SEM Team Joins Forces for Operation Playhouse

October 9, 2020 at 6:52 pm by Amanda Canale

WESTBOROUGH, MA, October 9, 2020 – Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, spent the day of Thursday, October 8, 2020 partnering with Habitat for Humanity for Operation Playhouse. The operation allows the opportunity for local Worcester County businesses to partner with veteran and military families to build and donate a playhouse to the family’s children. Each year, participating local businesses receive construction plans, paint, and a deconstructed house to build, and are given free reign to decorate the playhouses based on the children’s interests.

This year, SEM decorated the playhouse for Marine veteran Allen Proctor’s family and their three-year-old daughter Charlotte. Proctor served in the U.S. Marines from 2003 to 2007.

After weeks of planning, the team arrived onsite at SEM headquarters bright and early to start building Charlotte’s playhouse. Operation Playhouse’s 2020 theme was “barnyard,” so the SEM team decided to get creative and adopted a Charlotte’s Web aesthetic as a play on the three-year-old’s name.

“SEM was founded by a Korean War veteran and we work very closely with all branches of the military, so this cause is always very dear to our hearts,” said Andrew Kelleher, SEM President. “It is always an absolute honor to come together and give back to a family that has given so much to our country.”

The SEM team all gathered safely outside to welcome the Proctor family with a round of applause as Charlotte excitedly ran towards her all-pink playhouse, her favorite color. The house was adorned with a hand painted sign reading, “Charlotte’s Barn” with a monogrammed pink rocking chair on the front porch. Inside, Charlotte’s Barn was filled with stuffed farm animals, a white and pink polka dotted bean bag chair, Little People farm set, and copies of Charlotte’s Web on DVD and novel written by E.B. White. Charlotte’s favorite feature was the brown hobbyhorse that patiently awaited her arrival outside the playhouse.

“As a team, we had so many great ideas for how we could make this the best playhouse for Charlotte, so to see her ecstatic reaction to everything was incredibly heartwarming,” said Amanda Canale, Marketing Assistant at SEM.

This is SEM’s third year taking part in Operation Playhouse and certainly won’t be the last. “We look forward to this every year and are already excitedly planning for next year,” added Canale.

Watch a recap of the day in the video below.

About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Security Engineered Machinery Donates to Local Habitat for Humanity #BeamOfHope Fund

June 4, 2020 at 3:41 pm by Flora Knolton

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, donated $2,500 to the Habitat for Humanity MetroWest/Greater Worcester (Habitat) #BeamOfHope fund to support local veteran families in need during the coronavirus crisis. During a fundraising drive in the month of May, SEM employees pledged $1,250 and SEM provided a 100% match.

“During the current pandemic, Habitat for Humanity made a plea for some desperately-needed funds, and SEM answered the call,” commented Nicholas Cakounes, SEM Executive Vice President. “We’ve partnered with this incredible organization in the past, and we’d hate to see this crisis leave them unable to assist veterans who are struggling to find or keep housing.”

As a Veteran-owned company that supplies critical equipment to the Department of Defense and other government organizations, SEM is committed to Habitat’s mission of assisting Veterans. Since 2018, SEM has participated annually in Operation Playhouse, a unique program offered through Habitat for Humanity enabling local businesses and organizations to build and donate a custom playhouse to benefit the children of local veterans and military personnel. Habitat’s #BeamOfHope Crisis Fund was implemented as the organization is struggling for revenue amid a crisis where not many people are suited to donate due to the impact of the global coronavirus pandemic. SEM stands with Habitat in hopes they can continue serving those most in need.

“We were honored to give to Habitat for Humanity as their non-profit does so much good for veterans who need homes. We hope this donation along with others helps them serve those who need it most and to survive this financial crisis,” added David DiTullio, SEM’s Vice President of Finance.

Deborah Huegel, Vice President of Philanthropy of Metrowest Habitat for Humanity, commented, “We are so grateful for SEM’s support of local veteran families, especially during this health crisis when so many families are having a tough time surviving the economy’s upheaval.  SEM has been and is a wonderful supporter, and we thank them from the bottom of our hearts for being so generous!  It will be put to good use protecting those who are vulnerable.”

SEM’s 2020 Operation Playhouse build, originally scheduled for this past May, has been postponed to October of 2020 due to COVID-19.

Security Engineered Machinery Gives Back to Veteran Marine Family by Building Log Cabin Playhouse

June 21, 2019 at 7:22 pm by Paul Falcone

Secure data destruction device company partners with Habitat for Humanity in Operation Playhouse

From left to right: Leonard Rosen, founder of SEM, and Otto, Robert, and Ashley Bitterman.

 WESTBOROUGH, MA, June 19, 2019—Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, spent the day of Wednesday, June 19, 2019 partnering with Habitat for Humanity for Operation Playhouse. The operation is a partnership that pairs businesses with veteran families to build a playhouse for their children, and this year’s concept was a log cabin. The SEM team started bright and early to design the cabin, which came equipped with its own deck, railings, and chair, to meet their 3pm deadline to present to the Bitterman family, a couple of United States Marines Veterans and their two-year-old son, Otto.

SEM employees (left to right) Todd Busic, Ted Jerdee, Marie DiVirgilio, Karl Lotvedt, and Jeff Lanoue constructing the walls of the playhouse.

“We were honored to present this playhouse to a family who has given so much back to our country today,” stated Nicholas Cakounes, Executive Vice President at SEM. “We are forever thankful for their service as United States Marines, and hope that they will make countless new memories together as a family with this new playhouse.”

Ashley Bitterman served in the US Marines from 2009-2019 and served a tour in Afghanistan from March to September 2011. Her husband, Robert Bitterman, is also a Marine who served from 2010-2014.

The couple watched with smiles as Otto ran into his log cabin, finding a variety of toys and decorations inside his new play space. A stuffed moose head on the wall, a bear skin rug, books, a plastic fishing pole, and his own set of Lincoln logs were just a few of the surprises waiting inside, which Otto took turns pointing to and exclaiming, “So cool!”

Otto with his new playhouse back home.

The entire SEM team stood around and applauded as the Bittermans rolled up, proud of the work they were able to complete together in just a day. Mr. Cakounes presented the family with a certificate of ownership for the playhouse after thanking the Bittermans for their sacrifices and service to the country.

“You can’t beat seeing that kid’s smile at the end of the day” said Ted Jerdee, Inside Sales Representative at SEM. “It’s a small thing to be able to give back to people who have given so much.”

The inside decorations of Otto’s Cabin.

This is the second time that SEM has taken part in Operation Playhouse and it appears it won’t be the last. Throughout the day, different team members were already brainstorming new ideas of how they could top this year’s house, which came complete with a solar panel that supplies power and a stained deck with railings.

The family left an hour after they arrived, excited about the playhouse loaded into their truck by the team at SEM, whose core values include giving back to the community on both a local and global basis.

About SEM

Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM) provides comprehensive end-of-life solutions for the protection of sensitive information in government and commercial markets. SEM’s reputation as the authority in high security information sanitization was earned through over 50 years of technical innovation, intellectual curiosity, and unrelenting integrity. By fostering a supportive, team-centric environment focused on talent retention and client satisfaction, SEM is recognized as the undisputed leader in depth of expertise, industry excellence, and reliability. SEM data destruction devices are the premier high security choice available on the market today. For more information, please visit www.semshred.com

About Habitat For Humanity

Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in approximately 70 countries. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Security Engineered Machinery Builds Playhouse for Veteran Family

November 29, 2018 at 9:14 pm by Heidi White
The Brown family with their new playhouse

On November 28, 2018, Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, participated in Operation Playhouse, a unique program offered through Habitat for Humanity Metrowest/Greater Worcester. Operation Playhouse enables local businesses and organizations to build and donate a custom playhouse to benefit the children of local veterans and military personnel. The one-day event culminated with the presentation of the firetruck-themed playhouse to United States Marine Corps Operation Iraqi Freedom combat veteran Richard Brown and his family.

SEM Executive Vice President Nick Cakounes presents the playhouse to USMC Veteran Richard Brown, who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom

The event started at 9am onsite at SEM corporate headquarters in Westboro. SEM employees volunteered to participate in various tasks including painting, constructing, roofing, and decorating the playhouse as well as building accessories. Several authentic firetruck items were donated by the Boston and Dunstable fire departments for use in the playhouse. The construction was overseen by David Hamilton, Community Program Manager for Habitat for Humanity. Veteran Richard Brown and his family, from Dunstable, MA, arrived at 3:30pm to receive the playhouse. Nicholas Cakounes, Executive Vice President of SEM, made the presentation.

“Veterans have a special place in our heart here at SEM,” said Mr. Cakounes. “We are filled with gratitude to those who have served our country and protect our freedom, so giving back in some small way through Operation Playhouse was an absolute honor.”

Jeff Lanoue, SEM’s New England Regional Sales Manager, and Garret Peters, SEM’s Operations Manager, constructing the windows.

“This event was incredibly special to me personally,” added Korean War Veteran Leonard Rosen, who is SEM’s founder and Chairman of the Board. “Mr. Brown selflessly served his country, ensuring our rights and freedom. That is a debt we can never repay, so we were thrilled to be able to do something to bring joy to him and his family.”

SEM is a veteran-owned company whose primary client base is the United States Federal Government and its entities, including all branches of the United States Military.

Service Technicians Shawn Barnham, Don Donahue, and Dave Carroll built a custom ladder for the playhouse