The entire team from AR Engineering took a half day to get together off-site and talk about our new Employee Engagement Plan (EEP) which will be rolled out in January 2025. The time allowed our staff to hear more about this exciting new opportunity, ask questions and obtain a better understanding of how the EEP will look on a day-to-day basis once it is implemented. We enjoyed lunch, a time to connect with each other and everyone had fun trying their hand on the excavating simulators. The day concluded with everyone signing our Mission and Values plaque which now hangs in our office.
AR 2nd Annual Pumpkin Carving and Chili Cook-Off
AR Engineering staff enjoyed a fun Halloween with a chili cookoff and pumpkin carving contest. We had a tasty lunch while judging the chilis, which kept us too busy to take many pictures of the event. After lunch, we formed teams for the pumpkin carving competition. Each team created a unique design, including one pumpkin featuring the AR logo, highlighting our creativity and team spirit.
2024 MiCareerQuest Southwest
AR Engineering had the opportunity to participate in the MiCareerQuest Southwest event which took place on October 22-23, 2024 at the Kalamazoo Expo Center. This event is organized annually by the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency (KRESA) and provides the opportunity for 8th grade students from across Kalamazoo and Calhoun Counties to take a fun field trip for a unique, hands-on career exploration event. The team at AR Engineering talked to students about their careers in engineering and surveying, and provided a hands-on activity that showcased 3D laser scanning which allows surveyors to capture millions of data points of a space or structure within minutes. For this activity, students scanned the booth space at the event center and got to visualize the 3D processed data on a screen. Students also got to view drone scans in AutoCAD of a local Kalamazoo park and took a 3D tour of the detailed features such as trees, playground equipment, and buildings. This was our first time participating in the MiCareerQuest Southwest but it was a great event and our team is already looking forward to next year!
WMU Fall Engineering Expo
AR Engineering participated in the Fall Engineering Expo held in the Student Center at Western Michigan University’s Parkview Campus on September 18, 2024. Whitney Pizzala and Spener O’Dell had the opportunity to meet students from the 14 ABET-accredited engineering and applied science concentrations who were interested in learning more about civil engineering, surveying and potential internship opportunities. The team at AR Engineering always appreciates the opportunity to support students at WMU and we look forward to this great event every year.
Summer Golf Outings Support Scholarships
The team at AR Engineering participated in several golf outings this summer that provide valuable financial resources to support scholarships. Teams golfed in the Michigan Society of Professional Surveyors annual golf outing and the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers annual golf outing. In addition, another team enjoyed the joint golf outing held by the American Institute of Architects Southwest Michigan and the National Association of Women in Construction Kalamazoo/Battle Creek. Besides supporting a great cause, these golf outings are perfect opportunities to connect with clients and colleagues.