Meet The Team

Insights and Goals from Synergi’s In-House Safety Inspector, Raymond Stokes

Since February 2024, Raymond Stokes has served as Synergi’s in-house Safety Inspector, bringing a focused, proactive approach to job-site and company-wide safety. His role reflects Synergi’s belief that safety is a mindset that must be reinforced every day. “One of my biggest goals has been to make safety a constant part of how we work, not something we only think about after the fact,” Raymond explains.

“One of my biggest goals has been to make safety a constant part of how we work, not something we only think about after the fact.”

Building a Consistent Safety Culture

Synergi has also held First Aid and CPR classes at its headquarters to certify members of the office team. While this training has long been part of the requirements for the construction team, extending it to office employees reinforces that safety matters for everyone at Synergi. First Aid and CPR are valuable life skills, and making this training accessible allows employees across the company to feel confident, prepared, and cared for.

Over the past year, Raymond has helped implement monthly safety meetings with the entire construction team, creating a dedicated forum to review the previous month through a safety-only lens. These meetings highlight lessons learned, reinforce accountability, and celebrate proactive behavior in the field. Each meeting includes a ‘Good Save’, a real-world example of a potential hazard that was identified and corrected before it became an incident, along with a focused training session. “The training topic changes every month and is always tied to what our teams are actually encountering on job sites,” Raymond says. Topics range from first aid and fall protection to working safely in extreme hot or cold conditions.

To further support this effort, Site Managers and Project Managers complete safety reports for the projects they oversee, ensuring every team takes time to evaluate work with safety as the primary focus. In addition to field efforts, Synergi has implemented a weekly toolbox talk in the shop, connecting shop-based hazards with real job-site conditions. “These conversations help reinforce that the work we do in the shop closely mirrors what happens in the field,” Raymond notes. “It keeps safety consistent across the board.”

Synergi’s team in our headquarters fabrication shop.

Raising the Standard Through Training

A key policy introduced under Raymond’s leadership is the requirement that all Site Managers renew their OSHA 30 certification every five years. While some states already mandate this, Synergi has chosen to adopt it company-wide. “Construction is constantly changing,” Raymond says. “Keeping our teams up to date with OSHA rules and regulations is a net positive for everyone on our job sites.” This forward-looking approach allows Synergi to stay ahead of industry trends while ensuring crews are equipped with the most current safety knowledge.

Protected treads on Synergi’s stair at Deloitte offices in Boston, MA.

Extending Safety Beyond the Job Site

Safety at Synergi isn’t limited to the field. First Aid and CPR certification classes have been held at Synergi headquarters, extending training opportunities to office staff as well. “It’s important to remember that our office employees are Synergi employees too—and they need to be safe as well,” Raymond explains. “First Aid and CPR are great life skills for anyone to have, and I’m glad Synergi makes those courses available.”

Synergi’s First Aid and CPR certification classes being held at Synergi headquarters.

Recognizing the People Who Make Safety Happen

While policies and training are critical, Raymond emphasizes that people make the difference—especially Synergi’s Site Managers. “We can have all the policies in place, but having the right personnel in the field every day is what makes those policies work,” he says. “Their commitment to safety is fantastic and deserves to be recognized.”

Safety in Action: Projects to Be Proud Of

Reflecting on projects he’s been involved with, Raymond points to Princeton and T. Rowe Price as examples of safety done right. Each presented different challenges, yet both were executed with strong safety practices and completed successfully. More recently, the General Contractor on a Synergi project in New York recognized the quality of Synergi’s pre-task plans. “All the credit goes to Ryan Story, Synergi’s Site Manager on that project,” Raymond says. “It makes me extremely proud to see our Site Managers getting recognition from the people who hire us.”

Synergi’s team on-site at T Rowe Price Headquarters in Baltimore, MD.

What Is a ‘Good Save’?

A Good Save is defined as a near miss that never happens. “Our goal is to identify potential hazards and correct them before they turn into a near miss—or worse,” Raymond explains. Team members document these observations in Procore, allowing lessons learned on one project to benefit teams across all job sites. “That shared awareness is a big part of how we keep our people safe,” he adds.