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What is the best part
about being a member
of the SPT? (You
don’t have to say
working for Steve).
Steve Iovanna
: Working with
Fernanda, Jack and Phil! I
think we have developed a real
team spirit among our group,
and we have fun doing what we
do. I think we enjoy taking on
challenges and accomplishing
goals that can only be met by
The Special Projects Team!
That, and cowboy boots on
Friday.
Jack Farrell
: Working for Steve is
the only “correct” answer.
Fernanda Alves
: The feeling
of working in an “easy going”
environment, even though
most of our projects are quick
turnaround projects.
Phil Maheu
: The serious, but
light hearted personality of our
leader SI, AKA “Scuba Steve.”
What is your role on
the Special Projects
Team?
SI
: I am the leader of SPT – and
I’m responsible for bringing in
new projects and working with
the entire team to be sure we’re
staying on budget, on schedule
and that all of our clients are
happy.
JF
: Architectural drafting /
design. Get the paper to the
street.
FA
: It varies depending on the
project, but I serve in all aspects
of the project, whether it’s for
production, design or client care.
PM
: My job! Not sure what that
is, but, I do it. Whatever Steve
says. And laugh a lot.
What has been your
favorite or most
memorable project
through the SPT?
SI
: Although it is very difficult
to ignore all the cookies we
received from Mrs. Fields, my
favorite SPT project is always
the one we’re working on now!
Because of the way we’re set up
and the types of jobs we do, we
are always moving very quickly
from one project to the next
and dealing with a new set of
challenges. Those challenges,
and the fast-paced nature of
our work are what I think make
Special Projects Team so
“special.”
JF
: Memorable? Not sure that
word can apply here because
our projects are like the “fast
and furious.” Quick turnaround is
a must.
FA
: I think the most recent
project, Redi-Clinics for Rite
Aid. We all had our hands in it
and came together as a team
to get the job done with a tight
schedule, which was nice to
be part of and we had fantastic
results, not only in SPT, but in
all disciplines.
PM
: Rite Aid – Redi-Clinic
remodels when both Steve
Iovanna and Jim Lampkin went
on vacation.
With the exception of Phil, who
has been with BL for less than
one year, members of the SPT
have been with BL for about 9
years, give or take.
Have you spent all
of your years at BL
on the SPT? If not,
where did you start
out?
JF
: No, the SPT is a fairly new
gig at BL overall. I was up in
the Hartford office for the first 4
years or so working on School
projects (Mary Hooker / Davis
St.), a bunch of Walgreens and
roof replacement jobs. When
the Architectural department was
consolidated, I transferred to
Meriden.
FA
: I started out in what was
then called the “Pit,” or where
most of our production team sits
right now, working as an intern.
I think about five years ago or
so, we replaced all the high
partitions with low partitions to
get more daylight to everyone’s
desks, rearranged the floor
layout have more of a cluster
layout to create a team work
environment , and soon after,
“the pit” lost its value. Thank
goodness.
I have been with BL since out
of college, so I have worked
with many different teams in our
architectural department before
joining SPT.
PM
: Entire time with SPT.
If you could
tell your fellow
colleagues one must-
know fact about the
Special Projects Team
that they should
never forget, what
would it be?
SI
: If you have a project... if
no one else can help... and if
you can find them... maybe you
can hire... The Special Projects
Team!
JF
: That Steve’s eyes are
smoldering? Or that Fridays are
cowboy boot day?
FA
: We value all projects,
we were made to handle the
projects that are too small, or
too quick of a turnaround.
PM
: We get it done!
(continued on page 4)
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page 3
L-R: Fernanda,
Phil, Steve, Jack
by Colette Gregoire