Senior Roadway Engineer Alan King, PE, works part-time and primarily from his home, but when he heard the firm needed extra helping hands for its Charity Bike Build, he didn't hesitate to step up.
King is just one example of the commitment DRMP employees bring to the firm's annual Charity Bike Build, which is made possible through the DRMPCares program. The corporate social responsibility initiative provides resources to support community involvement efforts that create positive, lasting change in STEM education, health, and the lives of children.
“I don't get into the office very often, but the Bike Build looked like something I could help with,” King said. “I like putting things together, though I'd never done bikes. I enjoyed the experience of doing something important, working alongside my fellow employees, and I look forward to doing it again.”
Senior Project Engineer Geoff Scales, PE, assembles a bike, while Senior Traffic ITS Designer Domingo Delgado and Senior Roadway Engineer Alan King, PE, work behind him.
This year's event brought together dozens of employee volunteers at DRMP's Orlando, Fla., headquarters to assemble 50 bicycles for local children and teens served by the Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families. Over the course of three Charity Bike Build events, DRMP employees have assembled 150 bikes, along with donated helmets and bike locks for families. Following assembly, several employees performed quality control checks on each bicycle to help ensure the bikes were properly assembled and ready for their new riders.
A Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families employee receives a donated bicycle from DRMP staff.
The bikes provide a vital means of transportation, helping teens get to after-school activities, sports, jobs, and other opportunities they might otherwise struggle to reach.
The Howard Phillips Center supports children, teens, and their families through a wide range of services, including care for young children with developmental delays and special needs, as well as assistance for those who have experienced abuse or neglect through urgent medical exams, injury documentation, and forensic interviews. The center also provides long-term counseling and operates mobile healthcare units that bring critical medical services directly to schools, ensuring children and teens receive the care, protection, and support they need to thrive.
Howard Phillips Center for Children and Families staff organize DRMP donated bikes for distribution.
For Construction Services Administrative Assistant Sabrina Gaynor, this year's event was one she had been anticipating since joining the firm.
“This was my first time participating in the Bike Build,” she said. “I had just started with the company when the event took place last year, and I was truly inspired by how many employees took time out of their day to come together and support such a meaningful cause. I knew then that I wanted to participate the next time the opportunity came around, and I'm so grateful that I was able to be part of it this year.”
Construction Services Administrative Assistant Sabrina Gaynor and Drainage and Water Resources Administrative Assistant Hannah Guglielmello pose with the bike they assembled together.
Structures Engineer Warren Allen, PE, returned for his second Bike Build after enjoying the experience the first time.
“It was such a good time last year that I had to participate again,” he said. “Typically, I do not have time to participate in charitable events due to other obligations, so it was a great opportunity afforded by DRMP for me to give to others. Sometimes life and work can be so busy, so it is great that we are able to help others in a way that we are sure will bring joy into their lives.”
Stormwater Engineering Intern Daniela Orjuela and Structures Engineer Warren Allen, PE, pose with the bike they built together.
Survey Analyst Johnathan Porto, CST1, said the event provides an opportunity to serve the community and connect with coworkers.
“We are a pretty busy group, but when we can, we like to help out,” he said. “We get to help the community and hang out with coworkers from different teams that we don't get to talk to every day, so it's nice to see new faces. It just feels like the right thing to do.”
Survey Crew Chief Matt Piombino (pictured left) and Survey Analyst Johnathan Porto, CST1, ( pictured right) assemble bikes together.
Porto said he doesn’t typically volunteer outside of work, “but whenever we get the opportunity to do so at work, we all join in as a group.
“It's a nice change of pace from the day-to-day work. It's rewarding to know we can do some good by doing something as simple as putting a few bikes together, no matter how much we mess up,” he joked. “Sorry, bike quality control guys.”
