing too

vigourously.

Source:
World Health
Organization

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |17

CITY BY Jose Rivera for WalMart
THE BAY

The first quarter from the City by The Bay had started out stronger than any year before. Although, the
Coronavirus pandemic has altered our path slightly, we are thankful to be an essential business and even
more thankful that our employees and their loved ones have remained well and safe. Our hearts and
thoughts go out to our Nation and all of those who have been so deeply affected by the Covid-19 Virus.

Jason Spinks While a lot has changed about the world around us, so
has the face of our new dump truck driver. Speedy
SPEEDY SENTINEL   |   18 would like to welcome new hire Dino Salinas.
Dino will be taking over as our dump truck
and bobcat operator. The Operators he has worked
with thus far say he shows a good, strong work ethic
which has been hard to find especially when filling that
position. Dino, we are glad to have you on-board and 
hope you have a long career with us. On the job front,
January and the first half of February Kris Weimern and
Cliff Hughes were wrapping up the Sutter Roofing job in
Tampa which is our Notable Project this quarter. Dave
Horrell has been slab sawing for Prince Contracting on
the I-75/SR-60 Project in Brandon which consists of saw
cutting close to 100,000’ lineal feet of 4” asphalt and 10”
concrete slab.

Jason Spinks, Brad Anderson, Chris Smith, Dennis Harper and Dave Horrell have also just finished
the first of six phases working on the TIA Runway Project for GLF Contracting. The scope is saw
cutting 26,000’ and core drilling 100 @ 24” diameter holes all in the 18” and 24” taxiway slab.
Ray Solis and Clifford Hughes have also just started a nice job for The Conlan Company in
Ocala. The TPA-6 Project scope is for cutting and removal of 50 dock leveler walls 10’ wide x 2’ tall in
8” tilt walls. This is the perfect job for Ray to get his practice hand-sawing and chain-sawing now that
he is out on his own. Jose Rivera has also just finished the cutting of 44 dock leveler walls for ARCO
Murray on the Centerstate Project in Lakeland.
Lastly, Juwan Wilson has been keeping up with multiple service work jobs and we are glad to have
the work coming in.
To our customers and friends, we appreciate you calling on us for work. We hope all is well and that
we get past this soon. Until next time!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |   19

TAMPA NOTABLE PROJECT

SUTTER ROOFING - TOWER PLACE

Speedy Concrete Cutting, Tampa has been keeping the blades spinning in the Bay Area.  In November of
2019 the Tampa office was contracted by an existing customer, Sutter Roofing, for the Tower Place project
that was kicking off before the new year.  The project was a little bit out of the ordinary for our operators
but we welcomed the opportunity and our team stepped up and made it happen.  The scope of work
consisted of saw cutting and hand removing 6,100 square feet of a 4” to 6” thick nonstructural topping slab
on the 10th floor of a high-end office building.  Mind you, this 4” to 6” slab was not a lightweight concrete
that is typically used on a roof slab. The slab had wire mesh reinforcement toward the bottom of the slab. 
The slab to be cut and removed was on eight non-functional balconies that had very limited access from the
inside of the building.  Once we got on site, the real fun began. 
On our walk through with
Sutter Roofing and the building owner's reps we realized what
kind of access we would have for our equipment and the
removal of the concrete and slurry generated from wet sawing. 
Out of the eight balconies that wrapped around the building only
4 of the smaller balconies (12’ x 12’) actually had windows that
opened and could be used for the access and removal process. 
The customer also had some requests that were somewhat out of
the ordinary to keep their customers and clients happy and working through this challenging scope of work.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  20

To start, they wanted this done as a night job. From Monday through Wednesday (6pm to 6am) and then
transitioning to days (6am to 6pm) on the weekends when the tenants were off of work and the
building was vacant.  That seems like a pretty good working window, but the customer also had to have time
in that 12-hour window to "dry" the building back in.  So, in other words whatever we cut and removed that
night or day, the Sutter Roofing team had to install a temporary roofing system right behind us.  That, in turn
brought our 12-hour working window down to a 6-hour working window.  The challenges were really adding
up now, but that was just the tip of the iceberg.  Our next challenge was getting the concrete and slurry off
the balconies, down the service elevator, and into the dumpsters at the loading docks.  Sutter Roofing had to
connect the balconies with a system of decking and ramps that was roughly 100’ off the ground. 
The concrete had to be hand removed over another ramp through the windows that led into finished office
spaces of multiple attorneys.  From there it had to be hand carted down the hallways of finished spaces and
then down the elevator to the dumpster.  Sounds like a simple process but let me
assure you, it was very challenging and time consuming to get just one piece of concrete out of the building,
let alone 6,100 square feet.  Slurry control was also a challenge that consisted of wet vacuuming up the
slurry each night, dumping it into 5 gallon buckets and hauling the buckets back to the shop where we could
dispose of it.  All while keeping the hallways and finished offices spotless.  Granted the
customer had some good floor and wall protection in place that was maintained throughout the course of
the job with minimal maintenance because of how clean our guys were being.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  21

In order to meet the customers completion schedule we
had to average 200 square feet of concrete per shift. 
That’s 200 square feet of 4” to 6” concrete on the 10th
floor balcony to cut and hand remove while also keeping
up with the slurry in a 6-hour window.  That is a daunting 
task for operators working slab on grade, let alone on
the 10th floor of a building with a maze connecting the
work to the dumpster.  Kris Weimern, Cliff Hughes, and
Joe Kenney took the bull by the horns on this one and
knocked it out of the park.  We did sub out a few laborers
from one of our other customers Cross Environmental to

get the debris into the dumpsters.  I cannot thank Kris and Cliff enough. They maintained a great attitude,
kept the job on track and held tight to the timeline.  Joe Kenney, District Manager also kept pushing the
pace in order to complete this job in a timely manner.  Sutter is finishing up with the new roof and soon the
job will be complete on their end.  We built a good relationship with Sutter Roofing on this job and I’m sure
they will continue to use our services in the future. It was a project worth noting!

NOTABLE PROJECT GENERAL CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT

One of the oldest and largest roofing and sheet "I just wanted to take a moment
metal contractors in Florida and the U.S., Sutter to thank you and your team for
Roofing remains at the forefront of the roofing the great job you did on the
www.sutterroofing.com industry. For over 115 years,  Tower Place project . Your
our dedicated employees have built the company’s reputation by providing
high-performance commercial roofing systems, quality work, superior communication and cooperation
customer service, and the latest technological innovations. with our staff were impeccable
and your dedication on getting
the job done with the schedule
allowed was second to none . I
would not hesitate on referring
your services and would look
forward to working with you
again if ever needed"
-Joseph Buchanczenko
Operations Manager

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  22

Prevent the spread of COVID-19 in

7 STEPS

01 Wash your hands frequently
02 Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
03 Cover your cough using the bend of your elbow

or a tissue

04 Avoid crowded places and close contact
with anyone that has fever or cough

05 Stay at home if you feel unwell
06 If you have a fever, cough

and difficulty breathing,
seek medical care early
— but call first

07 Get information from
trusted sources

SOURCE: WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |23

WE ARE JACKSONVILLE

The Office of Choice is At Your Service!

Greetings from The Office of Choice - Jacksonville. We are very thankful for the great first quarter we had in the
freezing winter season. Even though it was winter, we did not slow down at all, I must say that we had more
than our fair share of work. We are welcoming the spring season in with great anticipation here in Jacksonville.
The freeze is over, the trees are springing forth, and again the signs of new growth, which bring forth
prosperity are here. The mission of Speedy Concrete Cutting of Jacksonville is to develop a new breed of
motivated, professional, skilled and loyal concrete cutters as the face of this new generation.

We would like to welcome back Jason Lowery to the Company,  he returns
with 12 years of experience adding to the outstanding line up of
Operators. His expertise will be highly appreciated here in the "Office of
Choice".  We also welcome Dave Francis who transferred from the Fort
Lauderdale Office. Dave Francis joins our team with 11 years of experience
and is ready to rock.

Dave Francis

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  24

We are working on several projects
here in our City. Richard Francis is on
the Brasfield & Gorrie job working for
Armstrong Air & Heat, core drilling
(700) 2”-6” diameter cores in 11”
hollow core slab. Richard shows great
leadership and professionalism in
keeping this project profitable. We
have Tim Speeks core drilling at the
Residence Inn Project in which they
have to core drill (205) 2”-6” diameter
cores in 8” thick hollow core slab on
each of 8 floors.
Jayson Lowery along with William Knapp are at the “Church of Eleven 22 Project" where we are cutting for the
General Contractor Bradley Bowen. They have removed over 12,000 square feet of 6” thick S.O.G and over
700 square feet of 12” thick CMU wall helping the customer to keep up with their tight schedule. Tim Braxton
and Elston Moorer are also very busy trying to keep up the ever demanding service schedule.

We tip our hats to the very hard-working employees that are here in the "Office of Choice". I know we have a
long way to go before we get to the end of the year, but I am trusting that all will be well, and I am wishing all
a very productive year. Until next time, STAY FOCUSED.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  25

NOTABLE PROJECT

Kesean Young & Kyle Emrick JAX

KAJIMA BUILDING & DESIGN GROUP - UPS

With the many projects that the Jacksonville office is engaged in, we have decided to point out Kajima Building

& Design Group (KBD), the General Contractor for the UPS Warehouse Expansion, as the Notable Project.

The UPS Warehouse here in Jacksonville has been undergoing several expansions for some time now.

Speedy has been working on this project for several different sub-contractors for over a year. We were asked

to bid on the door enlargement section of the project for KBD and was awarded.

Speedy Concrete was able to meet the contractor demand to supply supervision for track saw and the
removal of 189 door enlargements  (8’ x 6’8” x 9” thick to 9’6” x 9’ x 9” thick) and haul off site. The work was
bid by Jacksonville Sales & Estimator, Jared Tindall, who now oversees the day to day operations of this
project. We have some of the best talent on this job. We would like to say thank you to Kesean Young, one of
the wall saw Operators who is going all out to overcome the heavy reinforced concrete wall. His skills and
patience have been put to the test. We also would like to say thank you to Kyle Emrick for showing his
expertise in wall saw, chain saw and running the lull for the removal of the door enlargements.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  26

NOTABLE PROJECT

This job is a test of the character and determination of the
cutters. The walls are heavily reinforced with double mat 6”
on-center.

Despite all the difficulties that we are facing, the press for
meeting the schedule is of vital importance. Our crew is
pulling out every trick of the trade to keep this pace going.

We are very thankful to KBD Group for giving Speedy
Concrete Cutting of Jacksonville the opportunity to showcase
the great company that we are.

Kyle Emrick

NOTABLE PROJECT CONTRACTOR SPOTLIGHT

https://kbd.group/ We are leaders in providing the highest value of construction services for our
clients. With our headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, we have been designing and
constructing facilities in the United States since 1964. 

Our diverse project experience and core values highlights our company’s versatility
and passion for what we do.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  27

COVID-19 BEST PRACTICES

OPERATING AS AN ESSENTIAL BUSINESS

Speedy Concrete Cutting is a proud part of
the construction industry. As an “Essential
Business” during this Public Health Crisis, we
have developed a tailored COVID-19
Prevention, Exposure and Preparedness
Program.
In the past few weeks, we have changed the way we approach our daily work and
life. Best practices like social distancing, limited contact and increased PPE's for
employee safety have been adopted to help reduce the spread of Covid-19 and to
keep our people safe.
This article will share some of the more valuable steps we are taking as a company
in hopes that it will inspire others to think creatively, proactively and in their
employee's best interest. As you roll out plans to keep your essential workers safe, be
sure and share them online and through social media. We are all in this together!

OPERATIONS

In operations, we have developed a more robust and rigorous cleaning schedule for
our property, tools, vehicles and equipment. We have increased our PPE offering by
providing nitrile gloves / face masks above and beyond those required under our
Respiratory Protection Program and Silica Exposure Requirements.

Human Resources is supporting our essential personnel through provisions, policies and
procedures during this unprecedented public health emergency

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |28

We have armed each employee with hand sanitizer, an alcohol based cleaning
agent for their daily use and have ensured ample time for cleaning and preparing
job sites at the start and end of their shifts.

We have limited the use of company vehicles to transport more than one person
at a time in observance of social distancing. We have trained and educated our
entire workforce on Covid-19 and our Emergency Plan.

We have advised all employees to keep Social Distancing practices up even during
lunch breaks, sub meetings, toolbox talks and in their personal lives.

We have reminded them that they are the authority on safety and can call a Stop
Work into dispatch anytime the conditions present a threat to their health and
safety.

We have revised hours of operation and have deployed a staggered start time and
wrap up time that limits the number of employees onsite at once.

All of our Operators are being screened for temperatures daily as they get
dispatched right from their vehicles to limit hand to hand contact. We are
maintaining a visual check on their overall health and well being.

Office staff are also being screened for temperatures multiple times per day. We
have closed our doors to guests, vendors and all non-essential visitors. We have
created virtual department offices on Google in order to keep our teams working
and communicating efficiently.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |29

TELEMEDICINE

In partnership with our occupational health care providers at
Concentra, we have been able to successfully launch our workers
compensation telemedicine protocol. Providing care without the
elevated risk that comes along with being seen in clinic has been
a game changer during the Covid-19 pandemic. Employees have access to care 24x7
and can schedule a virtual visit with trusted clinicians we know locally. At Speedy
Concrete Cutting, we are forward thinking when it comes to physical therapy.
Keeping our approach front and center, we have even been able to offer TeleTherapy.
The capacity for service has exceeded our expectations during this public health
emergency and we will likely continue to engage in the Concentra Telemed Services
for rechecks, MMI visits and when employees decline medical attention. Using
Concentra Telemedicine is a win-win and a great way to enhance and respond to the
need for exceptional and timely care during this Public Health Crisis.

As part of our Benefit & Compensation package,
all employees and their dependents are given
Employer paid membership to TelaDoc.
The program allows for all employees, despite their enrollment onto our medical
plans, access to quality care 24x7 using the TelaDoc app or website.

Speedy has offered this benefit for several years now and the true value has really
taken shape as employees and their loved ones have needed medical advice and
Covid-19 screenings. As an employer, it has been an exceptional tool for us to utilize
as part of our return to work program for absences that included fever, cough and
anything that may have been illness related. Teaming up with Teladoc and
Concentra both have been really critical to managing our employees health and
ensure they were getting practical, sound advice from medical professionals.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |30

FAMILY FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |31

TEAMWORK

We’ve all heard it, “teamwork makes the dream work”. The saying holds true in all
aspects of life: sports, relationships, and within the workplace. Speedy Concrete
Cutting is one large team broken down into four smaller teams: Fort Lauderdale,
Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville.

Within each location there are smaller teams that work collaboratively with one
another. For example, at the operations level, there is an experienced operator and
trainee team. The dispatchers work with operators to ensure productivity and safety.
The accounting group works together to ensure our collections, payables, and
receivables, are managed and to keep records of our assets. The HR dynamic duo is
responsible for all employee benefits, onboarding, terminations, employee injuries,
and even this newsletter.

All teams collaborate to make the Speedy mission and vision come to life.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   32

Why is Teamwork Important?
Teamwork is so important because simply put,
one person cannot do it alone. The African
Proverb states that “If you want to go quickly,
go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.
In other words, as a team we will succeed.
Working together as a team helps to highlight
strengths of teammates and highlight
weakness that can be worked on offering
opportunities for growth and development.
Working as a team also allows you the
opportunity to learn from one another.
Teamwork fosters creativity by creating a comfortable environment to brainstorm
and discuss topics that may inspire new ideas. Teamwork creates a healthy
competition and accountability. Overall, teamwork is efficient work. Tasks get
completed faster when split up amongst a team and one person does not feel
overwhelmed with the amount of work that needs to be completed.

The Keys to Teamwork
A key component of teamwork is communication. Communication is one of the
most important aspects of teamwork. The problem: everyone communicates
differently. Incorporating different communication styles is imperative to ensure
that every voice is heard. Organization is also a key component of teamwork. It is
crucial to create a timeline and goal-oriented tasks that have deadlines. Being
adaptable is a critical characteristic of teamwork. Teammates need to be able to
overcome obstacles and changes in priorities rather than getting frustrated and
giving up.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |33

TEAM WORK

Making an Effective Team
 In order to make an effective team, the following components must be evident:

 
Safety: Teammates feel comfortable to voice their ideas, comfortable to be
vulnerable and are comfortable to learn

Dependability: Team members are dependable and are able to depend on
their teammates   
 
Structure and clarity: Clear roles, plans, and goals
  
Impact: Team members feel that their work matters and they are part of
something that is bigger than themselves

Utilizing Teams
Although we are part of our individual teams within our departments it is important
to remember to reach out to other teams as well. We are all a part of the Speedy
team and must work as a unit to succeed.

Feel free to reach out to Speedy’s HR team for any questions you may have.
If we do not know the answer, we are always willing to offer a helping hand in
finding it.

GO TEAM SPEEDY!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |34

Keep Our
Workplace Safe!

Practice good hygiene Limit meetings
and non-
Stop hand shakes and use non-contact essential travels
greeting methods
Use video conferencing instead
Clean hands at the door and schedule of face-to-face meetings
regular hand washing reminders
When video calls are not
Disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, possible, hold your meetings
tables, and desks regularly in well-ventilated rooms
and spaces
Avoid touching your face and cover
your coughs and sneezes Suspend all
non-essential
Increase ventilation by opening travels and
windows or adjusting air conditioning trips

Stay home if... Take care of your
emotional and
You are feeling sick mental well-being
You have a sick
family member at Outbreaks are a stressful and
home anxious time for everyone. We're
here to support you! Reach out to
SOURCE: CDC.GOV [email protected] anytime.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |35

480-VOLT

power unit

Our company currently uses 480-volt equipment on a daily basis.  We have different types of 480
powered equipment mostly utilized to eliminate harmful fumes caused by diesel- and gas-powered
units or saws.  We also utilize this equipment to reach areas that are beyond the distance capabilities
of our hydraulic diesel and gas powered or PTO driven power sources.  
Most of the time we supply our own power source for our equipment using a generator, there are
times where house power is our only option.  Using house power is when the contractor will install a
pigtail into an electrical panel prior to our arrival. Like in the Fort Lauderdale Notable Project at Pratt
and Whitney!  480-volt equipment and power sources are a must for a professional concrete cutting
company.  This equipment gives us the ability to complete just about any scope of work. There are
many added safety concerns to be aware of while operating 480 powered saws and power sources. 

All electrical boxes must be sealed and kept free of moisture, water and electricity do not mix
All plugs must fit together properly and lock.
All cords must be properly insulated and free of any cuts or damage to the insulation. 
Electrical tape is not a fix for damaged or cuts to the cord’s insulation
Cords should be inspected daily

480-volt motors are reversible, they will spin clockwise and counterclockwise depending on how
they are wired. Once you have all connections inspected, check the rotation of the unit you are
using. 

Our 480-volt powered equipment can run clockwise or counter clockwise (forward or
reverse).  Make sure the piece of equipment you are operating is in neutral or the flow is off.  The
rotation can be checked by quickly bumping the start button on, and then off. You only have to
run the unit for a second, watch the arbor shaft or motor shaft, for a clockwise rotation.  Most of
the 480 equipment we own, operates in a clockwise rotation.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |36

1.    Most of our 480 equipment operates consistently
with the proper rotation.  However, when we work on
projects using house power the way the competent
person wires our cord into the power source may not
match the wiring in our cords. This will cause improper
rotation.  If the rotation of the motor is incorrect it will
cause a slab saw to transmission and arbor to
run in the wrong direction.  The saw will travel
backwards when moving the handle that controls the
movement in a forward position.  For a power unit, if
the motor is running in the wrong direction there will
not be any hydraulic flow to your tool.

2.    If the equipment you are using is not running in
the correct rotation, it can be easily rectified;
Disconnect power to the saw or unit.
Open the switch box on the piece of equipment.
Following the cord coming out of the switch box, you
will see a white, black and red wire hooked to the
switch gear. Switch the red and black wire coming into
the switch box from the cord.  This will change the
rotation, be sure to switch the wires back upon
completing the job.  If an electrician is available
onsite most of the time, he or she will gladly help you.

 3. Please remember it is your responsibility to follow proper procedure by documenting all mechanical
issues with a piece of equipment you turn in.  Please don’t take these suggestions lightly, when you are
assigned a 480-volt powered piece of equipment.  Check the cords and connections and check the
rotation of the equipment.  This will help keep you safe from injury or damaging hydraulic spills.  Please
check with your supervisor or shop foreman if you hand any questions regarding the proper operation
or troubleshooting of any equipment that may be new to you.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |37

Partisan

POLITICS

Now is the time for us to stand as one. Now is the time for us to be who we are, and who we have shown
the world to be, one nation united under God, indivisible as Americans who can do anything and beat any
challenge that faces us. Now is not the time for partisan politics. We have been very, very fortunate here at
Speedy Concrete Cutting. Our boards have remained full for the most part, and even though we are
economizing to brace for the oncoming financial storm, no one has had to suffer catastrophic economic
loss. But Americans are suffering, and suffering greatly. The hospitality and food service industries have
already taken tremendous hits. One restaurant group has already shed 80% of its total workforce (Union
Square Hospitality Group). Unfortunately, my fears are that this will get much worse before it gets
better. One needs to look no further than the closed doors of your favorite pub or eatery to see clearly
that many, many more of our fellow Americans will be out of work.
The US Congress is currently playing tennis with a bill that would give immediate aid to those in the
greatest need but, as has become the status quo, our politicians are focusing on partisan games rather
than on serving the American people. What started as a fairly simple, but hugely expensive bill at $1 trillion,
has grown to 1,200 pages of side bars and pork projects and nearly doubled in cost.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   | 38

The “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act’’ bill, or the ‘‘CARES Act,’’ as it's called, is designed to
provide immediate relief to those hit hardest by this pandemic and to keep public systems operating
through the crisis. Some of the key benefits and components of the bill are:

Direct payments to the American people; $1,200.00 per individual, $2,400.00 per couple and $500.00
for every child.
$350 Billion in relief for small businesses
$250 Billion to bolster unemployment insurance
$100 Billion in immediate aid to the overrun hospital systems.
$4.5 Billion to the Center for Disease Control
$11 Billion for vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics, and other preparedness needs.
$20 Billion each for the Veteran’s healthcare system and public transportation emergency relief.

US Senator Chuck Schumer, D-New York,  says that the bill does not contain enough safeguards to ensure
that the monies would go to the American worker, and NOT be used by large corporations to secure their
own stock or pay outlandish bonuses to CEOs and board members. You won’t hear me say this often, but
he’s right! This was a huge problem with the Obama year’s bailout, large corporations used funds to
purchase their own stock before the price was inflated from the bailout funds. But he’s only telling you a very
small part of the story.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   | 39

Democrats are using this emergency legislation to force adoption of some of their more controversial and
ideologically driven priorities rather than working together to do what’s right at a time of great national
emergency. Even if it did pass the Senate in its current form, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California,
won’t bring it to vote unless those items, completely unrelated to the coronavirus emergency,  are
included. Some of these items are:

Use of funds to cover private union pension debt and the use of taxpayer money to fund private
union pension plans through investment in the stock market.
A requirement of airline companies to give a seat on their board of directors to a union member and
new emission standards for the airlines including full carbon offset by 2025.
A provision to provide federal funds, via taxpayer dollars, to forgive the debts of the US Postal
system (most of which are a result of their bankrupt pension system) even
though postal workers are considered essential and will not experience a work stoppage.
An expansion of the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to apply to smaller employers.
Expanded tax credits and incentives for wind and solar power manufacturing companies and
contractors.
And of course, $1Billion to build on and expand the program that provides discounted phone service
for low-income consumers (the “Obama Phones” program).

Senate Republicans and Democrats did have a tentative agreement on the bill before Pelosi, arriving
back to Capitol Hill from recess, said she would introduce her own legislation. Of the Democrats’ efforts
to add non-coronavirus items to the bills, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, said, “They ought to be
embarrassed. This is no time for this nonsense.”

SPEEDY SENTINEL   | 40

"Today, 102 Americans died while the Democrats blocked
consideration of this bill," said Senator
Ted Cruz, R-Texas, "One Texan died while this chamber
decided not to show up for work and do their job."
Both the promise and the dysfunction of American politics,
and insight to this repulsive game being
played was perhaps said best by former Obama Chief of Staff
Rahm Emanuel; “You never let a serious crisis go to waste.
And what I mean by that (is) it's an opportunity to do things
you think you could not do before.”

To illustrate that point (and this one is really scary); Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-South Carolina, said
the coronavirus crisis is “a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.”  That is a quote.
In other words, this pandemic gives good cover to impose progressive bureaucracy on an American
people facing a devastating financial and health emergency.

I AM NOT saying that Democrats are the only ones to play these games during times of crisis, they are
not. But, every time the country faces a crisis, real or perceived, there is a rush in Congress to pass
massive bills that go far beyond responding to the matter at hand. These phonebook-sized emergency
acts are too long and detailed for any legislator to read and fully comprehend, but you can bet they are
stuffed with gimmicks, giveaways, sweetheart deals and ill-advised policies with no bearing on the crisis
itself. What I am saying is this; DO YOUR HOMEWORK! If you watch the mainstream media you won't hear
any of this stuff. Do your research online (but do be careful what you read there), visit the congressional
websites, look at the bills these people are trying to pass, read the voting logs and for God’s sake, KNOW
WHO YOU ARE VOTING FOR!
Until next time I wish all of you and your families and loved ones the very best of health. Be safe.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   | 41

THE BOTTOM LINE ON MONEY MANAGEMENT FROM THE MONEY LADY

LIST YOUR DEBTS
You’d probably rather get your eyebrows plucked. Or pick lint off a moist towel. But being honest with your debt is a
necessary step to improve your financial situation. Take a deep breath and pull back the curtain. It might be unpleasant
and a little scary. But you’ll want to sit down and make a list of your debts that include lenders, the amount of money
owed, and interest rates.

TRACK YOUR SPENDING
While there are a lot of things out of our control — including the gender pay gap and wealth inequality — you can focus
on what you can control. For instance, take a look at your harmful spending patterns and the last few months of your
bank statements. This will help you see exactly where your money is going.

ASSESS YOUR SAVINGS
You might be thinking: How can I possibly save when I can barely cover my bills, or there’s debt looming over my
head? So, start small and make it simple. Make your savings goal $50 or $100. To make it even more simple, set up
automatic savings. By setting a savings goal on autopilot, this will help you keep on track.

CREATE A BUDGET
The word “budget” can be a turn-off, as it can sound a lot like dieting and deprivation. But it’s really about being
vigilant with your money and spending habits. Coming up with a spending plan doesn’t have to be a tedious affair. The
hardest part is figuring out your spending in different areas — groceries, eating out, clothes, personal items, household
items, and so forth. After you get a clear picture of your spending habits, you can make some long-lasting tweaks.

TALK ABOUT IT
Part of money stress comes from bottling up feelings of shame, guilt, and embarrassment. Hashing it out with a trusted
pal or family member might help ease the burden you’re shouldering.

The bottom line: By following the suggestions here, you may notice an improvement in your financial stress. And, by
facing your money woes head-on, you’ll be able to take steps to improve your financial situation.

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  42

FROM THE CONTROLLERS DESK

We are expecting a great Q1, our net revenue for all
combined locations year to date through February 2020 has
increased by 17% compared to 2019. Hitting a five year high
in sales! A Notable Project that helped drive sales this year is
the work done at Tower Place in Tampa for Sutter Roofing.

The good news in this case is that construction is considered
essential and we have not had to stop production. Having
consistent production will help balance the increase in
expenditures directly related to the Corona Virus.

Currently we are in the process of purchasing more Brian Dunn, Duwon Johnson & Tim Lee
sanitation materials, investing in additional PPE's and
ensuring the financial well being of our company and people
during this difficult time.

In other news we have recently purchased two new
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Vans that are nearly done being
refurbished and will be sent to our Jacksonville & Orlando
offices. Our R&D team have done a fantastic job and we
thank them for their expertise and teamwork fabricating
these for Speedy!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |  43

COMBATING THE VIRUS

This month’s safety article focuses on the Coronavirus pandemic. The YOU CAN FIND THE LATEST
federal and local governments, the WHO, Americans from all walks of INFORMATION AND UPDATES
life and we here at Speedy Concrete Cutting, are closely monitoring
the outbreak and spread of COVID-19 and should be following the ON THE SPREAD OF
latest guidance from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). COVID-19 BY VISITING THE

This is a stressful time and we all want to know what we can do to CDC WEBSITE AT
protect ourselves and our families in these times of uncertainty. WWW.CDC.GOV/COVID19
Unfortunately what we don’t know in this situation can hurt us and it is
in everyone’s best interest to err on the side of caution when it comes THE WORLD
to exposure. Luckily the best defenses against this virus are simple HEALTH ORGANIZATION AT
and inexpensive to employ and center on cleanliness and common
sense practices. WWW.WHO.INT
THE RED CROSS AT
Below are some everyday steps, as recommended by the CDC, that WWW.REDCROSS.ORG
we at Speedy Concrete Cutting can take to lessen the chances of OR THE RED CRESCENT
exposure. In addition to these steps, everyone should stay informed SOCIETY’S SOCIAL MEDIA
about what’s happening in your local community and always follow the CHANNELS ARE ALSO
directions of state and local authorities. EXCELLENT RESOURCES FOR
UP TO THE MINUTE NEWS.
BE SMART AND BE SAFE!

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |44

LIMIT THE SPREAD OF Clean and disinfect frequently touched
GERMS & PREVENT surfaces daily. This includes tables,
INFECTION doorknobs, light switches, handles, desks,
computers, phones,
The CDC recommends the following keyboards, sinks, toilets, faucets and
steps to help prevent the spread of countertops.
germs during this situation.
If surfaces are dirty, clean them - use
Stay home if you can and avoid detergent or soap and
gatherings of more than ten people. water prior to disinfection.

Practice social distancing by keeping a Wear a facemask if you are sick. You
distance of about six feet from others if should wear a facemask when you are
you must go out in public. around other people (e.g., sharing a room
or vehicle) and before you enter a
Wash your hands often with soap and healthcare provider’s office.
water for at least 20 seconds,
especially after being in a public place, According to the CDC, COVID-19
or after blowing your nose, symptoms include fever, shortness
coughing or sneezing. of breath and a cough. Symptoms may
appear 2-14 days after exposure. Call
If soap and water are not readily your doctor for medical advice if you think
available, use a hand sanitizer with at you have been exposed to COVID-19 and
least 60% alcohol. develop symptoms.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact with people who
are sick. Stay home if you are sick,
except to get medical care.

Cover your nose and mouth with a
tissue when coughing or sneezing;
throw used tissues in the trash. If a
tissue isn’t available, cough
or sneeze into your elbow or sleeve,
not your hands.

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WHO IS AT HIGHER RISK?

According to the CDC, early information shows that some people are at higher risk of getting
very sick from this virus.

This includes older adults and people who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart
disease, diabetes and lung disease.

If you are at higher risk for serious illness from COVID-19 because of your age or a serious
medical condition, it is extra important for you to take actions to avoid getting sick.

Stay home as much as you can and avoid crowds as much as possible. Take everyday
precautions to keep space between yourself and others.

When you go out in public, keep away from others who are sick, limit close contact and
wash your hands often.
Stock up on supplies.
Contact your healthcare provider to ask about obtaining extra necessary medications to
have on hand in case there is an outbreak of COVID-19 in your community and you
need to stay home for a prolonged period of time.
If you cannot get extra medications, consider using a mail-order option.
Be sure you have over-the-counter medicines and medical supplies (tissues, etc.)
to treat fever and other symptoms. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at
home.
Have enough household items and groceries on hand so that you will be prepared to stay at
home for a period of time.

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#StopTheSpread

Talking to your kids about the

Coronavirus

Don't be afraid Be Let them talk
to talk about developmentally about their
the coronavirus. appropriate. worries.

Most children would have heard Try answering their questions Be open and invite them to
about the virus or seen people instead of volunteering too much discuss what they may have
wearing masks. This is your information as this might be heard and how they feel.
opportunity to keep them overwhelming.
informed and set the tone.
Stick to Manage your
Focus on what Routine. own anxiety.
they can do to
keep safe. School might have been shut When you notice yourself feeling
down so it's up to you to keep anxious, take time to calm down
Help your kids feel empowered your kid's day structured. before trying to have a
by teaching them what they can Create and stick to schedules conversation or answering your
do to keep safe. Show them how for mealtime, study and play. child's questions.
to wash their hands or how to
sneeze properly.

Sources:
www.who.int
www.cdc.gov

SPEEDY SENTINEL   |47

SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL BUSINESSES IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY 

In January The SilverLogic Group hosted a events
panel discussion on Technology &
Innovation In The Construction Industry. POSTPONED

Todd Barna & Ves Marinova, of iCC were Our events have been postponed till further notice due to
asked to speak on the topic alongside the COVID-19 pandemic. We are looking forward to
distinguished guest Adam Eric Richards, bringing everyone together again soon.
Partner at Katz Barron, a firm specializing
in construction law. iCC encourage our members to engage in the world of
technology and embrace it's impact on our industry! 
At the event the panelists addressed Construction now more than ever has to quickly adapt into
contract law, how technology is changing the virtual world.
the way construction companies do
business, decoding digital information in Social distancing = virtual closeness! Connect with us as we
construction and setbacks on projects. All stream live interviews with GC’s and Subcontractors in the
in attendance agreed that the topics were coming weeks. Learn more about , how essential businesses
both timely and thought provoking. in construction are navigating the COVID-19 crisis.

Todd Barna noted that ..."while not much To help you stay connected,  visit our member site at
has changed in the way of tools and www.iconstructconnect.com. We recently added a Face
practicality when it comes to concrete Book member’s group. and are encouraging all members to
cutting, the infusion of technology used to join. You can join the group here: 
power critical functions like improving https://www.facebook.com/groups /iConstructConnect.
safety, connecting to clients and
maintaining an efficient business model
has been revolutionary."
...
"The Speedy Concrete Cutting that I run
now compared to The Speedy Concrete
Cutting run by my father, company
founder, Donald O. Minnick, is very
different when it comes to technology and
the ability to mine data and forecast for
our businesses success for years to come."

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