Ryan Lefeld: “Next!”

Not long after we settled into our new Sidney office, Funding Specialist Kaye Borchers noticed a steady stream of “patrons” gathering around the pod where Project Manager Ryan Lefeld had somehow become the unofficial main attraction.

To bring order to the chaos, Kaye—no stranger to creative solutions for celebrity coworkers—built an official “I Need to Talk to Ryan Lefeld” Waiting Room to serve Ryan’s many visitors. Within hours of the waiting room’s opening, Choice Oners were inside, engaging in spirited disagreements about who was actually next—despite the literal numbered slips designed to prevent exactly that.

And Ryan? He fully embraced the bit. Whenever someone approached, he delivered a confident “Next!” as though this system had always been part of office protocol. In classic Choice One fashion, what started as a simple observation turned into a fully operational and surprisingly competitive queuing experience. One thing is certain: when the need arises, our team is always ready to find a solution—sometimes even before we realize we need one.

Nick Selhorst: “Do you think it’s bad luck to step on the carpet logo?”

Superstition may be nothing new to Choice One, but the logo on our Sidney office carpet is. Installed just a couple of weeks ago, it was one of the finishing touches on our move to Campbell Road—and another clever, eye-catching design executed by master mover Brian ‘Barney’ Barhorst.

Megan Bornhorst’s answer to Nick’s question was a resounding “no.” She even stepped squarely on the C to dismiss any lingering superstitions and demonstrate that no hopping, skipping, or jumping would be required to reach the adjoining coffee bar.

Moments later, Megan dropped the empty coffee pot after refilling her cup and then spilled creamer all over the floor. Since coffee is no joke around here, the mishap felt like a bad omen. Thankfully, the spill didn’t reach the carpet, sparing her from both the carpet curse AND Barney’s wrath!

Since the incident, Megan has revised her answer to Nick: “Maybe there was a little bad luck, but it’s gone now!”

Come see us at our new space!
2633 Campbell Road
Sidney, OH 45365

Lilly Barhorst: “If I sounded bossy, it’s because I was channeling my inner Barney.”

If you missed it, our Sidney office moved locations last Friday. Lilly, who is Brian “Barney” Barhorst’s super awesome daughter, oversaw moving day with the precision execution of her dad, no matter what the peanut gallery had to say.

After moving both our Loveland and Sidney offices this year, we’ve learned a few things:

1. Engineers can move offices without drafting a 47-page maintenance of traffic plan. It was just 12 pages, for the record.
2. Loveland now has a pond, which is great for engineers to casually calculate storage over lunch.
3. Sidney now has a second floor. It’s currently empty but is echoing with possibilities to grow.
4. Bathrooms. So many bathrooms! No more waiting in line after meetings.
5. More parking, and plenty of space for the occasional foot race.
6. More green and purple. Our brand colors are now even more everywhere—walls, chairs, maybe even your subconscious.
7. Moving twice in one year builds character. And proved that teamwork can move mountains—especially if Lilly’s in charge.

2025 sure kept us busy. Here’s to 2026: fewer boxes, more great projects to design, and maybe a koi fish for that pond. Or a second-floor trampoline. We’re flexible.

Happy New Year from Choice One Engineering!

Jeff Puthoff: “There is only one Christmas song outside the traditional carols that matters: Elvis’s ‘Blue Christmas.’”

If you’ve seen our holiday card this year, you know it’s not your average piece of folded paper. It’s got flaps, elves, and a giant gift (containing a QR code) riding in a green truck. Because what’s more 2025 than holiday cheer scanned directly into your smartphone?

Scan that little square and you’d uncover our very own Choice One Christmas song, which is part of the festive Choice One Christmas playlist at this link. Sure, we could’ve gone with the classics—“Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night”—but let’s be real: the only song that truly matters (at least to Jeff) is Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas.” Forget the gifts, the lights, the cookies—Elvis is sad.

So, while you’re humming along and wondering if a green truck full of elves is street legal, know that we’re grateful for another year of laughs, projects, and plenty of green-shirted ridiculousness. Here’s to a playlist—and a mindset—that keeps the holidays bright all year long. After all, the only thing blue this Christmas should be the suede shoes! Merry Christmas from Choice One!

Merry Christmas from Choice One!

Inquiring Mindsets: “What are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?”

We asked Choice Oners about some favorite Thanksgiving traditions. The result? Pure Thanksgiving science!

Traditions:
Football + Naps: Apparently, Thanksgiving is just a warm-up for the Super Bowl of sleeping. If you’re not horizontal by 3 PM, you’re doing it wrong.
Macy’s Parade: Casey Reichert enjoys “too much” coffee while watching. Casey, can there really be “too much” coffee?
Uncommon: Parker Barhorst and his family share sardines in mustard sauce right out of the can. Parker, is this a cry for help? Blink twice if the sardines are holding you hostage.

Favorite Foods:
Pie, Pie, and More Pie: Mitch Thobe kept it simple—just “Pie.” Respect.
Grandma’s Stuffing with Raisins: Matt Lefeld, are you sure? Raisins? In stuffing?
Bread and Butter: Dane Sommer is living on the edge.
Sardines Again: Seriously, Parker, we’re worried.

Thankful For (Beyond Family):
America’s Team: Brian Barhorst is thankful for football, even if it’s the Dallas Cowboys.
GPS in Tractors: Justin Puthoff is living in the future while the rest of us are still trying to find the gravy boat.
Choice One Engineering: Chuck Kluener and Max Scherch win the heartwarming award for reminding us we’re all lucky to work together—even if one of us loves sardines.

In summary, Thanksgiving at Choice One is 40% football, 40% food, 10% naps, and 10% wondering why Parker eats sardines. And overall, we’re 100% grateful—because when it comes to gratitude, we’re truly stuffed. Happy Thanksgiving!

Dillon with D.R. Horton: “Kyle, I have a tip for your caddy work tonight: Don’t quit your day job.”

The D.R. Horton Orange Team (l-r): Dillon Houk, Brad Anderson, Choice One’s Kyle Siegrist, and Missy Smith.

 Last week, Choice One hosted its annual Loveland Charity Cup, and this year’s theme was Mini-Golf Masters. Choice One employees stepped into the role of caddies, and it’s clear that Kyle was doling out advice with the confidence of a seasoned pro but the application more on par with us “beginners” in the golf simulator a few weeks back.

Forget windmills—this course was all about precision shots that could make a surveyor sweat. Contestants faced tricky angles, hazards, and the awkwardness of using a traffic cone as a putter. The champions? Forest Park, proving that mini-golf glory doesn’t require PGA credentials—just nerves of steel and maybe a lucky bounce off a 2×4.

Yet the real hole-in-one wasn’t on the course—it was in the generosity of our clients and friends. Together, we raised over $21,000 for Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank and the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati. That’s the kind of scorecard we actually care about.

Kyle, keep the caddy gig for laughs, but maybe stick with designing subdivisions for the job security. Thanks to everyone who came out, laughed hard, and gave big. See you next year, where the theme may be new, but Kyle’s advice will still be…questionable.