Matt Hoying: “These guys were all cold… but they are the ones with the thermostat in their pod.”

If you’re in west Ohio like Choice One, we don’t need to tell you it’s been cold lately. Jacqueline has been bundled up in borrowed blankets, we haven’t seen Mike G. take off his coat in days, and  now, we have (l-r) Adam Kremer, Justin Puthoff, and Kyle Siegrist huddling up together sporting hats and gloves indoors.

The three gents in the photo have been hard at work designing projects, but apparently, typing and clicking a computer mouse doesn’t get the blood pumping enough to keep warm in recent frigid temperatures. Hence the hats and gloves. What might help? Turning up the heat on the thermostat, conveniently located just over their shoulders on the wall of their pod.

Winter doesn’t last forever, and in the meantime, perhaps Justin can regale everyone with his fond memories of sweltering summer days to thaw their spirits. If nothing else, it’s nice to know that teamwork—whether it be to discuss a complex grading plan or to generate warmth—can help bring everyone a little closer.

Choice One Website: “This person will prepare topographic survey data for design, focusing on detailing CAD drawings of existing site conditions.”

At Choice One, we’re always looking for the right people to join our team. In our excitement for these new team members, we thought we’d use Artificial Intelligence to help us picture someone in the role!

We’re currently looking for an AutoCAD Technician in our Sidney office, so after putting the job description into Microsoft’s Copilot (and making sure the output included a green shirt!) we were given the featured image. At first glance, this might be a great way to visualize a CAD Technician at Choice One. Then again, we’re a little concerned that she has a few pencils for fingers, clearly no one can spell, and all the Choice One employees in the background look like clones.

While this particular attempt to use AI may fall a little short, we’ll continue exploring new ways to imagine the future of Choice One. For sure, we will keep green shirts around and allot at least two coffees per person, but maybe we’ll make sure our future AI counterparts have learned to spell… ideally with human fingers.

Everyone at Choice One: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!”

Click here to view enlarged images.

How do you get 78 people to smile for the company Christmas card? Bribery, of course!

We at Choice One hope you had a very Merry Christmas and wish you the very best in the New Year. May 2025 bring lots of joy, good health, and great success!

Happy Holidays from Choice One Engineering!

Wes Goubeaux: “So… is Kyle cold?”

With Christmas just around the corner and the weather turning colder, sometimes we need to get creative to stay focused and warm. Kyle Siegrist decided the best way to concentrate AND keep warm was to put his jacket on his head. (And yes, this would be the same jacket that Kyle’s son Gideon “found” again and again.)

We promise the heat is on here, but “warm” is relative. While Kyle might be cold, others are too warm. So we all compromise, and Kyle compromises by not only throwing on a jacket but using the same jacket to focus on his work. Others here have battled the cold with “work mittens” or coats in July, while some have beaten the heat by “sharing” the AC and strategically placed fans. And we can’t forget the practical Megan and her method of keeping her feet dry. Bags on feet = jacket on head, right?

Perhaps Kyle is starting a cold weather Choice One Christmas trend with a jacket on his head. Who knows what other “innovative” solutions we might come up with next… Stay tuned—next Christmas, we might all be sporting the latest in unconventional winter fashion. Because if there’s one thing Choice One excels at, it’s making the uncommon a little more in style.

Jacqui Kunzi: “We couldn’t have a chili cookoff without cheese coneys!”

While passion around Choice One for Skyline Chili is hit or miss, our annual, companywide Choice One Chili Cookoff gave the folks in the Loveland office an opportunity to add a Skyline tradition of cheese coneys to their taste-testing. Because, of course, what’s chili without a side of hot dog smothered in cheese?

As the competition heated up, the day was filled with the delightful aroma of simmering chili and the sound of people pretending to enjoy each other’s cooking. But let’s be real: who needs a well-crafted chili when you can drown it in cheese and oyster crackers?

Nothing says “gourmet cookoff” quite like a hot dog. So, as we enjoy this Thanksgiving Day weekend, let’s raise a coney to good food, great company, and too much cheese. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Becky Puthoff: “I’m looking forward to finding out which Puthoff is the best employee!”

While administrative professional Abbey Swick is on maternity leave, we called in some backup to help out. So the next time you call in, you may be greeted by Becky Puthoff (left) or Amanda Hoying (right). Considering we already have a couple of Puthoffs around the office, Becky’s idea of finding out which Puthoff employee is the best is the kind of office competition we can all get behind.

Becky, we have no doubt that you will be the best Puthoff employee. Justin has his hands full with his movie star aspirations, and Jeff is busy trying to keep up with at least two of the other three Jeffs, so we’re all assuming that you will shine. And let’s face it, even the office plants are silently rooting for you, too—they appreciate any help with their watering schedule.

The next time you call, don’t hesitate to say hello and welcome Becky and Amanda. We’re grateful for their support—here’s to a team effort during Abbey’s leave. And remember, Becky, the competition for the best Puthoff is fierce, but we’re pretty sure all but two of us are cheering for you!