VMW Spirit Award Winners 4th Quarter 2023

This award highlights five nominations that best exemplify each of the core values.

Build Trust – Jimmy Zibelin (SA). A client’s facilities maintenance workers mistakenly activated long-unused valves near our jobsite, causing water pressure to unclog old, existing, broken sprinklers on our job site. Jimmy promptly stepped up to address the issue, wading through water and mud for two days, identifying and patching numerous leaks while searching for a resolution. On the third day, he located a valve that was rusted shut. He dug below the valve to cut and cap the main line, resolving the issue for the client. Jimmy’s quick thinking saved the client a significant amount of money and maintained the project’s schedule. The client and their facilities manager praised Jimmy, highlighting the trust and strong client relationship he had built through his effective problem-solving.

Be Professional – Joey Clepper (A). Shortly after the completion of the University of Texas at Austin Hogg Memorial Auditorium Renovation project, our client faced a high-pressure situation when tasked with hosting an event featuring a long list of notable political speakers and guests. This important event required a perfectly prepared venue and the implementation of specific security protocols. Despite having reached substantial completion on the project, the team, led by Joey, volunteered to provide onsite assistance in preparing the auditorium and coordinating the event. Joey ensured the HVAC system was performing correctly, confirmed power availability for the audiovisual and lighting systems and coordinated with Secret Service officials on proper door hardware and security measures. A crisis emerged just before the event as the University’s routine fire alarm test disrupted audiovisual and lighting systems. Joey quickly reset the fire alarm system, averting the crisis and ensuring the seamless progress of the event. Joey’s swift action, professionalism and commitment to excellence made all the difference on that crucial day.

Live Teamwork – Amanda Gonzalez (SA). Amanda is always eager to help her team, setting an example of excellence with her work ethic and positive attitude. She takes on tasks with a dynamic approach to keep work and progress flowing, regardless of the amount of time or effort it will take. She is always available to stop and help craft professionals and others on the job site. Additionally, she goes above and beyond her duties on the jobsite, using her knowledge to mentor students once a week with the ACE Mentor Program at Warren High School and direct courses for SpawGlass University. Amanda recently adjusted her scheduled PTO and worked during the holidays, sacrificing her personal time to allow her teammates to spend time with their families. In these examples and many others each day, Amanda defines our value of living teamwork.

Be Passionate – Carlos Villegas (C). Carlos has been a reliable team member and key contributor to the Civil Division, especially on one recent challenging project. He has made numerous sacrifices of his time, working nights and weekends when necessary and even staying overnight to monitor subcontractor activity. In one instance, he corrected a critical issue that could have caused costly damage when he went by the jobsite on the weekend and noticed that a road plate had moved and exposed a 4-foot trench in an active travel lane of traffic. Carlos immediately took action, flagging traffic to avoid the hazard and calling his direct supervisor to assist in resolving the issue. His dedication and hard work were integral in successfully completing the project.

Think Like an Owner – Jeff Wilson (GT). Jeff took on the difficult task of quality control documentation for structural repairs on a complex historic restoration project. He created a catalog and system for documenting every repair on each structural element throughout the building. This database will house thousands of photos of repairs made, documenting compliance with the stringent structural specifications at each step of the process. Jeff’s efforts will protect both SpawGlass and our client by maintaining a living record of the process to restore structural integrity to the 100-year-old building.