The Rasmussen Group · strengthening exercises are best for you. Lose Excess Weight Pot bellies and excess weight exert . ... The best way to sit is straight, with your back against

The Rasmussen Group 5550 NE 22nd Street

Des Moines, Iowa 50313 PHONE: 515-266-5173

FAX: 515-266-9857www.rasmussengroup.com

In This Edition:

>News from The Rasmussen Group Truck Yard

>Safety: Preventing Back Injuries

>Details About Your Health Screening

>2017 Company Events

>Company News

The Rasmussen Group | Heavy Construction Industry

October 2017 | Volume 31

Letter from the President

This fall, the Rasmussen Group will be recognized for its philanthropic activities in the community by the receipt of two awards: The “2017 Outstanding Large Corporate Award” by the Central Iowa Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the “2017 Service to Youth Award” from the YMCA. I will humbly receive these awards and wanted to include this in the newsletter to offer my thanks to all the team members of The Rasmussen Group companies for their work in making this happen. We have been able to give back with time, talent, and treasure to many organizations over the years.

During the preparations for receiving these awards, the presenting organizations asked a few questions. I thought I would list my responses so you can see how I self-reflect (and whether you agree that I do these things), but also how you would answer these same questions. We are all leaders.

> What is your personal definition and general philosophy of leadership? Being a good manager revolves around being honest, providing direction for managers, and recruiting great team members. I think leadership is providing motivation to succeed, being honest, doing what you say you are going to do, and also having employees’ backs (supporting them in times of trouble).

> What are specific personal characteristics of leadership that help you lead others? I provide open and honest dialogue, treat people the way I want to be treated, and I provide an annual review with each manager on his/her performance.

> What are specific strategies that you implement to cause positive change among those you lead? I encourage thinking outside the box in their operational duties, require an annual budget from each manager, and provide active engagement through monthly management meetings. Managers have full responsibility, and I do not micro-manage.

> How do you maintain your integrity, motivation, and good health while serving as a leader? Integrity and doing the right thing is at the top of the list. Sometimes you are put in positions that challenge your integrity, but showing that the leader has integrity lets everyone who works with you know that you, as a leader, will do the right thing. It can be tempting to compromise your ethics, but you can’t or you will lose all respect. I love what I do, so getting motivated is not hard for me. Do I have bad days, yes I do, but you become a better manager when you face adversity. I am the fourth generation to own our family business. I have learned by example from my mother and father and the previous generations. Good health: I work out during the week at our office, I created a Work Well program for all employees, and I put a high priority on good health so I can be as effective as possible.

We all have opportunities to lead – I hope you do so with integrity and pride and, as always, with safety in mind.

Sincerely,

President

Under Construction

Corporate Newsletter | The Rasmussen Group2 Corporate Newsletter | The Rasmussen Group

News from The Rasmussen Group Truck YardAs the Shop and Equipment Manager for The Rasmussen Group for the past six years, I’m amazed at how much the

Rasmussen companies have grown and how progress has changed the landscape in and around the shop.

In 2011, Central Iowa Trucking was located in the Argee yard south of Rasmussen’s yard. At that time, the fleet had 60 power units and 27 assorted trailers, for a total of 87 pieces between Des Moines and Ames.

In 2012, the entire Des Moines fleet moved into the Rasmussen yard, and in that same year, Jensen Crane Services came to be. By the end of 2012, the Rasmussen shops were working with six different internal companies and approximately 350 pieces of equipment.

In 2014, Central Iowa Ready Mix (CIRM) made the decision to combine their mechanics with those of the Rasmussen shop and started routing all the ready mix trucks here for repairs. At that time, CIRM had (between the three locations in Des Moines and Ames) 72 ready mix trucks.

Today, three years later, here is where we stand with the equipment numbers of seven companies in the metro:

• Central Iowa Ready Mix now has 180 ready mix trucks between Iowa and Nebraska, with 110 of them coming to Des Moines for repairs.

• Central Iowa Trucking is now up to 116 pieces between trucks and assorted trailers.

• Jensen Construction has 122 pieces of equipment in the region.

• Argee is running 70 total pieces between trucks and trailers.

• Grimes Asphalt and Paving is running 67 vehicles and 62 pieces of heavy equipment.

• Jensen Crane Services is running 20 vehicles.

• Rasmussen has 24 vehicles.

These 591 vehicles and pieces of equipment are all likely to require some type of work to be performed at some point between the three shops. This will be accomplished by 15 mechanics/fabricators working two shifts, six days a week.

If you combine our traffic with that of:

• three to five package carriers, like UPS and Fed-ex, a day,

• ten different parts trucks from local truck dealers and or parts houses a day,

• garbage truck three times a week,

• three to five full-fuel/DEF tanker trucks a week,

• daily customers settling invoices,

• hired trucks dropping off paperwork,

• over 100 people a day, between drivers, mechanics, and office personnel, walking across the courtyard every day, …

…. the yard/shop area becomes extremely busy, to say the least!

With an eye toward safety and keeping the flow of traffic to the shops and offices open, it is imperative that we all do our part in keeping the area clear of parked vehicles. So please use the staging areas to park your vehicles when doing business with either, and be aware of foot traffic in the yard at ALL times.

“591 vehicles and pieces of equipment are all likely to require some type of work....”

Corporate Newsletter | The Rasmussen Group 3Corporate Newsletter | The Rasmussen Group

Learn How To Prevent Back Injury Preventing a back injury is much easier

than repairing one. Because your back is critically important to your ability to walk, sit, stand, and run, it’s important to take care of it. Most back pain arises from using your back improperly, so learning a few basic rules about lifting, posture, and proper exercise can help keep your back in good shape.

Exercise To Strengthen Your Back And Reduce Stress

Having strong back and stomach muscles is important in order to ease the work your back is put through each day. By doing simple back-toning exercises, you not only strengthen your back, but also reduce stress and improve your appearance! Check with your doctor about which back-strengthening exercises are best for you.

Lose Excess Weight Pot bellies and excess weight exert

undue force on the muscles of the back. In attempting to support the excess weight out in front, your back becomes swayed, which causes excess strain on the lower back muscles. By losing weight, you can reduce strain and pain in your lower back. Check with your doctor for the most sensible diet plan for you.

Maintain Good PostureYou can prevent many back pains by

learning to sit, stand, and lift items correctly. When you are sitting down, don’t slouch. Slouching puts pressure on the vertebrae and makes the back ligaments stretch and hurt. The best way to sit is straight, with your back against the back of the chair, your feet flat on the floor, and your knees slightly higher than your hips. Learn to stand tall with your head up and shoulders back.

Maintain Good Posture While You Sleep And Drive

Make sure you sleep on a mattress that provides adequate back support. If your mattress is too soft, it can result in back strain or a sway back. It is best to sleep on your side with your knees bent, or on your back with a pillow under your knees for support. When you are driving, keep your back straight against the seat, with your knees bent and slightly higher than your hips.

Plan Your Lift Lifting objects is often a mindless

task, and, unfortunately, many people lift incorrectly, resulting in unnecessary strain on the back and surrounding muscles. In order to lift correctly and reduce strain on your back, it’s important to plan your lift in advance. This means thinking about the weight of the object you will be moving and the distance you will be moving it. Is it bulky? Will you need help? Do you see any hazards that can be eliminated? Consider these factors before you do any lifting.

Position Yourself Correctly In Front Of The Load

Once you have planned your lift, the next step is to align yourself correctly, with your feet straddling the load, one foot slightly in front of the other for balance. Slowly squat down by bending your knees, not your back. Using both hands, firmly grasp the load and bring it as close to your body as you can. This will help distribute the weight of the load over your feet and make the move easier.

Lift With Your Legs, Not Your BackOnce the load is close to your body,

slowly straighten your legs until you are standing upright. Make sure the load isn’t blocking your vision as you begin to walk slowly to your destination. If you need to turn to the side, turn by moving your feet around and not by twisting at the waist.

Set The Load Down CorrectlyOnce you have reached your

destination, it’s equally important that the load be set down correctly. By reversing the above lifting procedure, you can reduce the strain on your back. If you are setting your load on the ground, squat down by bending your knees and position the load out in front of you. If the load is set down at table height, set the load down slowly and maintain contact with it until you are sure the load is secure and will not fall when you leave.

Get Help, If NeededIf the load is too heavy, bulky, or

awkward for you to lift alone, find someone to help you carry it. If no one is available, is it possible to break the load into two smaller loads? Or, can you locate a cart or dolly to help you move it? Look for simple solutions to help make the move easier on you and your back.

Safety - Preventing Back InjuriesYour spine is made up of 24 individual bones called vertebrae that are stacked on top of one another. These vertebrae are separated by

soft discs of cartilage that act as shock absorbers and help your back to bend, twist, and move around. Most of the support to your spine is maintained by your stomach muscles, with help from the many muscles and ligaments that run up and down the length of your back.


Wellness

A health screening can provide important information regarding your health and identify risk factors that could increase your chances of developing serious health conditions. Many times, you won’t experience any symptoms with these risk factors, making it even more important to have them checked. A health screening takes less than 15 minutes and includes the following measurements:

• Fingerstick blood test (cholesterol and glucose levels)

• Blood pressure

• Height

• Weight

• Waist circumference

Our annual open enrollment for the health benefits is November 15th – December 15th for an effective date of January 1, 2018. This is the time of year when you may make changes to the benefits you have previously elected. The Benefits Guide for 2018 includes benefit information and the forms required to continue or change benefit elections for the plan year 2018. The guide will be distributed in November. In the event you have benefit questions, please contact the Benefits Administrator, Beverly Morrissey, in the Des Moines office at (515) 266-5173 x357 or by email at [email protected].

Just a reminder: Should you have an address change, it is important to report your new address to your supervisor or to Beverly Morrissey in the Des Moines office. The end-of-the-year processing is fast approaching, and we want to ensure you receive your 2017 tax information at the correct address.

1) Screenings are free and open to all employees and their spouses.

2) Employees and spouses are welcome to attend screenings at the location that is most convenient.

3) Remember to fast for at least 10-12 hours prior to your screening. It is okay to have water.

4) You do NOT need to be signed up for the Work Well wellness program to participate in the screenings, BUT you can receive a $25 reward if you are.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: DETAILS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH SCREENING:

THE 2017 COMPANY HEALTH SCREENINGS ARE FAST APPROACHING!

DATE LOCATION START TIMENovember 1 Porter, TX - Hallett Materials 7:00 A.M.

November 7 Tulsa, OK 7:00 A.M.

November 8 Fulton, AR 6:30 A.M.

November 9 Pocahontas, AR 6:30 A.M.

November 15, 16, 17, 18 The Rasmussen Group Corporate Office 6:00 A.M.

November 27 Gretna, NE 6:00 A.M.

December 4 Supertel Inn - 800 Laurel St, Creston IA 50801 6:30 A.M.

December 5 Carrollton Inn - 1730 Lincoln St, Carroll IA 51401 6:30 A.M.

December 6 Des Moines, IA - Plant 7 6:00 A.M.

December 7 Grimes, IA - Plant 3 6:00 A.M.

December 8 Ames, IA - Plant 12 6:00 A.M.

December 22 The Rasmussen Group Corporate Office 7:30 A.M.

2017 COMPANY HEALTH SCREENING SCHEDULE

OPEN ENROLLMENT - HEALTH BENEFITS


CORN ISN’T THE ONLY THING GROWING IN IOWA!The wind turbines are also growing,

taller, and with more capacity. Until about a year ago, most of the commercial turbines in Iowa were on 80-meter (262 ft.) towers. Now, there are turbines on 100-meter (328 ft.) tall towers, and our cranes don’t have the reach to service them. So what do we do? We adapt. As our environment changes, we make changes too.

We have taken delivery of the largest mobile crane in Iowa. This new crane travels down the highway on nine axles. Each axle carries over 20,000 pounds. Ten trucks follow it carrying the crane’s massive boom, counterweights, and boom extension pieces. This 750- metric/900-U.S.-ton capacity crane transports in about half as many loads as the 350 crawler cranes in our current fleet.

Leaner (fewer transport loads) and stronger (more than double the capacity) is going to be our competitive advantage as we adapt to our growing, changing wind market.

Not only does this new Liebherr LTM 1750-9.1 crane have a lot of muscle, it has more reach than LeBron James! With a tip height of over 500 vertical feet, this machine also has a horizontal reach of 376 feet! This crane enables us to be more competitive in the wind market and opens doors for us into the refinery, petro-chemical, agricultural, and heavy construction markets.

-Ron Sims

JENSEN CRANE

“900 -ton capacity and over 500 vertical feet.”


JENSEN CONSTRUCTION

After being flooded out for 146 days in 2016 and then again from February 14th to June 13th of 2017, the consensus of the crew was, “It’s time to tame the River.” Since the 13th of June, the crew has been working very long days, including numerous Saturdays and Sundays, to get the job back on schedule and complete it this year as planned. Led by Barret Tucker, the crew has done an awesome job this summer and has gotten the project back on schedule to be completed this year.

This is a unique pilot project for the Iowa DOT. US 34 over Whitebreast Creek carries a high volume of truck traffic in rural Iowa, and to minimize impacts to traffic, the Iowa DOT let this project incorporate a contractor-designed temporary bridge substructure with a DOT-approved temporary bridge superstructure. The temporary bridge was put into place at the beginning of the project to carry traffic while the old bridge is removed and replaced. The project lost a month in April due to heavy rains. Through the crews efforts this summer, led by Kurt Pethan, they were able to gain the month back on the schedule and will have the project completed in early October as originally planned.

This bridge replacement project spans over I-80 in Des Moines. This was a challenging project because access to the south side of the bridge is isolated by an embargoed road and the interstate. This isolation required the bridge replacement portion of the project to be accelerated on the front end of the job in order to leave enough time on the back for the roadway contractors to use the new bridge as access to the south side. The crew, led by Ryan Adkisson, was able to get the bridge constructed quickly enough that the project will be completed on time in early October, as planned.

NW 66TH AVE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

LUCAS COUNTY (CHARITON) BRIDGE REPLACEMENT

100TH ST CULVERTSLed by Jim McFarlin, the crew was tasked on this

project to complete 447’-9” of twin 12x10 Box Culvert in 50 working days. Through the crew’s diligent efforts, this accelerated schedule was met. The crew now continues to construct the remainder of this twin 12x10 Box Culvert along with an 8x8 Box Culvert extension and is scheduled to complete the project in early October.

MORNINGSTAR BRIDGE REPLACEMENT


JENSEN CONSTRUCTION

Work continues to progress steadily in the southern half of the company. We are in the process of completing five of our current projects.

In Fulton, Arkansas, JD Steward, his supervisors, and crews have completed the new bridges crossing the Red River and County Road 176. Highway 30 traffic is currently travelling on the newly completed structures. We expect to begin the demotion of the old structures in the coming month and will have the project complete early in the new year.

In Pocahontas, Arkansas, Dale Detrick and Ronnie Scarbrough, along with their crews, have completed the piers located on both sides of the Black River. They are working on the second of three very difficult cofferdams included in the scope of the project. We expect to hang steel on the river spans by Christmas and have traffic running across the new structure in early spring of 2018.

In Horatio, Arkansas, Tristan Weaver, along with Trace Siemens and our crews, have successfully completed the repair and installation of our first drill shaft. They are well on their way to constructing the second shaft, along with the approach structures located both north and south of the Little River. We thank each and every one of our employees for their perseverance in completing the drilled shafts on this project.

In Bayou Meto, Arkansas, Amos Adcock, Darrell Anderson, and their crew have completed the Bridge over the Bayou. We expect to have traffic running on the new structure in the next few weeks. All that will remain will be the removal of the old bridge structure.

Finally, on Hwy 412 just northeast of Tulsa, Teddy Burley and his team have completed the decking of the 870-ft.-long bridge over the Verdigris River and will begin placing the deck in mid-September. A special thanks to the men who travelled down from Des Moines to assist in this effort. Progress on this project has been excellent, and we expect to have traffic running on the new bridge by Thanksgiving.

WORK CONTINUES TO PROGRESS STEADILY

FULTON, ARKANSAS

TULSA, OKLAHOMA

POCAHONTAS, ARKANSAS


GRIMES ASPHALT

The results of the work being produced this year by our crews are some of the best I have ever seen! Grimes Asphalt has completed many projects over the 2017 season that we are certainly blessed to have been awarded. With that being said, one project stands out in my mind: the George Flagg Parkway resurfacing project from Park Ave to SW 30th Street. This road runs along the south side of Water Works Park where The Rasmussen Group has had multiple company picnics.

George Flagg Parkway was a widening and resurfacing project. Those of you who have driven this stretch of road over the years know the poor and deteriorating condition it was in. We soon realized the proposed fix wouldn’t provide the city with the outcome they hoped for. We immediately went to work, in conjunction with the City of Des Moines Engineering department, to value engineer this project. Instead of widening and resurfacing, we proposed a complete reconstruction/rebuild. With the help of Maxim Materials, 18,000 tons of existing road was crushed and reused as subbase. Our grading crew worked tirelessly to install fly ash and stabilize the base so our paving crews could install the full depth HMA pavement that made this stretch of road one of the smoothest streets in Des Moines. With this type of product, there is no reason more cities won’t take notice and follow in the footsteps of the City of Des Moines.

Safely, continue to keep up the great work that we all can be proud to drive on.

In July, Grimes Asphalt donated the labor and materials to build MOSAIC, an organization that advocates and provides opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities, a new concrete patio at their facility in Nevada, Iowa. The Rasmussen Group has a long-standing relationship with MOSAIC, providing charitable donations for the past several years.

Thank you to the Grimes Asphalt Concrete Crew who made this possible: Julio Silva, Rafael Gamez, Magdeleno Lucas, Jaime Rodriquez, Jose Arellano Rivera, and Juan Releves.

GEORGE FLAGG PARKWAY RESURFACING

MOSAIC PROJECT

BEFORE AFTER


Wow, what a year it’s been! ...all of what I expected and more. In this article I want to highlight one of the things I closed with in my spring article, our great customers. Central Iowa Trucking has always worked hard to foster long-lasting relationships with our customers. I firmly believe this hard work continues to pay off.

As a homebuilder, it’s always a good thing to be recognized by your peers as one of the best, especially when being compared to all builders across the country. Builder Magazine recognizes the top 100 builders in the country every year. This list consists of those “mega-builders” that tend to build in several major markets. Builder Magazine realizes this, and that’s why they take it a step further and recognize what they call “The Next 100.” To make this list is an honor, especially considering how many builders there are across the country. In June of this year, there were three Central Iowa builders named to “The Next 100” list. I am very proud to say that all three are valued customers of Central Iowa Trucking: Classic Builders, Greenland Homes, and Hubbell Homes. Congratulations to these builders, and we thank them for their loyalty to Central Iowa Trucking.

I always like to close with a big thank you! Thanks first to our great team of drivers; we couldn’t do it without your dedication and hard work. Kenny Bauman and Jeff Vroom are second to none. Dave Poling, Chris Devine, Eric Armagost, and Jaime Lundy in dispatch, it’s astounding how many phone calls and how much paperwork you guys deal with on a daily basis. You truly are a huge part of the process. Then there is Angela Hennigar and Joan Hoover who take all the paperwork that dispatch hands off to them and organize it to get the invoicing done accurately and timely, thank you!

As always, I want to recognize the Rasmussen Group support staff, along with the business from our company partners: Central Iowa Ready Mix, Grimes Asphalt, and Jensen Construction. -Jeff Wangsness

WOW, WHAT A YEAR IT’S BEEN!

CENTRAL IOWA TRUCKING




Our nation and our workforce are becoming more diverse each year. For Central Iowa Ready Mix (CIRM) to compete in the current labor market, it is imperative that we open our doors to applicants of all nationalities. We must draw upon our nation’s and local community’s diversity to fill the positions of need within the organization.

Currently, CIRM has team members that hail from over ten different countries. We have employees from Albania, Bosnia, Egypt, Eritral (a small country in Africa), Ohana, Iraq, Malasia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and Russia.

Job seekers are drawn to companies with diverse workforces because it is evident that those companies do not practice employment discrimination. Potential employees want to know that employers treat their staff fairly regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender. Not only are such firms able to attract new talent, but they can also retain existing talent because of high employee morale resulting from workforce diversity.

When we draw on the wisdom of a workforce that reflects the population we serve, we are better able to understand and meet the needs of our customers and the local people in our communities.

We must make our workplace more inclusive as well. America was founded on the ideal that from many, we are one, a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. That is the rationale for inclusion. To gain the maximum benefit from our increasingly diverse workforce, we must make every employee feel welcome and motivated to work their hardest and rise through the ranks. We must affirm that we work better together because of our differences, not despite them. When we tap this knowledge, we will get better results. In fact, the title of this article comes from one of our Bosnian drivers.

The business case for inclusion is clear in American history. The best, brightest, hardest workers have come to America for over two centuries because they knew they would have an opportunity to join our society, work hard, and succeed.

CENTRAL IOWA READY MIX

UNITED NATIONS OF CONCRETE!

“WELCOME TO OUR TEAM!”

MEXICO

PUERTO RICO

GHANA

ERITREA

RUSSIA

ALBANIA

EGYPT

MALAYSIA


Concrete production west of the river is moving forward at an exciting pace. A healthy sign of a business is growth, and growing we are. Although it is in the early phases of development, plans are in place, and we are anxious to break ground on new facilities, including a wet batch plant. This expansion will allow CSI Omaha greater capacity and greater control over product quality, allowing us to serve customers better. Chris Rogers has been working hard over the last couple of years to bring together a team of developers and engineers to create a space perfect for this new expansion, and rumor has it that project details are nearing completion.

As CSI Omaha continues to grow, maintaining excellent customer service continues to be our focal point. With that said, we are happy to announce and welcome two new faces to the roster.

Leonard LeHair has joined our dispatch team. He brings with him 14 years of dispatch experience and a heart geared toward customer service. Leonard has recently moved his family to the

Omaha area from St Croix, Virgin Islands in an effort to be closer to family and experience first-hand the “Good Life” Nebraska has to offer. Welcome, Leonard.

CSI Omaha also welcomes Ricardo Torres. Ricardo is our new Quality Control Specialist and will assist the sales and production teams to insure that we deliver only the best product to our customers. Ricardo has ten years experience in pre- and post-material testing and has an eye for detail. We are looking forward to the customer-oriented approach Ricardo brings to the team….welcome Ricardo.

It’s an exciting time to be part of CSI Omaha as we usher in new employees, new technology, and new facilities. Our performance has not swayed, and each member of our team has stepped up and done the good work that needs to be done. This winning attitude, on a grand scale, is what allows us to deliver great product, have fun, and continually set production records. Kurt always says, “You’re only as good as the people you hire.” And we have one “great” team!

HEALTHY SIGNS OF A GROWING BUSINESS

CSI - OMAHA


HALLETT MATERIALS

Every year, along the Gulf coast of Texas, we have a five month span (June – October) called “Hurricane Season.” This year got an early start, around the second week of June, with Tropical Storm Cindy. The news media in Houston was forecasting death and destruction, and sent everyone scattering to their local grocery stores to buy water and supplies a full two weeks ahead of Cindy’s scheduled landfall. Needless to say, Cindy did make landfall, but it was well east of Houston, and we didn’t get as much as a drop of rain. After Cindy’s uneventful showing, the tropics remained quiet for the next couple of months. Weather has always piqued my interest, so I had noticed a disturbance that had formed off the coast of Cape Verde, in western Africa. It had meandered its way across the Atlantic Ocean and was bearing down on the Leeward Islands. At that time it was just being named Tropical Storm Harvey. The internet weather guys were saying Harvey was worth keeping an eye on, and if it made it across the Yucatan into the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, it had the potential to develop into something much worse. As Harvey cleared the Yucatan and worked its way northwest toward the Texas coast, it was upgraded from a Tropical Storm to a Hurricane, then to a category two, then three. Then, just before it made landfall 175 miles south of us in Rockport, Texas on Friday, August 25, around 2:00 p.m., Harvey was upgraded to a category four Hurricane. The first time our local news media picked up the story was Thursday, August 24, just one day before it made landfall. I really think the lackluster showing of Tropical Storm Cindy gave the local news media a sense of apathy, and not wanting to sound like “The Boy Who Cried Wolf,” they never reported on the storm until just hours before it made landfall. As the outer bands of the storm reached us, the wind blew and the rain came in sheets. Once Harvey made landfall, its momentum grinded to nearly a stop. As Harvey was halfway on land and halfway hung out over the Gulf of Mexico, it basically pumped moisture from the Gulf inland in the form of a deluge of rainfall over the next five days, with some areas reporting 50-plus inches of rain! To the best of our knowledge, we received around 30 inches at our Porter and Hockley Plants, and our new site in Hardin received nearly 50 inches, being in the center of Harvey’s path for the longest duration. Considering the fact that the San Jacinto River bisects our Porter Plant, and most of our employees live in close proximity, we were all very fortunate in the sense that only one out of our 33 employees were impacted by floodwaters. Also, we sustained minimal damage to our plant sites and equipment, and no damage whatsoever to our office. We are still dealing with the inconvenience of having to pump out thousands of gallons of flood water from our pit in Hockley. And at Porter, high river levels caused by the release of water from the Lake Conroe Dam make accessing our operations across the river difficult. All things considered, we fared extremely well, considering that thousands of people lost everything they had just a few short miles from here. In times of adversity, we get to witness extraordinary acts of bravery, kindness, and a willingness to persevere. I would personally like to express my sincere gratitude to every one of the employees here at Hallett Materials - Texas Division, for their willingness to “get after it” as soon as the last rain drop fell, and to so many at the corporate office who called and expressed their concern for us during this time.

Scott Spinella

Hallett Materials – Texas Division

HURRICANE SEASON

And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not;

for it was founded upon a rock. Matthew 7:25


HURRICANE SEASON

In August, Argee Transport hauled materials for a county bridge project in the hills of SE Nebraska. The beams were 118 feet long and weighed 85,000 pounds. Although this wasn’t a big bridge, it was in a very difficult spot. Beams had to be backed over a mile through two narrow curves to reach the jobsite. The Argee guys showed their skill and professionalism by delivering all the beams safely.

“118’ beams weighing

over 85,000 pounds”

ARGEE HIGHLIGHTS

ARGEE


Circle V recently hauled a DeMeth tower from Broken Arrow, OK to Cashion, OK. The total length of the load was 226 feet, and it weighed 435,000 pounds. We also hauled a DeMeth surge tank that weighed 455,000 pounds. There were numerous difficult turns to make on the short 225-mile route, taking two days to travel that distance. We had to have two police escorts along with drivers Tom Kelley and Rickey Humphrey. Victor Kunkel was the steerman, as most of the corners had to be steered. All three helped remove signs, direct traffic, and watch for any other obstacles that were in the way. Kent Kirby was out front with the police and leading the route. Russell Hopkins was driving the truck and made it there on time and with no incidents. A special thanks to Kent for getting the permits and getting the loads from our competitor. Our team did an excellent job, and we believe we earned a new customer.

This past Summer, Circle V moved an inlet filter skid from Broken Arrow, OK to West Union, WV. The load weighed 260,000 pounds and was 162 feet long X 17 feet wide and 15 feet and 10 inches tall. Ricky Humphrey and steerman Victor Kunkel did a great job getting to and into the site. If you have not been to that part of the U.S., sharp turns and steep hills are just part of the problem. The job sites are confined and very hard to get into as well. With numerous companies building natural gas plants in this part of the country, Tom Kelley, Rickey Humphrey, and Russell Hopkins have all hauled very large and heavy pieces into these plants on time, with no accidents.

225-MILE JOURNEY

CIRCLE V SPECIALIZED


Company Events

On September 12th, Kurt Rasmussen had the privilege of joining Chuck Ulmer on an Honor Flight to Washington, D.C. Chuck, a Korean War veteran, worked for Jensen Construction for 45 years and has a long-standing friendship with Kurt.

The Central Iowa Honor Flight, and all other flights throughout the country, allow WWll and Korean War heroes to travel to Washington, D.C. to visit the WWll and Korean monuments, as well as other monuments, at no cost. This is an opportunity for Iowa veterans, many of whom have never been able to travel to Washington, D.C., to see memorials that represent their service and the ultimate sacrifice made for our country. While on their trip, Kurt and Chuck visited both the Korean and WWll monuments, Arlington Cemetery, the Air Force Memorial, and even stopped by an American Cancer Society booth to decorate bags in memory of Chuck’s son, Danny, who had passed away from cancer just a few days before. Kurt also decorated a bag in memory of his father, Jim Rasmussen, who passed away from cancer in 2003.

The Rasmussen Group has sponsored several Honor Flights in the past, and was recognized for its contributions during the Central Iowa Honor Flight’s inaugural banquet that took place at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines the evening before the flight.

The Rasmussen Group participated in the Iowa State Fair Outhouse Races for the third year in a row, and this year they claimed the 1st-place prize. The winning outhouse was designed and built by a team of Rasmussen Group employees in the fabrication and weld shops, lead by the one-and-only, Wade Beck.

Congratulations to Karl Rasmussen, Sam Rasmussen, Olivia Rasmussen, and Steve Snell for taking home the 1st-place golden toilet seat!

HONOR FLIGHT WITH CHUCK ULMER

OUTHOUSE RACES


In Memorium

COMPANY PICNIC

On September 10th, The Rasmussen Group held its annual Employee Appreciation Day picnic for employees and their families at Adventureland amusement park in Des Moines, Iowa. Employees were able to invite their families to enjoy rides, as well as have lunch with their co-workers and friends at the Palace Theatre inside the park. During lunch, Kurt Rasmussen thanked employees for their hard work and dedication. The weather was perfect, and it was a great day for all.


Danny Lee Ulmer, of Pleasant Hill, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on September 6, 2017 at his home. After four years, he has finally won his courageous battle against cancer. Funeral services will be 12 p.m. Monday, September 11 at Rising Sun Church of Christ with visitation one hour prior.

Danny was born June 28, 1959 in Atlantic, Iowa to Chuck and Mickey Ulmer.

He graduated from East High School in 1977. Right after, he started his 38-year career with Jensen Construction, building bridges. Danny, with his family, moved around the Midwest and the South until finally settling in Des Moines in 1992.

Danny enjoyed playing softball but his greatest joy was coaching his children and watching them play sports. He loved hanging out at the car races and his fishing trips to Canada with his family and friends. After a hard day on the job he looked forward to coming home, having a beer, while playing Frisbee with his beloved dog, Abby.

Danny will be missed by his family, especially his loving wife of 39 years, Linda Sue; his children, Chris (April) Ulmer, Mandy (Ty) Penning and Missy (John) Wells; his grandchildren, Kalee Ulmer, Andrew Ulmer, Emma Ulmer, Carter Roland and Stella Lee Penning; two great grandchildren; his father, Charles Ulmer; sisters, Patty (Jerry) Scheel, Sandy (Jeff) Fisher; and many incredible friends. He is joined in eternal life with his mom, Mickey Ulmer, and father-in-law, Bob Carter.

Jensen Construction and Central Iowa Ready Mix recently lost two wonderful employees who will be greatly missed. In memory of Danny Ulmer and Rick McVey.

In MemoriumDannyUlmerandRickMcVeyObit

JensenConstructionandCentralIowaReadyMixrecentlylosttwowonderfulemployeeswhowillbegreatlymissed.InmemoryofDannyUlmerandRickMcVey.

DannyLeeUlmer,ofPleasantHill,passedawaypeacefullysurroundedbyfamilyonSeptember6,2017athishome.Afterfouryearshehasfinallywonhiscourageousbattleagainstcancer.Funeralserviceswillbe12p.m.Monday,September11atRisingSunChurchofChristwithvisitationonehourprior.

DannywasbornJune28,1959inAtlantic,IowatoChuckandMickeyUlmer.HegraduatedfromEastHighSchoolin1977.Rightafter,hestartedhis38-yearcareerwithJensenConstruction,buildingbridges.Danny,withhisfamily,movedaroundtheMidwestandtheSouthuntilfinallysettlinginDesMoinesin1992.Dannyenjoyedplayingsoftballbuthisgreatestjoywascoachinghischildrenandwatchingthemplaysports.HelovedhangingoutatthecarracesandhisfishingtripstoCanadawithhisfamilyandfriends.Afteraharddayonthejobhelookedforwardtocominghome,havingabeer,whileplayingFrisbeewithhisbeloveddog,Abby.Dannywillbemissedbyhisfamily.,especiallyhislovingwifeof39years,LindaSue;hischildren,Chris(April)Ulmer,Mandy(Ty)PenningandMissy(John)Wells;hisgrandchildren,KaleeUlmer,AndrewUlmer,EmmaUlmer,CarterRolandandStellaLeePenning;twogreatgrandchildren;hisfather,CharlesUlmer;sisters,Patty(Jerry)Scheel,Sandy(Jeff)Fisher;andmanyincrediblefriends.Heisjoinedineternallifewithhismom,MickeyUlmer,andfather-in-law,BobCarter.

Richard “Rick” McVey, 57, passed away July 14, 2017, at his home in Woodward, Iowa. He was born November 13, 1959, in Davenport, Iowa, to Tom and Mary Ann McVey.

Rick graduated from Madrid High School in 1978. That same year he married Malinda Benton and they were blessed with two daughters, Amanda and Becky. Rick and Malinda were later divorced. He

then married Pam Ayres on July 16, 1993, and to this union was born Tom and Susan.

Rick worked for Progressive Foundry for 15 years prior to working as a plant manager for Central Iowa Ready Mix for 23 years.

Rick was a loving man and father to all. He will be remembered as a big kid at heart that gave the best hugs. You could always count on him to have candy or a sucker in his pocket to share, and at the end of the day, he was known to have an occasional beer.

Rick was always willing to give of his time and offer help to anyone in need, but was also known to tease and give people a hard time. He was a sports fan who loved the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Cubs. Rick enjoyed camping, hunting, fishing, playing horseshoes, and was a collector of many things, however, nothing could compare to the enjoyment he got from spending time with his family and friends.

Rick is survived by his loving wife of 24 years, Pam; children, Amanda (Samuel) Dunbar, Becky (Justin Jessen) McVey, and Tom (Miranda Lovell) McVey; adopted daughter, Lainey Hills; grandchildren, Dallas, Kate, J.D., Kirafaye, Kaleb, Sam, Ben, Hunter, Charlie, Vin, Lennon, Lily, and Lydia; great-grandchild, Holdyn; grandpuppies, Raider and Mack; siblings, Cindy (Dale) Williams, Bill (Melinda) Long, Nancy (Bill) Houseman, Tim (Jackie) McVey, and Kelly (Sonny) Groves; mother-in-law, Clara (Bob) McVey; sister-in-law, Deb (Bill Sickels) Ayres; and a host of nieces, nephews, other loving family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susan; maternal and paternal grandparents.

Richard“Rick”McVey,57,passedawayJuly14,2017,athishomeinWoodward,Iowa.HewasbornNovember13,1959,inDavenport,Iowa,toTomandMaryAnnMcVey.RickgraduatedfromMadridHighSchoolin1978.ThatsameyearhemarriedMalindaBentonandtheywereblessedwithtwodaughters,AmandaandBecky.RickandMalindawerelaterdivorced.HethenmarriedPamAyresonJuly16,1993,andtothisunionwasbornTomandSusan.RickworkedforProgressiveFoundryfor15yearspriortoworkingasaplantmanagerforCentralIowaReadyMixfor23years.Rickwasalovingmanandfathertoall.Hewillberememberedasabigkidatheartthatgavethebesthugs.Youcouldalwayscountonhimtohavecandyorasuckerinhispockettoshare,andattheendoftheday,hewasknowntohaveanoccasionalbeer.Rickwasalwayswillingtogiveofhistimeandofferhelptoanyoneinneed,butwasalsoknowntoteaseandgivepeopleahardtime.HewasasportsfanwholovedtheIowaHawkeyes,KansasCityChiefs,andChicagoCubs.Rickenjoyedcamping,hunting,fishing,playinghorseshoes,andwasacollectorofmanythings,however,nothingcouldcomparetotheenjoymenthegotfromspendingtimewithhisfamilyandfriends.Rickissurvivedbyhislovingwifeof24years,Pam;children,Amanda(Samuel)Dunbar,Becky(JustinJessen)McVey,andTom(MirandaLovell)McVey;adopteddaughter,LaineyHills;grandchildren,Dallas,Kate,J.D.,Kirafaye,Kaleb,Sam,Ben,Hunter,Charlie,Vin,Lennon,Lily,andLydia;great-grandchild,Holdyn;grandpuppies,RaiderandMack;siblings,Cindy(Dale)Williams,Bill(Melinda)Long,Nancy(Bill)Houseman,Tim(Jackie)McVey,andKelly(Sonny)Groves;mother-in-law,Clara(Bob)McVey;sister-in-law,Deb(BillSickels)Ayres;andahostofnieces,nephews,otherlovingfamilyandfriends.Hewasprecededindeathbyhisparents;daughter,Susan;maternalandpaternalgrandparents.

CompanyNews

P.O Box 33335550 NE 22nd StreetDes Moines, Iowa 50313515.266.5173 ph515.266.9857 faxwww.rasmussengroup.com

Parker

Mike Nissen (Jensen Construction) and his wife, Callie, welcomed their son,

Parker, on August 1, 2017.

Seth

Cameron Hoyt (The Rasmussen Group) and his wife, Roberta, welcomed their son, Seth, on October 11, 2017.

CompanyNews

Remington

Travis Young (Central Iowa Trucking)

and his wife welcomed their son,

Remington, on January 28, 2017.

Lilly

Jacob Williams (The Rasmussen Group) and his wife, Ashley, welcomed their daughter, Lilly, on March 13, 2017.

Estella

Bret Harlock (Grimes Asphalt) and his

wife, Abigail, welcomed their daughter,

Estella, on July 25, 2017.

Documents

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