WESTBOROUGH, MA November 20, 2023 – Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM) has completed their annual mission of donating non-perishable food to the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB).
The Worcester County Food Bank is one of only three Feeding America member food banks in the entire state of Massachusetts. In 2018 alone, the WCFB was able to distribute nearly 6.1 million lbs. of food to approximately 75,000 people throughout the county.
In the true essence of Thanksgiving, SEM employees have united year after year to collect non-perishable food items to make a meaningful impact on their local community. The initiative is a testament to the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and fostering a sense of community.
The company-led food drive kicked off on November 6 and continued until November 17. Employees from various departments, both remote and local to the Westborough headquarters, enthusiastically embraced the opportunity and were able to gather 527 lbs. of food for the local food bank.
“As we approach Thanksgiving, we are reminded of the importance of gratitude and compassion,” says Amanda Canale, SEM Marketing Coordinator. “At SEM, we believe in the power of collective action and are so proud to be able to contribute to our local community, ensuring that no one goes hungry during the holiday season.”
“Our employees have always wholeheartedly embraced each opportunity to give back, which is something we have always been extremely proud of,” says Andrew Kelleher, SEM President. “Knowing that our efforts will make a difference in someone’s Thanksgiving celebration is truly heartwarming. We’re not just colleagues; we’re a family that cares about our community.”
WESTBOROUGH, MA May 5, 2023 – Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, spent Thursday, April 27, 2023 walking up and down Walkup Drive in Westborough, MA, where their headquarters are located, picking up trash.
The SEM Culture Committee, a group of voluntary employees that plan interactive philanthropic and team-building activities, partnered with the company’s ISO 14001 task force to collaborate on an event to honor Earth Day, an annually recognized day centered around environmental protection celebrated on April 22.
“At SEM, we are committed to protecting our environment in a multitude of ways,” says Lara Rapport, SEM Director of Quality. “Our ISO 14001 certification as just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the continuous improvements we make in order to be as sustainable and environmentally conscious as possible.”
ISO 14001 is a familial set of standards developed in the mid-1990s to help organizations minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment (or cause adverse changes in air, water, or land), educating the organization on how to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmental standards, and how they can sustain their efforts.
“Our cleanup initiative was something that our two groups had collaborated on as a way to not only educate our team on our ISO 14001 efforts, but also to really drive home the message that we can make serious change when it comes to our local environment,” says Amanda Canale, SEM Marketing Coordinator.
The two teams worked closely with the Westborough Department of Public Works to coordinate the delivery of empty waste bags and the pickup of the collected trash. The cleanup event saw an attendance of over twenty employees, including company president, Andrew Kelleher. The cleanup activity is just the latest in the company’s detailed history of giving back to their local community, adding itself amongst the annual food bank and toy donations, and Operation Playhouse.
“We have always prioritized events and activities that are both interactive and morale-boosting, and serve a philanthropic purpose, and this one was our most well-received yet. We will be making this an annual SEM tradition,” states Rapport.
For more information on Security Engineered Machinery’s environmental policy, visit here.
WESTBOROUGH, MA, February 23, 2022 – Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, once again partnered with Metrowest 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 rein to decorate the playhouses based on the children’s interests.
The SEM team decorated the playhouse for U.S. Army veteran Sgt. Christopher Cutliffe’s family. Sgt. Cutliffe served in the U.S. Army from 1998 to 2006 with a 2003 tour in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.
“SEM was founded by a Korean War veteran in 1967, and ever since then we have worked very closely with all branches of the military and intelligence community, so any opportunity we have to give back, we take it,” said Andrew Kelleher, SEM President. “This cause has always been so close to our hearts, and it is always an absolute honor to come together and give back to a family that has given so much to our country.”
SEM Marketing Assistant, Amanda Canale, and Customer Care Representative, Cindy Haskell, painting the playhouse’s window frames. SEM Director of Marketing, Heidi White (left), and Marketing Assistant, Amanda Canale (right) intertwining ivy garland into the playhouse’s porch.
The SEM team took full creative control with Operation Playhouse 2022 and produced a jungle-themed playhouse for the Cutliffe family’s two small children. The playhouse, painted dark green, is adorned with bamboo, greenery, jungle-themed activity books and toys, a removable front porch with gate, and even a rope swing with jungle vines.
“Every year, we try to take creative liberty and produce a truly unique and special playhouse,” said Amanda Canale, SEM Marketing Assistant. “Our team really outdid themselves with this year’s concept. It’s by far the most creative we have been and it was incredibly heartwarming to see it received so lovingly by the Cutliffe family.”
Members of the SEM Sales, Engineering, and Service teams working together to construct the playhouse’s roof.
SEM Director of Marketing, Heidi White, presenting Sgt. Christopher Cutliffe and his family with a certificate and the playhouse.
This is SEM’s fourth year taking part in Operation Playhouse and certainly won’t be the last. “Operation Playhouse has become a tradition here at SEM and we are eagerly awaiting next year’s opportunity,” added Kelleher.
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 Co., Inc. (SEM) and Merchants Fabrication, Inc. recently rallied together to donate a staggering 628 lbs. of non-perishable food to the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB).
The Worcester County Food Bank is one of only three Feeding America member food banks in the entire state of Massachusetts. In 2018 alone, the WCFB was able to distribute nearly 6.1 million lbs. of food to approximately 75,000 people throughout the county.
SEM Accounts Receivable Coordinator, Steve Watson, posing with a full car load of donations.
Every year, and especially during the current pandemic, SEM has been committed to WCFB’s mission of helping to serve and feed our fellow neighbors. It’s one of a handful of various philanthropic opportunities the entire company looks forward to every year.
“Whether it’s the Habitat for Humanity Operation Playhouse, the November food drive, or our Toys for Tots drive in the winter, everyone comes together to help our fellow neighbors in need,” says Kristin Olson, SEM Materials Supervisor. “It’s one of my favorite parts about being on the SEM team.”
SEM Director of Marketing, Heidi White, posing with the final food donation weight total.
In just over four years, SEM has been able to increase their annual donation from 151 lbs. to now 628 lbs. with the same staff headcount.
“Every year, without fail, we have been able to donate more and more,” says Heidi White, SEM Director of Marketing. “We are honored to give back to our community and are already looking forward to our next opportunity.”
Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, take teamwork, philanthropy — and dogs! — very seriously. Due to the company-wide love for these four-legged friends and utmost appreciation for those in the military, SEM employees banded together to select America’s VetDogs as their next charity opportunity.
Together, SEM and MFI were able to donate $1,450 to the organization.
“Our company was founded by a veteran, and we work very closely with all branches of the military,” says Andrew Kelleher, SEM President. “And if you know anyone at SEM, you know that it is no secret that we love dogs here. This charity opportunity was a fun, inclusive, and unique way to honor and help those that have given so much to our country.”
To make things even more exciting, SEM team banded together to create a raffle to drive fundraising stakes. The raffle, by which employees “purchased” tickets through making donations to VetDogs, included such items as a dog gift basket, Bruins tickets, restaurant gift cards, and more.
“Everyone here loves a good competition so we decided to partner with SEM’s management team to create gift baskets that we could raffle off as a way to help drive more money to this great cause,” says Amanda Canale, Marketing Assistant. “And it worked! People were very engaged and we were able to donate a substantial amount to this great cause.”
To learn more about America’s VetDogs, visit www.vetdogs.org.
Security Engineered Machinery, Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, donated a commercial-grade paper shredder to Asheville, NC resident Austin Ferrell after seeing a local news story featuring Ferrell and his years-long passion for shredding. Ferrell, who goes by the alter-ego “Austin Shreds,” has made a name for himself in his local community by spending his free time shredding paper documents for area businesses and organizations. Ferrell operates out of an office he shares with his mother, Janet Price-Ferrell.
“As a parent of a kid with a disability, you’re always looking for something that your kid enjoys,” said Price-Ferrell. “He will shred for three or four hours a day!” Price-Ferrell added that she was ecstatic for her son to receive his new shredder, adding that “The one he was using did not keep up with him!”
An advocate for others like Austin with intellectual disabilities, Janet Price-Ferrell is also Executive Director of FIRST, a non-profit organization that provides persons with disabilities and their families with programs and advocacy to support and foster healthy, inclusive, and self-determined lives.
“All of us at SEM were so touched by Austin’s story and our shared passion for paper shredding,” added Heidi White, SEM Director of Marketing. “SEM’s heritage is in paper shredders — our company founder actually innovated the world’s first paper disintegrator — and so we wanted to show our support for this incredible young man and his business venture by sending him an equipment upgrade.”
SEM arranged for white glove shipment of a brand-new paper shredder for Ferrell to utilize. The SEM Model 2125PSP is a robust, commercial grade shredder, making it faster, more durable, and far less prone to jams than Ferrell’s existing shredder. It also offers a DIN 66399 P-5 (2mm x 15mm cross-cut) final particle size, making it a more secure shredder option for Ferrell’s blooming business.
When he received his new shredder, Austin was ecstatic to say the least. “He kept saying, ‘awesome,’” said Price-Ferrell. “He shredded for three hours straight and it never overheated.”
Those living in the Asheville, NC area can bring their paper documents to Austin Shreds for destruction in exchange for a donation. To learn more, visit the Austin Shreds Facebook page. To see Austin and the paper shredder in action, visit our YouTube page here.
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 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 donated monetary funds to the Eagle Scout project of Benjamin Timothy Duby of Worcester, MA. The project, which began in late 2019, was to construct a Gaga Ball Pit for the students of Wawecus Road School in Worcester, MA to be able to use during recess. Duby recruited family members and friends to aid in the construction after securing the funding from SEM and additional partners.
Benjamin worked as an intern for SEM in the past in both the manufacturing and shipping departments between his own school semesters. In his initial proposal for the project and funding, Duby stated: “Being a small elementary school, there is little budget for a playground and I noticed that another school one mile away had a playground that was much larger and more extensive. Building these pits will provide kids with a safe game to play at recess and a way to stay active.”
The pit, known as a Gaga Ball Pit, is a last person standing arena game where players of all ages bounce a ball towards each other in an attempt to make contact with a player below their legs. If a player is hit by the ball, they are out of the game, and this continues until there is a single player remaining.
“We’ve seen the work ethic and values that Benjamin holds when he has assisted us through his internship,” said Andrew Kelleher, President and CEO of SEM. “Therefore, when he asked if we were willing to help him and the children of Wawecus Road School, it was a very easy decision to make.”
Throughout the 52 years they have been in business, SEM has consistently given back to the community they’ve called home for the last half a century. In the last few months alone, SEM has donated hundreds of pounds of food to the Worcester County Food Bank, provided over 80 toys for less fortunate children from Westborough, MA over the holidays, and built a log cabin playhouse for a local veteran family.
Mr. Duby completed his Eagle Scout project on December 13th and passed the Eagle Scout board of review on January 28th, which is no small feat for a scout to achieve.
Industry-leading data destruction device manufacturer provides Model 2125P paper shredder to retired US Marine Major James Manel as a thank you for his military service
WESTBOROUGH, MA, November 25, 2019 — Security Engineered Machinery Co., Inc. (SEM), global leader in high security information end-of-life solutions, donated a new Model 2125P cross-cut paper shredder to retired US Marine Major James Manel. Major Manel, a longstanding user of SEM equipment, served 27 years of active duty including numerous senior intelligence roles as well as two deployments to Iraq.
Major James Manel, retired US Marine Corps, with his new SEM 2125P paper shredder
“I have used SEM shredding equipment across the spectrum of use cases, from Division G-2 staff to service level headquarters in the Pentagon as well as at intelligence components,” commented Major Manel. “SEM shredders have provided a class-leading level of durability and performance, both at home and deployed, that ensure the complete destruction of documents and provide peace of mind. Now, using the SEM 2125P in the home office brings professional quality and reliability as well as that same peace of mind to residential data security for my family. It also makes economic sense when you consider the monetary and time cost of home use shredders and how often they have to be replaced and the frustration of using them. SEM shredders truly have been a lifetime partner for data destruction in my professional life, and now at home as well.”
SEM learned of Major Manel after he had purchased a SEM paper shredder from a third-party surplus site. Upon receiving the shredder, Major Manel noted that it had a damaged cutting head and was missing both a power cord and automatic oiler, at which time he contacted SEM to procure replacement parts.
Command photo of Major James Manel during his time as Commanding Officer of the Marine Detachment at Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center, Monterey, CA
“When we learned that Major Manel had received a non-working SEM shredder, even though it was from a third-party, we knew we wanted to provide a replacement,” said Heidi White, SEM Director of Marketing. “Like countless other Veterans, Major Manel has made extensive personal sacrifices in support of our country for which we can never adequately thank him, and providing him with a new shredder was our small way of showing our endless gratitude.”
SEM cautions never to buy SEM data destruction devices from third-party surplus sites, noting that these devices are typically used, in non-working condition, and do not include any type of warranty. In contrast, every device sold by SEM or an authorized SEM reseller includes a warranty and access to SEM’s award-winning customer support team.
“Unfortunately, we do see this quite a bit, and we consistently caution people against buying SEM products from non-authorized sites,” noted Bryan Cunic, SEM Director of Customer Care. “Since we cannot replace every non-working shredder, we do encourage people to contact SEM prior to purchasing from a third-party to ensure the vendor is an authorized reseller. This quick phone call or email can save a lot of headaches in the long run.”
A Veteran-owned company, SEM has been the leading supplier of high security data destruction devices to the federal government and its entities for over 50 years. In 1968, SEM founder Leonard Rosen invented the world’s first high security paper disintegrator, and today SEM continues to innovate new products to destroy classified and sensitive data stored on a variety of media, both traditional and digital.
“There really is no other manufacturer that matches what SEM makes,” added Major Manel. SEM makes hardcopy destruction convenient and reliable in my experience. I am a huge fan of SEM products!”
