Merit Matters

This episode brings a very special guest, Len Zarelli. Len is the former Principal of Merit. With over 30 years of experience and almost 15 of them spent with Tammy, the duo had no problem coming up with challenges they had faced together. Listen along as they tackle contracts, communication with employees, and being thrown into a role before you're ready. 

With both Tammy and Len being in the industry for so long, there was too much to fit into one episode! Stay tuned for part two of Len's interview. 

On this episode of Merit Matters we speak with Lorraine Glynn, a Project Architect for BCRA. Lorraine has over 10 years of professional experience. While she has a large variety of project types she has worked on, her current focus is in the behavioral healthcare sector. Lorraine graduated with her B.S. in Architecture in 2009, after switching from an interior design major. 

This episode focuses on the challenges specific to the design and construction world, and how the two interact together. Tammy and Lorraine talk about mental health facilities, and the important work done throughout these buildings. Throughout the duration of her interview, Lorraine weaves in the challenges that she's faced, and the important strategies she has implemented to overcome them.

"You have to find that balance of engaging your staff and keeping them feeling consistently important and impactful in the work that you do." - Lorraine on keeping her team positive during challenging times.

On this episode of Merit Matters, we sit down with Merit’s newest team member, Audrey Birklid. Audrey comes to us with her Law Degree, and her Bachelor’s in Communication. You may notice the last name, and yes, she is our Principal Tammy’s favorite daughter. We discuss how she landed here at Merit, her eagerness to learn the industry, and the duo’s favorite (and not so favorite) years together. With an emphasis on growth, we discuss Audrey’s goals for working at Merit and how she hopes to accomplish them.

On this episode of Merit Matters, we met with our safety team to discuss their roles and what working safe means to them. We hear an authentic conversation between co-workers about the real dangers involved with construction, and why it is critical we do everything we can to limit them.

One of the things that makes our safety team so valuable is the diversity in job descriptions they each have. We have project managers, estimators, superintendents and project engineers all working together. Utilizing everyone's perspectives really allows us to integrate safety protocol into our culture.

This was an opportunity for us to sit down and emphasize why safety is so important specifically to Merit, but also share why it should be important to you.

Check out our safety page to learn more: Construction Safety — Merit Construction - Tacoma, WA (meritnw.com)

Special guest, Gary Polain, Founder and Principal of Ozmosis Leadership, sits down with Tammy Birklid to discuss how his early career as a Mechanical Engineer led him to a passion for helping others succeed in what he calls "Human Engineering" — Forging long-term relationships with prime movers of organizations—CEOs, presidents and business leaders to help them build profitable, preferred places to work. Gary shares his insights on the importance of personal development, learning to be more curious and asking more questions. He also reveals the most important skill of a leader as well as the number one mistake he sees leaders make.   

A native born Western Australian, Gary began his professional career as a Mechanical Engineer specializing in power station design, dust pollution control and mine ventilation systems. Gary has over the last thirty-two years committed himself to a most accomplished career in ‘Human Engineering’. Gary is an expert at developing strategies that get management teams working collaboratively and effectively to create long-term, measurable change.  

He has given keynote presentations throughout Australia, Canada, USA and England, and has either trained and coached over 16,000 people. He consults to multi-national corporations, small businesses, associations and community service groups on a variety of subjects including: Strategic Thinking, Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Change Management and Consultative Sales.  

For more information on booking Gary Polain for your conference or event, or to learn more about his services visit http://www.ozmosisbiz.com/

If you could leave a legacy for future generations, what would it look like?      At the beginning of this year, we had the privilege of building a project with the Rachel Lynn Henley Foundation for a very deserving young lady. Following the completion of the project, Nate Henley and Kelly Lauricella, of the Rachel Lynn Henley Foundation, joined us on our Merit Matters podcast. Together, they shared the heartwarming story about the tremendous legacy their sister and cousin left for their family; a legacy that not only lives on through them, but one that is making a difference in the lives of many throughout our local communities.

MORE ABOUT NATE & KELLY:

Nathan Henley and Kelly Lauricella are both very close to the foundation. Nate is Rachel's older brother. He grew up with her in Tacoma, attending all of the same schools and even shared some classes with her in high school. He now serves as the Vice President of the Rachel Lynn Henley Foundation while working full-time as the manager at the Lakewood Casa Mia Italian Restaurant.         

Kelly Lauricella is Rachel's cousin. She grew up in Tacoma and now resides in Lakewood with her husband and five pets! She started off her career in the engineering world, but realized that her passion was with helping others. She now volunteers full-time as a Director and Secretary of the Rachel Lynn Henley Foundation and gets to help bring smiles to amazing kids and young adults each day.         

ABOUT THE FOUNDATION: 

The Rachel Lynn Henley Foundation was founded in 2015. Rachel Lynn Henley was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma in 2007 when she was 14 years old and she fought fiercely and gracefully for 7-1/2 years before her battle ended peacefully on June 2, 2015. During her fight Rachel developed a passion for helping others, particularly kids and young adults dealing with a cancer diagnosis. One of her dreams was to create a foundation to provide support to various cancer research organizations focusing on pediatrics and sarcomas, as well as organizations that support the daily lives of those living with cancer. In an attempt to carry out her wishes in the best way possible, Rachel's family created the Rachel Lynn Henley Foundation. The foundation provides an opportunity to contribute toward a cure and provide support to those who are affected by cancer.  It brings great joy to Rachel's family knowing they are doing something that she not only wanted to see come to fruition, but that she was deeply passionate about.

Meet our newest team member, Jared Johnson. Jared comes to the construction industry with 10 years of local program and project management experience and will be joining our Senior Estimator, Scott Seelye, in the Estimating Department. Client relationships are a top priority and in his role as an Estimator, Jared's attention to detail ensures that the end result best serves the client’s needs. Being Tacoma grown, Jared joined Merit to continue building the Puget Sound community and partner in that process.

This week on the Merit Matters podcast, Tammy sits down with Josh Dunn, Founder and CEO of the local publishing company, Premier Media Group. Josh is the creative leader behind Premier Media's award winning publications including 425, 425 Business, South Sound and South Sound Business magazines. He is passionate about being an entrepreneur and  helping lead, grow, and cultivate his local business community.            

"Our intent is to shine a light on all the amazing things going on for our consumer magazines as well as for our business community...What matters to us is to be a breath of fresh air" —Josh Dunn         

Together, Tammy and Josh discuss how entrepreneurs and business leaders can find ways to grow their brand by honoring and elevating those around them and by serving their community well.          

Learn more about Premier Media' publications at premiermedia.net

On our latest Merit Matters episode, we sit down with Andrew Browne, Precept Wine CEO and Founder of Browne Family Vineyards. Browne shares how he got started in the wine industry, lessons he's learned, and the type of legacy he wants to leave for his family and community; all of which were greatly inspired by his late grandfather, William Bitner Browne.

Browne Family Vineyards is dedicated to building meaningful relationships with their community through innovative new wines, exciting collaborations, and customer nirvana.  

With tasting rooms located in downtown Walla Walla, Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square, and their newest one in Tacoma's Proctor District, Browne Family Vineyards offers an inviting and uplifting gathering space built on a legacy.  

Learn more about Browne Family Vineyards at: brownefamilyvineyards.com

Meet our client The Tacoma Mountaineers and special guest Geoff Lawrence, Volunteer, Former Board President and Former Tacoma Branch Chair of The Mountaineers. Geoff is an outdoor enthusiast and although he loves the world-class instruction from The Mountaineers, what got him hooked years ago was The Mountaineers Community; a community that has continually supported one another with their time, talent and treasure for over 100 years.

In this episode Tammy Birklid, Principal of Merit Construction, and Geoff Lawrence take you through The Mountaineers' rich history in the Pacific Northwest and how the organization is continuing to find ways to make it possible for everyone to experience the great outdoors. Geoff also shares how The Tacoma Mountaineers are working towards becoming a net-zero energy building in an effort to protect the wonders and beauty of the PNW.