Latest news with #ADA-compliant
Time Business News
3 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
From Asphalt to Autobiography: Why Alan Santana Penned UNPROTECTED THE FINAL ROUND BOXING BUSINESS AND LIFE to Share the Grit Behind Boxing, Business, and Survival
Not everyone who fights in the ring ends up pouring concrete and writing books. Alan Santana is one of the selected ones. The man behind Bay Cities Paving Inc. has spent over five decades dodging punches in boxing gyms, boardrooms, and life itself. Now, he's pulled back the curtain in his candid, no-holds-barred autobiography and educational book. , UNPROTECTED 'THE FINAL ROUND' BOXING, BUSINESS AND LIFE. And trust us, an ordinary CEO memoir is what this book is not. This is sweat, street smarts, and survival served raw. Alan's journey starts in the kind of places where dreams are paved with grit, not gold. A boxer by interest and a businessman by instinct, Alan learned early how to take a hit and get back up swinging. That lesson stuck, whether he was dealing with crooked contractors or cracked curbs. His story reads like a heavyweight title fight: round after round of resilience. He wasn't born with a silver spoon… more like a hot patch shovel and a fire in his belly. And now, after 36 years at the helm of Bay Cities Paving, he's finally telling the whole story—gloves off. Founded in December 1989, Bay Cities Paving has been punching above its weight for decades. The company serves Los Angeles, Orange County, and Riverside County, and if your church, shopping mall, or HOA needs a fresh coat of asphalt, they're the MVPs of the blacktop. For ADA-compliant access ramps, pristine driveways, and more, Alan and his team deliver quality as if it were second nature. He has made pouring concrete precise, prideful, and punctual. According to Alan, 'We are committed to arriving on time and executing the work according to the agreed-upon 'Scope of Work.' Our primary motivation is to ensure our customers are satisfied, as their happiness is what drives our company.' Bay Cities Paving was recently named one of the Top 1,000 Contractors in America. It's the result of decades of five-star reviews, repeat customers, and word-of-mouth that's louder than a jackhammer. They're fully insured, bonded, and organized. From sign installations to complete parking lots, they do it all with swagger. Yelp reviews gush. Google fans rave. The Better Business Bureau even gives them a standing ovation. As one happy client put it: 'I cannot say enough nice things about them.' What makes Bay Cities Paving so special? It's not just the smooth finish or the straight stripes; it's the company culture. Alan's crew knows the streets, the codes, and the common scams that leave property managers in a pothole of regret. They even host seminars to help people spot shady repairs and avoid costly mistakes. Think of it as asphalt school, minus the boring lectures and with a whole lot more parking lot wisdom. And let's be honest, when you've been paving LA since before TikTok was a twinkle in the internet's eye, you've seen it all. Alan's decision to write UNPROTECTED wasn't just to inspire. It was to tell the unfiltered truth. The grit behind the grind. The bruises behind the business. The chaos behind the calm of a freshly striped lot. And because he's Alan, the book comes with humor, heart, and a few haymakers. It's the kind of read you finish in a day and think about for a week. It's part tale, part asphalt adventure, part boxing confessional, and 100% Alan. Because it's real. Because it reminds us that the road to success is rarely smooth, and sometimes, it's paved with blood, sweat, and sealcoat. Are you a budding entrepreneur, a property manager, or someone who's been knocked down a few times and is still swinging? Alan's story hits home. You'll laugh. You might cry. You'll definitely never look at a parking lot the same way again. And most importantly, you'll learn. The most challenging roads make the best stories. Alan Santana proves grit works just as well with asphalt as it does with autobiography. UNPROTECTED, hence, is the blueprint for survival, success, education, and staying power. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
ROOM Launches The Room Collection: Flexible Architecture for Today's Hybrid Workplace
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- ROOM, the leading modular architecture company behind the award-winning Phone Booth and pioneer in flexible workplace design, today introduces The Room Collection: a new series of scalable and adaptable rooms, designed to provide privacy in open floorplans and meet the dynamic needs of today's businesses and office workers. A major pain point for employees is working in an office that hasn't yet been optimized for hybrid work. Simultaneously, businesses may find it difficult to swiftly adapt to changing workplace needs. While insufficient meeting spaces, poor acoustics and back-to-back virtual meetings plague workers, inflexible leases and hefty construction costs prevent business leaders from adapting accordingly. The Room Collection helps solve this through its easy-to-assemble, soundproof modular office system that can evolve to meet the needs of businesses at any stage. 'We started ROOM based on a simple observation,' said Thierry Ondet, ROOM's Managing Director. 'In open-plan offices, excessive noise and lack of private spaces reduce productivity and morale. Once distracted, it can take 20 minutes or more to refocus, affecting both output and employee retention. Our system creates flexible, comfortable spaces people actually want to be in - spaces that foster both concentration and connection.' The Room Collection marks ROOM's evolution to a full-floor solutions provider, enabling companies to reconfigure spaces quickly and sustainably, without the waste, cost, or permanence of traditional construction. Unlike a traditional conference room build-out, which can take months, Room Collection units can be installed in as little as three hours, and easily reconfigured as company and team needs evolve. This approach delivers up to 30% cost savings and reduces down-time with minimal disruption when compared to traditional construction, plus it supports sustainable office design through replaceable parts and recycled materials, including PET from plastic bottles and 100% wool acoustic walls. The Room Collection includes ADA-compliant models and has been awarded the Certified Autism Resource (CAR) badge by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). This certification indicates that ROOM pods are designed to support individuals with autism, and other sensory sensitivities, by providing environments that minimize sensory overload. The Room Collection also earned the SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification for indoor air quality. Each pod in The Collection is designed with ROOM's signature attention to acoustic performance, air quality, climate-control, Scandinavian design and plug-and-play simplicity, ensuring connection, comfort, productivity, privacy and wellbeing in the workplace. The Room Collection is available in three sizes: Small (S), Medium (M) and Large (L). Customers can opt for various interior configurations including: The Frame: A clean architectural structure that serves as a canvas for organizations to imagine spaces distinct to their needs. The Focus Room: A turnkey setup for private, heads-down work, designed to support deep concentration and individual productivity. The Focus Room comes equipped with a height-adjustable desk, large whiteboard and custom credenza for storage. The Meeting Room: A complete space for team meetings and group collaboration, able to accommodate anywhere from two to six people depending on the size. Meeting Room configurations are available with a video conference add-on featuring a monitor, webcam and speaker integration for seamless video-conferencing. 'We like to think of hybrid workplaces as flexible by design, but the reality is they often come with their own limitations,' added Justin Dollinger, VP, Product Engineering at ROOM. 'The Room Collection embraces the idea that workplaces are iterative—spaces should grow with teams and allow people to ebb and flow through different modes of work, without being locked into a static floor plan.' Since 2018, ROOM has sold more than 35,000 Phone Booths globally, proving the demand for modular solutions that enhance privacy, focus, and collaboration. The Room Collection extends that vision, providing a complete architectural system designed for today's hybrid workplace. The Room Collection is available now on and dealer sales channels in collaboration with OFS. ### About ROOM ROOM is reshaping the modern workplace to create the offices of the future around the world. Offering modular and creative architectural office solutions that seamlessly transition a stagnant floorplan to one that is adaptive and dynamic, ROOM's series of purpose-built products foster productivity, team collaboration, focused individual work, and everything in between. All without the hassle, expense and negative environmental effects of traditional construction. With over 8,000 unique customers ranging from budding startups to Fortune 500 companies including Google, Samsung, Amazon, JPMorgan Chase and NASA, ROOM is inspiring a better way to work for all. ROOM is now part of OFS, one of the largest independent office furniture manufacturers and workspace innovators in the country. Learn more at
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Groundbreaking held for Grandmothers' Garden outdoor classroom pavilion
WESTFIELD — Mayor Mike McCabe, Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane, School Committee member Kathleen Hillman, board members and friends of the Grandmothers' Garden performed a ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday for the new outdoor classroom pavilion set to begin construction this week. Friends of Grandmothers' Garden board member Allen Steiger thanked everyone involved in helping to get the project to this point, singling out the mayor, councilors, the Conservation Commission and all of the volunteers. 'More to come as this takes place,' he said. Jackie McDowell, outreach coordinator for Grandmothers' Garden, said the silt fence will go up later this week, and excavation will begin next week by R.A. LaPlante Construction and Rob Levesque of R. Levesque Associates, architect. McDowell said the Westfield Technical Academy's horticulture department will be doing the landscaping and planting design, under department head Nate Sperry. McDowell said the project should be completed, including an attached restroom, by September or October. In February, the City Council unanimously approved the Community Preservation Commission's funding of $528,200 for the new outdoor classroom pavilion and rest area at Grandmothers' Garden, which sits in a portion of the 10-acre Chauncey Allen Park. At the groundbreaking, McDowell said the project is a wonderful collaboration with Westfield Public Schools. The 30-by-40-foot wood pavilion will be used by local schools for nature-based programs, STEM instruction, arts, photography and community field trips. For Westfield Technical Academy across the street, they foresee class instruction for students of horticulture, construction, technology, history, science and environmental studies; and for Westfield State University, for students and faculty who are pursuing biology studies, visual arts education, environmental sciences and urban planning to use the facility. The pavilion will also be available for private classes, social and special events, small gatherings, picnics, meetings and reunions. At the groundbreaking, McDowell said the project is a wonderful collaboration with Westfield Public Schools. Elementary school STEM Coach Lindsey Ayers, also present at the groundbreaking, said with both the Westfield River and Highland elementary schools nearby, the new outdoor classroom will be a wonderful setting for studies students are already conducting on erosion and ponds. 'Doing those activities over here in an actual environment, and being able to bring students here to do projects, is really going to enhance their [education].' An ADA-compliant restroom will be built on one end of the pavilion classroom, and a paved area for seating, just outside the other end. 'A lot of people put in a lot of work, so we're thankful,' said Friends of Grandmothers Garden board member Dan Florence. 'We're looking to grow the community of Grandmothers' Garden with what we're doing here. It's gorgeous — one of the best kept secrets in Westfield,' he added. 'I'm just thrilled. It's going to make this space even more available to the community. It's a wonderful addition,' said Ward 3 Councilor Bridget Matthews-Kane. Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Plaquemine Lock Site reopening after months-long renovation
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Plaquemine Lock State Historic Site on Main Street is reopening on Friday, June 13. There will be a celebration, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. The public is invited to stop by starting at 9 a.m. for an early look and refreshments. The reopening comes after a year-and-a-half-long renovation at a cost of $1.1 million. Some of the renovations include fixing leaks and cracks at the Gary J. Hebert Lockhouse, waterproofing the building, and upgrading the electrical, plumbing, and lighting. There is also an ADA ramp and an ADA-compliant restroom, along with new painting and flooring at the Lockhouse. The boathouse was also repaired and painted, including 13 wooden boats. Drainage repairs were also made to the grounds, according to the restoration committee. They said guests will also see a new modern exhibit inside the Lockhouse. It will be interactive, and an animation will show how the locks function. New park to open soon in North Baton Rouge Who is the lone passenger who survived the deadly Air India crash? Man arrested for allegedly giving out face shields to 'suspected rioters' at LA protest House GOP approves first batch of DOGE cuts Padilla condemns handcuffing: 'Imagine what they're doing' to migrants Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tough Enough for Public Use: Coated Outdoor Furniture Trusted by Schools, Parks, Municipalities & Public Spaces Nationwide
Purpose-built for heavy use and harsh environments, Coated Outdoor Furniture delivers long-lasting performance where it matters most-public spaces deserve furniture that stands the test of time. DALLAS, TX / / June 11, 2025 / Coated Outdoor Furniture, a leading American manufacturer of outdoor furniture, is helping schools, parks, and municipalities create cleaner, safer, and more welcoming environments through durable design and American craftsmanship. With decades of experience building heavy-duty picnic bench tables, park benches, and outdoor waste receptacles, the company has become a go-to solution for high-traffic public spaces. In settings where safety and longevity are essential, cheap furniture just doesn't cut it. That's why Coated Outdoor Furniture focuses on building solutions that hold up under pressure-from the lunchtime crowds of a schoolyard to the constant wear of a city park. Each product, including the brand's widely used playground tables and park benches, are crafted from coated steel engineered to resist rust, chipping, and fading-no matter the weather or frequency of use. "Our clients aren't just buying furniture-they're making an investment in the safety and enjoyment of their community spaces," said Lindsey Albracht, expert Amazon Consultant. "We design every picnic bench table, waste receptacle, and bench with that responsibility in mind." The result is a product line that's not only functional but also maintenance-friendly, reducing labor costs for facility managers over time. Durability aside, thoughtful design also plays a key role. ADA-compliant tables ensure accessibility for all users, while the brand's streamlined outdoor waste receptacles help maintain cleanliness across large campuses, busy parks and gyms. Many businesses partner with Coated Outdoor Furniture for their mix of ruggedness and visual consistency-essential qualities for long-term installations in shared spaces. Whether it's outfitting a local elementary school, expanding a regional trail system, or upgrading a downtown public plaza, Coated Outdoor Furniture offers the reliability decision-makers need. "We've worked with districts and departments across the country who need a partner they can count on," Lindsey added. "From our fabrication process to our customer service, we take that role seriously." About Coated Outdoor Furniture Coated Outdoor Furniture is a manufacturer of American-made coated outdoor furniture, proudly offering commercial & residential picnic tables, benches, and trash receptacles built-to-last. Founded with a mission to eliminate the waste and safety issues tied to cheaply made imports, the brand partners with skilled U.S. craftsmen to create strong, secure, and sustainable furniture solutions for public and private use. Learn more at Dallas, TXsales@ SOURCE: Coated Outdoor Furniture View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
