The GHI Workforce Team Challenge

The GHI Workforce Team Challenge is the largest annual road race between Utica and New York City. On May 21, 2009, 33 Globalspec employees (including many CR4ers) took part in this 3.5-mile race through Washington Park in downtown Albany.

The road race had a record turnout of 7700 runners and walkers from more than 300 companies and organizations across New York's Capital District. Each year, the GHI Workforce Challenge benefits a charity of choice. The 2009 recipient was the Trinity Institution-Homer Perkins Center, a non-profit social service agency.

This year, every Globalspec department was represented, giving the company that powers CR4 its biggest turnout in over 10 years. Despite air-quality warnings and 85-degree heat, Team GlobalSpec finished strong!

Our four-member, co-ed team of top runners finished eighteenth overall. Steinar Flatland (Steinar) led Team GlobalSpec at 24:17, but speedy Shawn Martin (Shawn) came in a close second at 24:56. Julie Vittengl (Julie) was our top female finisher at 27:15, and Mindy Mannix (Galina) ran a strong second at 28:54.

The Rest Run the Race

Nearly 30 other GlobalSpec employees who also contribute to CR4 also participated in the GHI Workforce Team Challenge. CR4ers who walked or ran the 3.5-mile race included Jason Coon (coonj), Kathleen DeRusso (Kathleen), Joan Fernbach (wldnwly), Trevor Gray (Yargrovert), Dan Ireland (Terrapin), Mike Kaplin (Kaplin), Gary Kardys (Bone Crusher), Larry Kelley (april05), Lydia Kownack (lkownack5), John Loz (John Loz), Steve Melito (Moose), Abe Michelin (amichelin), Steve Schriber (Paddy O'Flanigan), Kelly Vincent (KVincent), and George Weatherwax (George).

Rounding out GlobalSpec's Workforce Challenge team were, by department and in alphabetical order, Bob Alund (Accounting), Chris Baldauf (Technology), Tracy Hyer (Customer Care), Tracy Lape (Customer Care), Kate Martin (Sales), Ted Martin (IT), Yvonne May (Customer Care), Susan Nantista (HR), Mike Sebast (Technology), Sean Tooley (Sales), Gina Tygert (Accounting), Tracy Vesely (Technology), and Bar Wiegman (IT).

Bloggers, Runners, and Walkers

Some of the CR4ers listed above may be familiar to you, while others are friends you've not yet met. Blogging is an important part of our user community, of course, so let's give another more shout-out to those bloggers who also ran the race.

• Gary Kardys - Biomedical Engineering
  
  
• Mike Kaplin - TeknologikL
  
  
• Larry Kelly – Alternative Power Blog and Software for Engineers
  
  
• Dan Ireland – Engineering Management
  
  
• John Loz – Alternative Power Blog
  
  
• Mindy Mannix – Biomedical Engineering
  
  
• Shawn Martin – Rockaholic Adventures
  
  
• Steve Melito – The Y Files
  
  
• Abe Michelen – Abe's Blog
  
  
• Julie Vittengl – WoW Blog
  
  
• George Weatherwax – Engineering Communications

Look for us again in May 2010!