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July 6, 2026
Dearest Members and Friends,
I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day! The fireworks were spectacular this year. No matter where you watched them, chances are you were treated to an incredible show. We truly are blessed to call this country home and to enjoy the freedoms we often take for granted.
This week is an exciting one for the SLC3 because we have not one, but two new team members to introduce!
First, I hope you'll take a moment to reach out to Morgan McDevitt, our new Membership Engagement Manager, and say hello. Morgan is a tremendous addition to our team, and I know you'll begin seeing the impact of her work throughout our communications, programs, and member engagement efforts.
But Morgan isn't the only new face! Please join me in welcoming Maria Monteleone, our new Executive Assistant. You may need Maria to slowly pronounce her last name—it has five syllables! It's Sicilian, and she brings just the right amount of Italian sass with her...which, trust me, is a very good thing.
With Rebecca's departure, we have been working hard to rebuild our team, and it feels wonderful to once again be fully staffed. Maria will be your primary point of contact for membership updates, bookkeeping questions, and much of our event coordination. We are incredibly excited about the positive changes ahead and the opportunities they create for serving each of you even better.
Change is constant. Adapting is essential. Seeing the potential in change is how we maximize the possibilities—and I believe there are many exciting possibilities ahead for the SLC3.
As we settle into the hottest part of the summer, I also want to encourage everyone to take extra precautions when working outdoors. It wouldn't be an SLC3 newsletter without a reminder about heat safety!
I know firsthand that heat affects everyone differently. I don't tolerate it very well myself—I get overheated quickly and have a difficult time cooling down. When I was little, I used to tell my mom that my head felt "spikey." I didn't know how else to describe it. My cheeks would turn bright red, and it felt like little needles all over my head. Looking back, it was simply my body's way of telling me it was overheating. The point is that no two people experience heat the same way, so don't ignore what your body is trying to tell you. Take breaks, stay hydrated, and look out for one another.
Don't forget that this Friday is our 2nd Friday Coffee! We still have room available, and we'd love for you to stop by, enjoy a cup of coffee, and help us welcome Morgan and Maria to the SLC3 family.
While you're enjoying a little slower pace this summer, I'd also encourage you to think about what you'd like to see from your association. Is there a program topic you'd love to attend? Is there a challenge your organization is facing that the SLC3 could help address? We are always looking for ways to better serve our members, and your ideas help shape our future.
Speaking of member involvement...I'm a little surprised you haven't registered for our upcoming Town Hall! Why not? This is your opportunity for an open conversation with members from every category. Think of it as an "open mic" hour where ideas, questions, concerns, and opportunities are all welcome. Better yet, you can join us virtually from wherever you happen to be this summer.
We have an incredible lineup of programs and events planned for the months ahead, so be sure to check out the calendar and keep an eye on your inbox for upcoming announcements.
Thank you, as always, for being part of the SLC3 community. We appreciate each of you and look forward to seeing you soon.
Until then, enjoy another beautiful week of summer. Stay cool, stay safe, and be well!
Warm regards,
Kelly
Kelly Jackson, Executive Director
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
News & Updates
Welcoming Maria Monteleone!
Extreme Heat Safety
BSA is Hiring!
Poettker Project Update: Logistics Innovation Center
Training & Education
The Lost Art of De-escalation: Why Restraint May Be Our Greatest Strength
Neuroaesthetics: The Hidden Ways Interior Design Shapes Human Experience
True Tolerance
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Meet Maria Monteleone, Our New Executive Assistant!
We are excited to welcome Maria Monteleone to the SLC3 team as our new Executive Assistant!
Maria brings a strong background in administrative support, customer service, and office operations, with experience in both healthcare and corporate environments. Bilingual in English and Greek, she is known for her exceptional organization, professionalism, and ability to manage multiple priorities while delivering outstanding service. Throughout her career, she has coordinated schedules, managed confidential information, supported daily operations, and built positive relationships with clients, patients, and colleagues.
Maria is passionate about helping teams succeed through strong organization, attention to detail, and a proactive approach to problem-solving. We are thrilled to have her supporting our members, volunteers, and staff as we continue to serve the St. Louis AEC community.
She is married to Joe and has four children with amazing musical talent! Maria was born and raised in St. Louis, from the Dogtown neighborhood. We are eager to have you meet her as she will bring great energy to every situation!
Please join us in giving Maria a warm SLC3 welcome!
Contact Maria at maria_monteleone@slc3.org
| | UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS | | |
BSA Is Hiring: Architect and Senior Architect Opportunities in St. Louis
BSA is hiring in St. Louis and currently seeking talented professionals for two architecture roles: Architect and Senior Architect.
As a 100% employee-owned, integrated design firm, BSA brings together architecture, engineering, interior design, and planning to create inspired solutions that improve lives. These opportunities are a great fit for design professionals looking to grow their careers while contributing to meaningful projects within the built environment.
For SLC3 members, this is another example of the value of our network: connecting the region’s AEC community with opportunities, talent, and organizations helping shape the future of design and construction in St. Louis.
Interested candidates can learn more and apply below:
Click here to apply for Architect.
Click here to apply for Senior Architect.
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Extreme Heat & Construction Safety: What St. Louis Construction Teams Should Know Right Now
Summer heat in St. Louis is more than uncomfortable — it is a serious jobsite safety and planning issue. With dangerous heat index values and high humidity, construction teams face increased risks from direct sun, heavy labor, PPE, equipment heat, and long shifts. Heat-related illness can lead to dehydration, fatigue, reduced focus, slower reaction times, and a greater chance of mistakes or incidents, impacting not only worker health but also productivity, quality, and schedule performance.
The best heat safety plans start before symptoms appear. Crews should have access to cool drinking water, shaded or cooled rest areas, and scheduled recovery breaks that reflect the day’s conditions. When possible, strenuous work should be planned earlier in the day, and supervisors should be trained to recognize warning signs like dizziness, nausea, cramping, confusion, or weakness. New and returning workers need extra attention, as OSHA notes that most heat illness fatalities occur during the first week of work, making gradual acclimatization critical.
For owners, contractors, designers, suppliers, and project partners, extreme heat should be part of the broader project conversation. It can affect crew performance, delivery timing, site logistics, inspections, and emergency planning. In St. Louis, summer weather is part of the work environment, and managing that risk well is a mark of strong project leadership. As temperatures rise, the message is simple: plan ahead, watch your crews, and treat heat as the serious jobsite hazard it is.
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Project Spotlight: Poettker Completes Innovation Logistics Center in North Carolina
Poettker Construction Company recently completed the Innovation Logistics Center, a 472,890-square-foot Class A distribution facility in Salisbury, North Carolina, developed for Crow Holdings.
Built on a 40-acre site, the facility includes 84 dock doors, 4 drive-in doors and 162 load-bearing concrete tilt-up panels designed to support today’s logistics and distribution operations.
The project also required significant site preparation, including the remediation of high-plasticity clays, silts and moisture-sensitive soils during the winter months. That behind-the-scenes work was essential to creating a stable foundation for a large-scale industrial facility.
Why this matters to SLC3 members:
Projects like this highlight the planning, coordination and technical expertise required to deliver modern distribution facilities. For construction consumers, it is a reminder that successful projects are built long before the walls go up — through strong site evaluation, risk management, material selection and collaboration across the project team.
As logistics and industrial development continue to shape regional economies, this project offers a useful look at the construction practices helping support the movement of goods, workforce needs and long-term facility performance.
| | CALL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS? TIME TO HELP... | | |
Much of the work we do is driven by member volunteers, and right now our committees could use a few more voices and helping hands. Committee service offers an opportunity to influence priorities, collaborate with peers, and support initiatives that impact the industry and our region. If you’re willing to get involved—even in a small way—we invite you to sign up.
| | | HELP US KEEP THE PICTURE CURRENT | | |
The construction and development landscape across the region continues to move quickly—and keeping our information accurate and relevant matters.
We’ve recently updated our construction and development listings to reflect new projects, changes in scope, and activity across the greater St. Louis area. These updates help ensure that our members have access to timely, useful insight into what’s being built, redeveloped, and planned throughout the region.
That said, no one has a better pulse on what’s happening than the people working in it every day. If you’re aware of a project that’s underway, planned, or evolving—or if you notice something that needs to be updated—we invite you to share it with us. Your input helps strengthen the resource for everyone.
Keeping this information current is a collaborative effort, and we appreciate your help in making it as accurate and valuable as possible.
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Have something to share? Reach out anytime—we’re always glad to hear from you.
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The Lost Art of De-escalation: Why Restraint May Be Our Greatest Strength | |
In just the past few weeks, we've watched another heartbreaking tragedy unfold after a road rage incident claimed the life of a young man.
It began, as so many of these stories do, with something that should have been temporary—a traffic disagreement, a perceived slight, an emotional reaction. Within moments, frustration became anger. Anger became confrontation. Confrontation became irreversible.
One family went home without their son.
It raises a difficult question.
What is happening to us?
Because this isn't just about traffic anymore.
We're seeing it in workplaces.
We're seeing it in meetings.
We're seeing it online.
We're seeing it in customer service.
We're seeing it in our communities.
It feels as though the temperature of everyday life has risen.
Everyone Seems to Be Carrying More
Mental health experts often point to several contributing factors.
People are carrying heavier emotional loads than they were a decade ago.
Financial stress.
Constant bad news.
Social media outrage.
Political division.
Workplace pressures.
Lingering effects from years of disruption.
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The Lost Art of True Tolerance | |
What if the greatest act of tolerance isn't agreeing with someone—but choosing to understand them?
Over the weekend, I listened to Dr. Robert Jeffress speak about the meaning of true tolerance. It challenged me to think about something I see becoming increasingly common in our relationships, workplaces, organizations, and communities.
Ironically, we live in a culture that talks constantly about tolerance while practicing very little of it.
Today's version of tolerance often comes with conditions. We expect others to respect our opinions, beliefs, and preferences, yet we can be quick to dismiss, criticize, or reject perspectives that differ from our own.
But that isn't tolerance.
True tolerance does not require agreement. It requires respect.
It means being able to say, "That isn't for me," without feeling compelled to attack, ridicule, or diminish someone else's experience. It recognizes that people can hold different beliefs, come from different backgrounds, process information differently, and still deserve dignity and kindness.
How Assumptions Create Division
Recently, I experienced something that reminded me just how easily misunderstandings happen.
Through a side job, I interact with people in a fast-paced online environment. During one conversation, I struggled to understand someone's username. The spelling and pronunciation...
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The Hidden Ways Interior Design Shapes Human Experience | |
Interior design does more than make a space look polished. According to a recent HOK Design Digest
feature, neuroaesthetics is helping explain how the built environment affects how people feel, think,
behave, and perform.
Our brains begin evaluating a space before we consciously realize it. Circulation, sightlines, lighting, scale,
materials, acoustics, and spatial organization all influence whether a space feels calm, stressful, inviting,
distracting, or productive.
HOK’s Kay Sargent describes design as “a biological intervention,” noting that spaces are already acting on the people inside them. That idea reframes design as something far more strategic than an aesthetic choice. Every decision, from daylight access to material texture, has the potential to support or disrupt the occupant experience.
Biophilic design is one example. Daylight, views, natural materials, and organic forms can help reduce
stress, restore attention, and create a stronger connection between people and their environment.
Materiality also plays a key role, communicating warmth, comfort, durability, and quality through texture,
sound, and touch.
Why this matters to SLC3 members: As owners, builders, designers, and industry partners continue to
focus on workplace performance, occupant wellness, and long-term building value, neuroaesthetics offers a
science-backed lens for making better decisions. It reinforces what many in the construction and design
community already know: buildings are not passive backdrops. They directly shape the human experience
inside them.
For SLC3 members, this is a reminder that thoughtful design and construction choices can contribute to
healthier, higher-performing environments — and ultimately create more value for the people who use
those spaces every day.
| | | | Catch other blogs on our Blog page! | | SEND US YOUR COMPANY UPDATES! | | Let's be sure to welcome our newest members! We look forward to partnering with you! | |  | |
SLC3 2026 Officers:
Michael Hargrave (BJC Health) - President
Vince Nutt, (BJC Health)- 1st Vice President
Mark Flannery (Bayer), 2nd Vice President
Rich Unverferth (MSD), Secretary
Danielle Thomas (Hazelwood SD), Treasurer
Frank Niemerg (Ameren), Immediate Past President
Kelly Jackson, Executive Director
| DON'T FORGET: If you are a member of the SLC3 you can access all our members in the InfoHub. Make sure to login and regularly check it out! | If you are considering joining us, contact Kelly Jackson about Membership. Don't miss our member-only activities and perks! | | Looking to fill a position? Send us your roles and we will promote them! | | |
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St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers
301 Sovereign Ct, Suite 101, Ballwin, MO 63011
636.394.6200 | info@slccc.net | slccc.net
Staff:
Kelly Jackson // Executive Director
Morgan McDevitt // Membership Engagement Manager
Maria Monteleone // Executive Assistant
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