"Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it’s amazing what they can accomplish."
– Sam Walton
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
Sam Walton’s Playbook
Boosting Team Self-Esteem, Serving Customers First, and Leading Success One Store, One Associate at a Time, Every Day In Now Go
Great teams aren’t born at tip-off; they’re built in quiet drills no one sees. As a leader you set the tempo. Show up early, prepared, focused on fundamentals. Consistency builds credibility, and credibility fuels trust. If you demand discipline, model it in your stance, tone, notes. At night we face the stars and recall each star once steered a ship.
Accountability is our press. Define clear roles, track effort, correct mistakes fast never to embarrass, always to teach. Feedback is a gift wrapped in honesty, tied with respect. Call out what’s wrong, but shout what’s right louder. Celebrate hustle. Practice ends only when the basics look automatic under fatigue; that’s when championship habits take root.
Remember every associate is a person first. Know their goals, fears, family stories. Push them hard because you believe in who they can become. Legacy isn’t banners; it’s the confidence they carry long after graduation. When they lead the next huddle with the same fire, you’ve won. Go all
Envision the horizon, share its promise, and take a big stride. Help one teammate glimpse that horizon and equip them to chart a step toward it today.
COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION
Indiana 1.6 GW Agrivoltaic Giant Taps NovaSource
NovaSource to operate Doral’s 1.6 GW Mammoth Solar project, balancing crops and panels across 13,000 Indiana acres while finishing phases through 2026
NovaSource Power Services will run and maintain Doral Renewables’ 1.6 GWdc Mammoth Solar complex on 13,000 Indiana acres, under a pact unveiled April 22. The agrivoltaic giant mixes corn, soy and clean power, making it one of the nation’s largest dual-use builds.
Its first 480 MW block went live in Q4 2024; crews are now driving piles for the 360 MW South phase and wiring two 360 MW Central units due in 2026. Peak manpower nears 2,400 to mount three million panels and 8,000 miles of wire before a 120-person NovaSource crew takes over with drones and AI diagnostics. NovaSource will also serve as NERC-certified operator, monitoring inverters from its Austin control room.
Beyond powering 275,000 homes, the layout lets farmers graze sheep and raise pollinator crops between rows, locking in 30-year lease income. Backers expect $1.5 billion in local spend and say the template could guide utility-scale solar on working land nationwide. A 345-kV substation will link to MISO this fall.
INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY
Caltrain clips last pole corridor now electrified
Silicon Valley commuters near faster, cleaner rides as Caltrain installs final overhead wire, finishing $2.4B electrification before summer test runs!
Before sunrise Tuesday, electricians clipped the last messenger wire onto a mast near Bayshore Station, sealing Caltrain’s 51-mile 25 kV grid from SF to San José. The $2.4 billion upgrade launched in 2022 and readies the corridor for battery-boosted EMUs in 2026; a diesel horn saluted the milestone.
Crews next tension contact wires to 20,000 lbs and energize four substations ahead of May test runs. Twelve Stadler KISS trains finishing 125 mph brake checks in the Central Valley will glide onto Peninsula rails after midnight, while signal techs prune code drops and low branches. Battery locomotives haul scrap copper to a Stockton recycler each night. Crews spray anti-rust paint at dawn
Caltrain expects carbon cuts of 97 percent and ten-minute faster peaks once electric schedules start. Riders gain level boarding, doubled bike racks, and quieter nights as horns fade behind new grade separations. Directors promise means-tested fares funded by bridge toll surplus, easing worries of hikes.
RESIDENTIAL RESEARCH
Oak Park Gas Ban Lawsuit Jolts Midwest Builders
Lawsuit over Oak Park’s all-electric ordinance freezes 1,100 homes as Chicago eyes similar gas ban and investors chase electrified projects
Oak Park’s all-electric construction rule landed in federal court after gas utilities, builders and trade groups sued the suburb on April 25 2025, claiming its natural-gas ban violates federal appliance law. Officials say the ordinance, passed in 2023 and active since Jan 1 2024, is vital to a 2050 net-zero goal and note 57 percent of spring permits already specify heat-pump HVAC.
The clash echoes statewide: Chicago debates its own Clean Buildings bill while 24 states have “energy choice” laws blocking local bans. Developers warn 1,100 town-house starts are on ice until courts decide, yet investors chasing 45L and IRA electrification credits keep bidding on all-electric lots. Electrical contractors report six-week waits for induction-ready panels.
The village must respond by June 3; a preliminary injunction could stall projects through summer. Lawmakers eye a compromise requiring electric-ready rough-ins, but climate groups argue delays will lock in decades of fossil reliance.
TOOLBOX TALK
The Importance of Preventing Backover Accidents on Construction Sites
Introduction
Good morning, Team! Today's toolbox talk addresses preventing backover accidents. Backovers happen when equipment operators cannot see workers behind or around machinery, leading to serious or fatal injuries.
Why It Matters
Backover incidents cause severe injuries and fatalities annually. Awareness and preventive measures significantly improve site safety.
Strategies to Prevent Backovers
Use Spotters:
Assign trained spotters to guide operators when equipment moves in reverse.
Install Backup Alarms and Cameras:
Ensure all machinery has functioning backup alarms and consider cameras to improve visibility.
Maintain Clear Communication:
Clearly communicate and establish hand signals between operators and ground workers.
Wear High-Visibility Clothing:
Workers on foot must always wear reflective safety vests to remain visible.
Establish Designated Work Zones:
Clearly mark pedestrian paths and restrict workers from entering active equipment zones.
Discussion Questions
Have you witnessed or experienced backover incidents on site?
What more can we do to prevent these accidents?
Conclusion
Preventing backovers requires vigilance, proper equipment, and clear communication. Always use spotters, backup alarms, and stay visible.
Stay alert, stay visible, stay safe!
