VAA News

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Protect Your Investments: Concrete Silo Safety and Operations

June 15, 2020 / Comments Off on Protect Your Investments: Concrete Silo Safety and Operations

Safety and performance of concrete silos, particularly older silos, are often a concern to owners and operators of heavy industrial processing facilities. Blowout of silo walls and / or partial collapse of concrete silos are not uncommon. This article summarizes factors that contribute to concrete silo failure and defines methods to avoid instances that may […]

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National Safety Month Highlights Workplace Safety During COVID-19

June 9, 2020 / Comments Off on National Safety Month Highlights Workplace Safety During COVID-19

June is National Safety Month and this year the National Safety Council (NSC) is focusing on worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. NSC is a nonprofit committed to reducing preventable injuries and deaths at work, on the road and at home. In the past, NSC has observed National Safety Month by providing free educational materials and articles […]

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Business Continuity in the Time of Coronavirus

April 29, 2020 / Comments Off on Business Continuity in the Time of Coronavirus

Our IT Manager shares tips and tools to help businesses operate effectively now and in the future Associate / IT Manager Nat Schmidt credits the 2009 H1N1 pandemic with revealing vulnerabilities in corporate IT infrastructure. Since joining VAA in 2006, Nat had taken steps to improve the firm’s business operations, but the H1N1 crisis expanded […]

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Employee Funds = Nearly 10,000 Meals

April 21, 2020 / Comments Off on Employee Funds = Nearly 10,000 Meals

During our annual Community Caring Campaign, employees can pledge a portion of their payroll to selected partner organizations. Amid COVID-19, VAA expedited these contributions to support increased demand at Second Harvest Heartland (SHH) and Interfaith Outreach & Community Partners (IOCP). Employee contributions recently aided SHH in distributing nearly 10,000 meals.

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Do You Need an Arc Flash Risk Assessment?

March 28, 2020 / Comments Off on Do You Need an Arc Flash Risk Assessment?

ARC FLASH RISK ASSESSMENTS ARE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE Exposure to electricity in the workplace killed an average of three people per week in 2018, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.[1] This number doesn’t include the thousands of serious but non-fatal electrical injuries that occur every year. […]

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Corporate COVID-19 Response

March 18, 2020 / Comments Off on Corporate COVID-19 Response

The below FAQs are to help answer inquiries about VAA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. VAA’s objective remains to create a safe work environment for employees and clients, limit disruptions in our workflow, and work together to deliver and maintain our project responsibilities. ARE VAA’S OFFICES OPEN TO OUTSIDE VISITORS? Visitors are welcome to enter […]

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Scholarships Awarded to Dunwoody Students

February 28, 2020 / Comments Off on Scholarships Awarded to Dunwoody Students

Supporting industry education and giving back to our community are highly valued at VAA. The Haldorson and Jansen Scholarship program reinforces both goals and recognizes our enduring community ties to Dunwoody College of Technology (Dunwoody). Founded in 2014, the program includes two scholarships named for current VAA Principal and Dunwoody alum Bernie Jansen and former Partner / Dunwoody alum […]

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How to Set S.M.A.R.T. Company Goals

January 16, 2020 / Comments Off on How to Set S.M.A.R.T. Company Goals

A formal goal-setting program is an asset in any corporate environment, with benefits for both individuals and companies overall. S.M.A.R.T. goals – statements that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely – have become the standard for organizational goal setting. Use of this method provides guidance for employees when proposing goals and allows managers to […]

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Scott Stangeland Bids Us Au Revoir

December 30, 2019 / Comments Off on Scott Stangeland Bids Us Au Revoir

After 19 years, Scott retired from VAA at the end of 2016. He held many titles over the course of his professional tenure, serving as a Senior Structural Engineer, Partner, President and CEO. In his spare time, he became a pilot, a world traveler and well-versed in the French language. But as Scott bids us […]

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VAA Wins Wellness by Design Award

December 18, 2019 / Comments Off on VAA Wins Wellness by Design Award

VAA received a 2019 Wellness by Design award for excellence in worksite wellness at a ceremony hosted by Hennepin County Public Health in November. As a silver-level award recipient, VAA was recognized for making “employee health a priority through creative and effective wellness initiatives.” Wellness by Design awards are presented to Hennepin County employers that […]

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