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Damage Control Newsletter Spring 2013 – A Miracle for Ava Fundraiser

May 16, 2017 By zentech

Damage Control is proud to organize and help sponsor an upcoming fundraising event to benefit the A Miracle for Ava Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

A Miracle for Ava was started as a fundraiser by the parents of Ava Gioe to help find a cure for her. Ava was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric brain cancer which took her life in July of 2012 at the age of five. They have since turned the organization into a foundation to help find a cure for other children diagnosed with the same and similar tumors. To learn more about A Miracle for Ava or to donate directly to the Foundation, please visit www.amiracleforava.org or their Facebook page.

While preparing for this event Cindy Jackson, Office Manager at Damage Control, has had the pleasure of getting to know Ava’s mother, Gianni Gioe. “Some of us at Damage Control had been following Ava’s journey on Facebook, and were just heartbroken for her family when she lost her battle,” says Cindy. “Gianni was always very open about her feelings going through all of it and I kind of felt like I knew her already. I am thrilled to able to help plan this event and to get to know her personally. I can’t even imagine what she is going through, but I admire that she is continuing the organization for other families that are experiencing a similar situation.”

The benefit is scheduled for Friday, February 22 at the Olyphant Ambulance building at 530 East Park Street in Olyphant, beginning at 6pm. There will be live entertainment by Nowhere Slow from 6 to 7:30 and Johnny D w/ special guests starting at 7:30. $10 entry includes 2 drinks (beer & soda) and a ticket for the door prize. Additional raffle tickets will be available to buy for the many wonderful baskets and gift cards donated by area businesses and individuals. We will be selling pizza by the slice and additional drinks for $1.

ALL proceeds from this event will be given directly to the AMFA Foundation. AMFA has advised us that 100% of the proceeds will be forwarded to the Cancer Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, specifically the Neuro-oncology Department.

Please contact Cindy at 341-1500 or [email protected] if you are interested in participating in the fundraiser in any way.

 

Stephanie Jallen

“It’s not can or can’t. It’s do or don’t.” This is one of Stephanie Jallen’s mottos. And she lives by it. She really feels that nothing is impossible. Considering what she has accomplished, she may be right!

Stephanie Jallen was born with a rare birth defect called CHILD (Congenital Hemidysplasia with Ichthyosis and Limb Displacement) Syndrome, which caused her to be born with underdeveloped limbs on her left side. Her left leg was amputated at birth and her left arm is very short without a developed hand. She has been living a “normal” life; school, friends, activities. At age 9 her family received a notice in the mail about a ski camp for disabled kids. She attended and the rest, as they say, is history. She loved it. She met Mau Thompson, who became her development coach. Mau taught Stephanie to ski, and quickly realized she had the potential to become a racer.

Since then, Stephanie has made skiing her main focus. Most recently, her goal is to represent the United States at the 2014 Olympic Games in Sochi, Russia. When asked if she had any other hobbies or interests, she said, “It’s hard to do anything else,” noting the amount of time it takes to train, remain in shape and work towards her goal.

She knows, however, that she can’t do it alone. She has much support, originally from her family and Mau, and more recently her strength trainer, Ernie Baul at All American Fitness in Plains. He works with her between three and five days a week to improve her strength and modifies the training for Stephanie’s special circumstances. “It’s a battle all the time,” Stephanie said, referring to the task of strengthening both side of her body equally while not being able to exercise them in the same ways. She also spends time spinning to get her cardio workouts.

Stephanie credits Ernie, and Mau as well, for her success. “I have definitely achieved a higher level then I ever would have without them.”

Stephanie’s school has also been very supportive. She is a junior at Wyoming Area and as long as she can uphold a 3.5 GPA, they allow her to take her work with her and take the time off that she needs in order to train. When I asked her if there was anything she wanted to say, she made sure to thank them and everyone who was and is instrumental in her achieving her success.

She has spent two years on the US Paralympic Ski Team, and her next goal is in sight. “It’s thirteen months away,” she said, referring to the 2014 Olympics. When asked if she thinks that she will be going, she was very matter-of-fact. “I am close and I am on the right path,” citing she has already qualified in 3 out of 5 events, but said, “Nobody knows at this point whether it will be a yes or no.” The determination is based on the qualifying events as well as a points system, and the team is not announced until shortly before the Games actually begin. Stephanie stated that she still has the rest of this year to prepare and qualify.

I had asked Stephanie about when she was younger. I had heard that she had some issues with her prosthetics. She said that she did use the leg a lot for about 7 years, but then the skin rashes, which are a part of her condition, began to reappear forcing her to resort to a crutch. Her prosthetic arm was a different story. “I hated it,” she said. “It was never worth it. I could always do more without it then I could ever do with it on.”

Suffice it to say, this young lady has done more in her sixteen years than many of us have in twice that much time. That reminds me of another motto of hers which Ernie sometimes has her recite during training. We (people with two arms and legs) are “cheaters.”

Damage Control is proud to be a continued sponsor of Miss Jallen and the Stephanie Jallen Paralympic Fund. See Stephanie’s journey and follow her progress on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.jallen.731 and her website www.stephaniejallen.org.

 

First Responders Appreciation Night

Damage Control is happy to announce our Third Annual First Responders Appreciation Night! The event will be on Thursday, March 14th from 6:30-9:00 pm at the Damage Control facility at 342 Main Street, Eynon. All area first responders and their families are invited to attend. As a “thank you” for all they do, we want to give all of our area emergency personnel a chance to sit back, relax, and enjoy an evening of catered food, drinks and prizes, all free of charge. Please pass the word along to any police, fire and EMS workers you know.

 

Employee of the Year

We would like to congratulate restoration technician Jon Feldman on receiving Damage Control’s Employee of the Year award for 2012. Jon began working with us at the very beginning of the year and has consistently shown a positive attitude. He does everything he is asked to do without complaint. Jeff Skrilow, our company President, said, “Jon is a pleasure to work with. He definitely fits into our motto of ‘No Whining,’” which hangs in all the offices here at DCI. He is also an asset to the company because not only is he able to do the mitigation jobs, but also possesses the skills to help with the rebuild portion of the jobs, if needed. Congratulations, Jon!

 

Welcome Michael Bracey

We would like to officially welcome our new Business Development Coordinator, Michael Bracey. Chances are you may have already met him. He has been making the rounds to area insurance agencies and businesses since he began work here in November. If you haven’t met him yet, you probably will soon!

Michael has worked in business development for the past 11 years, first with an environmental services company, and most recently marketing a pipeline database to life science companies in North America.

When asked what made him decide he wanted to work for Damage Control, he said it was “… because of the company’s commitment to quality and customer service. I was impressed by the respectful work environment, and DCI’s community involvement through its various sponsorships to local causes. I was quite impressed with the fact that everyone at DCI makes a concerted effort to live up to its mission statement in responding quickly and efficiently to control the damage to the structure AND the client.”

Michael is a native of Scranton, and attended Scranton Central High School and the University of Scranton. He currently lives in the Minooka section of the city with his wife, Jaimie, and their two daughters.

Filed Under: Newsletters

Damage Control Newsletter Spring 2012 – Paying It Foward

April 27, 2017 By zentech

A Sensitive Situation

Imagine the stress as one hears that flooding in your area is imminent and the suggestion to evacuate is no longer a suggestion but rather an order. What do you take besides your loved ones? Logistically, there is little time to decide and precious little time to gather up those important possessions, not to mention the limited room. The thought of the potential clean up and what lies after the flood is over shadowed by the fear of the unknown as those in the destructive path follow advice from those with disaster experience. Some travel on auto pilot, some choose to ignore the warning; others follow the lead while some give in to panic. Whatever the choice, this is no longer a typical day.

As a professional Restoration Contractor, we employ teams of front line technicians who stand ready 24/7/365 to help in a myriad of situations. We are trained to know what to look for following a peril and we have numerous tools at our ready to help diagnose the problem and reverse the effects of the disaster. All too often, however, we as professionals pay far too much attention to the structure while forgetting that the structure is not the only battered remnants of the disaster. The human psyche is resilient, but even the strongest soul needs help healing during a loss and it only makes sense that the Restoration Contractor, as one of the first responders, helps to heal that loss. We need not think as a psychologist would, nor do we need the training and degrees that accompany the teachings of a counselor. We need only empathise with the victim and provide a bit of compassion, always remembering that this is likely the first time this client is experiencing this type of loss. Grasping this is the key to helping our clients with compassion, understand and sensitivity.

Jeff Skrilow, CR, WLS, President

 

Paying It Forward

The Year 2000, also known as Y2K, signified change on so many levels. Many extremists believed the world would end, companies feared extreme data loss and the artist formally known as Prince was excited to play his 1999 hit (17 years later). I remember seeing a movie entitles, Pay It Forward; an amazing story about a child who “believed in the goodness of human nature.” I still remember the feelings this movie invoked within me.

Throughout the many changes that occurred 12 years ago, the thought of paying it forward still remains. The overall premise of the movie continues to have a strong effect on my actions and many others in our community. On the receiving side, I have been at Starbucks and various other NEPA coffee shops only to find that someone had paid for my coffee. This reminds me of a recent story.

Damage Control Inc. continues to be a strong supporter of the Nicholson Fire Company. While visiting their monthly soup sale I usually visit the small business owners in the area. This March, while purchasing a few items in an antique shop i was recurrently pulled to a small table in the back of the store. There was clearly something that differentiated itself from the surplus of items in this establishment. Before leaving I went back to check the price and realized the tag said “on layaway.” So I went to pay for the 6 or 7 items, yet still kept thinking of the table. While being rung up I blurted out, I would like to pay for the table in the back that is on layaway.” The woman immediately started to cry as she took in the meaning of what was being said. The she quickly explained that there is no one that deserves such a generous act of kindness as the man who put the table on layaway. The tears of happiness were exchanged for charming stories that quickly turned to laughter and heartfelt smiles of a person I may never meet, yet will always remember with fondness.

Trevor McKenney: “What did you ever do to change the word?”

Christopher McDonald, Business Development Manager

 

Communities United

During the fall of 2011, the Damage Control team provided services to several communities severely impacted by flooding. While working alongside those living in these communities, it became evident that no one was going about it alone. The selfless acts from friends, neighbors, local businesses, and complete strangers allowed people who were overwhelmed to see they had the support needed to rebuild their lives. Residents who were not affected by the disaster gave aid to those who had lost everything, while those people returned the generosity by lending a hand to their neighbors. Volunteers reached out to those who could not help themselves by way of shelter, food, clothing, cleanup, and moral support. Busloads of college students arrived in one community to assist while businesses set up tents to provide food and beverages to local residents and all volunteers. Supplies poured in from all around to ease the burden placed on these flood victims. Barriers and walls were broken down as everyone pulled together and became what would be the definition of a true community. In the end, no one looked for recognition nor did they want to be reimbursed for their efforts. Payment came in the way of a handshake, a thank you, or an embrace between people whose paths may never have crossed had it not been for the disastrous events that took place.

Mark Bickelman, Operations Manager

 

Lending a Hand

Many people are aware of Damage Control’s efforts to help those in need. We are involved with causes such as Camp Cadet, American Red Cross, Children’s Miracle Network, St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, and many other local schools, charities, and first-responders and non-profit organizations. In a disaster situation, Damage Control and its employees will set up and help in any way we can, as we did after Hurricane Katrina and the flooding in our area in September 2011.

What you may not know is that we also help each other. One of our Core Values is “Work Environment,” which states, “Maintain a family like atmosphere with compassion, understanding and humor, to foster individual growth.” We feel so strongly about this that we made it a Core Value. That means it is something so important that we are promising to keep it throughout the life of the company. You can see evidence of this by overhearing conversations among our employees. On any given day, you can hear someone giving advice to a co-worker, sharing in a celebration of a happy life event, lending an ear in hard times or offering to help with a home improvement project.

A very important part of our job is helping customers, and not just by drying or cleaning their homes. In an industry in which we often see or speak with people on one of the worst days of their lives, we need to show the utmost understanding. When people are in a situation where they have a loss, the smallest thing you say or do and the way in which it is said or done, can mean so much to them. This can work positively or negatively, so we make sure our employees are able to deal with these situations in a compassionate way. This isn’t something you can teach so we need to hire with this in mind.

Whether it is for others or for each other, Damage Control is always here to help.

Cindy Jackson, Office Manager

 

One of Damage Control’s core values is respect. I witness this almost every day, with a story fresh in mind from a few weeks ago. A friend of mine needed help moving and I was able to borrow the cube van for the weekend to help. This may seem like a small gesture but being able to use that van made the job a lot easier for all concerned. This is one type of action that sets the tone for everyone that works here. Helping others can be contagious if given the right atmosphere to spread, much like paying it forward.

Daniel Snipes, Project Manage

Filed Under: Newsletters

Damage Control Newsletter Winter 2011 – Bionic Man

April 14, 2017 By zentech

The Bionic Man

His goal was to return to work as soon as possible after an injury from an accident – but this injury wasn’t a fracture rather crushed limbs from a horrific auto accident that was more of a “wrong place at the wrong time” type accident. His legs were pinned in between two bumpers while he was attempting to load his truck. At first, the team of doctors thought that the leg could be saved but a valiant effort with multiple operations proved futile as the leg was dying.

Ron Oleski, an electrician by trade and Damage Control’s electrician for the last 15 years, was in agreement that his leg had to be removed in order to put him on the road to recovery. He was more than ready to recover and to return to work. His humble and proud upbringing was evident as he found ways to do things for himself rather than accept help from his friends, who were desperate to find a way to make his struggle a little easier.

Ron was partnered with the amazing team at Allied Services who went right to work with him as soon as he was physically able. The people at Allied couldn’t believe the perseverance and determination that Ron displayed in his day to day therapy – his goal, all the while, to be able to get back on a ladder.

Although there were many challenges along the way, Ron returned to work about 6 months after losing his leg. Medical advances allowed his artificial leg to train him with the advent of a computer chip helping him to learn how to walk properly and what type of pressure to apply. The road to recovery has not ended, and with twists and turns along the road, Ron continues to drive ahead.

Both he and his wife, Eileen, seemed genuinely surprised by the amount of people who reached out to them with offerings of various kinds along that road. In the end, it only mattered that people wanted to help. People wanted to help because Eileen and Ron are genuine people who deserved the support of their friends.

 

 

Damage Control Supports Local Families Affected by Flood

 

Disaster Kleenup International (DKI), LLC, North America’s largest disaster restoration contracting organization, announced that DKI Member, Damage Control, Inc. of Eynon, Pennsylvania, collected donations to help those in northeastern Pennsylvania areas where many families have been displaced from their homes.

 

Some residents in the Plainsville (Wilkes-Barre area) community were fortunate to escape the wrath of the latest floods, but others lost everything they owned, including their homes. Some homes were swept away, others condemned due to unsafe conditions, and some are still wet and festering, waiting for aid. In addition, there are many residents who are not insured or underinsured.
In Plainsville, employees of Damage Control had the pleasure of meeting many of the families and their children who have been displaced from their homes. Through the kind heart of another DKI Member, Matt Odachowski, President of Royal Plus Disaster Kleenup, residents were offered a chance to come together at a picnic, complete with a bounce house for the kids, balloons, toys, food and cleaning supplies.
Damage Control was proud to have participated in the event for the Plainsville residents.

Damage Control also summoned the help of Royal Plus Disaster Kleenup, who lent generators and over 60 dehumidifiers to help dry out homes some of the homes damaged free of charge.
Damage Control collected donations for residents affected by the devastating flooding. Those items include toys, cleaning supplies, diapers, canned food, soap, toothpaste, towels, flashlights, batteries and other household items.

“We are very proud to support such a worthy cause. It is very important for us each to do our part and give back to our communities,” said Jeff Skrilow, President of Damage Control.

 

 

 

A Big Welcome to Our New Employees

Damage Control welcomes four new employees who have started here since our last newsletter.

 

April Unangst, Technician:

April started working at DCI in October. She was initially hired for her cleaning experience but has exhibited a willingness to learn all aspects of the job. She is a welcome addition to our team.

 

 

Jerry Pradel, Technician:

Jerry began working at Damage Control in September and immediately became a part of the team. He takes initiative and catches on very quickly. He displays strong leadership qualities and a willingness to do whatever is asked of him

 

 

 

 Chris Hamer, Field Supervisor:

Chris Hamer, our newest addition here at Damage Control, Inc. (DCI), was hired to fill the newly created position of Field Supervisor. This position was created as a direct result of our continued growth and the need to expand our field services. Chris owned and operated Sahara Restorative Drying, a highly successful, large loss drying operation which served New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Chris has partnered with DCI in the past to tackle large, specialized projects that required the talents of both companies. Chris’ ability to handle complicated situations, to think outside the box and to process multiple scenarios at one time, makes him an easy choice for this position.

Josh Mills, Technician:

Josh started with DCI as a temporary employee earlier this year. Through his hard work, eagerness to learn, reliability and good attitude, he proved himself as someone we wanted to keep on as a Damage Control employee.

 

 

 

Baby Boom!!

If you visit our facility, you may want to think twice if someone offers you a glass of water. Well, OK. The water may not be to blame, but we have somewhat of a baby boom happening here at DCI. Technician Ed Marcyoniak and his wife just had a baby girl in September. Tyler Greenfield, Project Manager, had a baby boy the last week of October. In addition, both of our business office staff, Cindy Jackson, Office Manager, and Sarah Cain, Executive Assistant, are expecting little ones early next year.

 

 

Client Testimonial

Jeff and the entire Damage Control team should be commended for their professionalism and workmanship. I have worked with many contractors and can truthfully say that Jeff and his team were one of the best I’ve had the privilege to work with.

Phil Testa
Broome County Community College
Binghamton, NY

Filed Under: Newsletters

Damage Control Newsletter Winter 2011 – Disaster KleenUp

March 23, 2017 By zentech

Damage Control Inc. Joins Forces With Disaster Kleenup International

 

damage control disaster kleenupLocally owned and operated since 1996 Damage control Inc. of Eynon has joined the Disaster Kleenup International (DKI) network, North America’s largest disaster restoration contracting organization.

Disaster Kleenup International has always stood for excellence in the industry. To become a member company, you must meet Disaster Kleenup International high quality standards. A member company has to be a full service emergency restoration company that can handle everything from a simple board-up to a very complicated and intricate total loss.

Damage Control, in effort to be a local leader in restoration, will also be able to provide Disaster Kleenup International’s training seminars and workshops. These workshops will keep our technicians up-to-date on any and all changes in this fast paced and ever growing industry.

Damage Control’s new affiliation with Disaster Kleenup International (DKI) will provide the opportunity to outsource with other members in the event of a major disaster, giving us the ability to work together with skilled partners. This will allow Damage Control to expand into new markets and help to augment our already wide range of services. With our core values already in line with that of DKI’s, this partnership is a perfect fit.

Service Excellence

Give each customer personal attention, provide effective communication to keep them informed at every turn.

Work Environment

Maintain a family-like atmosphere with compassion, understanding and humor, to foster individual growth.

Integrity

Fearless in our honesty, regardless of outcome.

Respect

For yourself and for all those with whom you work.

Leadership

As “A” players we lead by example, demonstrating professionalism, consistency, and teamwork.

Respect

At Damage Control, we hold all of our Core Values in the highest importance. We believe that our company could not operate without these and we truly believe in them to our very core.

But I must admit, of all of our Core Values, I truly believe that one stands above the rest. This core value should be held at a slightly higher regard, because without respect, the rest of our core values would not be possible.

To provide excellent service, a person must feel that not only are their property and possessions being treated with respect, but above all else that they are being respected.
To have a work environment with a family-like-atmosphere, all employees must respect each other. You can not have a company that runs efficiently and effectively without all of the employees respecting themselves and each other.

To have integrity, you must have enough respect for yourself and the customer to be fearlessly honest, no matter what the outcome may be.
And to be a true leader, one must respect all those they work with and have their respect in return.

In an industry where so many people must work together to ensure that a claim is handled with the utmost importance, one must have respect for all involved.

To give respect is one thing, but it is also vital the respect is earned and maintained. At Damage Control, we work very hard to earn the respect of all those with whom we work. We know that maintaining respect is most important and we work very hard to continue to do so.

Respect is an integral part of who we are and what we do and we wouldn’t change that, or any of our Core Values, for anything.

 

A Big Welcome to Our New Employees

Laura Buckingham

damage control lauraDamage Control recently hired Laura Buckingham as their Business Development Coordinator. Laura currently resides in Lakeville, PA. she is a mother of twins and a Keystone College graduate with a degree in Communications. Laura has experience in telemarketing and customer service, and is the former project manager for Country Charm LAwnscape of Roanoke, VA. her knowledge and skills will help to promote customer satisfaction and business development from many different areas.

“From my first interview, I knew Damage Control Inc. was a place I could call home. They believe in their work and stand behind it every step of the way.”
Laura’s strong belief in Damage Control’s Core Values makes her a natural choice to help grow the client base and continue to keep Damage Control as one of the leaders in the industry.

Daniel Snipes

Damage Control also recently hired Daniel Snipes as a Project Manager. Dan resides in Scott Township with his wife and three sons. Dan has an Associates Degree in Specialized Technology for Building Construction.

Prior to working for DCI/DKI Dan was self-employed as a building contractor. Dan’s job at Damage Control includes meeting with clients and coordinating the rebuild or repair of damages to their homes or business.

“I see this as a great opportunity to grow my skills and apply my experience as a contractor to put our customers’ lives back together again.”

Filed Under: Newsletters

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