Connor Sperdute: “How deep is the pond?”

If you missed it, our Loveland office recently moved to a new building—complete with a scenic pond just outside the windows. The pond offers peaceful views, the sound of trickling water, and, most importantly, a perfect excuse for a wager.

As frequent designers of similar retention ponds, we couldn’t help but wonder: how deep is it? What started as casual curiosity quickly escalated into a full-blown competition. Guesses were collected, doughnuts were promised, and the stakes were set. With a tape measure in hand, Troy Niese led the official measurement, while Rob Pressel provided moral support (and a flotation device). After some careful maneuvering and minor splashing, the official depth at the edge of the pond was revealed: 2.8 feet.

The farthest off? Brian Schmidt at 11 feet, as he unfortunately guessed the depth at the middle of the pond. A bold strategy—but not the right one. The result? Brian bought doughnuts for the office, and the rest of us got to enjoy the sweetly glazed taste of victory. Turns out, the pond isn’t that deep. But our competitive spirit? Bottomless.

Troy Niese: “I wish we had gotten a picture of how much water Michael Seeger got on himself while trying to hook up the coffeemaker.”

A couple of weeks back was moving day for our Loveland office. After six years on Glendale-Milford Road, the Loveland crew packed up and moved four miles up the road to Tri-Ridge Boulevard. Our new digs include more space, a cool water feature in front of the building, and, thanks to a thoroughly soaked Michael Seeger, a coffee station that now leaks only caffeine, not embarrassment.

Now, we at Choice One have a long and storied history of overcomplicating the simple act of connecting a coffee machine. Past attempts have included six trips to the hardware store and at least one incident involving duct tape. This time, we skipped the hardware store—but not the waterworks. Michael’s pants stayed wet for at least six hours, which is either a testament to his dedication to drinking coffee or a bold new take on business casual.

Despite the splash zone, the move was a success. The team is settling in, the coffee is flowing, and the floors are [currently] dry. We knew that the new location came with a water feature, but Michael’s contribution made it interactive. Thanks, Michael. You brewed it beautifully.

Brian Barhorst: “200 donations just kinda started as a friendly competition to reach 10 gallons.”

Long-time Choice One designer Brian “Barney” Barhorst recently hit his 200th lifetime blood donation. That’s right—two hundred. For context, that’s enough blood to fill a small kiddie pool, or, more practically, to help save an estimated 600 lives. No big deal, right? 

What began as a casual challenge among peers has turned into a decades-long commitment to giving back. While most of us are still trying to remember our blood type, Barney has been quietly and quite literally rolling up his sleeve every chance he gets, reminding us that not all heroes make headlines—some just show up in a Choice One polo and make saving lives look like part of the daily routine.

 Of course, Barney’s not in it for the glory. He’s in it for the granola bars, the occasional t-shirt, and the knowledge that he’s made a difference—600 times over. Thank you, Barney, for your dedication, your generous spirit, and your iron-rich veins. You’ve set the bar high—and the blood pressure just right.

 Read about Barney’s generosity in the Sidney Daily News here: https://www.sidneydailynews.com/2025/06/20/minster-man-makes-200th-blood-donation/

Justin Puthoff: “The race will be at 3:00pm. Please let Nolan and Slim know how excited you are!”

A few weeks back, engineering co-op Nolan Siefring (middle) and engineer Isaiah “Slim” Winhoven (right) were challenged to compete in a 40-yard dash organized by Justin Puthoff (left). Why? Because nothing says “engineering excellence” like a footrace in business casual attire.

Neither Nolan nor Slim was particularly eager to participate. In fact, both probably hoped that an “important meeting” or “urgent CAD update” would materialize at 3:00pm that Friday. Alas, their calendars were mysteriously cleared by someone [ahem, Justin] with administrative access and a love of spectacle. Tension was high. So were the odds that someone would fake a cramp to avoid

embarrassment. In the end, Nolan prevailed with a convincing victory and bragging rights.

 

This event now joins the hallowed halls of Choice One “athletic” history, alongside such legendary competitions as Cotton Ball Shotput, Charity Cup Bucketball, Sledgehammer Golf, and Pop-a-Shot P-I-G. Because at Choice One, the only thing more competitive than our need to turn everyday life into extremely competitive events is our engineering. Congrats, Nolan—may your victory be long remembered, your stride forever admired, and your inbox never again contain an office-wide calendar invite labeled “mandatory athletic demonstration—back parking lot.”

 

Want to see other Choice Oners faceoff in a footrace? Let us know!

Inquiring Mindsets: “What’s something you never expected to say… and then you worked at Choice One?”

Kole Egbert: “Frizz didn’t fall into the water, but he did slide down the muddy hill on his backside…”

Click the enlarge.

Our field surveyors get lots of opportunities to get wet, but this wasn’t one of them for Craig “Frizz” Frilling. If it looks like he’s standing in the water in the photo, look again… he’s not! Official career score – Frizz: 1, Water: 364.

Surveying in the field isn’t just about collecting data—it’s about collecting experiences. And if you were to follow Frizz or the other Choice One surveyors, you know they have a bingo card full of “experiences”:

• Truck stuck in mud
• Honked at by a passing car
• Caught on Google Earth
• Wore earplugs to drown out cicadas
• Sunburn in March
• Curious Dog
• Burrito recommendation from a stranger
• Chased by a goose
• Played Marco Polo in the woods to find coworkers
• Dodged lawn sprinklers
• Starred in “feature” film

Bingo? For sure—but we’re pretty certain Frizz is working toward a cover-all. Frizz didn’t fall in this time, but the mud made sure he didn’t leave clean. Slid down a hill? Check. Almost fell in? Check. Got the shot? Always.