Author: Stephanie Phillips

O’Brien’s team was proud to join the Housing Authority of Lincoln County, Oregon Housing and Community Services, WaFd Bank, and community supporters to celebrate the completion of the Depoe Bay Townhomes, a new affordable housing community nestled along the Oregon Coast.

The ribbon cutting ceremony brought together staff, leadership, and board members across HALC, OHCS, O’Brien, Open Concept Architecture, and WaFd Bank, along with neighbors from the adjacent Whale Cove Inn and representatives from the Newport Chamber of Commerce.

The project was primarily funded through OHCS’s Disaster Recovery and LIFT programs, reflecting a direct investment in communities still recovering from the devastating 2020 wildfires. Neil Barrett of Oregon Housing and Community Services spoke at the ceremony, representing the state’s commitment to rebuilding housing stability along the coast. WaFd Bank also played a key role as a financial partner in bringing the project to completion.

HALC will own and manage the Depoe Bay Townhomes long-term, ensuring the community remains a stable, affordable resource for Lincoln County residents for years to come.

A Response to Real Need

The Depoe Bay Townhomes were developed to address a pressing need for affordable housing on the Oregon Coast, where rising costs and limited availability have strained working families and vulnerable households. The 12 townhome units are available to households earning 60% or less of the area median income, with two units reserved for households at 30% AMI. Leasing prioritizes residents who live or work in Lincoln County and households displaced by the 2020 Echo Mountain Complex wildfires.

“With rising housing costs and limited availability, projects like Depoe Bay Townhomes are essential. By providing high-quality, affordable homes for working families and those most in need, we’re strengthening the fabric of our coastal communities for the long term.”

Karen Rockwell, Executive Director, HALC

Designed and Built for the Oregon Coast

The project was delivered through a design-build partnership between O’Brien & Company and Open Concept Architecture, with both firms collaborating from early design through construction completion. The two-building development features six townhome units per building, each with shared outdoor spaces designed to foster a sense of community among residents.

Open Concept Architecture designed the homes to meet the specific demands of the coastal Oregon environment — built to resist fire threats and optimized for energy efficiency to help reduce long-term living costs for residents. Construction was completed in approximately one year, a timeline that required creative problem-solving to address challenging soil conditions and coastal groundwater encountered during the build.

A Model for What’s Possible

The Depoe Bay Townhomes represent more than a completed construction project — they represent what becomes possible when public agencies, financial institutions, and design-build partners align around a shared goal. For O’Brien & Company and Open Concept Architecture, this project reflects our commitment to delivering high-quality, purpose-driven work that makes a lasting difference in the communities we serve.

We are honored to have partnered with HALC on this effort and look forward to continuing that work as new housing opportunities take shape across Lincoln County.

Celebrating Our First-Ever Safe Driver of the Year, 2025

At O’Brien, safety is more than a metric. It shapes how we work, how we serve our clients, and how we look out for one another every day.

That’s why we’re especially proud to celebrate a milestone moment for our team: the naming of our first-ever Safe Driver of the Year.

This award recognizes the driver whose commitment to safety, consistency, and dedication set a new benchmark for what success behind the wheel looks like. For 2025, that honor goes to Greg Pitts.

2025 Safe Driver of the Year Award:
Greg Pitts

Congratulations, and thank you to Greg for his year-round consistency, accountability, and commitment to safe driving!

Greg Pitts on a construction site by the ocean

Over the course of 21,069 miles driven, Greg set a remarkable standard for safe driving across our fleet. His performance reflects the kind of steady focus, discipline, and professionalism that helps keep everyone safer on the road.

Greg earned this recognition with:

  • the lowest speeding violations in the entire fleet
  • the lowest overall safety events, including only:
    • 2 hard braking events
    • 5 quick starts
    • 0 harsh cornering events
  • an outstanding 98% average safety score for the year

These numbers are impressive on their own, but they also tell a bigger story. Safe driving is not just about avoiding incidents — it’s about making smart decisions mile after mile, staying alert, driving defensively, and approaching every trip with care.

Greg’s performance is a strong example of what that looks like in action.

As our 2025 Safe Driver of the Year, Greg will also receive a $100 gift card in recognition of this achievement.

Recognizing Our Top Performers

This recognition also gives us the opportunity to celebrate others who demonstrated exceptional commitment to safe driving throughout the year.

  • 2nd Place: Mark Green
  • 3rd Place: Gordon Miller

We’re proud to recognize all three drivers for the example they set and the consistency they bring to the road each day.

A Culture of Safety

It protects our communities, strengthens our reputation, and helps ensure that everyone gets home safely at the end of the day. Just as importantly, it reflects the kind of culture we continue to build at O’Brien — one grounded in responsibility, professionalism, and care for people.

Congratulations again to Greg Pitts, our 2025 Safe Driver of the Year. Thank you for setting the pace and raising the standard for all of us.

Thank you, and drive safely everyone.

Oregon is known for its diverse seasons (sometimes all in the same week).

February driving can be unpredictable. One day roads are clear and dry, the next brings freezing rain, early morning frost, or heavy traffic from shifting weather patterns. With shorter daylight hours and changing road conditions, this time of year demands patience, awareness, and disciplined habits behind the wheel. Safe driving in February is about planning ahead and creating space before you ever need it, not reacting quickly.

This month’s Safe Driver had a remarkable month. That’s not luck, it’s consistency.

  • With 2,527 miles driven, zero harsh cornering events, zero hard braking, zero quick starts, extremely low speeding violations, and a 98% safety score, their performance shows what steady, disciplined driving looks like over time.
  • Driving over 2,500 miles in winter conditions without aggressive inputs means one thing: this driver isn’t reacting at the last second. They’re anticipating. And anticipation is the foundation of defensive driving.

A 98% safety score over high mileage doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when a driver maintains space, plans movements early, and treats every mile like it matters.

Safe Driving Tips for February

Safe Following Distance is one of the most overlooked, yet most powerful, risk-reduction habits on the road.

  • Hard braking events often start long before the brake pedal is pressed. Don’t follow too closely, and never assume traffic will keep moving. It can slow to a halt at a moment’s notice.
  • Maintaining proper following distance gives you more time to process hazards and brake more smoothly. This also means better fuel efficiency and lower wear and tear on vehicles.

The more space you leave between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you, the more control you have in unpredictable situations.

As we move through February, challenge yourself to focus on smoothness over speed and spacing over squeezing in. The safest drivers aren’t the fastest or the most reactive, they’re the most deliberate.

Thank you, and drive safely everyone.

Now, with all that said, let’s give some recognition to our safest driver of December!

January’s Safe Driver Award:
Bill Keiner

Congratulations, and thank you to Bill for being our Safe Driver of December!

Let’s all make a resolution to keep ourselves and our communities safe this year.

The start of the new year brings shorter days, colder weather, and unpredictable road conditions. Whether you’re commuting to work, driving between job sites, or heading home after a long day, winter driving requires extra awareness and preparation.

It’s a time for starting fresh, so here’s a refresher:

  • Motor accidents account for 3000 fatalities a year. That’s 43% of accidental deaths in the United States, and the #1 cause of death in the workplace.
  • The most common causes of vehicle accidents are unsafe driving practices due to road rage, reckless driving, and cell phone usage.

Even if you stay calm and collected, the only car you’re driving is your own. Always be aware of other drivers on the road. If you see dangerous behavior, slow down your vehicle, and if necessary, pull off to the side of the road. A few seconds lost are worth a lot less than your life.

Safe Driving Tips for Winter

  • Slow down and increase following distance. Ice, snow, and slush reduce tire traction, making stopping distances much longer than usual.
  • Prepare your vehicle. Ensure tires are properly inflated with good tread, windshield washer fluid is topped up, and lights and wipers are working properly.
  • Watch for black ice. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded areas can freeze even when roads look clear.
  • Plan ahead. Check weather and traffic conditions before leaving, allow extra travel time, and avoid unnecessary trips during severe weather.
  • Stay visible and alert. Use headlights in low-light or snowy conditions and remain extra cautious during early mornings and evenings when visibility is reduced.

Safe driving isn’t just about protecting yourself—it helps protect coworkers, families, and everyone else on the road. A few extra minutes and a little added caution can make all the difference during the winter months.

Thank you, and drive safely everyone.

Now, with all that said, let’s give some recognition to our safest driver of December!

December’s Safe Driver Award:
Mark Green

Congratulations, and thank you to Mark for being our Safe Driver of December!

Thank you Elly! 10 years with O'Brien.

On Sunday, January 18th, Elly Carroll’s career with O’Brien turned 10 years old! If you talk to anyone at O’Brien about what Elly means to the company, you’ll hear one thing again and again. Elly is the light that makes everyone’s days a little brighter. She supports us in large and small ways alike, she makes us laugh, and she reminds us that the care we have for one another is just as important as the work we do.

Elly is always approachable, and willing to help with anything and everything she can, whether it falls under her responsibilities or not. This, despite the fact that, like all HR Directors, she is one of the busiest, hardest working people on the face of the planet. What she has built here at O’Brien is truly special, and we are all made better for it. She has been an invaluable part of O’Brien’s journey since our early beginnings, and there is no thanks enough for the role she plays in each and every one of our workdays.

Congratulations on 10 years Elly! And cheers to what’s ahead.

Cold Weather & Early-Morning Frost Safety

As temperatures drop in November and December, cold mornings become a regular part of the workday in the Pacific Northwest. Cold-weather driving requires patience, preparation, and awareness. A few simple precautions can significantly reduce risk during the winter months.

Safe Driving Tips for Winter

  • Warm up the vehicle fully to defrost all windows before leaving the yard or jobsite.
  • Avoid sudden braking or sharp steering — ice patches can appear unexpectedly.
  • Check tire pressure regularly, as cold temperatures cause pressure drops that affect handling.
  • Keep emergency gear (blanket, gloves, flashlight) in work trucks used for early departures.

Be Especially Wary of Black Ice and Hidden Frost Hazards

Black ice forms when moisture freezes into a thin, nearly invisible layer. Because it blends with the pavement, it often gives no warning until tires begin to slide.

Key areas to watch:

  • Bridges and overpasses — these freeze first because they have cold air circulating above and below.
  • Shaded roads and tree-lined stretches, which stay colder than surrounding areas.
  • Rural and secondary roads, especially near fields, rivers, and low-lying areas.

If you suspect ice, slow down before reaching the area and avoid braking while on the slick surface.

Thank you, and drive safely everyone.

Now, with all that said, let’s give some recognition to our safest driver of October!

October’s Safe Driver Award:
Tony Kennedy

Congratulations to Tony for being our Safe Driver of October!