SL Q1 NewsletterLO

AUGUST 2019 VOL. 1

THE SNYDER LANGSTON

INSIDER

SNYDER LANGSTON INSIDER AUGUST 2019 | VOL. 1

In this Issue Better Communication =
Better Results
Better Communication
A letter from Jason Rich, President & COO
= Better Results: A
What do we do when we are at our very best? This is something I’ve had to
Letter from Jason Rich, ask myself many times in order to manage challenging situations towards a
successful outcome. More often than not, communication is at the root of our
President & COO: 1 achievements. It is not always what we say or do that sets us up for success, but rather
how we communicate it, both verbally and physically.
Employee Focus: Exceeding

Expectations for your

Clients & Peers 2

Knowing my Client: 3 In-Person Communication is Key
Avenida Partners In this digital age, it can be easier to send a quick email or text message, but what
many don’t realize is how much more effective in-person communication can be when
Do the Right Thing When building relationships. This makes the recipient of your message feel more important
and valued.
No One is Watching:
Be Clear and Concise
B.R.I.D.G.E. Team to the Whether we’re in meetings, in the hallway between meetings, or on a job site, we’re
always communicating something. It’s important to practice brevity and clarity in all
Rescue for JDRF 4 communication. The story goes that if you ask someone to name all 7 Dwarfs, they
typically only remember two or three, and it varies which names they remember.
What it Means to be a However, if you ask them to name the 3 stooges, they generally name all 3 very quickly.
Leader at Snyder Langston The moral of this story is to communicate two or three key points clearly and they will
5-6 likely remember what you’ve said. If you give them more information, they will likely not
remember it. This communication strategy gives you more control and makes you more
Master this Skill: On the effective.

Road with SLU 7

60 Years in the Rear View Drop the Judgment
Driven to Succeed {Looking Any time you’re communicating with someone, try to drop any judgment or preconceived
back at 1959-1974} 8 perceptions and come to the table with a positive attitude and an open mind. With this
foundation, your conversation will likely be more productive and lead to your desired
Great News! SL Team 9 outcome. A great book that emphasizes this point is “Miller’s Bolt” by Thomas Stirr.
Member Milestones
Snyder Langston has 60 years of success in large part due to our team’s ability to build
and sustain meaningful relationships. The quality of our communication determines this
success. As a company, we are committed to continue our tradition of strong relationships
and positive, effective communication, both internally and externally. Thank you for all
your efforts to deliver on this commitment.

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SNYDER LANGSTON INSIDER AUGUST 2019 | VOL. 1

EMPLOYEE FOCUS:
EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR CLIENT & PEERS

With to-do lists that seem to be Project Manager Danny Sumner is down to committing to what you say
constantly growing, it can be currently running Culver West, having you’re going to do and delivering the
difficult to fathom the idea of previously worked on several jobs for final product to the best of your abil-
taking on even more tasks in order to the residential division. Under Danny’s ities.
go above and beyond in the workplace. leadership, the team achieved two Step 2: Go Beyond Your Job
That being said, the winners of this key milestones ahead of schedule: Description
year’s Exceeding Expectations Award podium top-out and framing top-out, Rather than waiting to be told what
at Snyder Langston’s Annual Meeting which generated additional fee bonus to do, take the initiative of completing
have done just that. on the project. Danny’s continued tasks that don’t necessarily fall under
Jose Lopez and Danny Sumner know pursuit of managing to the owner your job description. There is always
what it takes to do more than simply agreement has resulted in successful more to be done and you might sur-
tackling daily to-do lists. Jose is a negotiation of significant delay time prise yourself in terms of how much
proven team-player, most recently added to the construction schedule, you can accomplish. This “wow” fac-
on the Irvine Spectrum renovation as well. tor is something teammates appreci-
projects and the Icon Sign Tower Congratulations on a job well done, ate, and employers seek.
in San Clemente. He was recently Jose and Danny. We interviewed both Step 3: Remember, Someone is
promoted to Senior Project Engineer, and have identified a few key insights Always Watching
but wears many hats on his jobs. on how others can achieve excellence. Hard work doesn’t go unnoticed and
He is always willing to chip in where Step 1: Do Your Job, and Do it the results speak volumes. While
needed: whether that’s helping the Well a pat on the back shouldn’t be your
Coordinator update logs, acting as It is important to take matters into motivation in putting your best foot
Superintendent, or making phone your own hands and remain diligent – forward, don’t be surprised when you
calls for our estimating team. He work hard to keep projects on sched- begin to receive positive feedback.
brings a positive attitude and thirst for ule and communicate with your team
knowledge to his role, making him an to avoid misunderstandings. It comes
asset to the Optym division.

Jose Lopez Danny Sumner
Senior Project Engineer Project Manager

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KNOW MY CLIENT: AVENIDA PARTNERS

At Snyder Langston we are preconstruction services provided for Design Elements
serious about our Brand communities in Illinois and Tennessee, The preconstruction team spent
Promises: our commitment to Snyder Langston was awarded their countless hours with the owner and
exceed expectations, plan excellence, Palm Desert project. Our current team their design consultants, determining
do the right thing when no one is uses knowledge gained from our past the most valuable design elements to
watching, and “make it happen.” Our experience with this owner, along the client and their targeted demo-
5th promise is to “know our client.” with information learned during the graphic. We implemented Target Val-
Snyder Langston recently broke planning of the Palm Desert project to ue Delivery, and other recommenda-
ground on Avenida Partners’ latest emphasize what is important in both tions while maintaining owner intent
residential community in Palm process and product, to proactively and increasing the perception of Sny-
Desert. Once completed, Avenida resolve issues before they have the der Langston as a valuable member of
Palm Desert will be an active lifestyle opportunity to adversely affect cost the development team.
enclave for residents ages 55+ and or schedule: Budget Control
will feature 161 apartments along Design Schedule Target Value Delivery was developed
with resort-inspired amenities. On previous projects, designs were on an aggressive design schedule and
Through our construction submitted late. At Palm Desert, Sny- initial GMP was established very ear-
management work and reputation as a der Langston led team meetings with ly, allowing the project team to estab-
Trusted Advisor for our client, Avenida all design entities ensure the sched- lish design parameters and effectively
Partners, on a project in Colorado and ule remained on track, and designs manage the budget that was estab-
for amenity spaces started early. lished during design development
drawings.

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DO THE RIGHT THING WHEN NO ONE IS WATCHING

JDRF Playhouse Build

B.R.I.D.G.E. Team to the Rescue! materials and worked tirelessly on a underwent a pancreas transplant. The
tight 3-week timeline to complete this family includes two young daughters
Snyder Langston recently project, valued at $30,000: who were thrilled to learn of the gift
partnered with Brandon • Advanced Framing Structures – and look forward to its delivery via
Architects to build a one- crane!
of-a-kind playhouse for auction at Take off and purchase of lumber
JDRF’s (Juvenile Diabetes Research • Classic Customs Inc. – Framing Snyder Langston is grateful to have
Foundation) Dream Gala. The • Harris & Ruth – Painting and staining played a part in making this family’s
playhouse was initially designed in • CMF – fabrication and installation day a bit brighter.
December 2018, but a builder had
yet to step forward to construct it. of metal roofing
Shawnna Fisher, who sits on the Dream • Charles McCandless Tile – Brick
Gala committee, learned of JDRF’s
challenge and knew Snyder Langston veneer on fireplace
could help. Cue the B.R.I.D.G.E. team • Premier Developing Services Inc. –
who coordinated subs and logistics to
finish the job! Siding and carpentry
• Seeley Brothers – Finish Carpentry
Snyder Langston would like to thank
our subcontractors and suppliers who The dream-come-true playhouse
stepped up and donated time and was auctioned to a local family for
$11,000. One of the family members
has Type 1 Diabetes and recently

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SNYDER LANGSTON INSIDER AUGUST 2019 | VOL. 1

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LEADER AT SNYDER LANGSTON

By John F. Rochford, Chairman & CEO

In a series of articles, I would learn” or the trait of curiosity. Once baseball where there is only one first
like to share with you some selected, developing leadership takes baseman and one shortstop on the
insights on the behaviors, traits, time, diligence, and commitment as field. When the ball is hit to a player,
and actions you can use for being an one refines their skills through a long it’s his job and his job alone to field
effective leader at Snyder Langston. process of trial and error. The process it and “make the play.” From Snyder
After all the years that academia has is often accelerated when thrust into Langston’s perspective, our goal is
studied leaders, I find it interesting one of life’s challenging experiences to staff our company with “best in
that a universal definition for that requires immediate leadership. class” individuals at every position
Leadership does not exist. The effort Often referred to as a crucible and then develop their leadership
continues today, as evidenced by the for learning, these highly intense and technical skills so each person
number of books and articles written situations forge leadership traits such is prepared to execute their role at
each year, advancing new ideas that as empathy, humility, and respect the highest level and to be ready to
reveal what it takes to be an effective that can shape how you choose to assume more responsibility when an
Leader. The theories range from lead for years to come. There are, opportunity presents itself.
being born with the “Right Stuff” to of course, many other traits such as To identify the skills and behaviors
attending expensive weekend training reliability that are needed for effective necessary to support Snyder
programs to get the “Right Stuff.” We leadership, and we will identify those Langston’s business strategy, we
have yet to find a “born Leader,” nor traits in later articles, but these first crafted our “Brand Platform” and
have we found a weekend program to four traits are foundational. “Trusted Advisor Matrix” which
transform someone into a Leader. At Snyder Langston, we typically can be found on the back side of
What we have found works best is operate in small, but highly effective our annual business plan. We rely
to select high potential candidates teams where each member has upon these documents to train and
who already have, or can learn the a specific role, and usually there guide our actions. We have found
required traits, and then develop is no one else on the team who these behaviors and processes that
their leadership capabilities through can provide on-call guidance or make-up these two documents
a combination of job assignments and assistance. This structure requires consistently create success and meet
training programs. To be considered that every member of the team the expectations of our clients, trade
high potential, the individual must have the necessary leadership and partners, and design professionals
have an “unquenchable thirst to technical skills to effectively execute with whom we work. Starting with the
their job while collaborating with foundation, we begin our Leadership
other team members who are relying discussion with Vision, Values,
on those results. An analogous Purpose, and Culture.
situation would be a team sport like

At Snyder Langston, we typically operate
in small, but highly effective teams where
each member has a specific role . . . This
structure requires that every member of
the team have the necessary leadership and
technical skills to effectively execute
their job while collaborating with other
team members who are relying on those
results.

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WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A LEADER AT SNYDER LANGSTON

(continued...)

Vision They are as follows: and Achievement which fits nicely
An effective leader will know their with our company’s values, and this
passion and establish a vision of their Exceed Expectations alignment has indeed supported my
future consistent with that passion. I take responsibility to know my goals 35-year tenure with Snyder Langston.
At Snyder Langston, our vision is and exceed them with integrity. Additionally, this alignment gives
“Renowned for being an exceptional me confidence in how to plan and
builder who is called upon by elite Build Relationships organize my work so I can efficiently
clients at the earliest stages to be a I build trusting relationships by being meet and exceed the expectations of
Trusted Advisor and guarantee success responsive, respectful and reliable. all my stakeholders.
of their most critical projects.” This
vision statement defines our business Develop Expertise When our Vision and Values are
objectives and communicates to I develop my potential by converting wrapped in Purpose: Building with
everyone where we want to take the curiosity into knowledge. Mastery, it defines our Culture which
company. supports our business strategy. As
Comparing our individual values to the Peter Drucker once famously said;
Values company’s values informs us on the “Culture eats strategy for lunch.”
Snyder Langston is a values-driven level of fit between our natural work At Snyder Langston, our Culture is
company, and it is our values that sets style and the behavioral expectations defined as being a Trusted Advisor.
the boundaries for our behavior at of the organization. For example, In future articles, we will build a
work. Over time we have narrowed my personal values are; Honesty, Leadership Model based upon our
down our list of values to the vital 3. Knowledge, Responsibility, Resiliency, Brand Platform and Trusted Advisor
Matrix.

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MASTER THIS SKILL: ON THE ROAD WITH SLU

Snyder Langston University Launches 3rd Year & Roadshow Tour

For 2019 the Snyder Langston employees are required to attend Visit the 2019 Snyder Langston
University (SLU) team has a course in Quality, and operations University Course Catalog for detailed
added a number of new personnel must attend a Safety class. information regarding your particular
courses, new topics and expanded Optional SLU additions include more requirements, a complete list of
our pool of instructors to include than a dozen “How To” tutorial videos courses with descriptions of each, and
members of our Executive team and and can be found on Paycom. registration instructions. The catalog
LA-based personnel. Offerings include as well as the updated 2019 SLU
both soft-skill and technical subjects. SLU has also expanded geographically! calendar resides at D:\Administration\
Executive team members will facilitate Dave Stelter and Lee Watkins are SLU\Colleges (Course Catalog or SLU
technical courses, covering topics such leading the Schedule Management Calendar).
as structural steel and stairs, rough Roadshow Tour, a course focusing on
carpentry, roofing and waterproofing project schedule updates. Schedule Questions or comments? Contact
and HVAC, among others. Software Management and a variety of safety Teresa Humphrey or George Loynd.
courses in Bluebeam, SmartBidNet, classes taught by Ray Renneker will
and Google Sketch-up have also been be offered at jobsites throughout
added. Southern California. Several required
and elective technical courses will be
In total, the SLU curriculum has taught at the El Segundo and Pasadena
increased by 15 programs. All offices this year.

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SNYDER LANGSTON INSIDER AUGUST 2019 | VOL. 1

60 YEARS IN THE REAR VIEW
Driven to Succeed: From Car Dealerships to Industrial Buildings

{Looking Back to 1959-1974}
It was 1959. Gas was 35 cents a
gallon and office rent in Costa Thanks to the early leadership of Complex, primarily for the Irvine
Mesa was $90 per month. Don Snyder and Bill Langston, Snyder Company. Snyder Langston continues
Langston has grown from primarily great relationships with all three firms
Orange County’s namesake orange an auto dealership builder to the 45 years later!
groves dominated the landscape company’s current role as a Trusted How did Snyder Langston achieve
and Don Snyder and Bill Langston Advisor and Master Builder. Snyder
joined forces to form what is now Langston’s growth is due to what this impressive growth in its first
Snyder Langston. With Don managing can only be explained as a powerful 15 years? Gayle Jones – who was
building processes and Bill focusing drive to succeed and a focused, client- brought on board in 1961 to support
on sales and client relationships, the centered approach to project delivery. Don and Bill in office services and
team offered design-build services for Building on their success in the auto contract administration, and was
auto dealerships, building more than sector, Snyder Langston began to later named partner - believes the
100 dealerships in their first decade in expand their assignments to include success of the firm is primarily due to
business. Naber’s Cadillac on Harbor a variety of projects in the industrial the team’s strong roots and ability to
Boulevard was completed for just over category. By 1974, the firm had adapt. “From the beginning, Bill and
$666,000 (cost plus 10% including teamed-up with architect partners Don were completely focused on the
supervision and management.) Bill’s client and this set the standard for
vision to develop a long-term clientele Leason Pomeroy and Associates the entire team,” she says. “Snyder
by offering preconstruction services (LPA) and Ware Malcomb on several Langston was, and continues to be,
in addition to construction services projects and was working on multiple the whole package.”
was yielding results! buildings in the Irvine Industrial

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GREAT NEWS! EMPLOYEE MILESTONES

New Hires Baby Boom

Snyder Langston has successfully secured a number The SL family is growing and 2019 looks to be a banner year! Please
of new projects and is staffing up accordingly. congratulate the Gottfried, Allen, Lopez, Lapka and Abergas families
on their new arrivals.
Please welcome our 2019 new hires, and if you are Kelsey and Gavin Gottfried started the year with a new bundle of joy: Kai
at their site, stop by and say hello. Nakada joined the family on January 2nd 5:39 a.m. and weighed in at 7lbs
13 oz.
Genevieve Rodriguez, Sr. Project Coordinator- Noah William made his debut 5 weeks early on February 1, 2019, weighing
Pasadena 4lbs 5oz and measuring 18 inches long. Chris and Fabiana Allen welcomed
Kevin Zhu, Project Manager- Silverado T.O. him home after 5 weeks in the NICU. Everyone is doing great and little
Lisa Oakes, Marketing Manager- Irvine Noah is growing like a champ, currently weighing over 12lbs!
On March 10th, Adam Lopez and his wife, Rebecca, welcomed baby
Superintendents Vincent Adam Lopez into the world. Baby Vincent weighed in at 7 lbs 2 oz
Christopher Cleary - USC and 20 1/4 inches long.
Darren Wyre - Lankershim + Otsego Lauren and Shane Lapka welcomed their second daughther, Leah Rose,
Gilbert Carrillo - Northridge Apartments into the world on May 10th 8:28am weighing in at 5lbs 10 oz.
Jared Brook - Shea Northridge Rob and Kristen Abergas welcomed their second bundle of joy, Blake
Ron Adkison - Avenida Palm Desert Wong Abergas, on June 7, 2019, weighing 7lbs 15 oz.
Scott Burroughs - Silverado Thousand Oaks
Shawn Wilson - Boardwalk Cafe Kai Nakada Gottfried Noah William Allen Vincent Adam Lopez
Victor Gonzales - MacArthur Court Reinvestment January 2, 2019 February 1, 2019 March 10, 2019
Cristina Ramirez (Asst. Super.)- Samueli Academy

Project Engineers
Eric Boyd (Sr. PE) - The Senator Hotel
John Radich (Sr. PE) - Shea Northridge
Layth Alsaad (Sr. PE) - Silverado T.O.
Ian Morton - District at South Bay
Kelsey Frazier - Lakeshore Plaza
Ryan Shanks - Culver West

Interns
Alexis Canas - Avenida Palm Desert
Christopher Widin - Lakeshore Plaza
Daniel Balsam - Chinese Garden
Grant Wempner - Samueli Academy
Keagan Coyne - Evolve South Bay
Kyle Broccardo - Mission Viejo MOB
Luis Diaz - Lankershim + Otsego
Reynaldo Soriano - 649 Lofts & Joshua House
Health Center

Leah Rose Lapka Blake Wong Abergas
May 10, 2019 June 7, 2019

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GREAT NEWS! EMPLOYEE MILESTONES

(continued...)

Milestones CPromotions
ongratulations to our newly promoted team members. Best wishes in
Happy anniversary to our employees your new roles, and thank you for your dedication and commitment to
celebrating 5 and 15 years with Snyder Snyder Langston.
Langston:
Alex Penman Ben Martin Carl Evans
15 Years Assistant Project Manager Assistant Project Manager Assistant Project Manager
John Gunther, Vice President- Optym

5 Years
Alan Wardin, Senior Project Manager
Michael Calkin, Superintendent
Lee Watkins, Vice President, Healthcare
Wendy Ballam, Sr. Project Engineer
Chad Divine, Project Manager
Diana Ramirez, Technology Coordinator
Jerelee Latcha, Project Manager
Chelsea Kahle, Asst. Project Manager
Juan Lozano, Asst. Superintendent
Renee Little, Accounts Payable Coordinator
Colleen Pierce, Risk Management
Coordinator
Jason Muir, Superintendent

Chelsea Kahle Erik Bruner Jose Lopez
Assistant Project Manager Project Manager Sr. Project Engineer

Kelsey Gottfried Marcos Del Toro
Assistant Project Manager Assistant Superintendent

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