Over the past six years we’ve donated more than $4,500 between the 5k event, the annual golf outing, and a memorial donation to support the non-profit’s mission. Delaware Hospice aims to provide high-quality health care services and serves as a trusted partner in end-of-life education and support.

This year’s race took place on Wednesday, July 9 and the Nickle team also had a record turnout with 15 participants! First-year participant and Nickle Mechanic Brett Stinson received a medal for finishing second in his age group and eighth overall with a time of 22:05.

We’d like to thank all Nickle employees and family who participated and all Delaware Hospice representatives who continue to put on a great fundraiser.

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Two major milestones were achieved early in the year, breaking previous records. In February, Nickle employees worked three years without a lost-time accident and just a few weeks later, we reached one million man-hours without a lost-time accident. Over this time the company has taken many steps to improve the welfare of its employees. Safety has not only become a necessity on the job, but it’s now a part of our culture. Our employees are immersed in an environment that emphasizes the importance of sending everyone home unharmed at the end of the day. We put value in continued safety training, foremen and Safety Director Mike Anderson conduct weekly safety audits, we now have a Safety Committee with field employee involvement, and have instituted a Stretch & Flex Program to be completed at the beginning of every day. In April a company-wide celebration was held at Dover Downs that included a short presentation regarding the significance of being safe on the jobsite. As of today we have worked 1,428 days without an accident!

Because of Nickle’s commitment to these safety values, the company received numerous awards. In March we were selected as a recipient of the 2012 Governor’s Safety Award for the second year in a row. The honor was co-sponsored by the Delaware Contractors Association and the Department of Labor. In May, Nickle also received its eighth consecutive Associated Builders and Contractors Delaware STEP (Safety Training and Evaluation Process) Award, this year at the Platinum level. We also received our first Platinum STEP Award from the ABC Chesapeake Shores chapter in September. The STEP program is designed to support ABC members with development and improvement of safety and training efforts.

Nickle and its employees has always made an effort to be involved in the community. Our outreach extends across the entire state of Delaware and beyond, helping those in need and touching the lives of many when they need it the most. We’re proud to have sponsored and donated to more than two dozen projects, events, and organizations throughout 2013, and have a few already lined up for 2014. Below is a small sample of 2013’s events:

For the third year in a row, Nickle was a sponsor for the Milton Irish Eyes St. Patrick’s Day parade and Lucky Leprechaun 5k. The proceeds benefited the Milton Fire Department Training Program, Best Buddies Delaware, and Casa San Francisco. Our parade float promoted the value of building environmentally-sustainable projects.

Since 2009, Nickle has been sponsoring the Sussex Family YMCA’s annual golf tournament that takes place every May. This year we were the exclusive title sponsor donating $4,000 to the organization’s Open Doors Program. The program supports families struggling with financial matters who wish to be active in the YMCA.

Since 2008, Nickle has been a sponsor for the Delaware Hospice annual 5k. Every July we provide a donation and multiple employees brave the stifling heat to run and walk more than three miles to show support.

In September Nickle was a hole sponsor for the Joseph D’Amico Sr. Memorial Invitational Golf Tournament at Cavaliers Country Club. The event is for a scholarship fund that supports an exceptional Catholic high school student as well as an outstanding student at St. Patrick’s Elementary School in Kennett Square, PA. It also provides grants to charitable organizations that were supported by Joe during his lifetime.

To raise money that will provide scholarships to Delaware Technical & Community College students through the Alumni Board Scholarship Fund, Nickle sponsored the 6^th Annual Alumni & Friends 5k Run/Walk. The event took place in October on the Wilmington Riverfront.

Also taking place in October was the 2^nd Annual Run 4 the House 5k Run/Walk to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. The organization offers affordable housing to families with seriously ill or injured children being treated at local hospitals.

Nickle sponsored one of Delaware’s most coveted events – the Apple Scrapple Festival. The mission of this 22^nd annual event is to promote western Sussex County, actively involve all community organizations, and help elevate awareness of agriculture. The festival included events such as a scrapple carving contest, library carnival, car and craft shows, live music, and more.

This year marked the 1^st Annual Easter Seals Walk With Me Delmarva event. Nickle was a sponsor and the proceeds of the event help the non-profit organization provide life-changing services to children and adults with disabilities. The event took place on the Baywood Greens Golf Course in Long Neck where participants walked the first nine holes of the course, totaling approximately three miles.

Nickle Foreman Ryan Kennedy and his wife Alicia participated in the 30^th Annual Bike to the Bay event this fall to benefit research to cure multiple sclerosis. They chose the 75-mile ride through Southern Delaware, beginning in Dover and ending at Delaware Seashore State Park.

Just a few weeks ago, several employees rang in the holidays with the Salvation Army bell-ringing at Wal-Mart near Prices Corner. Nickle employees have been participating in this event for five years. The Salvation Army has been utilizing the famous red kettles since the late 19^th century and they’re now recognizable around the globe. Donations provide holiday dinners, toys, and clothing to families in need. Volunteers also bring gifts to hospitals and nursing homes. In the United States alone, approximately 4.5 million people receive assistance during the holidays thank to the Salvation Army.

Some of the other organizations Nickle has supported throughout the year include United Way Delaware, Biggs Museum of American Art, Boys & Girls Club of Delaware, University of Delaware Athletic Fund, Christiana Fire Company, Hagley Museum and Library, and Sussex Technical High School.

One of Nickle’s 2013 goals was to focus on continuing education and training programs for both field employees and upper management. In June select employees participated in a hands-on pre-planning workshop to better understand the tactical process that goes into running a project smoothly from start to finish. This fall a handful of people at both our Newark and Georgetown locations attended a class devoted to conduit bending, led by Pre-Fab Manager John Zuvich and Mechanic Joe Habbart. Nickle employees also attended an all-day course dedicated to Blueprint Reading, hosted by ABC. Nickle also provided multiple Arc Flash Safety Training classes in October. These types of classes educate employees on the dangers of performing hot work on or near energized equipment. Our Vice President of Pre-Construction Dave Spittle attended the Lean Construction Institute’s annual conference in Dallas, TX. Lean construction is a project method that involves collaboration between the owner, architect, engineers, general contractor, and major subtrades. This teamwork results in lower cost, shorter schedule, and fewer change orders with an overall goal of eliminating waste and rework. Chief Estimator Mark Benson and Project Manager Brandon Cale also attended a conference in Illinois to learn the ins and outs of lightning protection, a major portion of many of our projects.

There’s recently been a major push to integrate technology into our industry’s best practices and “going paperless” is an emerging trend. Nickle introduced Computer-Aided Design software to its business practices in 2007. The software enhanced productivity, improved time management, reduced waste, and assisted in providing the best quality work to our customers. Today we continue to use the software and have recently dabbled in CAD’s counterpart Building Information Modeling. This year Nickle hired its own CAD/BIM Tech Dale Graham who has received extensive software training. Two employees were also fortunate enough to have a guest column published in the November/December issue of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce’s publication Delaware Business discussing the advantages of this technology and how it has helped Nickle improve its processes.

In order to promote internal communication and team-building, Nickle instituted a quarterly breakfast meeting this year. Every three months office employees from both the Newark and Georgetown location meet at a central location to connect during breakfast. During these meetings management takes the time to focus on various topics regarding the wellbeing of the company, announcements for the upcoming months, and address any questions or concerns employees may have. We also introduced a fun award called the “Top Dog,” which is given to an outstanding employee who is voted on by his or her colleagues. Our first meeting took place in July, the second in October, and we have plans in January for another.

In November, the company recognized some of its most dedicated employees – the Nickle Elite – who have been with the company for 10 or more years. Dedicating time and effort to one company for more than a decade is a major triumph. The economy and the workforce have had its ups and downs, but the Nickle Elite weathered the storms. This year there were 21 employees celebrating company anniversaries of 10+ years, five of which were welcomed into the Elite in 2013.

The annual ABC Excellence in Construction Awards event was a success for Nickle this year. We submitted two projects and attained two more honors. Nickle received an Excellence Award for a fit-out and renovation at Hosting.com, a web hosting company located in Newark that provides 24/7 assistance to more than 4,000 customers across the country. Nickle also received a Merit Award for a major remodel of Howard High School of Technology in Wilmington. This brings our total ABC Delaware Excellence Awards count to 28.

Throughout all of these major endeavors, we were still able to have fun – the Copper Crab Party, ABC Fall Fest & Chili Cookoff, Phillies Game, Electric Expo, DCA Crab Feast, and ABC Crab Feast – are a few of the many events Nickle employees attended.

Some of Nickle’s most notable jobs that were featured in our newsletter’s project showcase this year included University of Delaware’s East Campus, Newark Charter, St. Francis LIFE Center, Dentsply, and our ABC Award Winners Hosting.com and Howard High School of Technology.

Thank you for continuing to read Nickle’s blog and support our company. We appreciate all of your assistance – we couldn’t have been this successful without you.

To read about Nickle News throughout the course of the year, you can sign up to receive our quarterly newsletter. Please e-mail ldignan@nickleelectrical.com to start receiving your copy of the Nickle News.

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Pictured left-right: Marianna Dyal, Business Development Laura Dignan, Secretary/Treasurer/Co-Owner Debbie Dignan, Lynn Holtzlander, VP of Pre-Construction Dave Spittle, Service Manager Assistant Lisa Houston, Kim Jarrell, and Administrative Assistant Jane Marcozzi. (Not pictured: Joe Holtzlander)

Yesterday a group of employees, friends, and family gathered to participate in the 1^st Annual Easter Seals Walk With Me Delmarva event at Baywood Greens in Long Neck. Nickle Electrical was a local sponsor for the event, donating $500 to support the Easter Seals – Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore Chapter.

This non-profit organization provides life-changing services to children and adults with disabilities. The event’s donations reached $20,000, doubling the initial goal of raising $10,000.

The chilly temperatures and windy weather wasn’t enough to deter Nickle participants, who walked the first nine holes of the golf course, totaling approximately three miles. There was a celebration afterwards that included food, drinks, and prizes.

We want to thank those who came out to the walk and donated their time and money. Nickle truly appreciates your dedication.

For more information about Easter Seals and how you can help support their mission, visit their website here.

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That’s why Nickle Electrical was proud to sponsor the 2^nd Annual Ronald McDonald Run 4 the House 5k on Sunday at Irish Eyes in Lewes. We understand how important it is to help fund the non-profit organization so they’re able to fulfill their mission. Nickle Secretary/Treasurer/Co-Owner Debbie Dignan and Business Development Laura Dignan participated in the early morning event. And congratulations to Laura for placing third in her age group!

Nickle appreciates the employee participation and we hope to see more in the coming months. For more information on Nickle events and sponsorships and how you can become involved, please contact Laura in the Newark office or email ldignan@nickleelectrical.com.

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A new month has begun, one that is very busy for Nickle’s community outreach efforts. There are a number of events we’re happy to be sponsoring and participating in this October. Some of these fundraising events are meant to improve the quality of life for people looking for a glimmer of hope during their hardships. Others promote and encourage culture, diversity, and education in Delaware. By donating or attending you are contributing to a movement, helping to change the world, and filling your life and the lives of others with meaning.

Delaware Technical and Community College Alumni & Friends 5k Run/Walk

Nickle donated money to provide DelTech students with scholarships through the Alumni Board Scholarship Fund. These scholarships are awarded to dependents and family members of DTCC alumni. The 6^th annual event takes place Wednesday, October 2 at 6 p.m. at Dravo Plaza on the Wilmington Riverfront.

Ronald McDonald Run 4 the House 5k Run/Walk

The Ronald McDonald House of Delaware is a non-profit organization that’s has been providing chronically ill children and their families with a home while being treated at local hospitals since 1991. Look for Nickle employees workin’ on their fitness Saturday, October 6 at 9 a.m. at Irish Eyes Restaurant in Lewes.

Delaware Hospice Golf Outing

This non-profit’s mission is to provide high-quality healthcare services to patients and their families coping with life-limiting illnesses and disabilities. Expect Nickle employees to hit the fairways in support of this great cause. The outing takes place Monday, October 7 beginning at Noon at Cripple Creek Country Club in Dagsboro.

Apple-Scrapple Festival

This unique event celebrates the agricultural history of Southwestern Delaware and brings together local farmers and community organizations for two days. There are events such as scrapple carving, live entertainment, carnival rides, a trade show, and much more. The festival takes place on Friday and Saturday, October 11-12 in Bridgeville.

Easter Seals Walk With Me Delmarva

The Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore Chapter is hosting its first Walk With Me event at Baywood Greens Golf Course in Long Neck. Easter Seals provides life-changing services to children and adults with disabilities and this event has already accumulated over $12,000 in donations to continue fulfilling its mission. The walk takes place on Sunday, October 13 at 4 p.m.

JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is a global organization that raises funds to research a cure for the debilitating illness. Last year they provided more than $110 million to Type 1 Diabetes research and Nickle is a part of the fundraising this year. The Delaware chapter is hosting two walking events. One takes place in Dover on Saturday, October 19 at 12 p.m. and the other in Wilmington on Sunday, October 27 at 11 a.m.

Please consider supporting all of these wonderful causes and keep a lookout for the Nickle logo, our fantastic employees out and about, and the unmistakable red “N” across the state this month.

Employees – if you would like to participate in any of the running/walking events, please contact Laura in the Newark office – 302-453-4000 or ldignan@nickleelectrical.com. We will pay your registration fee but friends and family are also welcome to join in the fun!

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Yesterday a few Nickle employees attended a check presentation at the Easter Seals of Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore location in Georgetown. We donated $500 to benefit the Walk With Me Delmarva event in October to help the organization provide life-changing services to children and adults with disabilities. It’s the first annual walking event for this Easter Seals chapter.

Pictured above (left-right): Easter Seals Community Relations Representative Linda Forte, Sarah Kane, Spencer Kane, Nickle President/CEO Steve Dignan, Janene Riley-Spillane, Nickle VP of Operations Jeromy Newton, and Nickle VP of Pre-Construction Dave Spittle.

Spencer Kane, 13, is an Easter Seals Walk With Me Delmarva Ambassador. He and his twin sister were born premature and Spencer’s chances of surviving after birth were unlikely. But through Early Intervention Services and Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapies from Easter Seals, Spencer has lived beyond the doctor’s expectations.

Three-year-old Janene Riley-Spillane is also a Walk With Me Delmarva Ambassador and is making great progress thanks to Easter Seals. She was diagnosed with multiple disabilities and participates in Early Intervention Services along with physical, occupational, and speech therapy to continue improving. Through these services, Janene has learned to roll over, crawl, and recently took her first steps using a walker.

“On behalf of all the employees at Nickle Electrical, we’re proud to support such a worthwhile cause,” Dignan said. “To be a part of this terrific fundraising event is a pleasure.”

The non-profit organization has nearly reached their fundraising goal of $10,000. To participate in the walk, which takes place on October 13, or if you would like to make a donation, please visit the website here.

Nickle completed electrical work on the new 28,000-square-foot Georgetown building in 2005. The endeavor was accomplished in conjunction with Nason Construction and includes office space with therapy and treatment rooms.

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For the fifth year in a row Nickle Electrical was a sponsor for the Delaware Hospice 5k Run & Family Fun Walk and a handful of our employees were happy to participate. Pictured above, left-right: Business Development Laura Dignan, Secretary/Treasurer/Co-Owner Debbie Dignan, HR Director Sandy Wandelt, Project Manager Dave Schreffler, VP of Pre-Construction Dave Spittle, and VP of Operations Jeromy Newton. Over the past 5 years we have donated a total of $4,100 between the 5k event, the annual golf outing, and a memorial donation to support the non-profit’s mission – “Delaware Hospice provides the highest quality hospice and health care services and serves as a trusted community partner in end-of-life education and support.”

In 2008 Nickle Electrical completed the Delaware Hospice building located in Milford, Delaware. The project totaled $1.3 million and was an Associated Builders and Contractors Excellence in Construction award winner. Teaming up with Nason Construction, the endeavor included electrical work on 16 patient/family suites, multiple common areas, and office space.

We want to thank the employees who participated in the event as well as Delaware Hospice Leaders – President and CEO Susan Lloyd, Director of Facilities Chuck Palmer, and Assistant Director of Development Peggy Dolby.

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The event will take place on Sunday, October 13 at 4 p.m. on the Baywood Greens golf course in Long Neck, Delaware. Participants will walk the first nine holes of the course, totaling approximately three miles. A celebration with food, refreshments, and prizes will be held in the clubhouse after the walk.

Easter Seals Delaware & Maryland’s Eastern Shore hopes to raise at least $10,000 so please consider supporting this great cause either as an individual, a team, or a company.

For more information please contact Laura Dignan – ldignan@nickleelectrical.com

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