Author: Anvil Corporation

With the intention of celebrating the fun, spirit, excitement, and joy of the holiday season, we hope you’ve enjoyed Anvil’s first annual Family Holiday Art Contest.

Having received over thirty submissions from employees and their families alike, not only have we been blown away by the level of enthusiasm shown across our company, but we’ve also been truly impressed by the quality of art within the submissions themselves.

Jason Davis, a Junior Piping Designer, submitted two pieces of art for Anvil’s Holiday Art Contest.

“I’ve been drawing off and on since I was a child,” Jason shares. “Unfortunately, I was my own worst critic. The Anvil Holiday Art Contest helped rekindle my love for drawing – I’m now trying to draw something every week!”

Jason’s drawing of the reindeer was completed with a mechanical pencil. His drawing of the dog was inspired by his sister.

“Formerly a cat person, my sister has gone off the deep end with dogs,” Jason jokes. “While the last thing she needs right now is another dog, I figured I could still get her a puppy for Christmas.”

Surprisingly, Jason wasn’t the only Anvil employee to incorporate household pets into their holiday artwork.

Cody Steinmetz, Anvil’s Chief Operating Officer, Rhonda Laughman, Project Management Resource Manager, and Cole Steinmetz, their son, created a holiday wreath out of their own painted handprints – along with the pawprints of their dog Greta.

“We wanted to create a wreath with handprints of all our family members,” Rhonda explains. “We also wanted to pick something that would capture a moment in time.”

In addition to Rhonda and Cody, Kari MacDonald, Project Manager, also created a wreath for Anvil’s Family Holiday Art Contest.

Kari, a longtime crafter, sometimes visits craft fairs to gather ideas for her projects. This creation was inspired by her family’s love of skiing.

“I always enjoy having holiday décor up,” Kari shares. “We usually create these types of projects around Christmas.”

While many Anvil employees took advantage of our Holiday Art Contest to create crafts with their families, a handful of employees treated the contest as an opportunity to exercise their painting skills.

“Both my pieces are acrylic paintings done on canvas,” Vikki O’Flaherty, Senior Buyer, shares. “I’ve recently picked up painting again after about twenty-five years.”

According to Vikki, it was her grandchildren’s love of coloring that reignited her love of painting.

“I love coloring, making things and painting when they’re over,” she shares. “Working with them has made me pick the paintbrush back up.”

In addition to Vikki, Monica Rhodes, Control Systems Drafter, also submitted a painting in Anvil’s Family Holiday Art Contest.

“My piece was painted using acrylics and oils,” Monica shares. “Art in general has been an active hobby of mine from a young age.”

Monica began painting eight years ago, when she knew it was time to take her doodles to the next level.

“The painting I submitted was inspired by my love of skating,” Monica says. “It also symbolizes what the holidays mean to me – being with your loved one(s).”

While nearly every employee’s submission of art was a tangible, physical creation, a small handful of the Anvil team created art that could be enjoyed digitally. Laurie Grey, Cybersecurity Analyst, designed the piece of art you see above over twenty-five years ago.

“This image was created in one of the early graphics software programs: Paint Shop Pro,” Laurie shares. “They had just come out with a with a new customizable paintbrush tool that was fun to experiment with.”

Laurie originally designed the creation for her annual Christmas card.

“I’ve dabbled in digital art off and on since the mid-80s, as I feel inspired,” Laurie explains. “The red ornaments are a 2022 addition, a nod to the quirky Bellingham phenomenon of discovering random trees in nature sporting ornaments in the wintertime.”

Thank you to everyone who submitted art to Anvil’s first Annual Family Holiday Art Contest. We’ve had so much fun sharing the creations of our employees and their families – we can’t wait to see what you all come up with next year.

View all artwork submissions below.

Conversations with Anvil’s Veterans

For over fifty years, Anvil has proudly opened its doors to our nation’s veterans.

Whether it’s Ken Swalley, Anvil’s Lakewood Branch Manager and a Navy veteran, or Alex Bresnan, a Junior Electrical Engineer who is still actively serving his enlistment in the Navy Reserves, Anvil is proud to offer our nation’s veterans the professional opportunities they deserve, at every level of our organization.

With locations, clients, and projects all over the nation, it’s a special honor whenever Anvil can be represented by those who have made the personal sacrifice of serving our country.

In preparation for Veteran’s Day, we interviewed a handful of veterans throughout our company. By learning more about their experiences in the service and the military, we hoped to better understand the unique value they each bring to Anvil, as well as highlight their individual careers.

With a variety of backgrounds and military experiences, Anvil’s veterans can offer unique perspectives on every project they participate in.

For many of Anvil’s veteran employees, the chance to serve our country opened doors to a variety of professional and educational opportunities.

“It’s something I always knew I wanted to do,” Kevin Gaskin, Mechanical Engineer, says. “My service allowed me to visit countries and participate in cultures I would have otherwise never experienced.”

In the U.S. Marine Corps, Kevin served as a Rifleman for six years. He’s now been with Anvil for almost four.

“What was my call to serve? That’s a good question,” Aaron Voth, Electrical Engineer, says. “I think my answer is multifaceted. A big reason is I’ve always just thought very highly of veterans. I wanted to be appreciative of the freedoms we currently have because of the work put in from previous generations or generations currently serving.”

Aaron served in the U.S. Marine Corps for four years as an Assistant Operations Chief before eventually becoming a Corporal. In the Marines, Aaron was often tasked with designing, developing, and establishing power grids, ultimately enabling the operations of locally deployed troops. He’s taken these professional experiences with him into his career at Anvil, where he’s now worked as an Electrical Engineer for three years.

Despite the professional experience the military offers, Anvil’s veterans also knew enlisting meant a chance to see the world.

“After my training, I went to the USS Abraham Lincoln, an aircraft carrier, for five years. On the Lincoln, I travelled all over the world – we literally circumnavigated the globe,” Alex Bresnan, Electrical Engineer, says. “There were deployments all through Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and so on and so forth. Turkey was probably one of the most beautiful countries we visited – I have great memories swimming in the Indian Ocean and having barbecues on the flight deck.”

Alex, who is still actively enlisted in the U.S. Navy Reserves, started with Anvil this year. In the Navy, many of Alex’s responsibilities revolve around electrical maintenance of Naval equipment, particularly submarines.

“I think a favorite place I visited must be Singapore. It’s a tropical island city – they really took advantage of the Olympic Games to rework their entire infrastructure,” Alan Clemenson, Electrical Engineer, says. “It’s the cleanest city I’ve ever been to in my entire life.”

Alan, who also joined Anvil in the past year, served as an Electrical Technician in the U.S. Navy for nearly seven years. In a similar sense to Alex, Alan served many purposes within the Navy – most notably, he serviced the USS Pickney, maintaining its surface-to-air missile guidance system.

“I was mainly stationed overseas in Gaeta, Italy. We visited over twenty different countries and basically serviced communications in the Mediterranean Sea, the North Sea, and the Black Sea,” Matthew Kelley, Electrical Engineer, says. “I was later stationed in Bangor, where I would do message traffic for all submarines in the Pacific Theater.”

Matthew, who joined the Navy over a decade ago, has been with Anvil for a few years now. In the Navy, in addition to servicing communications, Matthew was mostly tasked with maintaining radios, computer systems, and radars.

When Anvil’s veterans look back at their time in service, many draw memories from experiences as individualized and unique as their travels.

“We’ve had really cool things happen,” Alex shares. “We’ve had Toby Keith come out and put on a concert in the hangar bay, UFC Fighters came out and did a demo, even the cook from MasterChef came and cooked steaks for us on the flight deck. But, you know, there’s also the operational side of things – there’s nothing like seeing planes launching off the flight deck doing high speed maneuvers. There’s an adrenaline to all of it.”

“One of my favorite memories involves the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics – when we were stationed in Russia, we were actually able to see the fireworks from the Opening Ceremony on our ship,” Matthew shares. “I’ll never forget that.”

“My wife is from Turkey – I actually met her while I was in the service,” Josh Goertz, Control Systems Engineer, says. “We have two kids together – my first was actually born while I was stationed at Fort Lewis.”

Josh, who fulfilled multiple responsibilities during his enlistment in the U.S. Army, was mainly stationed in Iraq. Together with local engineers, Josh worked to help rebuild villages and infrastructure that had been damaged by local warfare. In 2015, Josh was granted an internship at Anvil before being brought on fulltime.

In addition to a wife and family, Josh’s service in the U.S. Army ultimately sparked a career in engineering.

“My service was probably the kicker to my career in engineering. One of our big things, because we were working with host nations so much – infrastructure is just key to building any country,” Josh said. “We always had a hard time getting the right people to look at stuff. We were constantly working with engineers to help rebuild the infrastructure in the province.”

As was the case with Josh, many of Anvil’s veterans became interested in our shared industry because of their enlistment and the responsibilities it came with. In fact, most veterans we spoke with cited an easy transition between their service and becoming an engineer.

“You know, one of the things the Navy does well is take someone young and just force them to work with the expensive equipment,” Alan says. “You get your hands in the gears, and once you get used to it, the level of anxiety goes away, and you just start to understand how things work. I was able to transfer this experience when I started school – I was able to jump into our various labs and show my classmates that nothing was as hard as it looked.”

Despite the impressive level of technical experience, there were also lessons to be learned in the service beyond the realms of engineering.

“In terms of experience, it was always my failures I learned most from,” Aaron shares. “Both in the actual field of work I was doing, but also in terms of learning how to be a leader. As a Corporal, I was placed in a lot of leadership roles – it was important to not only work together with my team but also to be willing to lead by example.”

While the service undoubtedly prepared many of Anvil’s veterans for a career after their enlistment, it’s now Anvil’s responsibility to help support their lives at home.

“There was actually a small group of us that would go out every Veteran’s Day and hash it out,” Josh laughs. “You know, Anvil is just a good company. Nobody treats you differently – if I ever need help lifting anything physically, because I’m a bit limited in my arm, no one ever gets on my case. You are who you are, and you do whatever you can – nobody looks down on you for it.”

“I’ve been treated with nothing but kindness during my time at Anvil – it’s a great place to work while raising a family,” Kevin adds.

Even for Alex, who is still actively fulfilling his service with the U.S. Navy Reserves – Anvil ensures Alex can balance all his responsibilities.

“It’s definitely difficult – I’ll work a 40-hour week and then on weekends, I’m either going out of the state or sometimes out of the country,” Alex says. “I have to say though, so far, Anvil has been very receptive to my other responsibilities. I just try to be as transparent as I can be.”

As Anvil takes the time to celebrate Veteran’s Day this year, we found it important to reflect on the meaning of the holiday.

“Veteran’s Day isn’t just for remembering the ones that have died – it’s also for honoring those that are still alive,” Matthew says.

“You know, my great grandfather fought in World War ll,” Alan shares. “With opportunities like these, I like to think back to what he might have experienced, and what he ultimately sacrificed. Veteran’s Day is an opportunity to think about those who came before us. It’s important to remember their sacrifices.”

“It’s a comprehensive appreciation of all the men and women that have served or are currently serving our country,” Aaron says. “I also think it drives home a genuine gratitude for just all the blessings we have in the country.”

Anvil wants to thank our company’s veterans, as well as those throughout our nation who have served or are currently serving – thank you for protecting our country’s freedom. We stand on the back of your sacrifices.

One of the important aspects of life at Anvil has always been the natural beauty of where we work. Our five branch locations, which are strategically placed across some of our country’s most scenic regions, often play a major part in how our employees enjoy their life away from work.

From fly fishing to snowmobiling, perhaps none of Anvil’s branch locations encapsulate the spirit of the outdoors more than our branch in Billings, MT. Located in the south-central portion of the state, the metropolis sits at the seat of Yellowstone County – cradled between seven different mountain ranges.

“The winter sports are great in Billings, with a lot of snow,” Brandon Crane, Control Systems Engineer, says. “We’re about an hour from the Beartooth Mountains, which obviously provides us with tons of opportunities to hike, camp, snowmobile, and fish.”

The Beartooth Mountains infamously feature Granite Peak – the highest point in all of Montana.

“Billings is a great hub for all the outdoor adventures Montana has to offer,” Rhonda Laughman, Anvil’s Project Management Department Manager, affirms. “We camp, mountain bike, hike, run, fish, play golf, ski, water-ski … it’s so much fun.”

Whether you’re enjoying a hobby or exercising your body – if you enjoy the outdoors, you’ll struggle to find a city with more options than Billings.

“The sheer number of outdoor activities just outside my door helps support my work/life balance,” Toby Erickson, Senior Project Manager, shares. “My favorite thing about living in the area has to be riding my motorcycle through the mountains.”

While Billings sits very much in the shadows of the mountains which surround it, Montana is home to a wide range of natural environments.

“I enjoy digging for fossils,” Troy Hand, Civil Structural Designer, reveals. “In Billings, you’re only a couple hours drive from a variety of regions with differing and interesting geological features and petroglyphs.”

“There’s a lot to love about life in Billings,” Bridger Flynn, Civil/Structural Engineer, affirms. “Hiking in the Beartooth Mountains, fishing on the Bighorn River, the long summer days, and winters spent in Red Lodge.”

The great outdoors are fundamental to the lives of our employees in Billings. However, despite its reputation as an alfresco haven, Billings is also Montana’s largest city.

“Billings is the local epicenter of our area – everyone around us comes ‘into the city’ for our shops, districts, clubs, bars, and to just have fun,” Devon McHugh, Civil Structural Designer, shares. “However, since Billings isn’t this huge metropolis, it often still feels like a small town.”

As of 2022, Billings has a population of just over 117,000 people – the second smallest of all our branch cities.

“It’s big enough to have all the amenities I want while staying small enough to support a reasonable commute,” Bridger Flynn affirms.

“Nothing is too far from the office,” Devon McHugh adds.

Despite its comfortable size, Montana boasts an exciting collection of restaurants, museums, art galleries, and more.

“I love trying out the different breweries in town and around Montana,” Rhonda Laughman shares. “Billings has some great local eateries and bakeries. My favorites are Le Fournil and Veronika’s.”

“The downtown location offers a lot of choices to go out and eat after work,” Greg Nelson, a Senior Civil Structural Designer, agrees.

In addition to great eats, Montana is also home to the Yellowstone Art Museum, the Billings Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Museum of Women’s History.

“It feels much more like home than other office locations,” Brandon Crane shares.

Like many of Anvil’s branch locations, Billings has the potential to be whatever you want it to be – with the spirit of the outdoors at the heart of everything.

Anvil has five full-service engineering, procurement, and project management branch locations. Set across five different states, with employees working on-site at client facilities as well, we’re proud to operate out of Anchorage, AK, Bellingham, WA, Billings, MT, Concord, CA, and Denver, CO. As “One Anvil” we operate as one seamless organization, sharing resources as required to execute programs and projects across the country for consistent engineering services – regardless of location.

While our branches were strategically placed near major clients and cities, they were chosen for a far more important reason: the work-life balance they provide our employees and the abundance of nature and activities they offer.

Anvil’s headquarters are in Bellingham, WA – the final major city before Washington’s border with Canada. Cradled between the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the slopes of Mount Baker, Bellingham is poised in the heart of the Pacific Northwest and is home to some of the area’s most exciting businesses and universities.

As one of our planet’s most beautiful locations, there’s always something to see in Bellingham. Whether it’s a hike through Whatcom Falls – a set of wooded trails woven through a series of small waterfalls – or even a trip down Chuckanut – a beautiful, twisting drive along the cliffsides of the Salish Sea – the city offers an incredible selection of breathtaking views.

“My favorite thing about living in the Bellingham area has to be our accessibility to the mountains – my family hikes, backpacks, skis, and climbs near Mt. Baker,” Michelle Hawkins, Anvil’s HR Manager, says. “I’m also a big fan of exploring tidepools. During low tide, the sea animal diversity is incredible.”

“Living in Washington, you really can be outside, pretty much all year-round. Although we do get a handful of hot days in the summer and cold days in the winter, it’s nothing compared to other areas of the country,” Michelle continues. “I also enjoy landscape photography, and nothing beats a Mt. Baker sunrise or a Mt. Shuksan sunset.”

Featuring its own unique collection of mountains, ridges and foothills, Bellingham is practically surrounded by highlands; with Mt. Baker to the East, Chuckanut Mountain and Oyster Dome to the South, along with the best of what Canada has to offer (Whistler, anyone?) to our North, fans of winter sports are truly spoiled in Bellingham.

“Skiing at Whistler, Baker, Mission Ridge, Snoqualmie, Crystal, and Stevens Pass – there’s just so much to do in the winter,” Ben Taylor, Anvil’s Control Systems Resource Manager, says. “Growing up I dreamed of skiing at Whistler, and now I do. The North Cascades have the most remaining glaciers of any state in the Lower 48, and the mountains here are just spectacular.”

“Throw in the occasional trip to Seattle for a Seahawks or Sounders game,” Ben continues, “and it really is a pretty great place to live – we have such amazing access to so many activities.”

As Ben alludes, if the traditional outdoors isn’t really your thing, don’t worry – Bellingham is uniquely positioned between two of North America’s most exciting cities: Seattle, WA and Vancouver, B.C.

“We’re blessed with a high quality of cultural offerings right here in Bellingham, but we also have Vancouver and Seattle nearby too,” Lesley, Senior Process Engineer, affirms.

With Bellingham situated about two hours between both cities, a weekend spent in Seattle or Vancouver is a great escape for anyone wanting to spend some time away from home, do some shopping, or even catch a concert. However, despite the luxury of lying between these two major metropolises, Bellingham is very much its own city.

“Bellingham has its own art museum, the Whatcom Symphony Orchestra, the Bellingham Music Festival, an Art Walk every month, Month Baker Theater, the Pickford Film Center, and so much more,” Lesley lists.

A haven for students – Bellingham is home to Western Washington University, Whatcom Community College, and Bellingham Technical College – the city often pushes cultural boundaries and is home to a plethora of exciting restaurants and breweries.

“I believe Bellingham was voted to have the most breweries per capita of all local cities,” Danny Kaiser, Senior Piping Designer, says. “In my opinion, Bellingham is the perfect size for a city. It’s comfortable, small, but there’s always something to do. I’m also a member of the Bellingham Golf and Country Club, which is only five minutes away from Anvil’s campus!”

Even with a youthful identity, Bellingham has become an increasingly popular destination for families to settle down in recent years.

“Bellingham’s safe, has good schools, and provides children with plenty of room to grow and live,” Paul Duersch, Project Manager, says. “It’s a fantastic place to start a family.”

“My wife and I were drawn to Bellingham because we thought it would be a great place to raise our kids,” Jim Holien, Anvil’s Bellingham Branch Manager, confirms. “We’ve loved our time here and the longstanding family traditions we’ve developed.”

No matter how you like to unwind, you can do it in Bellingham.

“It’s a nice place to be weird,” Bret Macaleer, Civil/Structural Workgroup Lead, lovingly jokes.

Adoringly nicknamed the ‘City of Subdued Excitement,’ Bellingham has the potential to be just about whatever you want it to be; a progressive city, an outdoor haven ,or even a quiet town to raise a family – Bellingham will welcome you with open arms.

“Bellingham is the perfect juxtaposition between the hustle-and-bustle of city life and the serenity of the great outdoors,” James Song, Process Engineer, sums up.