On Saturday, August 15th, Empire Group employees and their families gathered at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, PA, for a day filled with good food, laughter, classic rides, and quality time together. With nearly 100 employees and family members in attendance, this year’s Empire Group Family Fun Day was a wonderful opportunity to step away from the daily routine and enjoy being together. A Picnic Lunch to Kick Off the Day Before heading into the park, everyone gathered for a delicious picnic lunch featuring plenty of summertime favorites. A big thank you goes to Russ and Kristi Mountjoy for preparing the meal, providing the food, and manning the grill to make sure everyone was well fed and ready for a day of fun. The menu included: Hamburgers and hot dogs Chicken tenders Kielbasa Salads and side dishes Drinks Desserts With full plates and plenty of good conversation, it was the perfect way to start the day. Then, it was time to head into the park for roller coasters, train rides, games, and attractions. Making Memories, One Ride at a Time Throughout the day, everyone enjoyed all the park had to offer. Some took on the thrills of the rides, while others enjoyed a more leisurely day exploring the park. Rick and Melissa Dom took a relaxing train ride with their Yorkie-Poo, Ahsoka Tano. Meanwhile, Ellyn Harkin's niece and nephew may have been too small to ride the famous Phoenix wooden coaster, but that didn't stop them from getting in on the fun. They posed for a memorable picture in one of the coaster's cars instead! This year’s location was especially fitting. Knoebels is celebrating its 100th anniversary. The park traces its roots to 1926, when Henry Knoebel opened a swimming pool, restaurant, and carousel at his farm near Elysburg. Over the past century, Knoebels has grown into a beloved Pennsylvania destination with more than 100 rides and attractions, while maintaining the family-friendly atmosphere that has been part of its story from the beginning. Celebrating Empire Group's Family Fun Day at a Pennsylvania attraction with a century of family memories behind it was a fitting way to celebrate our own company family, with 70 years of memories and 10 years of coming to Knoebels. A Special Thank You We extend our heartfelt thanks to Todd & Karen O’Neill and Harry & Cathy O’Neill for making this special day possible. Their generosity and thoughtfulness allowed employees and their families to come together and enjoy one another’s company outside of the workplace. More Than a Day at the Park As the day came to an end, we left the park with new memories. This fun event brought together the entire Empire Group to enjoy a wonderful lunch and a variety of classic rides. It’s just one of the many events hosted by the company to celebrate employees and foster connections. These moments of joy and community are what make Empire Group feel like a family. We can’t wait until next year’s Family Fun Day!

As summer winds down and students prepare to head back to the classroom, schools across Pennsylvania are working behind the scenes to ensure their facilities are ready for a new academic year. From renovations to site improvements, there is often a lot to accomplish before the first bell rings. Empire Services, one of our affiliates, helps educational institutions prepare for the new school year with professional services that support site readiness, including demolition, excavation, civil work, grading, and paving. Helping Schools Get Ready During the Summer School construction projects can present some of the most challenging conditions for demolition and site work. A demolition project that might otherwise take several months may need to be completed during a short summer break. Contractors must work around school calendars, coordinate with other trades, and complete the project without disrupting the upcoming academic year. Maintaining safe access to the site is another important consideration, as playgrounds, athletic fields, sidewalks, parking areas, utilities, landscaping, and other structures may surround school buildings. These site constraints can also make equipment mobilization and material removal more difficult. And then there’s the deadline. The objective isn't simply to complete the work; it’s to complete it safely and efficiently. The Empire Services crew approaches each school project with careful planning. Before equipment arrives on site, they consider site access, staging areas, existing structures, underground utilities, project phasing, material handling, and the overall construction schedule. Empire’s experienced team has the skills to work in tight footprints and quickly adapt to the conditions of each site. The result? Schools can start the new academic year with improvements, renovations, and site work completed and ready for students, faculty, and staff. Experience Across the Tri-State Area Empire Services has completed projects for schools, colleges, universities, and other educational facilities throughout the region, including communities such as Reading, Wyomissing, Shillington, Lehigh Valley, Northampton, Phoenixville, Pottstown, Collegeville, Harrisburg, and Havertown. The team’s educational projects this year have included work at: Albright College — Reading, PA Chester High School — Chester, PA Chester Upland School of the Arts — Chester, PA Cleveland Elementary School — Allentown, PA Delaware County Intermediate Unit — Morton, PA Governor Mifflin Junior High School — Shillington, PA Governor Mifflin Senior High School — Shillington, PA KIPP Philadelphia Catto Elementary School — Philadelphia, PA Kutztown University — Kutztown, PA Montgomery County Intermediate Unit — Norristown, PA Muhlenberg Junior High School — Reading, PA Norristown High School — Norristown, PA Salford Hills Elementary School — Harleysville, PA These projects represent the diverse environments in which Empire Services operates and the different challenges that can come with educational construction and renovation work. From Demolition to Site Work, Empire Services Does the Heavy Lifting Preparing an educational facility for the new school year can involve much more than a fresh coat of paint. Major renovations and construction projects may require existing spaces or structures to be removed before new work can begin. Empire Services' expert craftsmanship supports various school projects, including: Interior and exterior demolition Structure demolition Excavation and site preparation Grading Foundation work Paving Other civil construction and site services This range of capabilities allows Empire Services to support educational projects at different stages—from clearing existing spaces to preparing the ground for new construction and improvements. Building a Better Start to the School Year Getting a school ready for the new year takes teamwork long before students walk through the doors. Behind every completed renovation, cleared space, new utility, graded site, or improved campus area are crews working to make those improvements possible. We take pride in how Empire Services helps educational institutions across the tri-state area prepare for what comes next. With capabilities spanning from demolition to civil work, Empire Services helps educational facilities tackle the work needed to improve, renovate, expand, and prepare their campuses for the future. As another school year begins, Empire Group and Empire Services will look back at these projects with pride, knowing that faculty, staff, and students will enjoy the renovations and upgrades.

It’s a hot summer for our affiliates. We’re reflecting on some of the exciting projects completed by Empire Group affiliates over the past few months. It’s been a pleasure helping our customers achieve their goals. From industrial cleaning to installing a culvert, our teams have taken on a wide range of projects. Let’s take a closer look at a few highlights.

Industrial remediation projects are rarely as simple as excavating contaminated soil and hauling it away. Whether contamination is discovered during a property transaction, facility expansion, tank closure, or environmental assessment, remediation involves a series of coordinated steps that can span months or even years. Site investigations, regulatory planning, field services, waste management, and documentation all play a role in moving a project toward closure. For industrial facilities throughout Pennsylvania, many of these projects are completed under the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Act 2 Land Recycling Program , which provides a framework for investigating contamination, achieving cleanup goals, and returning properties to productive use. Elk Environmental Services (Elk), one of our affiliates, provides remediation support that extends throughout the entire project lifecycle. From site preparation and contaminated material handling to transportation and disposal, Elk works alongside environmental consultants, engineers, contractors, and site managers to keep remediation projects moving efficiently while maintaining compliance. Understanding Site Conditions Before Remediation Begins Every successful remediation project starts with understanding the extent of contamination. Before cleanup activities can begin, environmental professionals must determine what contaminants are present, where they are located, and whether they pose a risk to human health or the environment. This investigation phase often includes soil sampling, groundwater monitoring, historical records reviews, and site inspections designed to establish the boundaries of contamination and identify potential pathways for migration. Industrial contamination can originate from many different sources. Historical manufacturing operations, petroleum releases, leaking storage tanks, chemical handling areas, wastewater management systems, and accidental spills can all contribute to environmental impacts that require remediation. In some cases, contamination may be limited to a small area. In others, contaminants may have migrated through soil or groundwater over time, creating a larger and more complex project. The information gathered during site investigations helps establish remediation objectives and provides the data needed to develop an effective cleanup strategy. It also allows project stakeholders to evaluate schedules, budgets, disposal requirements, and regulatory obligations before work moves into the field. Planning a Remediation Strategy Under Act 2 Once site conditions have been defined, planning becomes the next critical phase. Pennsylvania’s Act 2 program gives environmental professionals flexibility when selecting remediation standards based on site conditions and future property use. The program was created to encourage voluntary cleanup efforts while maintaining protections for human health and the environment, making it an important tool for industrial property owners, developers, and manufacturers. During the planning phase, environmental consultants work to establish cleanup goals, evaluate remedial alternatives, and prepare the documentation necessary to move a project forward. The Pennsylvania DEP provides detailed standards and guidance for Act 2 projects through its remediation program resources, helping project teams understand reporting requirements and cleanup expectations. For active industrial facilities, remediation planning often extends beyond environmental considerations. Project teams must account for production schedules, site access limitations, utility infrastructure, truck traffic, and worker safety requirements. Careful planning helps reduce disruptions while creating a roadmap for the field activities that follow. Where Cleanup Happens: Field Operations and Remediation Activities Once planning is complete, remediation activities move into the field. This phase often represents the most visible part of the project, but it is also where coordination becomes especially important. Cleanup activities must be performed safely, efficiently, and in accordance with project objectives and regulatory requirements. Many remediation projects involve contaminated soil excavation and removal. Excavated materials frequently require segregation, stockpile management, sampling, and waste characterization before transportation and disposal can occur. Site conditions may also require dewatering activities, groundwater management, or treatment of impacted water generated during excavation. Industrial infrastructure can add another layer of complexity. Underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, process piping, containment systems, and other site features often need to be removed, cleaned, or modified as part of the remediation process. These activities require specialized equipment and experienced personnel capable of adapting to changing field conditions. Elk Environmental supports remediation projects through a wide range of field services designed to address these challenges. From contaminated material handling and industrial cleaning to dewatering support and transportation, Elk’s expert field services team maintains momentum throughout remediation efforts. One of the most valuable tools on many remediation projects is vacuum truck technology. Elk’s vacuum truck services support the removal of contaminated liquids, wastewater, sludge, and debris while helping reduce manual handling requirements. Vacuum trucks are frequently used during tank cleaning projects, excavation support activities, spill response operations, and groundwater management efforts, making them an important resource on industrial remediation sites. Managing Waste and Maintaining Compliance Removing contamination from a site is only part of the remediation process. Once materials are generated, they must be properly classified, transported, and disposed of in accordance with applicable regulations. Waste characterization helps determine how contaminated soil, liquids, sludge, and debris should be managed and identifies approved facilities capable of accepting those materials. Waste management activities can significantly influence project schedules and costs. Transportation logistics, disposal approvals, laboratory analysis, and documentation requirements must all be coordinated to prevent delays. On larger projects, multiple waste streams may be generated simultaneously, requiring careful planning and communication among contractors, consultants, and disposal facilities. Because remediation projects often involve numerous stakeholders, maintaining clear communication throughout the cleanup process is essential. Coordinated waste management strategies help reduce bottlenecks and support efficient project execution in full compliance. Documentation, Verification, and Site Closure As field activities come to an end, attention turns toward verification and documentation. Confirmation sampling is often performed to demonstrate that cleanup objectives have been achieved. Laboratory data, waste manifests, disposal records, transportation documentation, and project summaries are compiled to create a comprehensive record of remediation activities. Under Act 2, documentation serves as the basis for regulatory review and project closure. Final reports provide regulators with the information necessary to evaluate cleanup efforts and determine whether remediation standards have been met. Thorough documentation can also support future property transactions, redevelopment initiatives, and long-term facility planning. While site closure represents the final stage of remediation, it is ultimately the result of extensive coordination among environmental professionals, field personnel, contractors, and regulatory agencies. Each phase contributes to achieving a successful outcome and reducing environmental risk. Supporting Remediation Projects from Start to Finish Industrial remediation is a process, not a single cleanup event. Successful projects require a clear understanding of site conditions, thoughtful planning, effective field execution, responsible waste management, and comprehensive documentation. When these elements work together, contaminated properties can move toward regulatory closure while supporting continued industrial operations or future redevelopment. Elk Environmental Services supports remediation projects throughout Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic region by providing the field services, equipment, transportation capabilities, and environmental expertise needed to move projects forward. Whether addressing contaminated soil, groundwater impacts, tank closures, or industrial cleanup activities, Elk helps clients navigate the remediation process while maintaining a focus on safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. Contact Elk today to learn what they can do for your remediation project.

Summer has always brought long, hot days, but in recent years, the heat has become more intense than ever. It seems like each summer the temperatures climb a little higher, and the data supports that feeling. If fact, experts are predicting this year to be the hottest —beating the record set in 2024. This means outdoor workers face greater risks than ever before. Whether you're working in construction, demolition , utility services , trucking , landscaping, roadwork, or any other outdoor profession , heat can be dangerous. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can lead to dehydration, heat exhaustion, and even life-threatening heat stroke. Knowing how to recognize the warning signs and take preventive measures can make all the difference.

Every business has a responsibility to protect its employees. Whether it's preventing falls on a construction site, ensuring proper handling of hazardous materials, or promoting safe driving practices, workplace safety remains one of the most important investments an organization can make. National Safety Month gives employers across industries an opportunity to reinforce their commitment to safety, educate their teams, and strengthen workplace practices that help prevent injuries and save lives.

As we look forward to summer, we’re reflecting on some of the exciting projects completed by Empire Group affiliate Empire Services over the past few months. It’s been a pleasure helping our customers achieve their goals. From excavating a corral to dismantling a roof, the Empire Services team has taken on a wide range of projects. Let’s take a closer look at a few highlights.

May is Building Safety Month and National Electrical Safety Month. These two initiatives highlight the crucial intersection of electrical and building safety in any construction or renovation project. With that in mind, it's an ideal time to reexamine current safety practices. Preventing even a single trip or electrical shock can protect both workers and productivity by avoiding injuries, lost work time, and potential OSHA violations. Let's briefly explore these important events.

Do you know how long it takes to send or read a text and take your eyes off the road? Five seconds. It only takes seconds for a car crash to happen. April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month. It’s a poignant reminder of the importance of staying focused on the road. This initiative, spearheaded by Shelly Forney after the tragic loss of her daughter in 2008, serves as a sobering call to action for drivers everywhere. As we reflect on the significance of this month, let's explore some practical strategies to mitigate distractions and promote safer truck driving habits. Stay Connected with Safety: The allure of our smartphones is undeniable, but using them while driving poses a significant risk. According to the Defensive Driving Institute, 8% of fatal crashes were reported as distraction-related. In 2025, Governor Shapiro of Pennsylvania signed into law ( Paul Miller’s Law ) that makes it illegal to use a hand-held device while driving, even while stopped at a red light. Even though there is a text-while-driving ban, Paul Miller’s Law forces people to put the phone down while their vehicle is in motion. Prep Before You Drive: Modern vehicles come equipped with an array of distractions right at our fingertips. Take a proactive approach by setting your radio stations, adjusting temperature controls, and programming your GPS before hitting the road. These seemingly innocuous tasks can demand significant attention, equivalent to engaging in a phone conversation. By minimizing these distractions, we can maintain focus on the primary task at hand: driving safely. Fuel for the Road, Not Distractions: In our fast-paced lives, the temptation to multitask extends to eating and drinking behind the wheel. However, the risks far outweigh the convenience. Not only does eating while driving increase the likelihood of spills and stains, but it's also against the law in many jurisdictions. For truck drivers, prioritize safety and compliance by taking regular breaks to refuel both yourself and your vehicle. Remember, a few extra minutes spent off the road can prevent a lifetime of regret. As we navigate National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, let's pledge to prioritize safety behind the wheel. By adopting proactive measures to mitigate distractions and promoting a culture of responsibility, we can collectively strive towards safer roads for all. At Empire Group, we are committed to ensuring the safety of affiliate truck drivers and the public through the latest safety training.