John W. Danforth Company

Starting in January, our social media activity is officially moving to LinkedIn! To keep up to date with the latest news, projects, and events from our team, follow us here: /company/john-w--danforth-company/ If you'd like to stay connected with us on Facebook / Instagram, please follow our parent-company EMCOR Group, Inc., who will be regularly sharing updates from Danforth, as well as content from our fellow EMCOR companies across the country. /emcorgroupinc /emcor_group_inc/

Congratulations to Joe Watkins, our Hard Hat Champion of the Month for April. Joe successfully completed his five‑year apprenticeship with the Local 81S Plumbers and Steamfitters as a proud member of the Danforth team in Syracuse. From day one he stood out for his dedication, accountability, and pride in craftsmanship. After becoming a Journeyman in the summer of 2025, he contributed to multiple K‑12 school projects and most recently supported our team at the Onondaga County Aquarium. His commitment to doing little things right continues to set the standard on every jobsite. Joe has a bright future ahead and has already expressed interest in stepping into a Foreman role on upcoming projects. Thank you, Joe, for your hard work, professionalism, and dedication to the trade. Congratulations on this well‑deserved recognition.

Our offices participated in Bring Your Child to Work Day. It is a special opportunity for parents and kids to connect, learn, and see what we do firsthand. From interactive activities and shop tours to plenty of snacks and a shared lunch, it was a day filled with curiosity, laughter, and meaningful moments. Watching the next generation engage, ask questions, and explore new possibilities was truly amazing. Each year, participation continues to grow, and the energy gets even better. Events like this remind us that what we build today helps shape the future ahead. Here’s to the future of Danforth and the bright minds who will carry it forward.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and construction workers face some of the highest mental health risks in the country. Suicide rates are four times higher than the national average, not because workers are weak, but because too many are struggling in silence. Long hours, tough conditions, job insecurity, and a culture that discourages vulnerability all take a toll. Key facts we can’t ignore: -The construction industry loses more workers to suicide than jobsite accidents each year. -Nearly half of workers have experienced depression. -Over 80% of those struggling never seek help. Mental health is job site safety. Support your crew. Speak openly. Know the signs. Reaching out is a strength. You’re not alone, and help works. Taking care of your mental health is as essential as wearing your hard hat and other PPE. If you or someone on your crew needs support, there are options: -988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline -Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) -Employee Assistance Programs (ask your HR team) -Construction Industry Alliance for Suicide Prevention -SMART MAP -UA Pipe PALS -MCAA mental health resources Together, we can build a culture where it’s safe to say, “I’m not okay.”

As Construction Safety Week comes to an end, we want to reflect on the core themes that guided our conversations: Recognize, Respond, and Respect / Taking Time for Change. Throughout the week, we focused on what it truly means to build a culture of safety: -Recognize — identifying high‑energy hazards early and understanding the risks around us. -Respond — putting direct controls, planning, and communication in place before work begins to help prevent serious injuries and fatalities. -Respect / Take Time for Change — slowing down, reassessing conditions, respecting the plan, and speaking up when something doesn’t look right. At Danforth, these aren’t just topics for one week, they’re the foundation of how we work every day. Safety doesn’t end when Safety Week does. It’s a year‑round commitment to planning with intention, communicating openly, eliminating STCKY hazards, and looking out for one another on every job site. We’re proud of the conversations, the participation, and the dedication shown this week. Let’s carry that same focus forward because safety is not a moment, a meeting, or a campaign. It’s who we are all year long. #constructionsafetyweek

Today’s Construction Safety Week topic is Respect, and we are focusing on Taking Time for Change. This theme centers on slowing down, increasing hazard awareness, and making intentional choices that promote safety. At Danforth, we live by our “Take 4 for Safety” motto: Take four seconds before starting any task to observe your surroundings, identify what could affect you or your team, and make sure you’re prepared. That means: -Recognizing hazards early -Analyzing the risks -Speaking up when something doesn’t look right -Making sure you have the proper tools and safety equipment Planning is critical to every construction project. When we don’t respect the plan, fail to follow it, or forget to reassess when conditions change, incidents can happen and they can be significant. Today is a reminder to: -Respect the plan -Participate openly in planning conversations -Reevaluate conditions as they change -Incorporate SIF (Serious Injury and Fatality) prevention -Eliminate STCKY hazards (Stuff That Can Kill You) -Follow established policies and procedures Taking time for change isn’t just a theme, it’s a mindset that helps protect our people and strengthens our culture of safety. #constructionsafetyweek

Today’s Construction Safety Week topic is Respond, taking action before a hazard causes harm. Effective response starts with strong up‑front planning: reviewing the scope of work, schedule, and site conditions, identifying hazardous energy, and putting direct controls in place through engineering solutions and physical safeguards. It continues with daily planning, because what fit our safety needs yesterday may not fit our safety needs today. And a plan only works when it’s communicated. Real safety happens when crews discuss it, challenge it, and improve it together. Here at Danforth, responding to recognized hazards is part of who we are. We plan deliberately, communicate clearly, and take action to help ensure the safety of every person on our jobsites. #constructionsafetyweek

Today marks the start of Construction Safety Week, centered on this year’s theme: All in Together – Recognize, Respond, Respect. It’s a powerful reminder that preventing serious injuries and fatalities begins long before work starts, it begins with awareness and a shared commitment to looking out for one another. Today’s focus is Recognize, the first and most critical step in reducing high-energy, high-hazard risks. Early identification of these hazards, paired with clear communication and proven hazard-recognition models, not only protects our teams but strengthens the culture of care we strive to build every day. At Danforth, recognizing high-energy hazards on every jobsite is a daily discipline and an essential part of managing the risks that can lead to SIFs. We’re proud to highlight how our teams put recognition into action and lead with safety at the forefront of every task. #Constructionsafetyweek #safetyweek

Last week Maryam Tabatabaei, associate Professor at SUNY, presented at the 2026 American Society for Engineering Education conference held at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. The presentation was on an academic–industry co-education initiative that has been developed since 2023 in collaboration with Todd Follis and Gary Metzgar from Danforth. “This program is built on a structured framework that integrates intensive industry engagement over six weeks. During this period, industry professionals join the classroom to deliver instruction, assign real-world tasks, evaluate student work, provide detailed feedback, and assess a final team-based project. I am sincerely grateful to the Danforth team, especially Todd Follis and Gary Metzgar for their continued support and genuine commitment to student development. Initiatives like this are preparing students to enter the workforce with confidence, practical skills, and a strong sense of professional readiness.” - Maryam Tabatabaei Todd and Gary have used this initiative in the classroom at Alfred State and have proved it to be successful.

Riley Lawrence, Keeli Shannon, Megan Watson, and April Seney from our ENY office recently attended the 2026 Women’s Summit. Designed to support women at every stage of their personal and professional journeys, the summit brought together individuals who are growing their careers, leading teams, building ideas, and exploring what’s next. Through engaging mainstage programming, thoughtfully curated sessions, and meaningful networking opportunities, attendees gained valuable insights, built new connections, and left feeling inspired, energized, and ready to apply what they learned well beyond the event.

Saturday is Hug a Plumber Day.🪠 It is a great reminder to recognize the skilled professionals who keep our homes, businesses, and communities running behind the scenes. Plumbers play a critical role in maintaining essential infrastructure, ensuring safety, and solving problems most of us wouldn’t know where to start with. Their expertise, responsiveness, and dedication often go unnoticed, until we need them most. Take a moment today to acknowledge a plumber in your network, support their work, or simply say thank you. Appreciation goes a long way in every industry.

The Mechanical Contractors Association of America (MCAA) Convention is a great opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, gain valuable insights, and join the conversations shaping the future of our industry. Robert Beck, former MCAA President and current Danforth CEO, was part of a panel entitled "Beyond the Horizon: Shaping the Next Era of Mechanical Contracting." He also serves as co-chair of the MCAA/UA Strategic Planning Committee. Wendy Glauber, Vice President of HR and General Counsel also spoke at the convention. She serves as a Committee Member of Women in the Mechanical Industry (WiMI), part of the MCAA, and is a mentor in WiMI’s Mentorship Program. At this year’s convention, two of our operations interns were awarded scholarships to support their continuing education in a mechanical contracting-related field. Lily Lubs, a sophomore at Alfred State and a second-year intern, was awarded the Reilly Family Memorial Scholarship, and Tyler Currie, a junior at Alfred State and a fourth-year intern, received the Josam Endowed Scholarship. Both Lily and Tyler were joined by their fellow operations interns in Phoenix, Arizona, where they networked and gained valuable industry insights. They were able to attend keynote sessions by notable speakers, including Drew Brees, Zack Kass, Michael Massimino, Inky Johnson, and Ken Schmidt, on topics such as leadership, resilience, technology, and business transformation. Pictured with Lily and Tyler are Mike Bement, Senior Vice President of Pre-Construction and Shop Operations Management at Danforth, and Wendy Glauber.