Winter Park Road Race - 10k

Office 10k in Winter Park

Well the Schwenn Office was challenged to a foot race in the Winter Park Road Race. It is a 10K which equates to 6.2 Miles of running through the streets of Winter Park. Our Challenger was a CPA firm, which I will not mentioned to protect their identity. I accepted the Challenge and then told 3 other members from our firm, Jeff Schwenneker Jr. Jenifer Schwenneker & Cynthia Marino. I figured since it was our accounting firm that made the challenge I might as well include the finance department to run lol. After 6 weeks of training , we were off, i-pods on, watches started, the Schwenn team was off and running. For the next hour we were, sweating, breathing "if we could", looking over our shoulders as we one by one crossed the finish line, collecting medals and looking for the volunteer with the water.

When the dust settled we all defeated our challengers and won the challenge - Lunch at Bahama Breeze. It is always so much fun to get away from the office with co-workers and do something as a Schwenn team. Congrats to Jeff Schwenneker Sr., Cynthia, Jeff Jr. & Jennifer for rising to the challenge and going out there and taking care of business. GO!! Team Schwenn!!!

Annual Schwenn Services Trip to the Tracks

Gatorade Dual

Schwenn Services participated in their annual trip to Daytona International Speedway for the Gatorade Duel at Daytona. After lunch at the Osteen Diner, the Schwenn Team placed their bets and headed to the track.  The big winners for the day turned out to be newcomer Ron Snyder from the Estimating Department, and Cliff Paroz from Manheim Central Florida Auto Auctions.  It was a great day away from work for the Schwenn Team and their customers and we look forward to continuing the tradition next year.

Runner's Corner with Jeff

Disney Princess Weekend

My favorite race so far was the Disney races at the end of February. I ran in the family 5k with my two sons Jeffry and Brent & my granddaughter Jordan. We were supposed to be in the stroller division but my granddaughter insisted on running the whole race. To our surprise she did... She refused to stop for water or pictures because she said, "Papa I have to win." All the photographers insisted she was the youngest one out there but that didn't stop her motivation. My son Brent finished the race in 24:00 and Jeffry, Jordan and I finished in minutes 40 minutes. Great job Jordan, we are so proud of you!

Then the next day ran the Princess half with my Daughter-in-law and Marketing Director Jenny Schwenneker. After a long day of racing the day before we had to be at Disney by 4:00am and in our corral by 5:00am. We made our corral just as the gun went off. It was very crowded and we spent most of our energy weaving in and out of the crowds trying to find our pace. We really pushed each other and were able to PR. I finished with a time of: 1:58:52 and Jenny finished with a time of: 1:59:47

Now we are looking forward to the 10k on March 24th.  Track Shack is hosting the 35th Annual Winter Park Road Race presented by Florida Hospital. Our whole office is joining so please let us know if you want to race with team Schwenn. Email Jenny at jennifer@schwennservices.com for more details. We would love to see you there! Click here for more Details.

Runner's Corner with Jeff

Marathon Complete

Well, I did it... The Marathon Run is in the history books. What a rewarding accomplishment. I flew out on a Saturday morning arrived midafternoon in time to pick up running packets and visit the run expo. Of course in Vegas everything is big. There were 44,000 runners in town to run so you could imagine the buzz that was in the city. So all of the training is finally over. My body is fueled properly and time for the sneakers to hit the road.

Race morning we headed for Mandalay Bay for the start of the race. We were in Corral B, all the rock and roll bands were playing and when the starter gun went off so did the fireworks and 44,000 runners. The first part of the marathon was done in the dessert district which was less to be desired. I even saw my business competition if I ever decide to go to Vegas and open a branch. At the half way point we were back at Mandalay bay and headed down the Vegas strip. It was amazing the amount of fans cheering us on to the finish. They were the very best ever.

There are times when you think you can't go anymore and you see a sign one of our fans are holding that says “ You know why your feet hurt so bad because you are kicking everyone’s butt!” There is no better feeling than to look up at mille 22 and see the finish line 4.2 miles away and you can't feel your feet, your legs, and your arms are tired, your back hurts, and your hands are freezing oh did I say it was 41 degrees at the finish line. But the 18 weeks of training kept us pushing to the end. There was no better feeling than to enter the finishing line area and know that we made it to the finish!!

Moving forward to 2012 I have already completed the Disney Half Marathon in 2:02, and the Seasons 52 5K in Winter Park. I also finished the St. Pete Half Marathon with my best time ever: 1:59:58... Finally under 2 hours.

Food Critique w/ Jeffry

Restaurant of Choice this Quarter

This quarter’s restaurant of choice is Thai House of Orlando. If you are looking for affordable, great tasting food, this is the place. Rated 88% favorable on Urban Spoon, the food is downright delicious. The dishes range from soups and salads to noodle and rice dishes. The sauces are not too heavy and the size of the meals are such that you are full, but not to the point of needing a nap.

If you want a quiet, light lunch, go for the Wonton Soup and steamed Chicken Dumplings. For a heartier meal, try the Pad Thai or Chili Jam is rice. At Thai House, the secret is the spices. When you place your order, tell the server is you want Regular Hot, Medium Hot, or for you brave souls, Thai Hot. For dessert, finish your meal off with a bowl of fried ice cream with chocolate sauce and coconut ice cream. Thai House is a great local establishment that serves great tasting food quickly, and at an affordable price.

Thai House of Orlando - thaihouseoforlando.net/

Champs Sports Bowl

Jeffry Wins Friendly Wager 

Unfortunate Notre Dame Fan Ryan Wheeler lost a bet to Florida State fanatic Jeffry Schwenneker due to the beat-down Florida State put on Notre Dame in the Champs Sports Bowl on December 29th at the Citrus Bowl. Ryan is an outstanding technician and a very valuable asset to the Schwenn Team......he just doesn’t understand football. Florida State 18 - 14 Notre Dame.

"Thank you Debbie and QLM for the tickets!!!"

Diabetes Walk

Together we can Stop Diabetes. One Step at a Time

Schwenn Services sponsored Mary Burch in the walk to stop diabetes in Baldwin Park, FL November 7, 2011. Mary and her team of 16 were walking and raising funds for the American Diabetes Association’s signature fundraising walk, Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes. Every step we take and every dollar we raise will make a difference in the lives of 25.8 million Americans living with diabetes.

Mary and her team were walking for a close friend six year old Emmy. “Emmy is one of the many children living with diabetes and we need to find answers for young children like her,” stated Mary. Team Emma was able to raise a total of $1400 dollars and bring even more awareness to the community. Great job Mary and Team Emmy!

Did you know…?

That 1 in 3 children in the United States face a future with diabetes? The Association works every day to change the frightening future that diabetes has in store, but we they need help. Click here to visit the Step Out: A Walk to Stop Diabetes website and get involved today. 

Community Corner - Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Pinktober
Schwenn Services, “The Super Sub of Central Florida,” specializing in commercial mechanical and electrical contracting, is a proud sponsor of Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit organization providing free mammograms for uninsured women under 50 and patient advocate “Hope Coaches” for people with Stage IV Breast Cancer.

“Libby’s Legacy is an all-volunteer start-up organization and needs a great deal of help to achieve its mission,” says Jeff Schwenneker, President of Schwenn Services. “We were humbled by their work, which hits close to home, and therefore happy to donate mechanical and electrical services. By doing so, we hope additional companies in the Central Florida community will step up too, to donate time, services and funding.”

Being that October is breast cancer awareness month we wanted to bring awareness to Orlando. Friday October we had a staff appreciation day. We brought ALL our guys in and had lunch catered by 4 Rivers and had everyone where pink shirts to represent the cause. We hope in doing this we bring more awareness to the men and women out there.

Remember to wear your pink but never stop supporting the cause!

Iron Crusader Race Results

Iron Crusader

October 22, 2011 Schwenn Services put a team of 11 together and took on the challenge of the Iron Crusader. This is a 3.5 mile race fill with obstacles. These obstacles included things like quick sand, dredging through lakes, climbing pyramids, slides, crawling through mud and under barb wire and we can’t forget about jumping over the logs that were on fire.

his was Schwenn’s first time racing in an event like this and we came to win. We were pumped and had an absolute blast! We placed second overall in the teams division and couldn’t have been more thrilled.

Team Schwenn

Come join s next year. We are hoping for a bigger and even better team next year!

Runner's Corner with Jeff

Goal: Marathon

Race along the way: Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon

Well, I am in week 12 of my Marathon training, 2 weeks ago I experienced what they mean by long runs! I set out to do my first 20 mile run. Like in the construction business you must always have a plan and you must always work your plan. So two days prior to my run I started eating right and putting the right food and fluids in me to sustain me through the torture.

For breakfast I had a bagel with jam, O.J., banana, and yogurt. For my mid morning snack I had (2) granola bars and a Gatorade. For lunch I had a large baked potato with salsa, a roll, chocolate milk and an oatmeal cookie. For my afternoon snack I had a cliff bar and Gatorade and for dinner chicken burrito, rice and salsa.

Needless to say I felt stuffed all day. However, by sticking to the food plan I was able to sustain the 20 mile run in 3 hours and 24 minutes. I will be running in 6 weeks and can tell you that what ever you set out to accomplish give your all, listen to you mind and body but most of all listen to your heart!

Sword Fish Tournament

Monsters of the Sea

The Schwenn Team headed to Jupiter, FL to fish in an all night sword fishing tournament. After the 2.5 hour trip tailoring the boat and getting all the bait and food for the moon light drift, we cracked the inlet at 6:30 pm for our 8:00 pm lines in start. The seas were calm and the night was going to be a beautiful night. We headed approximately 20 miles due east, as the call came over the radio for lines in at 8:00 pm so the Schwenn Team dropped our giant squid to the ocean god’s. We were fishing in approximately 2,200 ft of water during our drift north. It was very slow at first and then at 2:00 am we had our first fish on! The reel started to sing and the boat all of a sudden became chaos. 45 minutes later we had our first sword in the boat. All the high fives were going on and as we were cleaning up the mess, we had the second line go off, fish on! 30 minutes later we had boated our 2nd Sword. That fish was just under size so it had to be released however we were able to count it as a catch and release. By the time we had picked up after the 2nd fish it was time to head to the port since the weigh in was 6:00 am and we were 40 miles from the dock. All in all the Schwenn Team placed 1st in the catch and release category and got to put swordfish steak''s in the freezer.

Eating Out with Jeffry

Greek Village in Lake Mary
Greek Village is a great hole in the wall restaurant in Lake Mary. Greek Village serves authentic Greek cuisine. If you like eggplant, feta cheese, gyros, lemons, hummus, or lamb, this is the place for you. The small dining area consists of 10-15 tables and the kitchen is open to the dining room, allowing for all the wonderful smells to waft freely throughout the entire restaurant. For a totally authentic Greek experience, try the Tour of Greece and ask for a wine pairing. For an "American" version of Greek cuisine, try the Oven Roasted Chicken or Rib-Eye. Sides include Greek Roasted Potatoes, Mashed Potatoes, among other items and for a pleasant surprise, try the Greek Fries, the best fries from a restaurant not named Five Guys. Prices range from $5 - $21.

Iron Mudder

Schwenn is Going to the Iron Mudder

Schwenn Services is putting together a team to compete in hard core competition called the IRON MUDDER. If you enjoy running or obstacles, or overall fitness and maybe a little competition come join us! We welcome anyone who would like to take on this adventure! If you decide to join Schwenn in this endevour. please register with IRON MUDDER (link below) and email Jenny @ jennifer@schwennservices.com with your name, company you work for and t-shirt size. More details coming soon. Sign up today and let us know!

Iron Mudder Details
Forte Meade, Florida
October 22, 2011
Course 3.5 miles
Obstacles: Fire, Mud, Quicksand, Ramps, Doom Slide and More
Location: Dirty Foot Adventure Ranch
Start Time: Sat – 11:00 am

The Iron Mudder Course
IRON MUDDER is an insane obstacle course with fire, quicksand, tunnels and nets and some surprise obstacles that will make you say, “NO WAY!” Finishing IRON MUDDER is the ultimate accomplishment. The Iron Mudder course is 3.5 miles. It’s important to remember, it’s not about the distance…it’s all about the obstacles.

Pricing:
August 16th to September 30th is $75
October 1st to October 10th is $85
October 11th to October 16th is $95

visit http://www.ironmudder.com/florida.html for more details.

Last Shuttle Launch 2011

Just for Fun

Fun with Schwenn
On July 8, 2011, NASA successfully launched Atlantis into space for the last time, closing a 30 year run with the Space Shuttle program.  Courtney Wingo, Schwenn's Project Coordinator, was able to get passes to witness this true moment in history up close.  

Courtney’s mom has worked for the space program for 28 years and her dad was out there during the Saturn, Mercury and Apollo Missions. Courtney also worked for NASA constructing Pad 37 for the Heavy Delta 4 Rocket.  
   
A week before the launch Courtney received a call from her mom saying she had passes.  Knowing Jeffry (II) was an aspiring Space Cadette as a young boy, she gave him a vehicle pass and a badge to get where few people are allowed. He brought his wife Jenny and a long time friend, who was also an aspiring Space Cadette, as well as his wife Jennifer.

Faced with a 70% no-go, the Schwenn "Nerd Club" decided to go anyway.  With cameras, tripods, chairs and a cooler packed up we headed east to the greatest place on earth for the last time. It was cloudy and we kept listening to all the final preparations for the launch.  As we looked skyward to see what storms might affect us, we saw a patch of clear blue sky rolling towards the launch pad, our hopes were set to become reality.  The blue patch gave them just enough time to get Atlantis up in the sky one final time. Thousands of people held their breath and crossed their fingers.  Moments before lift off you could hear a pin drop in the grass, then as the count down started everyone went wild. Cameras were clicking and everyone was in awe of her beauty as she went up. It was a great launch and we will desperately miss the Space Program, they have given America great things through exploration.  The Fleet will be missed and we feel very honored to be able to go out as close as we could to wish it a final farewell.

Courtney quoted, “I couldn't imagine going out there with anyone else. The company was great, home made lunch by Jeffry was awesome.”

Inside Scoop

Runners Corner with Jeff

Every newsletter I will touch on new and innovated ways to train. But first I would like to touch on why I started running and what keeps me motivated.

Why I started running

I actually started exercising about a year and a half ago. I Just felt like I needed to get into shape and my daughter in law somewhat challenged this old guy to train for a ½ Marathon.

What motivates me?

I am always up for a challenge so that’s motivation in its self. I am also surrounded by family and friends that need to be active and felt that if I start to get into better shape they would follow. Because of my motivation and success they have and it has become a great activity i get to enjoy with my family and friends. My son and daughters are usually alongside with me at the gym and my beautiful wife and i enjoy our weekend runs together motivating each other every step of the way.

Community involvement

The majority of the races i participate in are fund raisers for local charities or organizations and i enjoy helping out these wonderful causes in any way possible.

Why I enjoy running

Its physically challenging, I know that it’s good for me and it gives me some alone time to reflect on my day. I also enjoy running and working out with my family it gives us the quality time needed after a long work day. 

How long is my average training program?

I would say my average length is 12 weeks, when I’m training for a particular race, however in the off season I have a strength program I have and I still run for the cardio portion and to stay is running shape. My current average pace is 9:00 minute miles.

2011 Race Schedule

1. Get up and Go 5K in Titusville in August.

2. Disney Wine & Dine 1/2 Marathon in October.

3. A full marathon in November or December...TBA

February Weight Loss Challenge

Schwenn Services Weight Loss Challenge Update

We are 8 weeks into our weight loss challenge...4 more weeks to go!

It was been a fun and interesting 8 weeks and this challenge has kept us all on out toes - thinking twice before we eat that bowl of ice cream after dinner.

So far to date are leader board looks like this:

Total Pounds:
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5.

Percentage of Weight Loss
1.
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Schwenn Services Weight Loss Challenge

Schwenn Services & Contracting wants to promote good health and a healthy life style so we are starting 2011 of with a weight loss challenge. Employees who are up for a friendly competition are able to join this fitness challenge.

This is a 12 week fitness challenge. Contestants weigh in every other Friday. At the end of the 12 weeks we will have two winners:

1. Overall weight loss (total pounds)
2. Percentage of weight loss

Stay posted for the winners!

Schwenn Christmas

Company Christmas Party

Schwenn Services and Contracting celebrated a year of success in growth this holiday season and we could not have done it without our great employees. To show our thanks we had a Christmas party for our managers and a lunch for all our employees catered by 4 Rivers.

“We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.”

We hope 2011 brings many opportunities because we are ready to take it to the next level!

Arca Race

2010 Arca Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200

Some of Schwenn Mechanical employee's enjoy a beautiful Saturday at the race track.
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Vendor Construct Corps invited Schwenn Mechanical to the Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was a very fun and eventful day. Veteran ARCA Racing Series presented by RE/MAX and Menards driver Bobby Gerhart earned a historic sixth Lucas Oil Slick Mist 200 Daytona race victory on Saturday evening, using patience and fuel strategy in ARCA's wreck-filled season opener to notch his seventh-career restricter plate victory while IZOD INDY Car Series star Danica Patrick finished sixth in her stock car debut and Construct Corps driver Justin Marks finished 11th.