1. On a typically blustery, rainy day in late February,
the Discovery Science Channel sent a TV crew to Ketchikan to
shoot an episode of Alaska Mega Machines focusing on Vigor’s
construction of the Alaska Marine Highway ferry. The crew
explored the challenges of building a large vessel in a land of
weather extremes, how Vigor uses its massive state-of-the-art
assembly hall and machinery and the skill and know-how of the
engineering and fabrication teams.
Timed to coincide with a massive module flip in the assembly
hall, the film shoot also included sit-down interviews with
several involved in the ferry’s construction. Although the filming
took place over several days, the footage will be edited down to
15 minutes as part of an episode with three segments.
Dockmaster/facilities manager Greg
Howe was among those interviewed by
the crew. “It was a great opportunity
to think of what we do here from a
perspective I don’t usually consider—that
of an outsider,” he said. “When the show
comes out, I think it will be something we can all be proud of.”
“The Alaska Marine Highway ferry system is a vital part of the
state’s infrastructure, and the ferries that we’re building here
will be the first ever to be built in Alaska and by Alaskans,” said
Doug Ward, business development manager for Vigor Alaska.
“The Science Channel will help show the world the great work
we’re doing up here in Ketchikan.”
Although the schedule hasn’t been finalized, the show is
expected to air between late April and mid-May.
When the show
comes out, I
think it will be
something we
can be proud of.
‘Alaska Mega Machines’
lands in Ketchikan
THE NEWSLETTER FOR VIGOR EMPLOYEES APRIL 2016
NEW LOOK: Beginning this month, Vibe gets an exciting new look and moves to monthly circulation.
Look for even more news on VigorVision and the VigorNet website.

2. Architects of great cathedrals
knew their work would only begin to
impact the community several
generations after the first stone was laid.
Vigor Alaska has adopted that same
“150-year vision”—that the work they do
today will be felt by their grandchildren
and make Ketchikan a better community.
Key to that effort is the “Surge,” a group
of employee leaders begun in March 2015
that works with a facilitator to develop
“authentic leadership” based on deeper
awareness and alignment of personal and
TREL values. They’re already seeing
greater engagement, better safety and
improved efficiency and innovation.
General manager Mike Pearson points to
studies showing that in the average
company, only a quarter of the employees
are engaged. The rest are disengaged
because they are not provided with a path
to mastery, the autonomy to do jobs their
own way and clarity on how they fit into
the company’s purpose or vision.
“Mastering shipbuilding offers every
opportunity for personal mastery,” says
Norm Skan, ship superintendent, who has
participated in the Surge. “We found
everything that makes us great
shipbuilders makes us better human
beings, and that means a high level of
engagement in the yard.”
Ketchikan’s rolling safety record of only
3.8 recordables proves the approach works.
“We’re safe because we love each other
and look out for each other,” he says.
A look under the hood at the
Vigor Alaska shipbuilding machine
“The Surge” leadership group promotes shipbuilding
and personal mastery
Ship superintendent Kelly Wakefield
credits the Surge’s work for breakthrough
efficiency: “We’re among the youngest
and least experienced shipyards in the
U.S, building two large, complicated
vessels. Most would find it hard to believe
that we’re on track to make money on
these builds, but in fact we are. And that’s
because of how we work together.”
Electrical supervisor and Surge
participant Chris Comstock says many
employees he hired based on skills didn’t
pan out. “When I focused my hiring
conversations on the TREL values, I found
a guy who was moved by the values and
relocated here at significant personal
expense. He brought a skill set that will
help us provide more reliable electrical
monitoring.”
New build scheduler AJ Pierce says the
Surge has changed the way she works.
“Now, my gloves don’t have to be up all
the time. As a woman in a male-
dominated industry, I’ve learned to be
defensive and guarded. The Surge has
allowed me to lay waste to that. Now I
can step into my authentic self and am
much more effective professionally and
even at home.”
Surge participant and QA assistant/weld
instructor Evan Beckett teaches welding
at the local college. He says Vigor’s efforts
to be a force for good in the community
is taking effect. “People want to weld so
they can work at Vigor,” he says.
Kelly Wakefield
Chris Comstock
AJ Pierce
Evan Beckett

3. VIGOR ALL-STARS
Did you know Vigor has a Facebook page
with up-to-date jobs feed? Friend us at
www.facebook.com/VigorIndustrial
Vigor
5555 North Channel Avenue
Portland, OR 97217, USA
503.247.1777
Vibe is published every month
to keep employees informed
about company people, plans
and initiatives.
Send submissions
or feedback to our
communications team at
newsletter@vigor.net
V I G O R . N E T
Jerry Strand Payroll Specialist, Clackamas
Payroll specialist Jerry Strand is
known throughout Vigor’s Clackamas yard
for being the fan that any sports team
or product loves to have—his office and
home have various monuments to the
Trailblazers, Legos, Star Wars, Minions and
even the West Valley High Wolf Pack, his
Fairbanks, AK alma mater.
But at Vigor, Jerry is the one with all the
fans—for his level-headedness, his deep
concern for co-workers, his passionate
commitment to do the right thing, his
leadership, his authenticity and his
playfulness.
Overcoming all obstacles
A former state-tournament competition-
level high school wrestler, Jerry is now
known for how he goes to the mat for his
co-workers. “He won’t let you fall to the
floor,” says Vancouver superintendent
Greg Arnold, who has known Jerry for 10
years and points to how he burned the
midnight oil on
weekends
during the
conversion
to Kronos,
to ensure
everyone got
their paychecks
without a hitch. “He’s
a badass, plain and
simple.”
“My mom taught me that whenever I get
upset, to take a walk outside, breathe
in through my nose, and out through
my mouth.” She also advised him to
do something else that’s not advised to
discuss in polite company. Vibe will let you
speculate—or better yet, just ask Jerry!
Special thanks to Bill Crittendon, Greg
Arnold, Jerry Shepard, Felix Antich, Julie
Johnson, Doug Tull, Randy Stirneman,
Bill Bryant, Chris Palmer, and, of course,
Jerry Strand, for allowing themselves to be
interviewed for this article.
Have a payroll obstacle?
Jerry will smash it to pieces.
Inspiring trust
Jerry takes his job very personally. On one
occasion when a process glitch meant that
payroll didn’t get approved and disbursed
on time, Jerry was devastated. “It really
hurt my feelings that our people didn’t get
their money on time,” he recalls. But in
short order, the issue was corrected and
Jerry personally delivered many of the
checks to employees’ homes. The glitch
has been permanently fixed.
How trustworthy is Jerry? One co-worker
mentioned how Jerry, who lives by a creek,
keeps the local ducks well-fed with day-old
bread from a nearby bakery. The bakery
employees allow him to enter the back
gate unsupervised to take all the bread he
needs—they know that Jerry would never
abuse their trust.
Advice from Jerry
In the course of a day any job like Jerry’s
can test someone’s patience. “He is
always, always great to work with,” says
Marine team product manager
Bill Bryant. “I’ve never had a
bad moment with him.” Bill’s
sentiment is echoed by many. But
how does Jerry do it?

4. MARINE REPAIR PROJECTS CURRENT FABRICATION PROJECTSWHAT’SONTHEWORKSCHEDULEASOFAPRIL1
PROJECT START END
SEWARD
Tug Tanerliq 20-May 06-Jun
Tug Stalwart 01-Jul 18-Jul
KETCHIKAN
Spirit of Glacier Bay 07-Apr 19-Apr
MV Tustumena 16-Mar 15-May
PORT ANGELES
M/V Caspian Galaxy 30-Mar 06-Apr
Alaskan Explorer (ATC) 25-Apr 15-May
HARBOR ISLAND
KRS 330-11 11-Apr 13-Apr
Spokane 14-Apr 23-May
USCGC Polar Star (WAGB 10) 23-May 12-Aug
USCGC Polar Sea (WAGB 11) 09-May 13-May
Polar Adventure 10-Apr 20-May
RV Tommy Thompson 6-Jun/16 30-Jun/17
TACOMA
Cape Island—motor repairs saltwater
service pump 31-Mar 18-Apr
Cape Island—Glandseal
regulator replace 31-Mar 18-Apr
Young Brothers—Build ramp 04-Apr 17-Jul
Cape Island—Turbine bearings 04-Apr 01-May
PORTLAND
Barge 250 - Brusco 28-Mar 06-Apr
MV Ross Chouest 11-May 13-May
MV Aiviq 14-May 18-May
MV Nanuq 19-May 22-May
Barge Heidi-Renee 13-Apr 14-Apr
Pacific Glacier 13-Apr 06-May
USNS Amelia Earhart ROH 31-Mar 25-Apr
Radiance of the Seas 01-May 14-May
SPECIALTY FINISHES
SHOP DIVISION
Allied Steel Plate Girders 31-Jan 30-Apr
FIELD DIVISION
QED Nimitz (PSNS Bremerton) 15-Dec paused
PAC SHIP USS Shoup (Everett) 11-Apr 30-Apr
American Seafood (Seattle Pier 90) 11-Apr 30-Apr
AEROSPACE/GMD
CLACKAMAS & VANCOUVER
Silo Refurbishment
Missile Field 1 integration and check-out
NG MF1 System
Ground-Based Mid-Course Defense DSC
BRIDGE AND STRUCTURAL
CLACKAMAS & VANCOUVER
Wittpenn Bridge Main Lift Span and Kearny Approach
USCG-Polar Hub Maintenance, Overhaul and Storage
Throgs Neck Bridge Prototype Deck Test Panel
HYDRO
CLACKAMAS & VANCOUVER
Olmsted Dam Wicket Gates
Norway Dam Hydro Gates
NUCLEAR
CLACKAMAS & VANCOUVER
CA 20 Sub-Modules
Rail Vehicle Design
MOX PML Gloveboxes
BMPC In-Pile Tubes
GE-Hitachi In-Pile Tubes
BPMI Resin Replacement Warranty
CH59 Modules
MARINE CONSTRUCTION
KETCHIKAN
Day Boat ACF Ship No. 1
Day Boat ACF Ship No. 2
HARBOR ISLAND
Chimicum WSF #3
Suquamish WSF #4
Harley Tug
San Francisco Fireboat
BALLARD & KENT
Cal Water Research Cat
US Navy Skimmers (12 boats)
USCG Motor Surf Boats (3 boats)
King Co. Research Cat
WETA 400 PAX Ferries (2 ferries)
RB-M C for NYPD
PORTLAND
River Tug Ryan Point
Tank Barge Hull 137
Ammonia Barge Hull 138
Ammonia Barge Hull 139
CLACKAMAS & VANCOUVER
ACTUV Unmanned Vehicle
11-Meter Unmanned Vessel
Combatant Craft Production
For internal use only