|
Happy Valentine’s Day to you… and you… and you, and also to my dear MKJ.
I am often asked what the M K J stands for – simply it is the first name of me and my siblings, Monica and Kory. MKJ was a start-up – but I thought I was reviving a corporation that had failed miserably ten years prior. The attorney filing the papers was short on patience and told me that I needed to start from scratch, to “give it a new name.” I drew a blank and said, “just call it MKJ Communications.” And so began a relationship that, for 18 years, has been all consuming, tumultuous, fraught with excitement, incredibly challenging, and has brought me to every sort of brink there is – risk, fear, joy, success and love.
When I started this joy ride it was a very big pivot from where I was professionally, but when I think about it – where was I professionally? Like all past relationships that fall short – I shudder to think of what would have happened if I didn’t take the chance on myself and leap into the great unknown that would be M K J. Just this morning, I was listening to John Massaro and Bjorn squabble over a design, I watched Evelina explain certified payroll to a new employee… all over our office there was activity, collaboration, snack-eating, problem solving, engineering, technicians building out communication cabinets, testing in our demo lab… Oh, this MKJ of mine keeps us moving forward – so incredibly busy, amazingly challenged and safe as we continue to return to our core strengths as integrators – providing amazing outcomes for the NYC Metros and airports.
What really makes MKJ a unique organization is the commitment to the whole of this magical entity. It works because, like every good relationship, there is tremendous care, communication, pride in and of all of our outcomes, focus on the shared success, and support in every direction to every single person that we work with and for. Our business plan is, at its core, a list of vows guiding us to create a relationship that will endure.
My truth is, I lead with love. While I have been accused of using the L-word way too easily to way too many; I disagree – I am old enough to recognize the feeling. If you are reading this – it is more than likely that I do actually, really love you.
x Jennifer
|
|
With so much going on at MKJ it is hard to select one project to put the microscope + megaphone on Package 2, Design-Build Services for Accessibility Upgrades. The MKJ team led by Project Manager Sahil Paneri and heavily supported by Osman Greva, Leonard Rusi and Benjamin Veizaj have become vampires to successfully complete 4 stations on or before schedule.
By finding efficiencies’, expediting design, and incentivizing our team of excellent project engineers and technicians (just MKJ speak for free pizza!) Flushing Avenue Station was completed before schedule.
|
|
As communication work for the next station pushes on – the MKJ WAY is to run, sprint and race to the finish line as fast or faster than required. By pre solving problems that have not yet been identified, based on our vast experience and vaster expertise. In the queue, Marcy Avenue which Sahil and team have made field-ready 4 months before deadline or opening. It is one thing to make a deadline, but this team finished these stations with zero punch list items – that’s E X T R A O R D I N A R Y.
Thanks to TC Electric – especially Nicholas Zito and Milos Jokel – for excellent project support and to Sahil and the newly termed Band of Brothers that basically surrendered day for nights for +3 Months.
Contractors… I must ask??? You know MKJ is kinda really crushin’ on you. We know… others are interested, maybe they have over-promised, maybe kept you up at night wondering if they can get ‘that’ system up and running…. You should know that the MKJ Team is here all the way from pre-design, estimating, contract scope to outcomes that will blow your mind… The kind that can only be achieved with time, experience, more experience and the strictest adherence to best practices… M K J is your solution. xo
|
|
|
On Valentine’s Day – with so much focus on LOVE and relationships that matter, this month’s ROCK STAR is Brandon Uzenski.
In addition to being an excellent PM/Engineer, Brandon is a natural leader, mentor, and instructor – did I mention resident whisper-comedian (you only hear his funny if you’re in whispers distance). Without further ado – the Brandon interview (some of it is serious):
How did you wind up at MKJ?
BU: I used to go to this loading dock of the amazon distribution center and scavenge for discarded food, they would throw stuff in a big cardboard box, semi opened, close to expiration, or extras, it was hit or miss. One day while going through the bin I noticed someone smoking a cigar, he looked like a shrimp boat captain with his Salt Life fishing t-shirt and had a slight resemblance to the actor Jeff Bridges with his grey beard. He didn’t strike me as friendly, at first. Regardless, I struck up a conversation with the captain, he spoke fishing like it was his first language. After a long conversation on tuna hooks, tides and the wind, the captain told me he worked upstairs at an integration company called MKJ. They had just moved into the building, were expanding, looking to hire, I told him I was available, and that’s how I got my start.
JH: O John Massaro sneaking for cigar breaks again?!
|
|
|
MKJ and Brandon have a boomerang love story… The Bach poem if you love someone set them free… was an actual actuality. Brandon had to leave MKJ to sow his ‘engineer oats’ dabbling in the helicopter/aviation world. On one than more occasion I borderline begged Brandon to return to MKJ. And then, It was just one of those things – he just happened to be in the neighborhood… he just stopped in to say “hey” and I got those ‘feels’, I knew what was missing from our MKJ-fam, in short order conversations were had – the hard life changing kind, and like any great relationship – when you know, you just absolutely know… and….so… 623 days after our break up… we… I mean he is having his first baby, and is knee deep in to 2 insanely complicated projects.
This guy is an enormous chunk of the mosaic that is MKJ.
What was the best career advice you ever received?
BU: The light at the end of the tunnel might be an oncoming train.
JH: Indeed, especially if… yeah – it might be a train.
What are you looking forward to in 2024?
BU: 6 months of paternity leave.
JH: Ha, nice try – you will give Benny a heart attack with that kind of talk! Officially, 4 weeks. Yes! MKJ is over-the-moon excited to welcome Baby Uzenski in a few weeks! I am fairly confident that Amy will be kicking you out of the house by week 2!
|
|
|
Although there is not a tremendous amount to report – the last few months have been such an exciting time for the growing MKJ Family!
Savni, Rucha, and Tae all have beautiful baby boys… the MKJ family is growing!
Our annual Superbowl Box Game concluded after the game last weekend, congratulations to Mirjon, Mike, and Taylor for predicting the correct scores!
|
|
|
MKJ-Annivesaries:
- Louis 12 years
- Savni 7 years
- Joe Francois 6 years
- Karina 5 years
- Artan 3 years
- Vincent 3 years
- Stephen 2 years
- Ylli 2 years
- Brandon 1 year (back)
- Jesse 1 year
WELOME TO THE FAM:
Mena Dika and Cesar Hernandez!
|
|
|
Wishing you a Valentine’s Day + L O V E every single day. Onward!
x Jennifer
|
|
|
|
|
