May 5, 2023 |
Powerhouse Promotes Michelle Egan to Executive Vice President of Exterior Services
Industry Veteran to Lead Exterior Services Division Focusing on Operations, Team Motivation and Customer Satisfaction for Powerhouse
CROWLEY, TX- (Insert Date)- Powerhouse, a national commercial infrastructure management services provider, today announced the advancement of Michelle Egan to Executive Vice President of Powerhouse’s Exterior Services division. This announcement comes on the heels of the extraordinary work that Egan did as she played an integral role in the transition for Powerhouse following the monumental acquisitions of Dentco in 2021 and Advanced Service Solutions in 2022.
“Since joining Powerhouse in 2013, Michelle has a been an invaluable member of the leadership team, moving through positions in Business Development and eventually leading our estimating division. In 2022, she helped to spearhead the integration of our Advanced Service Solutions acquisition and further combination of our Powerhouse Exterior Services and Dentco into one unit,” said Robert Blake-Ward, Principal, Powerhouse. “A tireless advocate for our customers and our associates – as a rising leader in the industry, Michelle will continue to innovate and provide a best-in-class experience for our customers.”
As Executive Vice President of Exterior Services, Egan’s focus will be on profit and loss management, operational excellence, and growth for the Exterior Services division across all service lines which include landscape, snow and ice management, and parking lot services.
Prior to this role, Egan served as the Senior Vice President of Business Development, Sales Operations where she was responsible for interdepartmental communication, coordination of projects through the sales and execution pipeline, customer satisfaction and pre and post operational analysis.
“I am thrilled to lead our Exterior Services division,” said Egan. “Exterior Services is a huge industry in the US with opportunity to deliver an easier solution for national multi-site companies. I am excited to grow that vision. We have the best team in the business – a team of exterior industry experts that are passionate about delivering best-in-class service and communication. Our clients are busy, busier than they have ever been, with responsibility for multiple maintenance trades at their locations. We are subject matter experts for exterior services, and we become an extension of our client’s team helping to maintain brand standard appearance and safety for their grounds.”
Egan holds a degree from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, B.S. in Business, Marketing, and International Business. She has also served as a member of the Ethics committee for CONNEX, formerly Professional Retail Store Maintenance, as well as an being an inaugural advisory board member for CMPG’s C-StorePoint events.
Egan’s extensive background in exterior services, business development, national sales, executive leadership, and portfolio management gives her an excellent understanding of Powerhouse, and its vision for the Exterior Services division, which makes her an exceptional selection for this role.
About Powerhouse
Founded in 2004 and headquartered in Crowley, TX, Powerhouse (www.powerhousenow.com) is one of the largest national providers of facility maintenance, exterior services management, and multi-site enhancement services. Executing services at more than 150,000 locations annually across all 50 states, the company supports top brands in Retail, Banking and Finance, Commercial Real Estate, Healthcare, Hospitality, Multifamily Dwellings, and Senior Living Facilities with an unwavering commitment to and investment in its people, process, and technology. Powerhouse implements today what will move people through the experiences of tomorrow.
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Apr 17, 2023 |
Andrew Brezezinski
VP of Healthcare Business Development-Powerhouse
The healthcare industry has seen a significant rise in mergers and acquisitions in recent years, leading to a dispersed network of facilities located in different regions across the country.
Given the scale of the undertaking, organizations with such a wide-spread geographic presence often need help with managing facility maintenance. Powerhouse, a company specializing in facility services, is ready to help organizations tackle and overcome these hurdles with its centralized approach.
Through its scope for nationwide coverage, Powerhouse offers multi-site enhancement services, coordinating budgeted rollouts and refresh programs on time without compromising quality. Powerhouse provides comprehensive exterior service management and facility maintenance services that meet the unique needs of healthcare facilities. Its offerings encompass internal and external maintenance, which renders a diverse, customizable suite of services to various client requirements and ensures seamless operations of client facilities.
“Our business strategy is customer-centric in nature, which entails prioritizing the fulfillment of our client’s specific needs and expectations rather than forcing our own preferences on them.”
Each one of Powerhouse’s nationwide services is supported by its innovative, proprietary technology stack. For multi-site enhancement services, Infinity software schedules rollout programs and keeps clients informed about project progress. The exterior management services use a quality services management system (QSM) with real-time visibility and a smartphone app, while facility management services employ Atlas, a work ticket management system that provides clients with comprehensive reports and dashboards.
Due to its centralized structure, Powerhouse is able to seamlessly integrate with its clients’ services and act as an extension of their operations. The company is able to ensure consistent, high-quality service delivery in the management and maintenance of thousands of sites under its purview. In addition, its transparent approach to trades and transactions allows clients to easily view and verify all activities, providing greater visibility and accountability.
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Mar 30, 2023 |
Nationwide Snow and Ice Management
Businesses and facilities managers who live in climates with temperamental weather conditions know all too well the challenges that come with snow and ice management. From dealing with clean-up expenses to worrying about customer safety, these dangers become increasingly more dangerous as winter storms become harsher each year. Commercial snow and ice management are among the most important exterior property maintenance services for buildings in the colder parts of the nation with some areas experiencing winters that last for half the year. Fortunately, good snow and ice management programs that are vital for commercial properties with a nationwide footprint exist to provide a turnkey solution for your business to ensure even your most challenging locations are receiving the proper services during the winter months – keeping staff members safe and your costs low. In this post, we’ll explore what types of services can be offered through a full-service snow and ice management company like Powerhouse, the benefits of a centralized approach to snow and ice management, what to look for, and some basic guidelines so that you can make an informed decision for your business when it comes to choosing the right program and provider for your snow and ice management.
Understanding the Basics of Snow and Ice Management
Effective snow and ice management are vital for the safety and comfort of commercial properties during the winter season. It is essential to understand the basics of snow and ice control in order to prevent hazards and maintain functionality. Knowledge of seasonal basics, appropriate techniques, equipment, and deicing materials is the foundation of a successful snow and ice management plan. This includes routine snow plowing, timely application of various deicing agents, and continuous monitoring of weather conditions. Understanding the basic elements of snow and ice management can help you make informed decisions that benefit your organization across all your locations. By mastering these fundamental aspects of snow and ice management, property owners and facility managers can effectively choose a provider that can address weather-related challenges and ensure the safety and accessibility of their premises throughout even the most brutal snow seasons.
Typical Commercial Snow Season
Best practices in a commercial snow service season begin in the spring months of the year with Vendor Qualification RFI (Request for Information). Typically the RFI process will go to mid-spring when the true RFP (Request for Proposal) process begins. The summer months are generally reserved for Q&A, Walkthroughs, contract negotiations, and legal reviews, with Contracts being awarded in a typical cycle in Early fall. In a commercial snow and ice management program, timing is key. Securing a contractor, routing, procurement, and equipment decisions generally have to be made ahead of time to ensure the best level of service and serviceability of your properties. Like in anything, “If You Fail to Plan, You Are Planning to Fail” — Benjamin Franklin. Snow Season start dates vary by region in the U.S., with northern states kicking their season off in mid to late fall, with lower states kicking off service closer to the end of fall, the beginning of winter, and lasting in some places clear into the following spring when the cycle starts all over again.
Top Services
Top services in a Snow and Ice Management Program center around the fundamentals with additional coverages bundled in more top-tier offerings like those at Powerhouse. Powerhouse snow and ice management programs provide snow and ice services that match your needs including:
- De-Icing Services
- Snow Plowing
- Snow Hauling
- Pre-Treatment Applications
- Sidewalk Snow/Ice Management
- Parking Garage Snow Management
When working with a top-tier provider like Powerhouse, you’ll also receive
- Efficiency Through Technology
At Powerhouse we use our technology platform, Atlas, to drive efficiency and communication with our vendor network and our clients. All location information, work order history, schedules, site visits, and pricing information is stored here. This becomes part of the site record and plan for each location and assists in driving decisions about future site activities. All snow removal partners utilize Atlas mobile technology in the field to provide photos and work verification. All information is stored at the site level allowing for detailed historical information to be used in year to year decision making.
Keeping our clients up to date about approaching and active winter weather is a key tenant of the Powerhouse program. Our experience has shown that constant communication is of high value. Our communication plan begins ahead of weather events, with real time updates on storm paths. As the event unfolds our clients are kept informed with regular status calls and reports. With Powerhouse, our clients are never kept in the dark about what is happening within their portfolio.
When winter storms roll through, action and execution are the names of the game. The Powerhouse team subscribes to weather forecasting services and keeps our clients informed of upcoming storms. Properties are pre-treated to ensure the safety and security of tenants and customers before, during, and after winter storms. This approach keeps property owners protected from potential liability. This also minimizes property downtime and allows our clients to safely welcome employees, customers, and tenants into their location.
- Nationwide Service Providers
Powerhouse provides national snow removal services through our network of over 7,500 service providers. All Powerhouse service providers are fully vetted, operating under stringent insurance standard, and adherence to Powerhouse standards of quality.
- Economic Benefit of National Snow Removal Solutions
Managing individual local service contracts for hundreds or thousands of locations is tedious, time consuming and costly. Maintaining consistent service levels is difficult and challenging for local facilities or operational staff to manage. Powerhouse manages thousands of locations nationally and leverages our size and scale for optimal pricing, terms, and results. Put the power of scale to use when it comes to winter planning and let the experts at Powerhouse review your portfolio. Click here to get started.
De-Icing Options
Along with the variety of equipment options, de-icing and anti-icing chemicals can help managers ensure safe, snow-and-ice-free surfaces. What is De-Icing vs Anti-Icing?
- Deicing is the reactive application of ice-control products to driving or walking surfaces to melt existing snow and ice. Crews perform deicing after snow-removal operations to melt the remaining snow and ice. Anti-icing is the proactive application of melting products to driving or walking surfaces before a storm.
- Anti-icing helps prevent snow and ice from bonding to the pavement, allowing workers to clear the surfaces more easily. Anti-icing can create safe winter conditions and is a cost-effective alternative to deicing.
Options:
- Sodium chloride is the most common deicer. But in very cold conditions — typically below 23 degrees — salt begins to lose effectiveness and either is eliminated or overused to compensate for reduced performance. A common practice is to mix sand and salt for deicing. Using sand is effective in improving traction, but it reduces the amount salt workers can apply to an area. So less deicing occurs.
- Calcium chloride (CaCl) is effective as an ice melter down to about minus-20 degrees. Calcium chloride is an exothermic salt that releases heat as it melts the ice. It melts ice faster than other common de-icers, but it tends to attract moisture from the air even after melting the ice, causing pavements to remain moist. If the moisture refreezes, it creates icy conditions, and the ice expansion can cause surface damage. Wet-dry and freeze-thaw cycles lead to spalling, which means flaking or chipping. CaCl also can be more corrosive to metals, and it can cost more than other materials.
- Magnesium chloride has many similarities to CaCl, including cost. It is exothermic and absorbs moisture from the air. This characteristic makes it fast-acting when applied as a solid and mixed with sand or salt. Crews also can spread it directly on the pavement as a liquid before a storm arrives. In temperatures ranging from 15- to minus-20 degrees, it is more effective than sodium chloride but less effective than calcium choloride.
Evaluating de-icing options and understanding ways to maximize the effectiveness of anti-icing and de-icing materials are essential for the success of snow and ice removal plans.
Per Season vs Per Service: What’s the Difference?
Business owners are sometimes surprised by the options available when hiring a Commercial Snow and Ice Management Company, especially when it comes to contracts. As you get estimates from various companies, you may be wondering what it means when they ask whether you want a pay-per-service contract or fixed seasonal pricing. Powerhouse offers two contracts to meet the needs of our commercial clients best.
- Per Service for Commercial Snow Service:
A per-service contract is available for commercial clients who prefer to pay each time they have their snow plowed, ice treated, walks shoveled, etc. In this type of service, you are charged for each visit to your property that is generally triggered by certain events, including the amount of snowfall. Heavy snows or precipitation that continue through the storm can often incur several visits to your property—services to open your parking garage or parking lot so you can get in and out.
This option is ideal for clients who want to pay for only the work that is done, which could limit overall costs or increase them based on the season. While overall costs for the season can be lower, per-service pricing is generally at a higher price point due to the additional time it takes to clear the snow as well as travel to the site because these clients are not on a regularly serviced, regularly scheduled route. Some contractors will also charge for their work by the hour once the snow has reached a certain depth.
- Per Season for Commercial Snow Service:
A seasonal contract is your typical contract that comes with a predetermined price for the entire season. This option is beneficial because the customer and contractor know what you’re getting and paying for. Seasonal contracts are typically 3 or 5 years long, so the cost is averaged over several years. There will be snowy winters and dry winters; however, with a per-season contract, customers find that this fluctuation balances out. A good estimation system like the one utilized at Powerhouse will utilize past data for your locations, sometimes going back 10-15 years to get the appropriate data to make an informed estimate of service. A seasonal contract makes it easier to plan a budget. Clients pay your snow removal service a fixed fee no matter how many times it snows. These contracts are usually three to five years to save time and eliminate a long vetting process every season.
Choosing the Right Provider: Benefits of a Centralized Approach
Selecting the right provider for your specific needs is a crucial task that requires careful consideration and evaluation. It is essential to conduct thorough research before making a decision, as this will ensure that you are partnering with a professional entity that can deliver excellent service quality and value for your investment. It is also important to assess the provider’s reputation, track record, and expertise in their respective industry. Furthermore, make sure to communicate your requirements and expectations clearly so they can align their services to your desired outcomes. Further, if your organization holds a national footprint with locations across the country, search for a provider with the infrastructure and scalability to handle all your locations seamlessly.
Powerhouse begins where your team ends. While we can provide individual trade services in specific markets across specific locations, clients find significant value in bundling our services. Our centralized management approach means:
- One point of contact for all locations
- Redundant resources to mitigate service interruptions
- Highly vetted field resources, ongoing capability verification
- Ensure coverage in challenging, remote markets
- Maintain scope consistency across all locations
- Limit the impact of the constant fluctuation in the labor market
- Reduce administrative costs with fewer invoices
- Limit risk and liability; we carry above-industry average insurance coverage
By following these steps, you will be able to choose the right provider that helps you achieve your goals and cultivates a lasting and successful partnership.
Implementing a Proactive Approach to Snow and Ice Management
In today’s world, unforeseen weather conditions can create chaos and affect daily routines, particularly in areas prone to snow and ice. Therefore, implementing a proactive approach to snow and ice management is of utmost importance. By staying ahead of the curve, businesses and property owners can ensure that they effectively mitigate risks and liabilities while optimizing resources, minimizing downtime, and ensuring public safety. Employing advanced weather monitoring tools, using technologically advanced ice and snow removal equipment, and adopting environment-friendly approaches such as eco-conscious deicers are some strategies that can help streamline this process. Moreover, well-planned and coordinated efforts of government agencies, local communities, and businesses can play an instrumental role in building a resilient infrastructure to handle adverse weather conditions, benefitting everyone in the long run. By being proactive, society at large can ensure a safer and more efficient winter season for all.
In order to create a plan for successful and safe winter weather, snow and ice management needs to be taken seriously. Understanding the basics of snow and ice management is important, preparing your property in advance, choosing the right provider for your needs, and taking a proactive approach. Taking these steps can help ensure that your winter weather plan goes smoothly and you are safe from the elements. If you are looking for a turnkey solution for your snow and ice management needs, contact us today for a quote. We can provide personalized options that fit your budget while helping keep your building safe this winter.
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Mar 6, 2023 |
Powerhouse Aligns with OMNIA Partners, a leading Group Purchasing Organization (GPO), to Expand Private Sector and Multifamily Housing Solutions.
Citing OMNIA Partner’s strong track record for customer service, success, and industry growth across various verticals, Powerhouse aligns with OMNIA Partners to expand its national reach and customer solutions.
Crowley, TX-March 4, 2023- Powerhouse, a national commercial infrastructure management services provider, announced their partnership with OMNIA Partners, the nation’s largest, most experienced, and most trusted resource in group purchasing and supply chain management. This partnership unites OMNIA’s industry-leading purchasing power and Powerhouse’s extensive and diverse portfolio for indirect and direct procurement services allowing a more effective solution for customers nationwide.
Shaping the future of procurement through power, access, and trust. OMNIA Partners is the largest and most experienced purchasing organization for multifamily and private-sector procurement. Their immense purchasing power and industry-leading suppliers have produced an extensive portfolio of procurement solutions and partnerships, making OMNIA Partners the most valued and trusted resource for organizations nationwide. This partnership further solidifies Powerhouse as a national leader in infrastructure management, strengthening its national reach, procurement solutions, market share, and value-add for its customers.
“We are excited that this partnership can provide excellent opportunities for outstanding service for our current and potential customers. Combining the best-in-class procurement and supply chain management of OMNIA with Powerhouse’s ability to field execute a wide variety of solutions on a national basis is an enhanced offering in the marketplace we are thrilled to now provide.” -Robert Blake-Ward, CEO Powerhouse.
Through economies of scale, OMNIA Partners has shown its ability to deliver more contracts, across more verticals, with value-driven pricing and transparency for its customers. As GPOs help to create the frameworks for streamlined procurement and agility, Powerhouse looks ahead to the partnership’s ability to increase its collection of solutions and value-added services across all strategic spend categories, Exterior Services, Facilities Maintenance, and Multisite Enhancement Services while improving its market share in various verticals.
For more information on Powerhouse’s offerings, please visit the company’s website at www.powerhousenow.com. Follow us @powerhousenow
Mar 6, 2023 |
As a business owner, you’re inundated on a daily basis with the numerous risks and liabilities that come with business ownership. As your business grows and your footprint increases, those risks are multiplied. One area where security often falls short is storefront safety initiatives. From preventing foot traffic from absconding with valuable assets to protecting employees and customers alike, having the right strategies in place is essential–and bollards are an important part of any comprehensive plan. In this article, we’ll discuss why bollards should be included as part of your company’s overall approach to mitigate risk and increase efficiency while protecting both property and personnel against unexpected accidents or intentional incidents.
The Importance of Storefront Safety
At times overlooked, storefront safety is a real issue for many businesses these days. In fact, the storefront safety council sites that 24% of all storefront safety occurrences happen to retail stores accounting for one of the largest sectors of storefront damage. The council also reported that storefront safety incidents are taking place at a rate of 100 per day, injuring 16,000 annually and resulting in 2.600 deaths per year. Staggering numbers that made even more staggering when you think that these types of accidents are 100% preventable.
Aside from the safety implications, the cost savings you see upon installing bollards come from escaping costly repairs resulting from vehicles intentionally and unintentionally damaging your property, vandalism, costly and significant downtime to your business, and potential payouts to victims and their families. In 2022, 7-11 had a $91 million settlement for a storefront accident on one of its properties. This monumental settlement came in part because it was found that 7-11 had not done enough due diligence to protect its employees or customers from storefront incidents, such as implementing bollard protection.
What are bollards and how can they help protect your business from vehicle-related risks
Keeping your business safe from unexpected vehicle-related risks can be mitigated by the installation of safety bollards to your storefront. Powerhouse’s storefront safety bollard rollout programs are a reliable and efficient way to mitigate the potential damages caused by these types of events. Not only is this rollout program relatively simple to implement, but bollards drastically reduce the amount of risk associated with unexpected events should they occur. By preventing vehicular access on your premises, you can ensure the safety of clients and employees, safeguarding your business from harm. Whether it’s vandalism, terrorism, or an everyday auto incident, bollards protect against any threat. Providing premium bollard products and rollout services through it’s multi-site enhancement division, Powerhouse is committed to delivering the best in storefront safety and risk mitigation for businesses nationwide.
The Benefits of Installing Bollards for Your Storefront
Investing in bollards to protect your storefront is an essential risk mitigation and customer safety measure while providing a cost-effective alternative to traditional security solutions. Bollards are an affordable way of deterring ram raiding, vehicle theft, and break-ins, as well as any general public risk, such as accidental collisions caused by drivers or incidents involving mopeds. By installing bollards around the perimeter of a commercial property, you can be sure that both customers and employees alike will remain safe from potential threats.When choosing bollard placements, Powerhouse will diligently survey your properties to pinpoint high-traffic, high-probable ares posing the highest threat and need for bollard placement and create a custom installation plan that will diligently and quickly deliver a seamless rollout program according to your specifications.
Considerations for Choosing the Right Type of Bollard for Your Business
As a business owner, selecting the right type of bollard for your storefront can be an important decision. With the goal of mitigating risk around your building’s perimeter, bollards can help create a secure and safe environment. However, choosing the right size, shape and material is key for the most effective security. It is important to consider any potential risks, such as vehicle-related threats or pedestrian management needs when making this selection. Depending on the context of your property and specific security needs, your choice should reflect both aesthetic purposes as well as impact strength needed to stop high-speed intrusions. Security consultants with Powerhouse can help you select a product that meets your requirements while also helping manage expectations regarding installation costs and overall safety measures. Looking into all options upfront before implementing any storefront safety initiatives will ensure security goals are met with satisfaction in mind.
When deciding on the look of your storefront security solution, our team will work with you to take into account both color and aesthetics. A great way to begin is to consider how the color and aesthetics chosen will blend in with the existing decor. Bollards come in a range of colors and styles so it is important to select one that will best suit your atmosphere while still fulfilling its duty when required. Additionally, throughout the selection process be sure to keep safety as your top priority. Different colors, materials, heights, sizes can all impact how secure an area is; if done correctly bollards can minimize risks without compromising a store’s aesthetic appeal. The most secure option often involves an underground installation or having specially designed bollards made; Nevertheless, a little research goes a long way in determining which color and aesthetic best fits a store’s needs. Powerhouse’s expert rollout team will keep these points in mind when deciding on what kind of security solution makes sense for your business!
Best Practices for Installation and Maintenance of Commercial Bollards
Throughout your rollout program with Powerhouse your team will keep best practices for the installation and maintenance of commercial bollards in mind. This means thoroughly assessing the environment and determining the appropriate size, type and quantity of bollards needed to mitigate risk. Generally, it is recommended that bollards be close together with no more than 36 inches between them, mounted flush with the ground surface, checked routinely for cracks or damage, and painted in a high-visibility color. When it comes to bollard installation, proper preparation is key – footing pads should be used when installing above-ground bollards; core drill holes need to be dug over four feet deep if installing below ground models; securing bolts should meet manufacturers’ specifications; and nuts should be tightened securely to ensure the integrity of the anchor system. As a result of following best practices on installation and regularly maintained thereafter, you can ensure your commercial property is secure with fewer surprises down the line.
Common Types of Bollards Used in Storefront Safety Applications
Storefront safety initiatives such as Powerhouse’s Bollard Rollout program to improve storefront safety is a great way to reduce liability and create a safe environment for customers and employees. Although an initial investment for your business, in the long run the savings could be game changing. The team at Powerhouse
Powerhouse’s unparalleled rollout capabilities keep you in the driver’s seat and your competitors on their toes. Powerhouse’s superior rollout reputation is built on the consistent, on-time delivery of rollout programs that are seamlessly completed according to specification. We get the job done quickly and efficiently without sacrificing quality. Our proprietary real-time data management system, Infinity, helps us manage programs to ensure consistency and compliance at each site. Powerhouse delivers best-in-class communication and reporting visibility throughout the program.
Trust the Powerhouse experts that have been perfecting the art of Rollout projects since 2004.
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