8-koi Joins CDE in Welcoming Suzanne Patrick as Director of Operations

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8-koi’s Cape Design Engineering Co. welcomes Suzanne Patrick as Director of Operations in Q1. Suzanne brings a wealth of experience in facility design, construction, and management with a balanced appreciation for the art of design and the rigors of engineering solutions. In all her projects, Suzanne maintains a commitment to the reliability and practicality of facility operations while practicing effective team relations.

“The heart of my work has always been focused on people. Increasing productivity and enhancing collaboration of people at work has been my passion. I am safety-first, health and well-being minded for all occupants of a building and workers on a jobsite,” says Suzanne.

Her professional career includes a highly varied sampling of delivering and managing workplaces from software design and data centers to highly advanced manufacturing centers of excellence. Her work also includes sales offices, call centers, educational laboratories, and corporate real estate executive (CRE) across the Americas.

“We are fortunate to have Suzanne on our team in this leadership role,” says President Inga Young. “Suzanne exemplifies our commitment to excellence and has the background to uphold our reputation for commissioning complex high-end projects in both public and private sectors. Our team looks forward to growing and learning together with Suzanne’s guidance.”

Learn more about our woman-owned Design Engineering capabilities and connect with Suzanne about starting new or troubleshooting your current projects.

8-koi Honored with HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion

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For the fourth consecutive year, 8-koi is recognized as a Platinum Medallion Awardee for the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Medallion Program. In a virtual ceremony held on 31 October, U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su recognized 8-koi as one of a total of 838 organizations across the United States.

In 2022, 8-koi hired sixteen US Military Veterans and now joins the 66 Florida companies that received awards for demonstrating unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. Implemented by the requirements of the HIRE Vets Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-31), the HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal award recognizing exceptional achievement in veteran employment. By meeting the criteria required for a Platinum Medallion Award, 8-koi “demonstrated both patriotism and recognition of the value veterans bring to the workplace.”

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8-koi Celebrates ‘Sweet 16’ on August 8th

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“When I started 8-koi, I wanted to be a better employer where people worked together for a common goal to provide for their families and be a happy place to work, where legacies would live on. By being a good employer, we would therefore be a good service provider to our customers.” – Inga Young

On August 8, 2008, 8-koi Founder Inga Young put into motion her idea to offer a more efficient option to the government for high quality management of Federal contracting services. After years of helping other businesses succeed as a DCAA-compliant contract accountant, Inga reflected at her favorite koi pond and was inspired to start her own company, one where she could do better than others.

Inga’s Favorite Koi Pond

Since that day, Inga has had the opportunity to grow and learn along the way. Read Inga’s “Thirteen Things I’ve Learned About Business” for more insight.

This year, 8-koi employees contributed more about their experiences to help round out “Sixteen Things You Should Know About 8-koi” listed below:

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8-koi Honored with HIRE Vets Platinum Medallion

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On November 8th, 8-koi was officially recognized during a virtual ceremony as a Platinum Medallion Awardee for the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Medallion Program by U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor Julie A. Su. This is 8-koi’s third consecutive HIRE Vets award.

In 2022, 8-koi hired sixteen US Military Veterans and now joins 859 organizations across the United States that received awards for demonstrating unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans. Implemented by the requirements of the HIRE Vets Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-31), the HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal award recognizing exceptional achievement in veteran employment. By meeting the criteria required for a Platinum Medallion Award, 8-koi “demonstrated both patriotism and recognition of the value veterans bring to the workplace.”

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8-koi Celebrates 15 Years!

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Fifteen years ago, University of Florida accounting graduate and show dog mom Inga Young founded 8-koi on August 8th in her hometown of Melbourne, Florida. Since then, the woman-owned small business has grown to support millions of dollars in government contracts and hired hundreds of employees around the US. As a first generation American, Inga credits her success to her parents, and practices everyday gratitude for the opportunity to learn from her coworkers and peers in the industry. Design, build, staff, and supply… 8-koi offers full-spectrum contracting solutions with a human touch. See more about the EDWOSB’s capabilities in design engineering, construction, and technical services.

8-koi Honored with HIRE Vets Gold Medallion for Second Year in a Row

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On November 9th, 8-koi was officially recognized during a virtual ceremony as a Gold Medallion Awardee for the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing American Military Veterans (HIRE Vets) Medallion Program by U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin J. Walsh. The HIRE Vets Medallion Award is earned by businesses that demonstrate unparalleled commitment to attracting, hiring and retaining veterans.

In 2022, 8-koi is one of a total of 835 organizations across the United States that received awards. Implemented by the requirements of the HIRE Vets Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-31), the HIRE Vets Medallion Award is the only federal award recognizing exceptional achievement in veteran employment. By meeting the criteria required for a Gold Medallion Award, 8-koi “demonstrated both patriotism and recognition of the value veterans bring to the workplace.”

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8-koi Receives Patent for Military Approved Bollard System

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The US Patent Office issued Patent No. US 11,319,681 B2 to 8-koi on May 3, 2022 for a bollard system invented by 8-koi VP of Construction Otto Herrera. The patent application for the physical security device used to restrict vehicular movement was filed August 6, 2020 in response to a DoD customer’s request for a solution to their force protection.

“Their fancy hydraulic traffic retractable bollard system was inoperable because of built up debris and muck within the mechanism. I couldn’t fix the existing problem, nor could the manufacturer, but I thought a simpler retractable system could serve the same purpose,” says Otto. “I proposed a conceptional system with a cardboard model to test the basic functionality for a customer demonstration and they greenlighted it.”

Otto went to work to complete the design and fabricate a full-sized prototype to install and test. The total cost for the first unit is a tremendous cost savings when compared to the dysfunctional barrier system that was installed, not inclusive of the time lost and the associated labor required to maintain the original system.

8-koi’s patented OttoBollardTM deployed at secure facility

The simple OttoBollardTM design is made to be permanently installed, stowed in place, easily maintained, and operated manually to replace more complicated and expensive hydraulic traffic control systems. It is designed to give property owners the choice of how and when they change protection levels and or traffic patterns. As an example of maintainability, 8-koi’s OttoBollardTM was easily repaired and made ready for service with minimal downtime the same day following impact.

Applications include property egress paths, facility egress paths, civic meeting places, and roads and other similar locations where bollard systems are not to be permanently installed and there is a need to modify or change potential traffic patterns. The OttoBollardTM eliminates off site storage of temporary bollards or other similar systems when not in use. The OttoBollardTM reduces recurring costs of transport, manpower, rental, and deployment.

8-koi’s patented OttoBollardTM in the secured position

“Our patented bollard is a simple system that is quick to deploy, operates without electricity or hydraulics, requires no storage, and works in all weather conditions,” says 8-koi President Inga Young. “We are looking forward to targeting sales to municipalities for secure event areas like sports arenas, stadiums, and parks to help with crowd control and hopefully avoid tragic public safety disasters such as the recent parade crashing events we see on the news.”

A woman-owned company, 8-koi currently supports design engineering and construction contracts with public and private organizations to include Eastern Florida State College, Daytona State College, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, and Army Corps of Engineers among others. See more construction capabilities.

DOWNLOAD OttoBollardTM sales flyer PDF.