On May 1, Story Construction joined the owners and employees of Moffitt Ford Lincoln Mercury in Boone, Iowa, and members of the Boone Chamber of Commerce for a ribbon-cutting ceremony launching the dealership’s new Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center.

Story designed and built a 3,900-square-foot addition onto the existing dealership to create space for the oil and tire changing facility. The space includes five bays for vehicles on the service floor, a reception and waiting area and new storage rooms. The structure consists of trench grade beams, conventional steel framing and metal stud walls, with the exterior featuring multiple types of metal wall panels with aluminum storefront.

The project began in October 2011 and was completed in late February 2012.

“Not Your Parent’s Church,” a national seminar presented by Building God’s Way, will stop in Ames, Iowa, this spring, featuring an expert panel of speakers that will share vital information for church and Christian school leaders. Story Construction will host the free, day-long event on Thursday, May 10, at Cornerstone Church – a BGW facility. Presentations will focus on key trends and strategies in church design, church building and renovation, fundraising, financing and growth – all aimed at reaching the millennial generation.

The seminar speaker panel will include experts in the areas of church architecture, church construction, fundraising, finance, leadership and church growth. Each of the speakers has worked with hundreds of ministry-based organizations across the country and will share vital information about how successful and vibrant ministries are responding to the largest generational shift in U.S. history.

Not Your Parent’s Church will shed light on how the new generation is impacting the way ministry space is being designed, utilized and funded. Building God’s Way architects have designed more than 500 facilities for churches and Christian schools and will share new perspectives on master planning and design that are key in reaching the Millennial generation. Recent research indicates that a paradigm shift is bringing about new economic realities for ministries. As giving declines, churches must prayerfully seek out new and creative ways to fund ministries and outreach. In one seminar session, entitled, “The Church Facility… It’s Not Just for Sundays Anymore,” the architects will share about how facilities that are planned and designed properly can play a key role in financial sustainability for churches.

The architects and partners from local BGW builder Story Construction will also talk about a unique construction delivery model that is changing the way churches and Christian schools are being built. With a foundation based on relationships, stewardship and outreach, this proven process is delivering a consistent 20-30 percent savings compared to standard design and building methods – without lowering quality. The program focuses not only on lowering up-front construction costs, but also has a huge impact on long-term operation and maintenance costs. The construction session will provide details about the key elements that lower costs, including a unique pre-construction process and an exclusive network of suppliers for building materials, products and furnishings.    

BGW Architects have extensive background in church, school and performing arts architecture, designing prominent facilities with worship seating in the thousands. Their expertise in architecture has been recognized with a number of national design awards, including multiple WFX Solomon Awards for Best Church Architect, Best Church Design, Best Special Project and Best Digital Church; The LCEF Arts & Architecture Award for Best Liturgical Design; and recognition among the seven most innovative churches in America by Ministry Today.

Pastor Terry Bates will headline the fundraising and growth tracks of the seminars. Terry has personally led several congregations through barriers to incredible growth and has helped ministries across the country to inspire and motivate their congregations to successfully fund their God-given vision. He is currently the pastor of OKC Faith Church in Oklahoma City and is the author of “Positioning Your Church.” Terry previously worked with Dr. John Maxwell’s Million Leader Mandate, in which he was involved in training more than 250,000 in Asia and Africa.

Pastor Bates will share some keys to developing momentum in any economic environment – momentum that can lead to increased attendance, greater member involvement and increased giving capacity. In another session, the pastors will provide an overview of a radically different concept in capital fundraising called “Hearing from God.” This refreshing approach is having dynamic results with ministries around the country without the high pressure and manipulation tactics common with most capital fundraising campaigns. Attendees will learn how their ministries can cultivate spiritual sensitivity as their congregation joins together to pray, fast and respond to the individual vision that God has for them.

For more information or to register, visit www.bgwservices.com/NYPC or call 866-249-8484.

Building God’s Way

With a portfolio of nearly 400 churches and 120 Christian schools and colleges nationwide, Building God’s Way (“BGW”) has become a recognized leader in ministry design and construction. BGW has also developed an unparalleled network of kingdom building services that extend beyond just architecture and building and includes growth coaching, vision casting, capital fundraising, financing, leadership development and more. The mission of Building God’s Way is to build God’s Kingdom by translating the God-given ministry vision of Christian organizations through high-quality, cost-effective buildings and by demonstrating the love of Christ on the job site through the BGW Ministry of Construction program. Story Construction is the only BGW Exclusive Builder in the state of Iowa.

Story Construction is proud to announce employee contributions to the 2011 United Way Campaign have exceeded past records. More than $9,700 in employee pledges and a corporate match of 25 percent will result in a gift of nearly $12,150 for United Way of Story County community partners.

Donations from Story Construction to United Way increased by 16 percent compared to 2010. The increase in giving and participation was driven by employee co-chairs Lisa Camp and Mike Welter, who helped raise awareness and increase pledges.

“The work of the United Way resonates with our employees, and I find that inspiring,” said Story President Mike Espeset. “Our collective investment increases the United Way’s ability to improve the lives of more than 30,000 Story County residents each year, and that is truly humbling.”

The United Way network includes nearly 1,300 chapters in the U.S. each serving local residents. The United Way of Story County works to advance the common good by funding core programs and identifying and addressing four community impact areas: financial education, hunger, mental health and transportation.

Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) of Iowa today announced that Story Construction has been awarded the Gold level of ABC’s prestigious Safety Training and Evaluation Process (STEP) program.

To achieve ABC’s STEP Gold level, among other requirements, a company must have a total recordable incident rate of no more than 1.5 times the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average; submit their official U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Form 300A on work-related injuries for review; and earn a specific STEP self-evaluation score.

“It is truly an honor and a privilege to be recognized for our continued dedication to providing training and safe workplaces for our employees,” said Story Construction President Mike Espeset. “This award demonstrates Story’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well being of every one of our employees.”

STEP was established in 1989 by the ABC National Environment, Health & Safety Committee to assist ABC member contractors in evaluating and improving corporate safety practices and recognize outstanding safety training efforts. Each year, more than 2,000 contractors across the country participate in the voluntary program. Research shows those who earn a STEP award have significantly lower fatality and incidence rates than the industry average and experience 93 percent fewer OSHA citations than other contractors.

Clockwise from top: Cole Cummings, Clayton Long, Alicia Wieland and Kelli Theilen

The Story Scholarship Committee recently selected four outstanding young men and women as scholarship recipients for the 2011-12 academic year.

Cole Cummings, son of Story employee Randy Cummings, was awarded a $750 scholarship. Cole graduated from Roland-Story High School (Story City, Iowa) in 2011 and is currently enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames with hopes of pursuing a career in computer or software engineering. In addition to being an Eagle Scout, Cole played football and baseball in high school and was a member of the National Honor Society.

Clayton Long, son of Story employee Jerry Long, was awarded a $750 scholarship. Clayton is a 2010 graduate of Gilbert High School (Gilbert, Iowa) and is working toward a degree in pre-medicine at Iowa State University. A member of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity and active in his church, Clayton is looking forward to earning his medical degree and serving patient populations in developing countries.

Kelli Theilen, daughter of Story employee Lori Theilen, was awarded a $500 scholarship. Kelli graduated from Nevada High School (Nevada, Iowa) in 2011 and is currently a student at Rochester Community and Technical College in Minnesota. A member of the school’s soccer team, Kelli is pursuing a double major in pediatric nursing and social sciences.

Alicia Wieland, daughter of Story employee Mark Wieland, was awarded a $500 scholarship. Alicia is a 2011 graduate of Marshalltown Senior High School (Marshalltown, Iowa) and is attending the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. Alicia is working toward degrees in dance and mathematics, with hopes of pursuing an advanced degree and career in mathematics or science.

Story Construction established the Story Scholarship Program in 1992 to recognize deserving students who are children of Story Construction employees. To date, $53,000 has been awarded to nearly 70 students to assist them with their educational expenses. Recipients are selected based on their academic achievements, involvement with extracurricular activities and demonstrated commitment to their chosen field.

Concerned parents and community members turned out in record numbers on Tuesday, Sept. 13, for the Ames Community School Board election, where voters overwhelmingly favored adding new members to the district’s governing body – including Story Construction President Mike Espeset.

Espeset’s “big picture” approach to looking at the district’s needs helped him win a seat on the board. While many candidates and constituents focused exclusively on facilities improvements, Espeset took the position that they are just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to enhancing and optimizing the educational needs of Ames students.

“Student achievement is dependent on many variables – including school size, class size, school location, staffing and support, costs to operate and diversity of the population” he said. “As a district, it is our responsibility to look at the bigger picture so we can ensure every child has the opportunities he or she needs to succeed.”

The Ames Community School District is comprised of five elementary schools, an early childhood education center, one middle school and one high school. The district consistently ranks among the nation’s highest in terms of test scores, graduation rates and achievements in academics, fine arts, athletics, extracurricular activities and volunteer service.

Espeset’s two-year term officially began Sept. 20 when he took his oath of office. The School Board meets regularly on the first and third Monday of each month.