Amsted had a busy 2015. Established in 1989, we were excited to spend the year celebrating 25 successful years in business; a quarter-century spent building not only unmistakable homes for Ottawa residents, but also an unparalleled team of staff, partners and clients alike.
“It takes many people to achieve this milestone, and it has only been possible with the support of Ottawa’s residents and the communities in which we work,” explains Steve Barkhouse, Amsted Design-Build President and Founder. “We have always been dedicated to giving back, but to show our appreciation and to recognize this special anniversary, we wanted to step it up a notch!”
To begin the year, we initiated “25 Acts for 25 Years”, setting out to complete 25 acts of community service to acknowledge each of our years in business. We reached out to existing partners, community groups, City Councillors, and employees for ideas, and received no shortage of requests. Over the year, Amsted staff, joined by sister company Restore-All and valued trade partners, donated time and resources, participating in anything from school fundraisers and company food drives to small community-driven initiatives or large charity events.
“We recognized that completing 25 community acts in a single year would be a big commitment,” says Barkhouse, “but we knew our staff would rise to the challenge.” Amsted’s Core Values speak to a shared commitment to the community, and the staff proved this year that these aren’t just words on a wall or a website; they’re a set of intentions that are internalized by each member of the team. “I’m proud to say, not only did we achieve our goal, we exceeded even our own expectations. Thanks to the commitment of our team, we were able to complete over 30 activities, allowing us to express even further our gratitude to the City of which we are so proud to be a part.”
As the year drew to a close, Amsted was proud to complete our final act just in time for the holidays, delivering a truck full of gently-used clothing, including much-needed winter jackets and work boots, to the Ottawa Mission.