Newsletter - Stepping Forward into the New Year!

Happy New Year, Everyone! 

I hope this newsletter finds you refreshed (or at least recovered!) after the holidays.  The new year brings a fresh opportunity to set new goals, embrace change, and pursue personal and professional development with renewed energy. I tend to make annual goals vs. resolutions, that is how I get things done! It’s never too late to set some goals, so what are yours for 2025? 

In the final months of 2024, I dedicated my time to completing the final touches on two exciting new projects and planning for 2025. I can’t wait to share what I’ve been working on! 

Here's to a new year filled with purpose, progress, and fulfillment! 

Respectfully, Dee Davis   

New Book Coming in February! Self-Paced Sustainability – Reducing Impact on Your Terms 

I've been dedicated to practicing sustainability in both my personal and professional life for over 25 years. I was one of the first LEED APs in the construction industry, and eventually became a certified composter, certified energy manager and much more. I make a conscious effort to use resources wisely in everything I do whether it's visiting my local refillery, turning household waste into nutrient-rich compost for my garden, or opting for reusable items when shopping and traveling, sustainability is at the heart of my daily routine. You might have even caught some of my Sustainable Travel videos on YouTube! 

In my last newsletter, Fall 2024, I mentioned I had launched a new social account, Everyday Sustainable Living, where I share my everyday tips and also encourage others to do so. I also shared that I was compiling my many years of sustainable practices into a new book.  I’m thrilled to announce that book Self-Paced Sustainability – Reducing Impact on Your Terms will be launching in February! The chapters cover everything from zero waste entertaining, to cooking with the sun (yes, solar ovens really work!) to natural pest control. This book will show you what you can do to live more sustainably at YOUR pace. 

The social account Everyday Sustainable Living has been renamed Self-Paced Sustainability and you can follow along here LinkedIn and Facebook.  You can sign up to be the first to receive all the book launch details here! https://bit.ly/4iHmjXL 

Podcast Launch! Management Under Construction 

My second exciting new project is a weekly podcast in collaboration with a good friend of mine, Brad Wyant.  In both our personal and professional lives, we're all striving to learn, grow, and be better leaders. This podcast dives into the realms of business, leadership, construction and sustainability, examining how these themes intersect across different industries and our personal journeys. Join us as we explore the tools and insights needed to build a better future for ourselves and the world around us. 

Our 1st episode is Electric Vehicles – The Good, The Bad, and The Future – where we explore the past, present and the future of EVs as well as emerging non-gasoline auto technology.  

We’re busy recording additional episodes and will launch February 3rd. You can find it on YouTube, Apple, Spotify and anywhere you get your podcasts. 

Subscribe and get alerts when new episodes are posted! 

U.S. Engineering cGMP Training Recap 

I really enjoyed my 5-day cGMP training session for U.S. Engineering. We had a fun group of about 20 employees that included estimating, purchasing, PMs, Pes, shop, field and office.  We covered topics like Intro to GMP, Ordering Materials, Reading and Interpreting PSAT, Setting Expectations with Clients, Turnover Packages (TOPS) and more. You can check out the reviews HERE. You can also see live clips from the courses  HERE. 

This course is completely customizable and can be taught in person or virtually. Contact us to learn more at [email protected] 

ASHRAE Utah Workshop – Soft Skills for Engineers 

Technical skills may get you a job, but soft skills are essential for learning to communicate effectively, maximize collaboration and build trust. The ability to communicate well – both giving and receiving information - is essential to creating an environment that allows for harmony, satisfaction, and efficiency. These important skills can take some work to understand and learn how use effectively. 

I’ll be co-teaching a 2-day soft skills course with Karine Leblanc for the ASHRAE Utah Chapter. The course is highly interactive, and we address problems of poor communication and engagement, lack of team collaboration, conflicts, inefficient meetings, unengaging presentations, poor management performance, decreased productivity, difficulty to retain talent and overwhelmed workload. 

While this February workshop is for ASHRAE Utah members only, Karine and I are available to teach this workshop at your facility. 

The workshop is broken down into 3 sessions per day: 

• Communication Essentials 

• Collaboration 

• Effective &Productive Meetings 

• Presentation skills 

• Productivity 

• Leadership 

You can find out more information by contacting us at [email protected] 

Construction Projects 

Along with these fun undertakings, we are also continuously working on projects from coast to coast! In 2024 we added Andrew Hurov to our Project Management team. Andrew comes to us with over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, and a strong background in mechanical and plumbing systems. Andrew is a valuable add to our consulting PM team working with a variety of clients. 

Some of the projects we are currently working on: 

• UCSD Jacobs Engineering Building air handler replacement – Owner's Representative 

• UCSD Ridgewalk Living and Learning Neighborhood – Design Review /Owner's Representative 

• Sutter Health Alta Bates Medical Center Interventional Radiology – General Contractor PM Lead 

• Agilent Odin Manufacturing – Owner’s Representative 

• Agilent Newport Emissions Control – Owner’s Representative 

• Genentech Single Use Technology – Owner’s Representative 

• UCSD Specification updates - Consulting 

• UC Davis Tulare Lab – Design review / Scope and RFP preparation 

• UCSD Cath Lab – design review 

• UCSD OR Upgrades – design review 

I am pleased for the continued relationship with our partners at Agilent Technologies, ASHRAE, Genentech, Marcon Builders, Prime Business, Project Management Advisors, UC San Diego, UC Davis and US Engineering into 2025.  

Wishing you all a safe, happy and prosperous 2025! 

Stay in touch with us by following us on socia lmedia Instagram, YouTube, Linkedin and Facebook. and contact us for your next project at [email protected] or professional development at [email protected].