Choice Mindsets

Megan Bornhorst:
“I ❤ MJH *Try really hard not to punch him.”

Megan once used this physical note to reminder herself that “MJH” (Matt Hoying) is still loveable, even when teases her about things like using paper to go paperless. Hey, sometimes it takes a reminder to break habits.

• There are a few of us with notes referencing the digital RGB color mix for Choice One Green (R=130, G=188, B=0 in case you want the secret recipe).
• Field Surveyor Jim Niergarth has a post it that reads “leave the keys,” reminding him to leave the survey truck keys at the office when he goes home. Forgetful Zach should stop reading others’ Post-Its.
• Brittany Clinehens once had the note “Jeff Kunk = Survey,” reminding 2010, new-to-Choice-One Brittany who took survey/staking calls (which was Jeff back then). Now our survey schedule managers are Ryan and Jesse, which gives us the equation “Jeff Kunk = Ryan Francis + Jesse Waggoner.” Not sure whose feelings that equation hurts the most…

Our Post-Its definitely indicate our priorities around here. And we would argue that many are truly essential—like Jonathan Whitesell’s: “Make sure you laugh at Jeff Puthoff’s jokes. They probably won’t be funny, but it will make him happy!” Reminders break habits, indeed!

Zach Borchers:
“Once you do it once, you’re the expert.”

Inquiring Mindsets:
What was a memorable summer vacation for you?

	Dane Sommer, Roadway Engineer	We went to the beach every year, but I don’t recall what we did at the beach. What I do remember is removing the middle seats of our Ford Aerostar van so we could lie on the van floor and following where we were going on the paper road atlas.
	Jacqueline Huelskamp, Landscape Architect	My family once stayed in remote cabin in Canada. The cabin did not have electricity and had three large bunk rooms. My brothers and I thought we could sleep in separate rooms from our parents but ended up scaring ourselves so much we all ended up in the same bunk room.
	Adam Gill, Traffic Engineer	When I was about 8-years-old my extended family went on a cruise. We kids all got to run around together without much supervision and the only rules were “don’t get lost” and “don’t jump off the ship.”
	Casey Reichert, Wastewater Engineer	My parents loaded up our Oldsmobile Silhouette and took us through a drive-thru safari. The giraffe put its whole head through the open driver side window. It was terrifying.
	Michael Seeger, Site Engineer	I was 3 or 4 years old when my family went to Badlands National Park in South Dakota. I fell down and busted my knees open—I still have faint scars on my knees. So at that age I was pretty stuck on the fact that the Badlands were BAD.

Lexy Yohey:
“I don’t think that is how a keyboard works.”

Nick Sanders:
“I don’t have a snappy quote for a Mindset, but I do have great GMAE socks.”

Our friends at Garmann Miller Architects & Engineers (GMAE) are at it again, just being generally awesome. When site engineer Nick Sanders was injured in a car crash earlier this year, they sent him a “speedy recovery” basket of goodies, which included some socks in at least one familiar color. (Nick has been recovering well, thankfully, and can now probably add some to the impressive tally of hardware sported by Choice Oners.)

 

Thanks, GMAE, for helping to keep Nick smiling during a challenging time—it’s partners like you that make our work fulfilling and fun beyond just survey and design. Did we mention GMAE and Choice One were both awarded national best firms to work for awards by ZweigWhite? Maybe it’s because both firms value a positive, fun, hardworking company culture. Or maybe it’s our shared love of the perfect shade of green—it’ too close to call.

Brian Schmidt: “Heard it was National Doughnut Day today. We should implement some kind of ‘Choice One Day.’”