Community

Collier Engineering provides gifts for McFerrin community children in need

NASHVILLE PRIDE — Collier Engineering provides engineering services with expertise in the planning, design, and management of construction projects.

Published

5 years ago

January 1, 2019

Oakland Post

By Pride Newsdesk

The McFerrin Park community center has been supplying a Christmas party and much needed toys to the Dickerson/East Nashville community for years with the help of volunteers.

This year they received a helping hand from Collier Engineering, in the form of toys and gifts.

Collier Engineering provides engineering services with expertise in the planning, design, and management of construction projects in the fields of transportation, site/civil design, construction management, storm water infrastructure, surveying, and landscape architecture.

The company was founded in 1981 James L. Collier who, upon his death in 2003, passed the business to his nephew, Chad Collier. Chad used the knowledge and commitment to service instilled by his uncle to grow the company from three employees to 85, adding an additional location.

Benny Word, who is a Senior Project Manager with Collier Engineering was meeting with District 5 Councilman Scott Davis and heard that the McFerrin Park Community Center needed help with donations for the area kids in need. He met with company President Chad Collier and they organized an office toy drive.

Giving is an important part of the culture at Collier engineering, and Word believes that individuals who are blessed should give back to the community.

“I got behind it, and put our whole company behind it,” said Collier. “I was shocked. It was quite a bit more than even I thought we would do. I’m proud of all our folks for pitching in and doing a lot of good work. “

“We were just happy and pleased to be involved and give what we were able to give,” said Word. “We saw a need in the community and the people around the office really chipped in.”

It started with a competition between the Collier office locations. Chad Collier offered whichever raised the most money and toys a free lunch after the first of the year; and the individual who raised the most to receive an extra holiday day.

With Collier matching employee giving dollar for dollar, more than $5,000 in toys and gift cards were donated.

“We had a really great response from our staff. We’re members of the Nashville community and our employees really enjoy giving back,” said Collier.

Some employees gave hundreds of dollars, others reached out to friends and colleagues in the construction business, and according to Collier: “one employee even held a toy drive at his small church, putting an extra 15-20 toys in the mix.”

Collier strives to be a positive part of the community and its employees are always looking for ways they can be good neighbors. The company has an employee engagement committee and plans regular giving events such as clean up days at local parks.

“The employees get together and they identify things that they can do in the community, and everyone gets behind that and do it. It’s really great to see.”

This article originally appeared in the Nashville Pride.

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Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 24 – 30, 2024

Published

28 mins ago

April 26, 2024

Oakland Post

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Alameda County

DA Pamela Price Stands by Mom Who Lost Son to Gun Violence in Oakland

Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones

Publisher’s note: Last week, The Post published a photo showing Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price with Carol Jones, whose son, Patrick DeMarco Scott, was gunned down by an unknown assailant in 2018. The photo was too small for readers to see where the women were and what they were doing. Here we show Price and Jones as they complete a walk in memory of Scott. For more information and to contribute, please contact Carol Jones at 510-978-5517 at morefoundation.help@gmail.com. Courtesy photo.

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City Government

Vallejo Welcomes Interim City Manager Beverli Marshall

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10. Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Published

4 days ago

April 22, 2024

Oakland Post

Beverli Marshall began her first day with the City on April 10. ICMA image.

Special to The Post

At Tuesday night’s Council meeting, the Vallejo City Council appointed Beverli Marshall as the interim city manager. Her tenure in the City Manager’s Office began today, Wednesday, April 10.

Mayor Robert McConnell praised Marshall’s extensive background, noting her “wide breadth of experience in many areas that will assist the City and its citizens in understanding the complexity of the many issues that must be solved” in Vallejo.

Current City Manager Michael Malone, whose official departure is slated for April 18, expressed his well wishes. “I wish the City of Vallejo and Interim City Manager Marshall all the best in moving forward on the progress we’ve made to improve service to residents.” Malone expressed his hope that the staff and Council will work closely with ICM Marshall to “ensure success and prosperity for the City.”

According to the Vallejo Sun, Malone stepped into the role of interim city manager in 2021 and became permanent in 2022. Previously, Malone served as the city’s water director and decided to retire from city service e at the end of his contract which is April 18.

“I hope the excellent work of City staff will continue for years to come in Vallejo,” he said. “However, recent developments have led me to this decision to announce my retirement.”

When Malone was appointed, Vallejo was awash in scandals involving the housing division and the police department. A third of the city’s jobs went unfilled during most of his tenure, making for a rocky road for getting things done, the Vallejo Sun reported.

At last night’s council meeting, McConnell explained the selection process, highlighting the council’s confidence in achieving positive outcomes through a collaborative effort, and said this afternoon, “The Council is confident that by working closely together, positive results will be obtained.”

While the search for a permanent city manager is ongoing, an announcement is expected in the coming months.

On behalf of the City Council, Mayor McConnell extended gratitude to the staff, citizen groups, and recruitment firm.

“The Council wishes to thank the staff, the citizens’ group, and the recruitment firm for their diligent work and careful consideration for the selection of what is possibly the most important decision a Council can make on behalf of the betterment of our City,” McConnell said.

The Vallejo Sun contributed to this report.