SSI News & Events

Did you know: Founded in 1968, SSI is celebrating 40 years of customer-focused service this year ... We sincerely THANK YOU for your continued confidence in SSI!

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition - March 2008

SSI's roof trusses and floor systems, featuring BOISE Engineered Wood Products, will be making a national television appearance on ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Sunday, March 30th, 2008 at 8pm (7pm central). Tune in to watch as Anderson Homes of Delaware and many trade and supply partners help to make a dream come true for two Wilmington, Delaware families. From demolition to completion in less than seven days, this was truly an exceptional effort by all involved. Special thanks go out to the whole SSI crew who helped make this project a reality, from design, to order coordination, to transportation--the whole team pitched in. Special thanks go to Steve Fuchs, the technical salesperson to Anderson Homes. Steve literally spent the entire (freezing!) night out on the project, through the duration of install, ensuring that each component was used correctly, preventing any short-run on material. Great job everyone!

16th Annual SSI Golf Outing Registration Opens - March 2008

The 16th Annual Golf Outing to benefit the Maryland Sheriffs' Youth Ranch is now open for registration! To be held rain or shine on Wednesday, May 21st, 2008 at the Whiskey Creek Golf Club in Ijamsville Maryland - Noon shotgun start! $150 per player / $600 per foursome. To download a registration form click here. For more information or to sponsor, donate, or sign up, contact Kristi Woods, 800.800.7414 x5303.

SSI Adds Boise Engineered Wood Products to Offering - December 2007

Structural Systems Inc. (SSI) is pleased to announce that they will incorporate Boise Engineered Wood Products into their family of building components, with availability in the first quarter of 2008.  The Boise offering includes I-Joists, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), and other EWP products used in floor systems and framing. The decision to diversify SSI’s EWP offering is the end result of an extended period of comparative product analysis, and was necessary to satisfy the critical needs of their mid-Atlantic customer base.

“The addition of Boise products will allow Structural Systems to seek the ‘Best Systems’ solution for our customers,” said Bruce Gordon, SSI President. “After a prolific 40 year relationship with Trus Joist products, the market simply demanded alternative options and we were compelled to respond with the best interests of our clients in mind.”

Adding Boise EWP products will allow SSI to offer unprecedented value to their residential and light commercial builders at a time when they need it the most. For more information on Structural Systems and the Boise EWP product line, visit www.structuralsystems.com or www.bc .com/wood. 

SSI Joins Maryland World Class Manufacturing Consortium - July 2007

As part of our continued commitment to excellence for our customers and employees, SSI is now a member of the Maryland World Class Manufacturing Consortium.  The Consortium is group of Maryland companies that apply world-class manufacturing techniques to their business practices to be more competitive in today’s lean manufacturing environment.  Our association with the Consortium will help us continue to meet and exceed our customers’ expectations of quality products, service, and quick delivery.  For more information on the Consortium, please visit www.mwcmc.org

SSI has a Litter of "Bulldogs" - June 2007

Our Thurmont office “gave birth” to a litter of bulldogs in June at the quarterly BBQ.  These bulldogs are actually employees – those who have gone “above and beyond” in their jobs, which makes SSI an ever-increasing success in the industry.  We call them bulldogs in honor of  SSI’s owner and president Bruce Gordon – who’s considered by many to have the tenacity of a bulldog in the building components industry.  Employees are nominated by their peers and supervisors. 

Harvey Calimer (Windows/Doors), Dustin Carpenter (Windows/Doors),  Kelly Chmelik (Human Resources Department), Teresa Grable (Sales Support), George Green (Occupancy Group), John Hay (Design Department), Ryan Kint (Truck Driver/Distribution), Kenny Kreitz (Occupancy Group), Melissa Logan (Sales Support), Leah Mort (Credit/Collections), Tom Myers (Safety), Joe Osborne (IT Department), Ellen Parker (Corporate), Liz Roberts (Business Development), Al Simpson (Truck Driver/Manufacturing), Brian Study (Truck Driver/Manufacturing), John White (Transportation Department), Kristi Jacobs Woods (Marketing), Joanne Woodward (IT Department), Rich Yeager (Panels), and Robbie Zarobinski (Design Department) received gift cards and a special bulldog figurine.  

We’re happy to show our folks how much they’re appreciated – go Bulldogs!  We expect our next litter in the fall.

Carpentry Students Tour SSI Thurmont Facility - November 2006

On Wednesday, November 8 over 30 students and teachers from the Construction Technology Program at Thomas Edison High School of Technology and Damascus High School, both located in Montgomery County, MD, once again toured our Thurmont, MD manufacturing facility.  Each year the students participate in the Young American Student Design/Build House project, where they design and build a house in the Silver Spring/Rockville/Bethesda areas of Montgomery County.  The students in the program have built over 35 homes since the program began in 1976.

 

MCSCTF purchases the flooring material and roof trusses for the house from SSI.  The tour helped the students understand how jobs are designed, built, and prepared for delivery.  The students were able to see roof trusses being manufactured and were able to talk with SSI employees responsible for designing and manufacturing the structural components.

The tour and discussion "contributed to our series of career enriching experiences that we schedule for students in the programs," said Michael Fekete, Instructional Specialist for the MCSCTF. SSI is always happy to host these future designers and builders.

Safety First at Structural Systems Inc. - September 2006

Structural Systems, Inc. recently received recognition for achieving one year without a loss time accident at its Frederick, MD engineered wood products facility.   SSI is a building components manufacturer and distributor with additional offices in Thurmont, MD; Culpeper, VA; and Elkton, MD.

“Having an accident-free facility is a great accomplishment for SSI,” said Karlys Kline, SSI’s VP of Distributor Products and Quality Assurance.  Over the past 18 months SSI has been committed to increasing employee involvement in creating and enforcing a safe working environment.  This commitment has resulted in the loss time accident accomplishment and has allowed our employees to devote more time to ensuring that our customer’s orders are accurate and delivered on time, said Ms. Kline.

The Frederick employees were honored by their co-workers, executive management team, and numerous vendors at a barbeque celebration in September.  The employees are well on their way towards two years without a loss time accident.

Back Row, L to R: John Monroe, James Chapman, Robin Grandel, Kimothy Holland, Phil Bump, Yoni Mendez, Doug Smallwood, Kenny Dixon, Chris Dixon. Front Row Left to Right: Doug Miss, Guadlupe Rodriguez, Rex Bingaman, Hernan Mendez, Noe Garcia, Gustavo Hermandez, George Bell.

                   

SSI Raises over $20,000 for the Maryland Sheriffs' Youth Ranch - May 24 2006

We’re continuing our tradition of hosting another successful Golf Outing to benefit the Maryland Sheriffs’ Youth Ranch!  On May 24th at the Whiskey Creek Golf Club in Ijamsville, MD we held our 14th annual golf outing and raised over $20,000 for the Ranch!!!  This is a new record for SSI! We had sunny and warm weather all day!  The turn out was great and everyone arrived hungry for lunch and ready to play for a good cause.  We had a total of 160 players.

The day ended with dinner for the golfers, and Richard Stone, outgoing Director of The Maryland Sheriff’s Youth Ranch, gave a speech commending SSI’s efforts.  Then we held our first ever Live and Silent Auction, which was a huge success! Thanks to all the golf outing committee, sponsors, auction donors and all of the volunteers – their hard work really paid off. Let’s break our record next year!

 

SSI Donates Cell Phones to Local Assistance Provider - April 2006

As part of our continuing commitment to helping the Frederick County community, we recently donated a variety of used cell phones to Heartly House, Inc.  Heartly House provides comprehensive services to survivors of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault, and child abuse in Frederick County.   Their services include emergency shelter and crisis intervention; a 24-hour hotline; ongoing counseling; legal services; outreach; and education.  One of Heartly House's services is to provide its clients with cell phones so that they have the ability to immediately dial 911 if they are in danger.

The employees of SSI gathered phones that they were no longer using and presented them to Barbara Martin, CEO of Heartly House and the Megan Kula, Development Director of Heartly House.  Ms. Martin said that some of the phones will be refurbished; Heartly House will receive the cash value of these phones and use the proceeds towards other Heartly House services.  The phone collection was spearheaded by our Information Technology department and will be an ongoing project for us.  "I am delighted that Structural Systems has the opportunity to give back to the community, recycle our unused cell phones in a socially responsible way, and assist in providing access to emergency services all at the same time" says Patrick Nicholls, SSI's Director of IT.

Pictured from left to right: Barbara Martin, CEO of Heartly House; Ellen parker, SSI's Executive Coordinator; Patrick Nicholls, SSI's Director of IT; and Megan Kula, Development Director of Heartly House.