At Captive Resources, we have the privilege of working with 40 group captives composed of nearly 5,000 best-in-class companies across several industries. One thing we’ve learned about these exceptional companies is that they often share certain characteristics — entrepreneurial, innovative, safety-focused, resourceful, etc. — that make them well-suited to handle the challenges that face us today. We've seen evidence of this in how the companies that we work with have joined the ranks of businesses answering the clarion call to help those impacted most by COVID-19.
Since we work closely with our members, we get to hear the first-hand accounts of what these outstanding companies are doing for the people in their regions and communities — including several stories that have earned local news coverage. We wanted to help spread the word even further so we reached out to members to ask them to share how they’ve adapted their businesses or donated essential supplies to help those in need during this time.
We hope these uplifting stories will distract you from the not-so-positive news that's so pervasive right now and bring some feel-good vibes your way.
Click on the logos for links to specific company stories or scroll down to read them all.
“We all have to stick together through this as an industry and help where we can.”
John Sabatos — President and COO, Rycon Construction, Inc.
Rycon Construction provides preconstruction, general contracting and construction management services throughout 30 states. Until recently, the company specialized in new construction and renovations for several industries — including healthcare.
When the coronavirus pandemic hit and the need for specialized medical equipment soared, Rycon moved quickly to support the healthcare industry in another way. In March, the Pittsburg-based company donated several negative air machines (devices that filter mold, dust and other particles from the air), along with N95 masks, to St. Clair Hospital in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania. The company often uses the negative air machines in hospital construction projects but was able to put a few aside to help healthcare workers working on the front line of the pandemic.
“One day, maybe we’ll get them back, but for now those machines are theirs to use as they see fit,” said Rycon’s president and Chief Operating Officer, John Sabatos. “We all have to stick together through this as an industry and help where we can.”
These machines and masks will help to keep our patients and health care professionals safe and ensure we're able to provide the highest quality health care to the region. (2/2)
— St. Clair Hospital (@StClairHospital) March 21, 2020
Rycon Construction, Inc. is a member of General Contractors Insurance, LTD. Learn more about the company on its website - https://www.ryconinc.com/
“If the efforts of our team inspire just one other company to join this fight, it will be worth it.”
Tom Saeli — CEO, Duro-Last®
One of the most immediate problems hospitals faced when the coronavirus pandemic struck was a lack of personal protection equipment (PPE). The team at Duro-Last — the world’s largest manufacturer of custom-fabricated, thermoplastic roofing systems — quickly came to the rescue. The Michigan-based manufacturer’s engineers, product development and manufacturing teams quickly came together to produce isolation gowns and face masks for healthcare workers.
Duro-Last leveraged their 40-plus years of experience in manufacturing fabrics to go from prototype to delivery within a week. By the end of March, Duro-Last manufactured and delivered approximately 50,000 isolation gowns and 15,000 masks. The main beneficiary of the company’s generosity (and efficiency) was Beaumont Hospital in Detroit — the hospital responsible for treating the majority of the COVID-19 patients in the area.
“This is about helping health care professionals in any way we can and at the same time keeping people employed,” said Duro-Last CEO, Tom Saeli. “I am very proud of and impressed by the people in our company who quickly developed these products. Our country is full of tremendously smart, entrepreneurial people who can bring timely solutions to this unprecedented need… If the efforts of our team inspire just one other company to join this fight, it will be worth it.”
Duro-Last, Inc. is a member of Affinity Insurance, LTD. Learn more about the company on its website - https://duro-last.com/
“Our community and these organizations count on us — it is our responsibility to help them through these difficult times."
Barbarella Diaz — Vice President of Community Affairs, Diaz Foods
From the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, Diaz Foods — a leading distributor of specialty foods with distribution in 28 states — has stepped up big, time and time again to support businesses and organizations in the Atlanta area.
It started in March when Diaz Foods delivered more than 4,000 pounds of food to first responders working at Grady Hospital in Atlanta. A few weeks later, the specialty food distributor stepped up again by delivering more than 5,000 pounds of donated food to the after school programs at Agape and Sandy Springs Mission. Then, Diaz Foods upped the ante for the Atlanta Public School (APS) system. Diaz Foods and their partner, Dairy Direct, delivered more than 20,000 pounds of groceries to an APS center where it was sorted and distributed out to Latino families in need in the Atlanta area.
"Several organizations reached out to us for support and we are doing everything we can to help. We started our business here and have served (Atlanta) for the last 40 years, said Barbarella Diaz, VP of Community Affairs at Diaz Foods. “Especially in this time of great need, our community and these organizations count on us — it is our responsibility to help them through these difficult times,"
Check out this video featuring APS Superintendent Maria Carstarphen to learn more about how the donation benefited students in Atlanta.
Diaz Food Companies is a member of MAC Casualty, LTD. Learn more about the company on its website - https://www.diazfoods.com/
"The whole idea is to take care of the people who are taking care of us.”
Steve Mayo — President, Mayo Manufacturing
What happens when the people you normally call in an emergency reach out to you for help? That was the dilemma presented to the leadership at Mayo Manufacturing — a local furniture company serving Texarkana — when an assistant district attorney called looking for masks for the county’s first responders. The Mayo team, already working on a prototype, ramped up their efforts to fulfill the request. In less than a day, the local furniture company produced and dropped off more than 600 face masks to the Bowie County Sherriff’s Office.
Since then, Mayo Manufacturing has continued to fabricate both one-time-use masks and reusable masks for first responders and the public. The company is providing both types of masks free of charge to first responders. Mayo Manufacturing is also selling bags of 10 reusable masks for $50 and using the funds to cover the expenses of equipping first responders, according to the company's President, Steve Mayo.
"I don't want to provide false expectations. Our priority is our first responders," said Mayo. "The whole idea is to take care of the people who are taking care of us."
Mayo Manufacturing Corp is a member of Fortis Insurance (Cayman), Ltd. Learn more about the company on its website - http://www.mayofurniture.com/
“We are trying to do the best we can in our small part of the world to make a difference.”
Tighe King — CEO, Perform Group LLC
Perform Group has designed and manufactured performance apparel for dancers and gymnasts in York, Pennsylvania for more than half a century. After the coronavirus pandemic hit, the state halted the production of non-essential materials, forcing Perform Group to close shop on their normal operations.
Rather than sitting on the sidelines, Perform Group quickly adapted to the situation to help front-line workers in their time of need and to get their associates back to work. The company pivoted from manufacturing dance and gymnastics apparel to making hospital gowns, booties, caps and scrubs, as well as masks and face shields.
Perform Group is going to keep healthcare apparel going, recently introducing the new Perform Medical™ line as part of the company’s strategic offerings in a post-pandemic environment.
“It’s a win-win. It’s a win for the company as a business. It’s a win for trying to serve the needs out there,” said Perform Group’s CEO, Tighe King. “We are trying to do the best we can in our small part of the world to make a difference.”
Perform Group, LLC® is a member of Raffles Insurance, Ltd. Learn more about them on their website - http://www.performgroupllc.com/home.cfm
