The First Facility Management Blog

J&J/Invision, a commercial carpet manufacturer based in Dalton, GA, recently received an American flag from a group of United States troops stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan. The flag was received in response to a donation of 50 rugs given by the company to keep the troops warm throughout the winter months.

Don Nase, J&J/Invision business manager, was contacted by National Flooring Systems’ Andy Franks after Franks received word from a family member stationed at the United States National Support Element in Kabul that their living quarters did not have flooring. With cold temperatures hovering, the troops needed something that would help keep the heat inside and give them a warm area to walk. In response to their need, Nase worked with Bob Hubbs, vice president of customer satisfaction at J&J/Invision to coordinate delivery of the rugs to Afghanistan.

“J&J/Invision is proud to assist our troops as they give their time and their lives to defend the country and the community that we live and work in day in and day out,” said Hubbs. “We are happy to be able to do something that makes their time away feel more like home.”

As a token of appreciation the troops mailed J&J/Invision a flag that was flown over the United States National Support Element headquartered in Kabul as a part of Operation Enduring Freedom. Included with the flag was also a certificate and letter from Lieutenant Colonel Douglas F. Stitt.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for the kind and considerate donation of carpets that you provided to the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines stationed here in Kabul, Afghanistan. Taking the time to express your gratitude does register with us and we cannot thank you enough,” said Stitt.

The U.S. flag will be displayed at the J&J Campus in the front lobby of the corporate office.

The Security Industry Association (SIA), the largest international trade association representing electronic and physical security product manufacturers, specifiers, and service providers, recently honored Rob Zivney, vice president of marketing, Hirsch Electronics, with the SIA Statesman Award for his work on personal identity verification (PIV) related issues and recent congressional testimony, as well as his leadership role in SIA webinars and the SIA Government Summit.

“Rob has been instrumental in support of SIA’s government relations programs and initiatives,” said Richard Chace, executive director, SIA. “His extraordinary leadership has positioned SIA to address the public policy challenges impacting the electronic physical security industry.”

The SIA Statesman Award was presented during SIA’s 2008 Government Summit in Washington, DC. The award recognizes Mr. Zivney’s continued efforts on behalf of the industry and SIA to educate and establish working relationships with the federal government and industry leaders.

Mr. Zivney has spent more than 30 years in the security and building controls industries with expertise in access control and intelligent building systems. He serves on the SIA Board of Directors, chairs SIA’s PIV Working Group, and represents SIA to the Smart Card Interagency Advisory Board (IAB) Physical Access Committee. Further, he is active in standards activities with SIA, ASHRAE/BACnet, OASIS/oBIX, NMSAC and RTCA. A sought after industry speaker, his opinions and market outlook are often quoted in the industry trade.

The award recognizes and reinforces Hirsch Electronics’ commitment to the industry and consistent contribution of resources for the overall good of the security industry. Hirsch Electronics’ senior management, technologists and other professionals are active in many security related associations and serve in leadership roles on many leading committees and councils.

“We believe that a strong, healthy security industry is critical to homeland security,” said Mr. Zivney. “The involvement of Hirsch’s leadership and expertise contributes to the industry’s strength and ultimately provides our clients with insight into evolving security standards, regulations, development, technologies, and innovative applications.”

When the Dawson County Humane Society in Dawsonville, GA, opened the area’s first animal shelter in April 2008, they ran out of money before air conditioning could be installed in the dog kennels.

“Our budget was limited, and something had to be cut,” said Brenda Lee, a shelter volunteer and member of the humane society’s board of directors. “If we had waited to secure more funds, we would have had to delay opening—and without a shelter in our county, the animals had nowhere to go.”

As summer approached and temperatures started to climb into the 90s, the lack of air conditioning presented a serious problem. “The dogs were miserable. They were just lying there panting,” said Lee. “The staff was having a pretty tough time, too.”

Determined to find a solution, Lee contacted MovinCool, a manufacturer of portable spot air conditioners. The company responded by donating three of its high output units, which are designed for quick installation in emergency situations.

“We are very grateful that MovinCool came to our rescue,” said Lee. “We hooked up two of the air conditioners as soon as we got them. The difference was like night and day. Now the dogs are keeping cool, and so are the humans.”

The shelter is planning to install the third MovinCool unit in its new “puppy pavilion,” a storage shed that volunteers are converting into a quarantine and adoption center for puppies. The project is on hold until the shelter can find a donation source for needed building materials.

MovinCool has previously donated portable spot air conditioners to zoos in Atlanta, Cleveland, Denver, Louisville, and New York. The zoos have used the air conditioners to keep a variety of their inhabitants cool, including polar bears, penguins, panda bears, reptiles, and snow leopards.
MovinCool portable spot air conditioners are employed in a range of commercial and industrial environments, such as data centers, computer and telecommunications equipment rooms, offices, hospitals, schools, manufacturing plants, and outdoor events.

“MovinCool air conditioners are mainly used to cool people and equipment, but there is no reason they can’t cool animals, too,” said John Doran, MovinCool senior manager, heat management and customer service. “We are very glad to contribute to such a worthy cause as this.”