Madhu P Pillai Joins AACEI
International Board of Directors

Madhu P Pillai

Madhu P Pillai, Senior Project Manager with Kentz Engineering International Ltd (KEIL), was recently selected to the International Director Board of Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International (AACEI).

The AACEI is a worldwide professional organisation with its HQ in the USA. Its outreach is widely spread in the field of Total Cost Management, Planning & Scheduling, Estimating and Earned Value Management. The AACEI is the largest organisation serving cost management professionals across the globe, with a strong presence in 78 countries. It is recognised worldwide as the technical authority in cost and schedule management for portfolios, programmes, projects, products, assets and services.

Madhu also received the prestigious OT Zimmerman Founder's Award, given annually to one person for contributions to the cost engineering professional community. The award was given during the World Congress of AACEI held in Toronto, Canada, on 1st July which was attended by more than 800 delegates.

Congratulations to Madhu from everyone in KEIL!

Congratulations to Francinah Morabe and Mavis Sompana on being made permanent staff members of Kentz Integrated Solutions in Vanderbijlpark, South Africa, earlier this year. Both ladies, who are sisters, are cleaners and tea ladies, and Francinah is also mother to David Morabe, Driver for the Vanderbijlpark office.

Welcome to the Kentz family and wishing you a happy future with the Company!

Communications and Branding Co-ordinators from Kentz offices around the world gathered in Doha recently for a 3-day Communications & Branding Conference.

On day 1 the team visited sites in Ras Laffan Industrial City. Pat Fogarty, Site Manager on the Pearl GLT job in Ras Laffan, gave the team a site walkabout and explained the importance of branding within the job and in the area/site. Darrell Breaux, Marketing Executive in Qatar who takes responsibility for site branding in Qatar, gave us a running commentary in between various sites. We were treated to a lovely lunch by the site canteen staff and we finished the tour by visiting the camp facilities.

Day two and three of the conference were action-packed with presentations and break-out group sessions covering: the Group Visual Identity Policy (GVIP), Corporate publications, the Kentz Group presentation, the branding audit results, benefits of quality pictures, the communications and commitment survey, the Group Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. Sinéad Mangan McHale, Public Relations and Marketing Consultant, gave an excellent presentation on effective writing skills, which was followed by a break-out session on practising what you've learned. The co-ordinators also gave constructive feedback to the Corporate department on what support they require in order to fulfil their roles effectively.

There was open and lively conversation from all participants, which resulted in great action points and further suggested improvements and amendments to branding and communication across the Group. These actions are currently being implemented.

The conference was a resounding success and Regina Byrne, Corporate Services Manager, would like to thank all attendees for their participation. Keep up the good work!

Brian Rooskrans, Accountant for Kentz Integrated Solutions, South Africa, initiated an indoor soccer challenge between the Services and Construction Projects Divisions. The teams comprised of a mixture of both divisions. Both teams were cheered on by supporters Pat Cass and brothers of Russell and Brian.

A great, albeit exhausting time was had by all, with the teams equalising by the end of the evening. Excellent ball skills were displayed, especially by the women, and the general consensus was that we have potential David Beckhams in Kentz! Brian is recruiting more players so the teams can play on a regular basis.