Mar 27, 2020 |
In this quickly changing environment, Powerhouse is your solution to protecting employees, customers, and the general public. For many of our customers, we’ve moved from plan to execution in a matter of days in response to OSHA and CDC safety recommendations. We understand that everyone’s health and safety is the highest priority while we act with a sense of urgency ensuring initiatives are completed as quickly as possible.
OSHA and the CDC are recommending installing engineering controls that involve isolating employees from work-related hazards.
These types of controls reduce exposure to hazards without relying on worker behavior and can be the most cost-effective solution to implement.
Engineering controls for SARS-CoV-2 include:
- Installing high-efficiency air filters.
- Increasing ventilation rates in the work environment.
- Installing physical barriers, such as clear plastic sneeze guards.
Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19:
- Installing a drive-through window for customer service.
- Specialized negative pressure ventilation in some settings, such as for aerosol generating procedures (e.g., airborne infection isolation rooms in healthcare settings).
- Installing kick plates and hands-free openers
- Store Front Board-ups
- Dark Property Security Protocols
We can respond to your urgent Facility Maintenance and Exterior Services needs, 
as well as other COVID-19 cleaning related needs.
Click here to contact us now so we can help you
Source: OSHA’s Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19
#Powerhouse #covid19 #sneezeguards #coronavirus #solutions #PeopleProcessTechnology #barriers #thereforyou
Mar 18, 2020 |
As the World Health Organization officially declares this virus a pandemic, there are many concerns across the globe regarding our well-being. Our personal and professional lives are shifting as we, as a country and as a planet, figure out how best to stay healthy, stop the spread and also continue contributing economically. This is the first crisis in our time of the age of technology which allows many employers to offer work-from-home setups. Only time will tell which initiatives have proven successful in stopping the spread and maintaining progress in our professional lives.
For our industry in particular, which has been experiencing growth amongst a few challenges in the recent years, the coronavirus poses a pretty sizeable threat – material availability. Read more below from Construction Best Practices on how COVID-19 can potentially impact our industry this year.
As reported by GlobeSt.com, which offers commercial real estate news, the coronavirus has made the certainty of construction cost projections rather murky. “The impact of the virus is impossible to predict with certainty, but any prolonged slowdown in Chinese or global economic and manufacturing activity is likely to have significant ramifications for construction costs,” according to the JLL 2020 Construction Outlook, as cited by GlobeSt.com.
The virus may also impact the availability of materials. Because roughly one-fourth to one-third of the construction products that builders use in the United States are sourced from China, a sustained slowdown in Chinese production can lead to material shortages in the United States and rises in material costs, JLL said.
But there may be a silver lining: Reduced construction activity due to virus containment efforts will result in a reduction in demand of materials, offsetting price pressure. However, “Without the ability to accurately forecast the impact of the virus, we have widened our materials price forecast to account for the uncertainty,” JLL added.
Source: https://www.bestconstructionpractices.com/2020/03/coronavirus-poised-to-cause-materials-shortage/
Jan 13, 2020 |
Get to know Powerhouse in Retail & Restaurant Facility Business’s January Edition in an interview with one of our Principal/Owners, Robert Blake-Ward.
We spend a great deal of time on our core: people, process and technology
Retail&Restaurant: Where are you based and how long has Powerhouse been in business?
Robert Blake-Ward, Powerhouse
Robert Blake-Ward: Our headquarters is in Crowley, Texas, about 30 minutes south of Fort Worth. Powerhouse was founded in 2004.
R&R: What is your title and how long have you been with the company?
Blake-Ward: I am a principal/owner of Powerhouse and have been so since 2011.
R&R: What trades/services do you offer retailers and restaurants?
Blake-Ward: Powerhouse specializes in Construction Services (remodels and refresh projects), Facility Maintenance (scheduled and reactive services, integrated program management, interior and exterior) and customized Rollouts (high volume, high velocity, high impact projects across thousands of locations nationwide).
R&R: In what regions of the country do you conduct most of your business, or are you nationwide?
Blake-Ward: We work in all 50 U.S. states. Although based in Texas, our work takes us all over the map.
R&R: What makes your company’s “signature service” stand out in the industry?
Blake-Ward: We spend a great deal of time on our core: people, process and technology. Our Infinity platform allows for real-time update as work progresses in the field. Our people drive the results with great training and accountability for their project’s success – customer-centric teams who create a great project result.
R&R: What kind of feedback do you receive from clients?
When a client calls with an issue, our people react quickly and efficiently.
Blake-Ward: We aim to make every client a “Raving Fan of Powerhouse.” We often get complimented on our sense of urgency, which is a key ingredient in our customer service and success. When a client calls with an issue, our people react quickly and efficiently. When we get a work order, a Powerhouse employee answers the phone and is dedicated to getting someone out to location within the business hours.
R&R: Why should owner/operators choose your company to be their next vendor partner?
Blake-Ward: We have the people, process and technology, as mentioned earlier, but we also have the resources. We pride ourselves not only on our client relationships, but also on our Powerhouse Partner relationships – relationships with our key vendors across the country. These are partnerships that have allowed us to have constant, national coverage for all our clients’ needs.
R&R: How many retail/restaurant clients do you have, and is that sector growing for you? Would you like to name any of your clients?
Blake-Ward: We have more than 80 distinct customers of various types and sizes. Retail and restaurant are just two of the eight industries Powerhouse focuses on and where we perform the majority of our work. Retail clients are what started Powerhouse, and we’ve maintained many of those initial clients throughout Powerhouse’s lifetime. As the industry itself is constantly changing and growing, so does Powerhouse and the opportunities we are given.
R&R: Many traditional retailers, in particular, are downsizing their portfolios. Overall, restaurant/hospitality is growing. What other trends are you seeing in the industry?
Blake-Ward: We continue to see a hyper-competitive market where operators need to differentiate – they are innovating both their brand offerings and how they deliver it, blending the ordering/pickup expereince to serve different customer needs. Operators need to execute these programs faster than ever and with fewer resources to manage – they lean on partners to help manage more of the communication and planning of their projects.
R&R: What is your advice for FM vendors reacting to this shifting climate?
Blake-Ward: Partner with your suppliers; you’ll get more value in return. Don’t be afraid to try a new approach you haven’t done before.
In case you missed it, see how our Senior Director of Operations of FM answers this question in her article with Retail & Restaurant Facility Business.
R&R: What predictions do you have – for your company, your industry or both – in 2020?
Blake-Ward: Continued growth, continued opportunities and continued challenges, for everyone in our industry.
Oct 31, 2019 |
October 7-11, 2019
During the first full week in October there is always an exciting buzz around the Powerhouse Office. Powerhouse has celebrated Customer Service Week since 2016. During this week we celebrate and recognize all our incredible employees who exemplify our customer service expectations and core values. We also spend time fine-tuning our customer service skills while having a great time doing it. Our goal every year with Customer Service Week is to learn how to have fun while having a positive and lasting impact on people.
When we prioritize meeting the needs of our customers in a manner of excellence, integrity and humility, we create a relationship with the customer that is not only long-lasting but sets us apart. This is a huge component in how we have a positive and lasting impact on people.
-Fallon Leeth, Construction Coordinator
Customer Service Week showcases the creative ways an employee can improve the Customer Experience. Reading through all of the customer comments and feedback provides inspiration and innovative ideas to take your service to the next level. Having a positive and lasting impact is realized by delivering these experiences continuously over time, and that is what we strive for!!
-Dillon Coggins, Business Developer
Oct 21, 2019 |
Powerhouse has been involved with Outsystems since 2018. Outsystems is a global leader in low code rapid development technologies, and is a leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Multi-experience Platforms and Low-Code Application Platforms, as well as a leader in the Forrester Low-Code Platforms Wave.
We were excited to be invited to their NextStep 2019 Conference at the beginning of October where we were represented by Powerhouse’s Senior Applications Developer, Mark McRight. Mark and Team have been steps ahead of Powerhouse’s growth as we’ve picked up the pace more and more every year. What an honor for Powerhouse and our spectacular IT team to be chosen for “Best Digital Transformation” out of hundreds of global Outsystems customers at the 2019 Innovation Awards!
Thank you, Outsystems and DoiTLean, for your help getting here and the recognition of our team’s hard work throughout this past year!
With their rapid growth and success, Powerhouse, a leader and innovator in Construction and Facility Maintenance, was challenged with legacy technologies and processes that were entirely dependent on e-mail, spreadsheets and disconnected platforms. Leveraging low code and rapid development tools from Outsystems and their chosen delivery partner DoitLean, Powerhouse developed a unified technology platform in just 14 weeks to reduce touchpoints through maintainable automation and workflow within several areas of their operation. The process improvement and workflow begins with New Business submission, and flows to project setup, resource profiles & allocation, performance tracking, travel booking and management. Through the implementation of high-tech process and workflow, the ability to continue unmatched customer service, project management and Quality control while continuing rapid growth is made possible.
as well as other COVID-19 cleaning related needs.
