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How has your year been?
Pretty ducking busy. Man, the people of EDA have accomplished a lot and I’ve had a hard time keeping all my ducks in a row!
What has been your biggest challenge this year?
Trying to keep all the new names and faces that have joined us has become a full-time job for me. EDA has grown so much, and you may not know this, but ducks have a really difficult time recognizing human names and faces.
As EDA’s mascot, you have eyes everywhere, so let’s talk more about 2023. What were some of your favorite EDA achievements from this year?
The people at EDA are incredibly hard-working, so we have a lot to reflect on. Here are some of my favorites…• Several projects that EDA worked on received special recognition and awards.
• EDA received Philadelphia Top Workplaces for the sixth year in a row.
• EDA also received its second consecutive New Jersey Top Workplace award.
• We hosted our second We PACT Together Festival where field and office staff, as well as representatives from a range of local organizations, came together to raise awareness about addiction and personal wellness.
• EDA was awarded large scopes on several projects, like Princeton Lakehouse and 200 Spring Garden, which included labor from each of our three trades.
Any news from our safety department?
EDA’s Safety Department has continued to grow, and now has five full-time safety professionals, tasked with getting everybody safely home to their nest. One of the ways our safety team worked to limit sprains and strains was by implementing a stretch and flex program at the beginning of the workday. The team’s overall successes and achievement were also recognized with a Gold Highwire Safety Award.
Philanthropy and staying involved in our local community are very important at EDA, what has EDA Cares been up to this year?
EDA Cares continued relationships with many charities from previous years added a few exciting nonprofits to the mix.
This year, over 80 employees from across EDA participated in a variety of EDA Cares events. Their work helped numerous individuals at EDA charities of choice through monetary contributions, in-kind services, and much needed personal items throughout 2023. Our annual EDA Cares Golf Outing was a huge success among both employees and sponsors and helped raise over $65,000 for Cares charities.
In total, we completed 14 charity projects that had a positive impact on countless lives. We are always looking for ways to give back to our community and appreciate everyone who volunteered their time to support these great causes. As always, 100% of the money and items raised goes directly to our charities of choice.
Anything new at BBCI?
BBCI has continued to take on large-scale projects and expanded its presence in the Philadelphia region. BBCI crews have worked on key projects including Princeton University Tiger Club and UPenn Quad. EDA and BBCI employees gathered once again for the annual “Carnival” celebration. This celebration, also known as “Fat Tuesday” in the United States, is celebrated leading up to the Christian season of Lent. The celebration was a great way to highlight the diverse cultures that we employ.EDA is known for its culture. What did EDA do this year for its employees?
EDA employees are certainly lucky ducks! First, employees rang in 2023 at our New Year Kickoff Party. This event, held at the Fuge in Warminster, was lots of fun with great food, drinks, and carnival themed games and entertainment.
In addition, our Fun Committee held events including the annual fishing trip, Barcade, a Phillies tailgate, glow in the dark mini golf, and our annual family picnic which were great opportunities to connect with colleagues and unwind. We also continued to expand the reach of our events to our employees in the North Region with axe throwing and bowling events taking place in North Jersey.
How are you communicating with employees?
The EDA Journey continued to be the number one place for our flock to receive company news and updates. In addition, we continued to share news outside of the Journey with the EDA Duck Line (texting) and emails to ensure that all our employees receive news of where they are most present. Our semi-annual Town Hall remains a staple to both EDA’s field and office employees to come together for a formal program and entertainment. For the second year, we split our Town Hall’s between the PA and North Jersey regions, to give everybody at an EDA an opportunity to attend these important events.
Anything else you would like to mention?
I’m glad you asked! I’m sure you have noticed that I attended several events this year. Many people were surprised that I stand at over seven feet tall and have fur…yes, soft yellow fur! I loved getting to meet the EDA community this year and can’t wait to see everyone again in 2024.
Last year you said your favorite EDA value was “Exceed Expectations,” what is another one of your favorite values?
Smile, Laugh, Enjoy Life. Sometimes you have to enjoy the simple things in life. For me that is floating around and getting some sunlight in the pond or coming out to take pictures and meet our employees at EDA events. Keeping our people and their families happy is what life is all about and I love to be just a small part of that.