Fostering Teamwork Outside the Workplace

Every fall, the Anchorage Sports Association (ASA) organizes a slowpitch co-ed softball league to finish out the summer-long season. The Fall Ball league condenses 12 games into a five-week period, ending the third week of September. The teams are made up of players with varying skill levels and occupations.

R&M CONSULTANTS, INC. (R&M) has had a team for more than eight seasons, combining the skills of R&M employees, family members and friends. The league provides an opportunity to get the company together outside the office, while improving employee wellness and increasing morale and productivity. This also creates an opportunity for employees from different levels of the organizational chart and different departments to get to know each other and work as a team.

This year’s lineup included marketing staff, mid-level engineers and senior managers. Michael Hansmeyer, EIT, CESCL joined R&M in 2015 as an Engineering Intern and was promoted to Staff Engineer following graduation.

“As an intern with R&M, joining the softball team was a great way to meet more people in a laid back environment. There’s a lot of fun personalities at R&M, so spending time outside the office has always been fun.”

Michael Hansmeyer, EIT, CESCL – Staff Engineer

When recalling his most memorable game from this season, Michael said, “hands down winning both games in our double-header. The first game went into extra innings, followed by a come-from-behind victory! We had Josh Crowe filling in at pitcher, and he really battled through both games. The team had great communication between the infielders, and outfield did a great job catching fly balls and backing up the infield. All around good softball and great teamwork!”.

Josh Crowe, PE, CESCL has been a full-time employee of R&M for more than 10 years. As a Project Engineer with a focus on structural engineering, he is also a seasoned baseball player and has played on the R&M team for six seasons.

“Fall Ball is a great opportunity for employee/family fellowship and building relationships outside of the office. The fall season allows all skill levels to play together successfully.”

Josh Crowe, PE, CESCL – Project Engineer

New to the team this year is R&M Senior Land Surveyor, Chad Weiler, PLS and his wife Jesse.

“Everyone on the team was there to have a good time. Even though we had a really wet fall this year, showing up to play was something I looked forward to every week, and honestly, it was because of the people on the team.”

Chad Weiler, PLS – Senior Land Surveyor

R&M finished the season with a 9-3 record, winning the last game by one run. R&M’s pitcher, Mike Wariner, PE – Vice President: Materials Laboratory and Special Inspections – recalls his favorite highlight from the game, saying “My wife (Tara) driving in the winning run was a great way to end the season, and a well-deserved victory for the entire team!”