This year even more than in years’ past, it’s important to stop and take a moment to express gratitude for all the good we’ve been privileged to be part of in 2020.
To say it’s been a trying year is an understatement.
COVID-19 changed work and life for all of us, but we’re particularly thankful for the people who have shown up for work every day and followed the carefully laid plans of foremen, project managers, GMs and facility leads who provided a pathway to work safely throughout the pandemic.
Our People
Miller Electric Company is proud of our people, and not just because we’re employee-owned. Identifying the best local electricians in the industry, hiring them, training them and retaining them is the secret to our success. It has allowed Miller Electric to sustain the largest core workforce in the area while providing the finest talent for every job.
In a year that saw many suspend projects and undergo layoffs, our continued growth has allowed us to do more than just keep the lights on at Miller Electric. We’ve been able to hire more wiremen and cablers, expanding our ability to help business thrive in Omaha.
Our Customers
We know we’re only as good as the customers we serve and this year, that meant wiring, installing and servicing many cool and critical projects in the Omaha area. Here’s a look back at just a few project highlights we’ve been privileged to work on in 2020.
Monroe Meyer Institute
The COVID-19 pandemic has made life more difficult for many. That is especially true of children living with the effects of genetic disorders and their families. The Monroe Meyer Institute for Genetics and Rehabilitation (MMI) has been working for decades to make life a little easier for those children and their families.
We were truly honored to power their new 220,455 square foot building, which will expand the critical services it offers. From vision and dental services to an integrated center for autism spectrum disorders to a therapy pool and indoor splashpad, the project offered opportunities for electrical excellence.
Miller Electric General Foreman John Munch said it best when he expressed his feelings on our involvement in the project.
“I enjoy all the work we do, but this project is special,” Much said. “I feel very grateful to be part of it because I know many children and their families will benefit from it.”
UNMC Surge Tents
Back in April, when the initial wave of the virus hit America’s shores, the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Nebraska Medicine, which are leaders in pandemic treatment, training and quarantining methods, asked for Miller Electric’s help installing tents to prepare for a possible increase in COVID-19 patients.
We erected three tents and fully equipped them with electricity, internet, heat and air-conditioning. The project ran smoothly and showcased both cooperation and goodwill.
With a second wave surging across America, we’re more thankful than ever for those tents, which are available, should they be needed, to provide critical care for COVID-19 patients.
MCL Headquarters
It’s not every day you have an opportunity to help a longtime building partner with their own headquarters project, but that’s exactly what Miller Electric got to do this year for MCL Construction. The building was about 60 percent complete when COVID-19 struck Omaha, but we didn’t let that stop us from completing work on the 32,000 square foot office building without incident.
MCL Superintendent Mick Procopio found a way to get the work done safely, got us information when we needed it and coordinated different trades in the field. He was a true team player and we couldn’t be happier that their new headquarters building is open for business.
Our Community
We power a community we are a part of and our success is connected to its safety. Working safely is critical to our own culture as a company and to the overall success of our business community.
Safety Without Shortcuts
We make it a point to protect ourselves and our clients by offering safety training classes and making safety an integral part of our culture. That commitment to safety was rewarded this year with recognition from the National Safety Council of Nebraska as one of Nebraska’s safest companies.
“In our line of work, when what you do can easily result in life-threatening injuries, it’s of critical importance to make sure every one of our electricians, wiremen and even our customers follow the protocols and codes designed to keep us safe,” says Miller Electric Safety Director Scott Love.
Hardhat in Hand Program
In October, Miller Electric welcomed two new employees through the Hardhat in Hand program started by Turner Construction Company in Omaha. This is the second year the program has been offered and the second time Miller Electric has participated in it.
We’re happy to be part of it because we know the trades are in constant need of new, qualified, energetic workers. This program provides young people an alternative to the traditional post-secondary education model and creates a holistic approach that brings together education, community organizations and trade partners to offer the best possible opportunity for success.
Who wouldn’t want to help qualified people succeed in an equitable way that increases diversity and inclusion in the construction industry?
We don’t just work here. We live here and want to see Omaha thrive for generations to come. We’re thankful to have the opportunity to support Omaha through the Hardhat in Hand program, ACE Mentorship Program and other programs that allow us to have an active presence in our community.
We are thankful to be able to see the fruit of our labors in the ideas we help bring to life; the people who go to work in the facilities we wire; and the families who thrive in a safe and supported community.
Our participation in this work is a responsibility we don’t take lightly and one that we want to continue to be trusted to perform for the next hundred years.