Flatrock Bridge Group

Today we celebrate all dads!

Special dads, stepdads, grandads, uncles, brothers, cousins and friends who step up to show a child what it truly means to be a father.

We want to honor our many Flatrock Bridge Group team members who are dads today!

Happy Father’s Day!

📷 Pictured below is one incredible dad who is also my husband. Thank you for leading our family well, setting such a great example, and loving us unconditionally.

One of our crews has been putting the rebar in place on an Ohio Turnpike bridge over Timker’s Creek right on the border of Summit and Portage County in northeastern Ohio.

Thanks for the pics, Jason. And taking the time to recognize another team member, Mike, for doing a great job!

Giving another team member “the point” says a lot not only about the person being recognized, but also the person giving the “shout out.”

Honor is one of our core values.  First and foremost,  we want to honor God in all that we do.  And we never want to forget  to take the time to honor our team members for their unique contributions.  We never grow tired of telling our team that we couldn’t do the work we do every single day building bridges without their commitment and dedication.

What an honor it is to shine the spotlight on Mark Vajen and Mason Oliphant.   We are so grateful to have them on the Flatrock Bridge Group team. They were the only two apprentices selected by Ironworkers Local 55 to participate in the Great Lakes District Council’s Apprenticeship Competition in Cleveland Ohio.

And they both took on  a wide variety of ironworker challenges throughout the event, and also completed a written test. 

A special congratulations to Mark, who placed second overall in the two day event and is heading to the national competition in Chicago this Fall.

We are definitely not surprised by the recognition these two guys received as they have built a reputation for showing a tremendous amount of grit and having such a strong spirit of teamwork out on our bridge projects every day.

They both are such a great example of what’s possible when you choose a career in the skilled trades. Thank you, Mark and Mason, for your leadership and how much you care about people. You are making quite an impact on others and we can’t wait to see all that the future holds for both of you not just as ironworkers, but also personally.

⬇️ Check out a few videos from the competition in the comments below.

Rebar…upon rebar…upon more epoxy-coated rebar.

We are loving these pictures of the amazing work some of our team members are putting in place along I-70 in Columbus, Ohio.

Piers ✅
Pier Caps ✅
Footers ✅

This is just one example of the massive multi-year bridge projects we get the opportunity to be a part of. But make no mistake, we ❤️  bridges of all styles, shapes, and sizes.

Putting the finishing touches on the Thornwood Crosding bridge deck.

And we couldn’t do it without a crew that believes there is incredible power in teamwork.



.

Progression Pics From Thornwood Crossing Bridge Deck in Licking County, Ohio.

{PROGRESSION}
The process of developing or moving gradually towards a more advanced state.

 👍🏻 We would say that sums it up perfectly.

So grateful for such a hard-working team of ironworkers.  On any given day, they face a number of speed bumps.

Wind
Rain
Heat
Mud
Tight Deadlines
Long Commutes
Project Delays
Missing Material

And the list goes on. Yet they keep going. And they do it with such a strong sense of teamwork and a willingness to go the extra mile.

We know it’s rare that we get to work with so many people like like this. Beyond grateful!

❤️

We are in the early stages of working on this bridge project right next to the Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan.

▶️ FUN SIDENOTE: We were told that Henry Ford himself used his own money to build the existing bridges at Miller Road and Rotunda Drive.

It’s Friday morning…
and we think this view is saying,
“ It’s a great day to go out and build a bridge.”

▶️Thanks so much, Joe, for snapping this 📸 this morning and sharing it.

More pics of the Flatrock team taking care of business in central Ohio.

Seeing the crane fly what’s being pre-built on the ground into place can literally make your heart flutter.




{SPECTACULAR} 🤩

Defined as…
⏺️ very exciting to look at
⏺️ especially great

Enjoy the spectacular shots from one of our massive bridge project along I-70 in Columbus, Ohio.

Thank you, Jason, for sharing these pics!

Views from the air.
And views from the ground.
Either way…
Absolutely AWESOME!!!

📷 Cred-A huge thanks to Broc for sharing these pics from our project on I-77 in Summit County.

//Not the best 📷 , but what the 📷 represents makes it worth sharing.//

⬇️

While we love the rare opportunities that our entire team gets to connect face-to-face, we also appreciate technology and the chance to come together monthly for our Flatrock Team Rally sessions on Zoom.

We never want to use the fact that we are so geographically widespread with our bridge work as an excuse not to connect regularly to celebrate wins,  honor the achievements of our team members, encourage each other, and grow in our leadership.

{Rally}
-to muster scattered forces for a common purpose
-to renew an effort
- a summoning up of strength and courage after engaging in battle
- a renewed offensive
- a mass meeting to bring about group enthusiasm
- to come together in order to provide support and make a shared effort
- to return to a better condition

We can definitely say that yesterday’s team rally delivered on all of the above meanings of the word.

❤️35 of our Flatrock team members didn’t just show up. They came ready to  actively participate and contribute.  It’s hard to describe what happened in these 30 minutes. But I will sum it up in just a few words.

Refreshing
Life-Giving

We are so thankful to be surrounded by a team with a shared purpose that believes in our vision to

Build a bridge.
Be a bridge.

And our mission to

Stay engaged.
Genuinely care.
Intentionally invest.

 And our values

Honor
Go the extra mile
Grit
Teamwork 






▶️As a fun side note, our team rally yesterday spanned a distance of over 250+ mikes between various team members.

Some days building bridges looks a little bit different than you might think. 

Today, it’s about writing cards and mailing small gifts to honor some individuals who are making a BIG difference.

❤️ We have some team members who are consistently going the extra mile.

❤️ We have leaders we have met in other industries who intentionally take the time to show they care and invest in us

❤️ We have friends and friends of friends, and friends of friends who know friends who recommend us as a potential employer. And we’ve seen on repeat over the last several years how some of our best team members have come by way of referrals.

We have never looked back with regret on any occasion where we have taken the time to show honor to others.

We desire to be ONE team.

But if we can be really honest, it’s often WAY easier to SAY the words, “We are ONE team” than it is to actually live these words out by building a feeling of oneness and dependence on each other as ONE team.

An interesting aspect of our bridge work across Ohio and lower Michigan is that we get so spread out geographically.  Quite naturally, as an individual team member, it can become very easy to identify with the city you are working in or the project you are working on. And as a result, you can quickly forget that you are part of something bigger. You can lose sight of the fact that we all need each other and that we really are better together.

So what do we do?  We stay committed to doing hard things.  We find and make a way to intentionally come together.  We lean in.  we remain teachable and humble. We seek input and feedback.  And we start to see the challenge as an opportunity. 

We don’t scrap the desire to be ONE team. We actually search for ways to BE about it and not just TALK about it. 

We believe that how we handle hard things says a lot about us.  And we are OK with trusting in what we don’t yet see because we choose to live by faith and not by sight. We are confident that the best is yet to come. And we are expectant. As we do our part, we leave the results to God.

More 📷 rolling in from our field leaders.

A big shout out to the crew building cages for a bridge project on I-77 in Northeast Ohio. Thank you for your dedication to doing what you do with excellence.

Ironwork is just REALLY remarkable, isn’t it?

And so is the spirit of teamwork that it takes to make it all happen.

Do you find this to be true?

It’s often the little things that can make such a big difference and brighten your day.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️

We sure do!!!

Today, for me, it was a coworker, sharing this picture from our job site along I-70 in Columbus, Ohio.

These are his words, not mine.

“Had to take Mike’s pic… always a better day when he’s out working and motivating us.”

Anytime a team member takes the time to honor another teammate, it may seem like a small thing, but to us it’s a HUGE deall!

Thank you so much for sharing, Charles, and being such a team player.

And Mike, we are so grateful for the many ways you inspire and encourage those you work alongside each day.

Just out here keeping our commitment to find and make a way to continue building bridges every day.

Carry. Place. Tie.

Repeat.

And witness a bridge deck come to life.

The meticulous work of ironworkers is nothing short of phenomenal, as they skillfully maneuver heavy reinforcing steel bars, secure them in place, and ensure everything is done according to the plans. They help turn raw materials into incredible bridges.

And the end resuly is nothing short of REMARKABLE (And completely covered in concrete.). 😄 But we know that what we do is such a crucial part of the process.

Let’s always remember this when it comes to leadership:

{because it can be so easy to forget}

▶️ Leadership is both a blessing and a privilege.

▶️ In a leadership role, our influence can shape the course of people’s entire careers and often their lives.

▶️ It’s a profound responsibility so it’s important that we aim to use our influence thoughtfully and wisely.

Leaders become great NOT because of their power, but their ability to empower others.  We don’t see leadership as a position or a job title. It is action and example.

We want to honor our field leaders who intentionally invest in growing more leaders. Yes, they have a tremendous amount of grit and must stay focused on the work at hand, but they also genuinely care about the people performing the work.

They see that each individual on the team is not just an ironworker, but a real person who is often juggling the joys, difficulties, and demands of work, marriage, and family, as well as pursuing their own personal goals and dreams,.

These leaders encourage others because they have the gift of seeing in someone great potential that the person may not yet see and believe about themselves. It’s nothing short of amazing to see the positive impact and the spirit of teamwork.

It’s not uncommon for our field leaders to arrive at a job site early, before the rest of their crew. These few minutes can be the difference maker for the day ahead.

Proactively planning what needs to happen before they ever strap on their tool belt.

Running the plays in advance as they walk the job site.

Anticipating challenges, obstacles, and setbacks in hopes that they can avoid them as much as possible.

Getting their own mind right because they know they help to set the tone for the rest of the team on any given day.

We are so grateful for our field leaders. We simply could NOT do what we do each and every day without them. They genuinely care. And they lead by setting such an incredible example.

We live by faith and not by sight. It's what we trust in but do not yet see that keeps us going.
-2 Corinthians 5:7

Ironworkers must trust the process daily as they "run the plays" and stay committed to the game plan and the bigger vision for what lies ahead.

Flatrock's vison as a company is to-

Build a Bridge.
Be a Bridge.

As we continue our business journey, now six years and counting, these two seemingly short, simple phrases have taken on a much richer/deeper meaning. Yes,, we are reminded daily of how crucial it is to continue our work of constructing pathways for cars and trucks of all sorts to cross over. But "Build a Bridge. Be a Bridge" also symbolizes our commitment to bridging gaps, fostering connections and investing in relationships, offering support, and so much more.

Our vision empowers our purpose and provides direction to our actions. It's the "why" behind "what" we do at Flatrock Bridge Group. We must keep believing in it, even on difficult days when we don't see it with great clarity. We would be wrecked if we relied solely on what is visible or tangible. As we do our part, it also requires faith, hope, and trust in God to do what only He can do. In humility, we declare that with God all things are possible, but apart from Him, we don't stand a chance.

Happy Easter!

Jesus is risen!

We give Him all the glory, honor, and praise!

We are so excited about the new focal point of our Flatrock Bridge Group conference room. 

Thank you Copper Moon Studio Gallery & Gifts. We ❤️ it!

A quick family road trip to Michigan wouldn’t have been complex without stopping by to check out the bridge project we have the privilege of being part of at Michigan State University. This job includes both a pedestrian and a road bridge right in the middle of campus life. Our team will be heading back there soon to continue its work. How soon, though, will depend on the winter weather.

From our family to yours, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Today we celebrate the birth of Jesus…the ultimate bridge builder.

❤️

We are thankful for ALL of it!

The highs.
The lows.
The blessings.
The lessons.
The setbacks.
The comebacks.
Everything.

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are BIG fans of the leather patch hats we had made for our team appreciation event last week.

Check out Something Brave Supply. We ❤️ supporting other family-owned small businesses.

There is a really good chance we will be talking about today for months to come. Our team dodged paintballs and a whole bunch of rain at the Flatrock Group Paintball Outing. What a blast to bring everyone together in one location to honor them and show our appreciation.

You are looking at a team that believes in not only building but also being a bridge. They genuinely care and intentionally invest in each other like no other team we have ever been a part of. They exemplify our foundational verse from Proverbs 27:17-
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

And they each serve as great protectors of our company culture by living out our company values day in and day out. This team’s walk definitely matches their talk.

Today we celebrated their hard work and dedication. We are who we are as a company because of this Incredible team who is helping us build such a strong reputation that’s far greater than what we could have ever dreamed or imagined.

❤️

What immediately comes to mind when you think of bridges?

Leave your reply below and your name will be entered into a drawing for some Flatrock merchandise.

❤️

See our reply in the comments.