At Riley Construction, we take our HIFI values (Humility, Integrity, Flexibility, and Initiative) to heart and strongly believe in supporting the communities in which we live and work. That’s why our team finds it so rewarding to dedicate time outside of our day-to-day construction projects and administrative tasks to offer a helping hand, whether it’s packing school supplies or building a playhouse for a deserving child.
Perhaps it’s a coincidence that two Riley team members who are leading Riley’s community service efforts have last names ending in “more” as they are always seeking more ways to get involved in local causes. Project Coordinator Kathy Cashmore and Project Engineer Graham Bullmore are the proud lead organizers for Riley’s Community Service Committee, a group of employees who engage in various community projects. “Our goal at Riley is to look for ways to serve the communities we work in, from Kenosha to Northeastern Illinois to Milwaukee to Madison,” says Bullmore.
Throughout the year, the committee volunteers their time at both small and large events, including everything from building homes for Habitat for Humanity of Kenosha to hand-packing nearly 38,000 meals for children through Feed My Starving Children.
“The pandemic significantly impacted our ability to serve the community, so this year, the committee is expanding efforts to new organizations and are planning to do even more in 2023,” Bullmore explains. In 2022, the Riley team renovated tiny homes for Veteran’s Outreach of Wisconsin and partnered with Make-A-Wish Foundation to build a dream gymnastics gym for a six-year-old in Pewaukee with cystic fibrosis. The team also contributed time to longtime favorite events such as ProHealth Care’s Walks for Cancer 2022 and numerous American Red Cross blood drives.
Most Riley employees get involved in at least one community initiative during the year based on where their personal interests lie. The volunteers include employees at every level of the company, from interns and field crew members to the executive team. In addition to the feeling of goodwill and camaraderie these initiatives provide, they also bring together team members that don’t work together daily, such as our office administrators and field crews.
“It’s about building team and communications skills, but it’s also just a great opportunity for people to get to know their peers in more personal ways than they do while at work,” notes Bullmore.
Every project has its own dedicated team who make sure every aspect is well-coordinated and results in a satisfactory conclusion for everyone involved. Riley Construction supports this time investment by offering every employee 16 hours per fiscal year to select any community project in which they would like to participate. In reality, most employees spend well over that amount during their own time, simply because they are committed to helping others.
“Riley’s employees have a strong desire to get involved in projects that inspire them and help them make a difference. The committee is here to advance Riley’s mission to serve and help make events more accessible for employees who share those values,” said Cashmore.
Community service is a top value of ours at Riley Construction, and we only see these philanthropic efforts expanding with even more fulfilling opportunities in the future. The communities we serve have provided Riley with the continued opportunity to sustain and succeed. We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to give back in incremental ways.
A special thanks goes to the following Riley team members for their year-long involvement in the Community Service Committee: Ben Kossow, Jared Dicks, Kelly Hoffman, Tricia Holder, Kelly Ladwig, Ryan Marcangelo, Jennifer Nebesky, Lisa Parmentier, Sharon Schuster, Chloe Slaven, Carrie Matrise, and Mark Toepfer.