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Open Letter: It’s Time To Remind Frontline Workers How Much We Appreciate Them

Jan 06, 2022

Tyler Nottberg

CEO Tyler Nottberg thanks frontline workers for continuing to fight against covid-19
Tyler Nottberg // Chairman & Chief Optimist

To all the heroes working in healthcare, public safety and education, THANK YOU. Thank you for continuing to fight on the front lines against a relentless COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to sign this letter of support for everyone working tirelessly on the front line.

As business leaders, we know that community health is what makes it possible for us to operate our businesses, serve our customers, and ensure that our employees can provide for their families. The work you are doing each day makes that possible. So we are saying THANK YOU for doing more than just your job. THANK YOU for working longer hours, covering for co-workers, and being beacons of hope in all our communities.

We do not walk in your shoes or feel the anguish that comes with trying to serve so many patients and students with so many needs. We do not hear the crying in waiting rooms, classrooms, or ambulances. We do not and cannot do what you do.  But we appreciate every single effort you make to go the extra mile and provide help.

We are here to THANK YOU as professionals who wake up each day, knowing you will face increasingly daunting challenges. We see you are tired. We see you are frustrated. Yet you continue to move forward. You inspire us, and we want you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THIS FIGHT. We will continue to stand with you.

We are calling on fellow businesses to give thanks to you for helping our communities, our friends, and our families. We are also calling on businesses to support your work by investing in ways to keep people safe and encouraging them to follow the guidance of the healthcare community:

  • Wear masks in public.
  • Get vaccinated.
  • Get a booster.

Finally, we are calling on businesses to reach out right now to institutions on the front lines and offer to lend support in any way we can to honor frontline workers.

As a start, on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 7:00pm, we are asking businesses and individuals to flash their lights, clap, and make noise for a full five minutes to say THANK YOU. It could be house lights, holiday lights, car horns, pots, pans, or simply your voice. Wherever you are, join us!

If you are a business leader who wants to support frontline workers with us, please sign the form below to add your name to our list of supporters.

You were superheroes two years ago when this pandemic began, and you are STILL superheroes today. THANK YOU.

Tyler Nottberg
Chairman & Chief Optimist
U.S. Engineering Company Holdings

These individuals and businesses support our frontline workers. Add your name below.

*We will not share or distribute your information outside this list.


  • Aaron Deacon, KC Digital Drive
  • Abdulmajeed Baba Ahmed, Zahner
  • Abe Cole, BKD, LLP
  • Adriane & Kevin Latz, Children’s Mercy Hospital
  • Agnes Otto, Burns & McDonnell
  • Al Jones, Trane – Retired
  • Al Simmons, Moneta Group
  • Allan Bush, Alpha-Omega Geotech
  • AndrĂ© Davis, Built
  • Andrew Feagler, Laurel KC
  • Andrew Nottberg, KC Bold
  • Andy Rieger, J. Rieger & Co.
  • Angela Kennedy, Kansas City Area Development Council
  • Angelo Trozzolo, Trozzolo Communications Group
  • Angie Blumel, Jackson County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates)
  • Angie Galindo, American Heart Association
  • Apryl Lagunas, U.S. Engineering
  • Barry Brooks, U.S. Engineering
  • Ben Kent, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Bert Hill, U.S. Engineering
  • Beth Heslowitz, MARC
  • Bill Daniels, U.S. Engineering
  • Bill Vamce, Totino-Grace HS
  • Blake Hodges, Alight Analytics
  • Bob Jacobi, Labor-Management Council of GKC
  • Bob Regnier, Bank of Blue Valley
  • Brad Batz, Fike Corporation
  • Brad Satterwhite, KEM STUDIO
  • Brad Shelley, Pembroke Hill School
  • Brandon Kelsay, U.S. Engineering
  • Brandon Wikoff, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Brendan Rittel, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Brian Zickefoose, Husch Blackwell
  • Brian Zorbini, U.S. Engineering
  • Bryant Lamer, Spencer Fane LLP
  • Buzz Willlard, Tower Properties Company
  • C Courtney Walker, GastingerWalker&
  • C.D. Evans, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Caroline Magruder, ReDiscover
  • Caroline Magruder, ReDiscover
  • Carolyn Watley, CBIZ & Co-Chair KC Rising
  • Carrie Coogan, Kansas City Public Library
  • Caryn Becker, U.S. Engineering Construction – Rocky Mountain Region
  • Chad Doolittle, U.S. Engineering Metalworks
  • Charlene Downs, The University of Kansas Health System
  • Chase McAnulty, Charlie Hustle, LLC.
  • Chuck Maggiorotto, Country Club Bank Wealth Solutions
  • Cindy Brittain, Kansas City Area Development Council
  • Clay Daniels, U.S. Engineering Service
  • Cole Zenisek, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Craig Fritts, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Craig Vercruyse, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Dail Blake, Country Club Bank, The Battle Within
  • Damon Scruggs, Damon Scruggs Design
  • Dan Hausback, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Dan Manley, City of Lee's Summit Fire Department
  • Daniel Gaddis, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Darin Affeldt, Built Interior Construction
  • Darin Affeldt, Vail Resorts
  • David Wiley, Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
  • Dean and Pat Pearce, Pearce Enterprises
  • Dean Gray, MRIGlobal
  • Debbie Nelson, The University of Kansas Health System
  • Debbie Smith, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Deidre Anderson, EarlystART
  • Derek McCann, Kansas City Marriott Downtown
  • Diane Neubecker, Alzheimer's Association
  • Dick Caspermeyer, Country Club Trust Company
  • Dominique Davison, DRAW Architecture + Urban Design
  • Donna Jacobson, Community Volunteer
  • Donna Rose-Heim, Longview Chapel Christian Church
  • Dorita Diemer, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Dorita Diemer, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Dr. Cokethea Hill, BLAQUE KC
  • Dr. Greg Mosier, President, Kansas City Kansas Community College
  • Eddie Allen, The University of Kansas Health System
  • Elizabeth MacLeod Walls, William Jewell College
  • Emily Pogozelec, Overland Park Regional Medical Center
  • Eric Morgenstern, Morningstar Communications
  • Ernie Tricarico, Skyline heating/AC & Sheetmetal Inc
  • Frank Schroer, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Gary Abram and David Oliver, PLX Corp
  • Gary Downes, U.S. Engineering
  • Geoff Smart, Ph.D., ghSMART
  • Ginny Barnett, U.S. Engineering Service
  • Gordon Lansford, JE Dunn Construction
  • Graham Smith, Gould Evans
  • Grant Burcham, Cytek Corporation
  • Grant Gooding, PROOF Positioning
  • Greg Cotton, XO Sport & Development
  • Greg Maday, SpecChem
  • Greg Westbrook, Olathe Health
  • Gretchen Ivy, HNTB Corporation
  • Hugh T Andrews, Andrews McMeel Universal
  • Isabel Saenz, U.S. Engineering Service, LLC
  • Isha Kassen, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Jake Lindmark, Optimally
  • Jake Reid, Sporting KC
  • James Archuleta, US Innovations
  • Jamie Leeper, Rx Savings Solutions
  • Jamie Reese, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Jamison Clark, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Jarrod Foster, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Jason Banks, JE Dunn Construction
  • Jason Carter Solomon, Landmark National Bank
  • Jason French, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Jason Swords, Sunflower Development Group, LLC
  • Jeff Bloemker, HCA Healthcare
  • Jeff Dobbs, Retired KPMG
  • Jeff Healy, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Jeff Jones, H&R Block
  • Jen Peters Anstoetter, Favorite Healthcare Staffing
  • Jim Armer, The University of Kansas Health System
  • Joe Reardon, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
  • Joel Goldberg, JG Broadcasting, LLC
  • Joel Price, U.S. Engineering
  • John F. Murphy, J Murphy Strategies
  • John Gates, Gates Westering, LLC
  • John Holley, US Engineering Construction
  • John Marlow, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • John Wright, Jorban Riscoe LLC
  • Johnny Carlin, U.S. Engineering
  • Jon Howland, DEWALT
  • Julie & Keith Thompson, Brewery Emperial
  • Julie Graham, Univerity of Kansas Health System
  • Julie Klima, Gift of Life
  • Julie Weeks, Boulevard Brewing Company
  • Justin Apprill, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Justin Watkins, Native Digital
  • Kaitlin Bast, The Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
  • Kasey Vena, Country Club Plaza
  • Katherine Taylor, Studio 421 Floral Designs
  • Katie Cortis, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Keely Schneider, Workforce Partnership
  • Kelly Ranallo, RareKC
  • KEN BAXTER, JORBAN RISCOE, LLC
  • Kenneth Durgans, Kansas City University
  • Kent Barnow, U.S. Stone Industries
  • Kevin Harre, Jorban-Riscoe, LLC
  • Kevin Pistilli, Raphael Hotel Group
  • Kim Henderson, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Kim Stanley, Braden's Hope for Childhood Cancer
  • Kimberly Beatty, Metropolitan Community College
  • Kirk Johnston, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Kristen Rockwood, U.S. Engineering
  • Kristin Thrasher, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Laura Evans, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
  • Laura Lopez, American Heart Association
  • Laurel Hogue, UCM
  • Lauren Conaway, InnovateHER KC
  • Laurie Minard, Garmin
  • Lexie Terrono, St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church
  • Linda Endecott, iValution
  • Lloyd Ward, U.S. Engineering Metalworks
  • Lora S. Dolezilek, BSN, RN, University of Kansas Hospital – Kansas City Division
  • Lucas Sloan, U.S. Engineering Service – Flint Hills Region
  • Lynette Wheeler, University Health Lakewood Medical Center
  • Maggie Nottberg, Shawnee Mission East High School
  • Mandy Kelsay, Charles D. Jones Company
  • Margaret Perkins-McGuinness, The Kansas City Public Library
  • Maria Elena Grimoldi, my home
  • Maria Maffry, BNIM
  • Maria Mendoza, Impacto Fund Inc.
  • Mariner Kemper, UMB Financial Corporation
  • Mark Davis, U.S. Engineering
  • Mark Oxler, U.S. Engineering
  • Mark Regan, U.S. Innovations
  • Mark Thompson, Country Club Bank
  • Marshall H. Dean, DDI Realty Services, Inc.
  • Martha Gershun, Nonprofit consultant, community volunteer, living kidney donor
  • Martin Slimmer, Cerner Corporation / Feed Northland Kids
  • Mary McCann, GBA
  • Matt Staub, Proxima
  • Matt Wendel, Shook Construction
  • Melissa Agne, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Melva Brownlee, Children's Mercy Hospital
  • Meyer Sosland, Sosland Companies
  • Michael Capasso, U.S. Engineering
  • Michael Fenske, Burns & McDonnell
  • Michael Hoehn, Automatic Systems, Inc.
  • Michael Paulus, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Michael Terrono, Myers & Stauffer
  • Michelle Sweeney, Ingram's Magazine
  • Mike Heckman, Rockcreek Way
  • Mike Jackson, U.S. Engineering
  • Mike Stradinger, Holland 1916
  • Mike Zimmerman, Artisan Technology Group
  • Mike Zykan, U.S. Engineering
  • Molly Weaver, Children's Mercy Hospital
  • Molly Westering Hunter, Gates Westering, LLC
  • Monte Holman, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Nate Orr, Spencer Fane
  • Nate Persell, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Nathan Benjamin, Burns & McDonnell
  • Nathan Cooper, SMACNA Colorado
  • Nathaniel Hagedorn, NorthPoint DEVELOPMENT
  • Neal Sharma, Co-Chair, KC RIsing
  • Nichol Ziegler, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Nicholas Vonch, U.S. Engineering
  • Nick Adams, HCA Midwest Health
  • Paul Fogel, Karbank Real Estate Co
  • Paul Kempinski, Children's Mercy Kansas City
  • Paul McKittrick, U.S. Engineering
  • Paul Schofer, Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts
  • Paula Neth, The Family Conservancy
  • Pedro Zamora, Hispanic Economic Development Corporation
  • Pete B. Browne, Kissick Construction Company
  • Phil Accio, UMKC
  • Phil Endecott, Endecott Construction
  • Polly Thomas, CBIZ
  • Qiana Thomason, Health Forward Foundation
  • Quentin McArthur, McQueeny Group, Inc.
  • Reeve Marksbury, Good Otis LLC
  • Rich Huber, U.S. Engineering
  • Richard Green, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Richard Werremeyer, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Rick Norden, Fairbanks Scales Inc.
  • Robert Silvius, U.S. Engineering
  • Rodney Heying, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Rolinda Forge, The University of Kansas Health System
  • Ron Lockton, Lockton Companies
  • Roshann Parris, Parris Communications
  • Roy Jensen, MechOne, Inc.
  • Ryan Arnett, JORBAN-RISCOE, LLC
  • Ryan D. Eder, U.S. Engineering
  • Ryan Frazier, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Ryan Reed, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Ryan Sciara, Underdog Wine Co.
  • Ryan Soden, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Ryan Wineinger, Wineinger Eye Care
  • Sally Platt, U.S. Engineering
  • Sam Huenergardt, AdventHealth
  • Scott Hager, U.S. Engineering Metalworks
  • Scott Havens, HUB International
  • Scott Jones, Air Purification Company
  • Scott Kiefer, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Scott Laband, Colorado Succeeds
  • Scott Mitchell, U.S. Engineering Metalworks
  • Seth Preston, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Shakia Webb, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
  • Shannon Roganovic, Millennium Properties 360, LLC
  • Sharon Burton, U.S. Engineering
  • Sharon Pace, Saint Luke's Health System/Bishop Spencer Place
  • Sheila Speake, U.S. Engineering Service
  • Sherry Turner, OneKC for Women
  • Stacey Stites, U.S. Engineering Service
  • Stacie Prosser, Kansas City Business Journal
  • Stacy Terrono, St. Luke's Hospital
  • Stan Meyers, Terracon
  • Stephen McDowell, BNIM
  • Stephenie K Smith. MSW, Sophic Solutions, LLC
  • Steve Renz, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management
  • Suzanne Gochis, Metropolitan Community College
  • Suzy Hall, Country Club Trust Company
  • Tammer Khattab, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Teresa Keller, Olathe Health
  • Teri Allison, U.S. Engineerng Company
  • Terri McMahon, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Theodis Watson, Central Bank of the Midwest/ Urban Financial Services Coalition
  • Thomas Kepka, U.S. Engineering Company Holdings
  • Thomas O’Grady, HNTB Corporation
  • Tiffany Patrick, U.S. Engineering Innovations
  • Tim Cowden, Kansas City Area Development Council
  • Tim Taylor, America Succeeds
  • Tobin Gerstner, U.S. Engineering
  • Todd VonLintel, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Tom Myers, U.S. Engineering
  • Tom Poeling, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Tony Italiano, U.S. Engineering
  • Torree Pederson, Aligned
  • Tracey Osborne Oltjen, Overland Park Chamber of Commerce
  • Trevor McDowell, Goodwin Brothers Construction Company
  • Trish Bollinger, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Tucker Trotter, Dimensional Innovations
  • TW Terrono, T&S Management Services LLC
  • Vincent Paul Gauthier, Authenticity City | Urban Realty Interests, Inc.
  • Walt Bleser, ARE Corporation
  • Walter and Susan George, Retired
  • Wendy Guillies, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
  • Wendy Reynolds, HTLF
  • Wes DeLong, U.S. Engineering Construction
  • Yolonda Guyton, Built

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