Siblings and relatives

Some companies have a policy that relatives can not work together. Our company is quite the opposite. There are a number of our crew who are related. These teams have a special magic when they are working together. Things seem a little funnier, and they often finish each other's sentences. They know each other's likes and dislikes and how to push each other's buttons at will. They have history. These members of our crew add a special magic to the mix.

Janis & I are of course related, married and working together for forty years this coming June. Together we are much stronger than separate and each of us brings to the table our own ablities and talents. We work together as no one else could and because of this the company is thriving.

Peter and Hailey also work together with us. This young couple adds much to the company dynamic. Both have a heart for each other (and the company) and make the company much stronger because of it.

Peter and Becke (our two kids) love to work together and have for most of their lives. With the two of them on site I can get away with little. They know how it all works.

Jenessa and TJ are brother and sister as well. They are extremely close and work well together. Everything is a whole lot more fun when they are around.

Hailey and Adison (sister and brother) are both very happy people, together even more so. Both are fun to be around and eager to please. They look out for each other.

Jack has worked with us for a while now. His brother Fletcher (pronounced Fletcha) started today. These two guys are also a lot of fun and have a strong work ethic. They looked out for each other through the day.

Kendra and Ashley are actually cousins but grew up across the street fom each other and spent countless hours together as they grew up. They are like sisters. They obviously have a LOT in common and when together are most often giggling about something they think is hilarious. There's lots of history here.

Having family teams working for us is a huge plus. I believe in family!

-grampa dan

From concept to reality

One of the most satisfying aspects of the job I get to do is to watch our projects go from concept through to reality. In the past I have been offered a job designing for the very best theme company in the world. I turned down the impressive offer in a blink because it would have meant I only did one job - designing and not the many jobs I currently do to ensure our projects go from beginning to end. 

At the start of each project I sit at my desk and work up ideas. It's fun. These ideas start as rough sketches in my sketchbook and then get transformed into full color renderings for presentation to our client. The purpose of these concepts is to sell our clients on the vision of what the project will look like when done. Then my job is to make sure the actual project looks like the drawing - within reason.

The building up at Cultus Lake Adventure Park is almost complete enough to install the Summit Trading Post sign. The concept drawing was done back in August.

Now the sign is done and it looks a lot like the concept save for some minor tweaks and color changes to make it read better in it's final location. The sculpture of the tree reflects the large sculpture that towers above the building.

While I only worked a little here and there on this project it was still satisfying to see it go from that first scribble to the finished sign. This coming week I'll have the pleasure of helping hoist it into place in it's permanent home. It sure beats being tied to a desk and only doing design work by a long shot.

-grampa dan

Good neighbors

We take our tool trailer up to the worksite each mornng and drag it home each evening to keep our tools safe. It often gets unhooked from the truck. The hitch jack has been slowly wearing out and replacing it was definitely on my to-do list. From time to time it got really stiff and hard to wind. Thursday, after a long concrete day I was struggling with it in our driveway when my neighbor Gord came over to chat. He noticed me struggling with the hitch and we had a discussion about where to buy the best replacement. He has four trailers for his business and knows that stuff.

The next morning I went to hook up the trailer as I got ready to go up to the jobsite. I was amazed to see a new hitch jack on the trailer. My neighbor Gord had quietly replaced the old one sometime in the evening previously - unseen. Knowing Gord as I do I know he did it surreptitously with a huge grin on his face the whole time.

This act of kindness is not at all out of character for these wonderful neighbors. THANKS!

-grampa dan