Volume 17, No. 2 A Quarterly Publication of Independence Excavating, Inc. Spring, 2004

Michael G. Orlando, P.E., Project Manager

The Cleveland Clinic, world-renowned and nationallyacclaimed for treatment of the heart, has recently embarked on a pathdesigned to solidify and perpetuate its claim to these accolades.Through a series of precise, well planned, and coordinated activities(not unlike a surgeons approach to a delicate operation) known as “enabling projects,” they are readying the clinic campus forconstruction of a “state-of-the-art” heart center. This new structure

will become the new front entrance to The Clinic. One of theseenabling projects is the tunnel/connector.

The tunnel/connector is a small but vital link between the newoffice/garage structure under construction at the northwest corner ofE. 93rd and Euclid and the existing main entrance to the clinic on thesouth side of Euclid. Independence Excavating is the primecontractor for excavation, shoring, dewatering, utility relocation andbackfill of a cast-in-place, cut-and-cover tunnel, 25 feet below

Cleveland Clinic – Tunnel/Connector Project

(See Cleveland Clinic, pg. 3)

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P r e s i d e n t ’ s M e s s a g e

Vic DiGeronimo Sr.

Working with hands and tools is a noble activity

Note: This is a reprint of an article in a recent ENR Magazine, a well-stated message.

The notorious recent publicity about the piggishness, vanity andcorruption of some titans of U.S. business has tended to send a falsemessage around the world that all Americans are soft, lazy and careonly about money. While that may be true for some business leaders,American workers are for the most part not afraid of hard work andare among the most productive in the world. Within that group,construction workers are at the top of the list for a can-do attitude,especially when there is a crisis that needs resolving.

They are the people that the nation turns to after a disaster, naturalor man-made, or to build and keep elaborate infrastructure systemshumming. Whether the need is providing shelter or educating the

young or caring for the elderly, building construction also is among the core competencies of the group. Concrete, steel, wire and pipeare the materials for their creations.

Some self-absorbed elitists look down their noses at people whowork with their hands or tools. They think that there is somethingcommon about those tasks. There isn’t.

Not everyone can be a vice president and many don’t want to be.Having a craft and being good at it helps build personal pride and asense of identity and self-reliance that no one can take away. And theprojects stand as monuments to those capabilities, often outlastingthe creators.

Sinew, sweat, skill. The industry is full of uncommon peopleperforming noble tasks every day.

Arrivederci!

Brian Logue, Safety Director

A new crushing crew? Not exactly.

My brother-in-law, SFC Phil Eville, iscurrently serving in the U.S. Army 1st ArmorDivision, 77th Battalion near Baghdad, Iraq. Ina recent e-mail, he mentioned that the militarywas short on certain supplies including tintedsafety glasses. In the bright, sunny and sandyenvironment of the Middle East desert, nothaving enough sunglasses for your soldiers isnot a good thing. So with the support of VicDiGeronimo, Jr., we sent several dozen pairs oftinted safety glasses to Sgt. Eville and his men.I also sent a couple of Independence Recyclingdecals with the hope that they would end up onone of the 1st Armor Unit’s Abrams Tank orarmored Humvee vehicle. From the looks of thisphoto, the soldiers were happy to oblige.

The DiGeronimo Companies are proud tosupport our troops overseas, and we wish Sgt.Eville and his soldiers a successful mission anda safe return home.

Independence Recycling has a presence in Iraq

Our heroes in Iraq

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Marc Garland, Assistant Safety Director

The DiGeronimo Companies kicked off their Safety Incentive Program on Saturday,January 24th with a wonderful buffet breakfast, gift jackets and program. Nearly 130 qualifiedemployees attended and were recognized at the event.

The new program, known as “Safety Pays,” became effective in 2004. This program is anintegral part of the companies’ directive to make safety a greater part of corporate operations.

The program will award recognition and gift incentives to employees for regular quarterlyevaluation periods. To be eligible, an employee must work a minimum number of 390 hoursper quarter and comply with all of the following designated criteria:

• No lost time injuries• Construction industry drug program as well as our company’s program• Prompt reporting of all injuries• Post accident drug testing within 24 hours• Completion of annual drug-free workplace training

The DiGeronimo family would like to thank all that attended this breakfastfor their exceptional efforts during 2003 and for working safely and complyingwith our safety requirements. Your contributions in making our companies asuccess is greatly valued.

S a f e t y

It pays to work SAFE!

Euclid Avenue, under the direction of Turner Construction Company.The Independence team guided by superintendent John Percun, hassuccessfully negotiated a number of hurdles including suspendingconcrete utility ducts across 40 feet of open cut; excavating 35 feet deep“in the dry” below Euclid Avenue for sewer tie-ins and relocations;supporting nearly 30 feet of vertical cut within 10 feet of a five-story

building on a shallow foundation; and devising a customizedfoundation to support a 75-ton sewer manhole structure, justto name a few. In addition, we are self-performing cast-in-place custom concrete sewer structures and flatwork fortemporary roads and sidewalks.

Performing all the above and more would not be possible withoutthe efforts and expertise of our teammates. This includes GoettleConstruction-earth retention; Kelley Dewatering-deepwells; MidwestDewatering-well points; Ballast Fence-site enclosures and pedestriancontrols; Cleveland Barricade-traffic controls and signage; LindsayConcrete Products-precast sewer structures and utility vaults; andRichmond Valve and Pipe-utility piping and fittings. We have alsokept the project on track through the efforts of Turner’s field personnelDan Gairing and Jeff Abke and the clinic management team of RonLawson and Pen Wolf. The project is scheduled for completion in the4th quarter of 2004.

Cleveland Clinic...continued from page 1

Spring training was in full swing when the DiGeronimo family hosted amotivational meeting on Saturday, March 27, which was attended by overninety managers and supervisors of all seven DiGeronimo Companies.

To welcome the many new faces and pay tribute to the familiar ones, weopened the meeting with a video presentation of the “Past, Present andFuture” of all DiGeronimo Companies. The timeline below highlights thesignificant stages of the company’s history. From the start in 1956 digginghouse basements, the DiGeronimo’s have created a legacy by molding theskyline of downtown Cleveland.

The theme of our meeting was teamwork and who better to talk aboutteamwork than Bill Conley, The Ohio State University assistant footballcoach. Bill is known nationally as one of the top college football recruitersin America. His presentation centered around his true experiences as aplayer under Woody Hayes, to his current coaching and recruitingaccomplishments at Ohio State including winning the NationalChampionship game which took a great deal of TEAMWORK!

The theme of the meeting was accomplished when all the key players ofthe DiGeronimo Companies saw the value of working together as “OneTeam”. The same spirit of teamwork that the Buckeye’s displayed as theNational Champs, the number 1 team in all college football.

The DiGeronimo Companies are ONE team!

1956From the beginning…house basements and residential site work

1969Man landed on the Moon.Don DiGeronimo said “We’re moving the earth now,we’ll be moving the moon later.

1972An era begins for major downtown projects with the groundbreaking of the Justice Center.

...thus creating our company slogan “Earth Now, Moon Later”.

DiGeronimo residence and first office

1988

1993

1999

20011977

(L-R) Vic DiGeronimo Sr, Bill Conley and Bobby DiGeronimo

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Justin King, Project Manager

The Gilbane / PanzicaConstruction Managementteam has been successfulat securing yet anotherproject in the UniversityCircle area and has

selected Independence Excavatingto perform the mass excavation and utility relocation.

The project began in late February with the removal of the

existing footers and walls. With priceless artifacts just inchesfrom work being performed, we took every precaution to keepvibrations to a minimum. With the footers now removed and thesite leveled off, McKinney Drilling will now drill and place steelbeams for the shoring system that will be installed.

It should be mentioned that the project site is extremelysmall. Independence Excavating project superintendent RichWilk, is working closely with superintendent Scott Dunlop ofPanzica Construction Co. and project manager Jeff Fesler of theGilbane Building Co. to coordinate another successful project.

Start Date: December 2003Completion Date: June 2004Scope: Undercutting, mass excavation and siteutilities Superintendent: Dave BevanProject Manager: Brandon Meyer

Eastgate Shopping CenterDemolition Location: SOM Center and Mayfield Road,Mayfield Hts., OhioOwner: Cosmo CorporationStart Date: March 2004Completion Date: April 2004Scope: Partial demolition of shopping centerSuperintendent: Dave BevanProject Manager: Kim Zamiska

Ohio Savings Bank ExcavationLocation: Euclid and E. 6th St., Cleveland, OhioStart Date: February 2004Completion Date: April 2004Scope: Finish demolition of existing buildingslab and excavate for new building Superintendent: Donnie DiGeronimoProject Manager: Mike Orlando

Cleveland Museum of Art Location: East Blvd., Cleveland, OhioOwner: Cleveland Museum of ArtStart Date: February 2004Completion Date: July 2004Scope: Mass excavation, sheeting, sanitary and waterlineSuperintendent: Rich WilkProject Manager: Justin King

E. 71st Street Sewer Relining Location: Harvard Ave. and E. 71st Street,Cleveland, OhioStart Date: March 2004Completion Date: July 2004Scope: Installation of 36” combination sewer with3 junction chambers. Reline 2,400LF of existingcombination sewer.Superintendent: Steve MinichProject Manager: Joe Leopold

Case Western Reserve University –North Residential Village Location: Euclid Avenue and E. 118th, Cleveland, OhioOwner: Case Western University

The Eastgate Shopping Center Demolition

Summerset at Frick ParkLocation: Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaOwner: Urban Redevelopment Authority ofPittsburghStart Date: April 2004Completion Date: April 2005Scope: Demolition, site utilities, excavation,concrete crushing, asphalt paving, and landscapingSuperintendent: Dave BevanProject Manager: Rick Lantz

Summit County CourthouseExpansionLocation: S. Broadway and North High Street,Akron, OhioStart Date: April 2004Completion Date: September 2005Scope: Concrete foundations, walls and slabsSuperintendent: John CarrollProject Mangers: Gennaro Niro and Dan Lewis

N e w P r o j e c t

Cleveland Art Museum

C r u s h i n g P r o j e c t s

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ALLEGA RECYCLED MATERIALSValley View, Ohio50,000 tons of #1’s and #2’s and #304 base material

CLEVELAND FACILITYCleveland, Ohio50,000 tons of ODOT #304 base material

FORT MYERS FACILITYFt. Myers, Florida25,000 tons of 2” minus base material

FRICK PARKPittsburgh, Pennsylvania100,000 tons of concrete into PennDOT #2A subbasematerial

HAYDITE PRESS BRICKIndependence, Ohio300,000 tons of 2" minus shale crushing

HI-WAY PAVING, INC.Columbus Regional Airport84,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

INDEPENDENCE EXCAVATING, INC.Atlas Metals Demo, Cleveland, Ohio60,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

JACKSONVILLE FACILITYJacksonville, Florida50,000 tons of 2” minus base material

JOHN CARLO, INC.Tampa Airport, Florida55,000 tons of concrete crushed into subbase material

KELLSTONE LIMESTONE PRODUCTSKelleys Island, Ohio200,000 tons of ODOT No. 304 and #1’s & 2’s

KOKOSING MATERIALSSheffield, Medina, Delaware and St. Louisville Yards, Ohio80,000 tons of asphalt crushed to 9/16” minus material

LAKELAND FACILITYLakeland, Florida50,000 tons of 2” minus base material

THE LANE CONSTRUCTION COMPANYRaleigh – Durham Airport, NC150,000 tons of sandstone, concrete and asphaltcrushed to 8” minus fill material

ORLANDO FACILITYOrlando, Florida200,000 tons of stone and base material

STEIN/I.S.G. SLAG CRUSHINGISG Mill, Cleveland, Ohio600,000 tons of slag crushed into #57, #8 and #10 stone

TAMPA FACILITYTampa, Florida30,000 tons of 2” minus base material

TAYLOR MURPHY CONSTRUCTIONAshville, North Carolina65,000 tons of granite crushing into subbase material

Larry Hrovat, Project Manager

In February, the concrete crew poured a 600 cubic yard, 6 ft. thickbase slab in 10 hours for the Inlet Transition Structure at the AbramCreek project.

This project was coordinated by project manager Dan Lewis,superintendent Rick Robertson, and concrete superintendent Pat Cuffeand their respective crews.

Abram Creek Inlet Structure

C u r r e n t P r o j e c t

‘04 ANNIVERSARIESAPRIL1 JACK & PATRICIA HELBIG, JR.2 LINDSEY & DEBORAH ROBINSON7 DAVID & KRIS BEVAN11 FLOYD & VIRGINIA RYBICKI12 PAUL & REBECCA HAZEL18 DAVID & GAIL STATEN19 JAMES & BARBARA KRAMER24 RONALD & NANCY ZAREN28 CRAIG & ANITA WEBB

MAY4 LISA & JOHN WOODARD4 RICH & JOHANE DIGERONIMO9 ERIC & CARRIE SEARS10 TERRY & CAROL TOMASKO11 JIMMY & KATHY IACAMPO18 DAVID & CHERYL TRAVAGLIANTE18 TERRY & CINDY KONTRA19 THOMAS & SALLY SUDETIC19 MARK & MARY KUPERSANIN22 GREGG & JULIE ANDERSON25 JOHN & HEIDI BECKMAN28 ANTHONY & GLORIA GERMANO

JUNE3 ADAM & DEBBIE ROBERTSON8 STEVE & LILIAN CINDRIC9 DALE & DEBBIE LANG10 MARK & CHRISTI TRIPODI12 STANLEY & MICHELLE ROBINSON13 GREG & DANIELLE SPAGNOLA16 SONYA & STACY MCNEELY19 RANDY & PATRICIA SIPP20 RICK & CINDY EVANS22 ROGER & ALMIRA HERCL25 THOMAS & CYNDEE DUHON26 DIANE & BEN GENTILE29 JOHN & KATHY BECKMAN

JULY3 SHAWN & CAROLINE ROBERTSON4 PAMELA & MICHAEL WIELAND-MOHER6 BECKY & MARK HATGAS8 DICK & JANET MILLER9 MIKE & DEBORAH RIDER10 GENNARO & LINDA NIRO21 VIC & LURLIE DIGERONIMO24 RICHARD & HOLLY SCHIEFERSTEIN27 VITO & DIANA DIGERONIMO29 DOUG & SHIRLENE BRYANT

APRIL5 RANDY COOPER6 VINCENT DIMASCIO6 DAN LEWIS6 BRANDON MEYER8 LARRY HROVAT9 DAVID GOODYEAR9 JOHN ZUCHINSKI9 TED HOWARD10 SEBASTIANO COSTANZO13 ORLANDO MCDANIEL15 MICHAEL MYERS22 CHUCK GILLOMBARDO27 LUIS BRANCO27 BEVERLY RAYMOND30 LISA WOODARD

MAY1 STACEY BERNAS3 KIMBERLY KOVALIK3 JOHN LONG3 DEBORAH TURNER7 STEVE HALL8 NORA SINGLETON9 RONALD SHEREDY9 STEVE CINDRIC11 RAYMOND HEIDEN12 TRACI TROPKOFF13 RICHARD PAVELECKY14 STAN SKOCZEN, JR.20 MIKE RIDER24 VIC DIGERONIMO, JR.27 PASQUALE CICCONE29 JOHN MARTIN31 ROBBIE DIGERONIMO22 ROBERT A SIXTA23 ANDREW FETZER23 BRIAN YOUNG25 DOUGLAS BRYANT27 TODD MOYER28 NANCY COLON29 MARTHA HAGEN29 JEFFREY PARIS30 CLAUDE PEDERSON31 DAVID BENAK

JUNE1 COLLEEN COUNTS2 CRAIG TEXTER2 BRANDEN MORRIS7 FOSTER KNOLL13 DAVID TRAVAGLIANTE13 WILLIAM INGHRAM16 KEITH KIST17 SHAWN ROBERTSON18 PAT CUFFE20 TONY DIGERONIMO21 ROBBY PROCK21 LARRY MAHON22 RUSSELL RIZZO22 THEODORE CHUHA24 DONNIE DIGERONIMO25 JAY KELLOGG26 RONALD BENEDEK28 VICTOR ROBISON29 CARL RUSSELL30 JON ZUMBRUNNEN

JULY1 ROBERT LAZAR3 JOHN BECKMAN3 RONALD COSTANTINO3 TED WALLINGFORD4 CHRIS SCHUERGER5 JOSEPH MARTIN5 GREGORY RIETH6 SONYA MCNEELY8 GREGORY FOTH9 RICHARD INGHRAM11 JIMMY IACAMPO11 MARK SHAUGHNESSY14 DEANA DIGERONIMO16 ANDREA GALMARINI19 EDWARD VIZDOS21 VICTOR EPELBAUM23 SANDI CIELEC24 LARRY KNIGHT JR.26 EDWARD GILBERT26 RICH WILK27 RICK LANTZ28 BOBBY DIGERONIMO30 ALEX CALARCO

‘04 BIRTHDAYS

© Declaration of Independence2004 Independence Excavating, Inc.

Editor: Stacey Bernas

Photos taken by: Dan Gairing, Turner Construction Co.Stacey Bernas, Independence ExcavatingLarry Hrovat, Independence ExcavatingBrandon Meyer, Independence Excavating

Comments and suggestions can be submitted by letter to:

Independence Excavating Inc.5720 Schaaf RoadIndependence, Ohio 44131www.indexc.comAn equal opportunity employer

Case Western Reserve University – North Residential Village

Brandon Meyer, Project Manager

Work began in December 2003 with the removal of25,000 c.y. of topsoil. Shortly thereafter work began onsheeting, dewatering, utility removal, and siteundercutting operations to remove old residentialbasements that once occupied the site. Also included inour contract is the mass excavation and backfill for allseven dorms, garage, footing excavation and backfill, haulroad and staging area construction, storm, sanitary, andwaterline utilities for the entire 20-acre site. The project isscheduled for completion in the fall of 2005.

Independence is pleased to be working withconstruction managers Dianna Likens and Fidel Pitones ofWhiting-Turner/Bradley. The following subcontractorshave also been instrumental in this project’s development:Vancuren Tree Service, Huffman Equipment Rental & Contracting Inc., and Kelley Dewatering & Construction Co.

C u r r e n t P r o j e c t

Ron Benedek – Thank you for 25 years of service!

Ron Benedek joined the Independence Excavating team in 1978 as an apprenticeoperator. Over the years he’s worked on many key projects including the Canton Sewerproject, TRW, the Ford Plant in Avon Lake, Rt. 83, The Ohio Turnpike Plazas in BroadviewHts. and Vermillion. Ron has also worked on many road projects in Independence.Superintendent Steve Minich said he has many fond memories of working with Ronincluding the time when Joe Savage had an incident on the railroad tracks on the CantonSewer project.

Ron, your dedication and hard work are very much appreciated and we congratulate you.We’re glad you’re on our team!

Located on the CWRU campus just north of Euclid Ave. between E.115th and E.118th streets, the overallproject consists of seven new dorms, renovated athletic fields, and a 1,200 car parking garage.

SAVE THE DATE!Sunday, August 8, 2004

The DiGeronimo Companies will host a company picnic this year at Wiegand'sLake Park (Rt. 87, 1.5 miles East of Rt. 306)

Additional info will be sent in the near future - We hope you can make it!