Feature Article Keystone Roundabouts Pg. 16 Building Better Communities Employee Spotlight: The Holiday Man: Carl Jans Pg. 24 DIRT Fall 2022 THE
2 IN THIS ISSUE FALL 2022 3 From the President 4 Aggregates 5 Communications 6 Pictures 8 Chaplain’s Corner 10 Upcoming Projects 12 Hillman 13 Crane & Rigging 14 Concrete 16 Featured Story 18 Pickle Highlights 19 Mechanics 20 Health & Wellness 21 Human Resources 22 Asphalt 23 Excavation 24 Employee Spotlight 26 Trucking 27 Safety 28 Pictures 30 Scholarships HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Emergency repair and snowplow crews will remain on-call • Thanksgiving: November 24, 2022 - Paid Day Off • After Thanksgiving: November 25, 2022 - Unpaid Day Off • Christmas Day (observed): December 26, 2022 - Paid Day Off • New Year’s Day (observed): January 2, 2023 - Unpaid Day Off • Good Friday: April 7, 2023 - Off At Noon • Memorial Day: May 29, 2023 - Paid Day Off • Independence Day: July 3 & 4, 2023 - Unpaid & Paid Day Off • Company Picnic: July 29, 2023 - Unpaid Day Off • Labor Day: September 4, 2023 - Paid Day Off
OVERCOMING ROADBLOCKS FROM THE PRESIDENT Hey Gang! Have you been in Cracker Barrel lately? Christmas music playing already... c’mon man, really!? Let’s not rush life any faster than it is already going! Thanks to all of you for pushing to get things done daily and serving our customers with a smile! The concrete division has had a lot going on lately with many early pours, and days starting at 3 am or earlier. Thank you to all concrete plants, as you have all seen an early start at one point. Also give Jason Horton a hug if you see him. Looking back at the beginning of the year we started off with a price increase for cement as well as materials for concrete which lead to difficult customer conservations for work they already bid. Moving forward in time fuel kept going up and up so a fuel surcharge was added to cover some cost which was another tough conversation. Another price increase for cement. Yet another tough conversation. Now, for the first time ever we are dealing with a cement ration! Price doesn’t matter anymore because we can’t get cement. As I write this, a mill went down so we will not have slag sand available. All mix designs on our state projects will have to be changed to continue to pour them. We also received a memo stating another price increase on the horizon. I say this not to cause worry or fear, but to say great job to Jason and all plant managers as well as Paula, the cement bulkers, and the supply chain dealing with a lot of moving targets…daily! You all are doing an amazing job to keep our customers in mud! From the outside we may not see it, but they are dealing with many issues! Repeatedly! This is an understatement, but you wouldn’t even know it! They are making it happen, WAY TO GO TEAM! Oh… almost forgot... the mixers we ordered over a year ago, supposed to be here in May, are still not here. On a brighter note, three and a half years ago we set up a portable plant in Alanson. Praise God we have started building the permanent plant. Crane and Rigging set up the old Beaverton plant in August with a new scale in the pit as well. Barry Lowe and company have started the building and we hope to have it closed in before the snow is too deep! As we head down the street to the Petoskey office and Boyne City, the team is doing a great job of selling topsoil this year! They may actually sell more topsoil than Traverse City! Gwen, Joel, and drivers are hauling daily to take care of customers! I would like to mention Project Managers Dustin Bush, Cody Boynton, Gavin Shaw, and Scott Eggeman are doing a fantastic job this year keeping us going there. Thanks to them and ALL THE CREWS as we tackle some tough projects. Boyne Mountain has the largest wood suspension bridge in the WORLD, yep world, at 1,203’ long! They are also doing a new ski lift, and some bike paths. Concrete supplying mud, and some heavy support from crane and rigging (pun intended) setting towers on the mountain. Also would like to mention the crews on M-66 working an expidited schedule already, enter a mill failure for sheeting supply, where we did not get sheeting for three weeks, they opened on time! MDOT was not giving a time extension, they did not care the mill broke, they needed the project open! And thanks to many of you, you got it done! We opened the road prior to Labor Day weekend. SOOOOOOO much going on behind the scenes! WAY TO GO, TEAM!! Here in the Traverse City, everyone doing all they can to make Jim Carey “desperate”! The yard is getting LOTS of room to drive around the stockpiles! But we have seen how a young willow bends in the storms, but never breaks, so does Jim Carey! He knows his drivers are behind him. With a great dispatch crew and the pits making sure we always have supply, it seems as though we never run out of material! Another seamless system that has so many things going on behind the scenes! WAY TO GO, TEAM! The paving crew has been jumping through hoops as well. Another final drive going out on a paver in the middle of the road again, in Manistee, yep, with a bunch of trucks on the road headed that way. Thanks to all for paving around the machine until a mechanic could get it patched to at least get off the mat. Also want to thank Andy Dahl for coming back into work on a Friday night last month to fix a tire on a red river that blew on the way to Schuss Mountain. Thanks to the paving crew staying way too late to get him unloaded, then return on a Saturday, no less, to get us set for a customer that had to be done on Saturdays! WAY TO GO, TEAM! 3 CONTINUES ON PAGE 10
AGGREGATES 4 Good day everyone. Who had the most fun ever at the summer party? What a great turnout and great event with perfect weather. Thanks again DAD for letting us use the farm for the best party yet. What a bunch of great kids running around with ice cream and chocolate on their smiling faces. The face painters were busy for sure. I hope you made time to hit the oasis tent for a massage. Looking forward to 2023! Did you make it to your county fair? Hopefully you had a Gibby’s fry or an elephant ear to tide you over until next year. I had the honor and privilege to gain a Daughter over the summer. No, Michelle was not pregnant. My son, Tyler, got married on Mackinac Island in August and it could not have been any more perfect….. FINALLY! Jordan, the bride, was absolutely beautiful. We had a great time with family and friends. I just wish the venue was bigger so all of you could have come. Here we are into the fall push after Labor Day, shorter days, less sunlight. Busses and kids running around before and after school. Let’s keep an eye out for them at the bus stops. Please remember to be safe and watch your sites for others and objects that we have to maneuver around at all these jobs. We seem to be having too many back up incidences these days. Make sure to start bringing gear for those less than perfect days on the job. Remember we ”GET TO “ do all the fun things at work. Even though some days are challenging. Keep teaching and put your name on your artwork that you all do every day. Keep the equipment and trucks clean inside and out . Please. Have a great day. Until next time, Be safe and smile. Todd WE’RE CRUSHING IT “Please remember to be safe!” “Keep the equipment and trucks clean on the inside and out.”
We’re still glowing from the summer party! What a team effort! There were so many that made it possible! See the picture below for an idea of the people it takes to put it together! Check out the video by scanning the QR Code below. Be sure to look at the 2022 Team Elmer’s Company Party stats! We asked for feedback on the newsletter and we heard you. Keep it in paper form, similar to what is there, more pictures, and tell us what is coming up for projects. Thanks for taking the time to tell us! In case you missed it, we are growing our social platforms, especially on TikTok. In the past 60 days we’ve gained over 15,000 followers. We knew what we did was interesting. Now we get to share it with others! Check out Jeff Putney showing us how to run a grader, or Bart Richmond showing us how to run a dozer, or Chase Bates being extra fast with his mechanic help, or Darrell Wonsey and his pump truck (10 million views and counting). Join us on TikTok @teamelmers. Why are we doing this? It shows the expertise our crews have! They’re the best crews north of the Florida Keys! It is also another way to attract new recruits. We want the next generation to join us. Spread the word. Every little bit helps! What are we looking forward to? We get to have a 20 year inductee ceremony this year! We have over 80 team members now celebrating over 20 years with Team Elmer’s! So humbled to be a part of it! If you are over 20 years - we will see you Sunday, October 30. Our new inductees for 2022 are: Marynell Ripmaster, Brian Peace, Bart Richmond, Jeff Putney, Kevin Spierling, Jeff Marceau & Kent Neuman. Celebrating 30+ years is: Kent Megill, Bones Robbins, Rick Kevwitch, & Randy Brown. And congrats to Al Papcun, Crane and Rigging expert on his retirement! You will be missed. Loving reminder, we are heading into the fall which means shorter days and a test for our tempers and patience. Focus on what’s going right, problem solve for the rest, Breathe Deep, and remember, Calm is Contagious. Until next time, Be the Change You Want To See In The World, Tonya COMMUNICATIONS Tonya FROM PARTIES TO POSTS SUMMER PARTY VIDEO SUMMER PARTY STATS: Almost 1200 atendees 1600 lbs ice ● 1200 ears of corn 700 Steaks ● 450 Hot Dogs 400 lbs chicken ● 360 burgers 400 lbs potato salad ● 300 Brats 340 lbs beans ● 50 lbs strawberries 120 gallons Ice Cream 60 lbs chocolate for fountain 50 lbs PIneapple ● 12 massage therapists 1 Great Party
SNAPSHOTS 5 4 2 6 3 1 AROUND THE STATE 3
1. Drew Hindman 2. Greg Town 3. Randall Bemath & Michael Duncan 4. Gary Duff, Honor Paving 5. Darrick Wagner, TART Trial Bridge 6. Al Papcun & Tom Kler 7. Chris Town 8. Zane Philo, Holiday Hills 9. Cheyenne Reid, Action Water Sports 10. Jacob Ruppert, Eagle Ridge 11. Matthew Scott, Leelanau Cellars 2 7 11 8 10 9
It is hard to believe that fall is here already. It seems like the year is flying by. This is my favorite time of the year to get outside and enjoy the change of colors. It is also football season. I am pulling for my University of Michigan Wolverines to beat those two state schools from Michigan and Ohio. “Let’s go Blue.” My feeling is that the Lions are going to be better than they were last year. I want to talk to you about grief. Grief has been defined as deep sorrow, especially when caused by someone’s death. Many of us have lost people we care about over the last few years. We have lost children, parents, spouses, siblings, friends, and coworkers. We all deal with the grief from loss differently. God’s word reminds us that the Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those whose spirit is crushed. Some people seem to bounce right back after the loss of a loved one while others seem to struggle just to get through another day. Several years ago a psychiatrist by the name of Elisabeth Kubler-Ross developed what has become known as the five stages of grief to help us determine if we are moving through the process in a healthy manner. These stages are denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. It is not uncommon to get stuck in one or more of these stages. To help members of the Team Elmer’s family I am offering an eight week grief support group beginning Thursday, October 27, at 7pm. We will meet for 90 minutes and each member will get a workbook filled with a lot of helpful tools for helping navigate your grief journey. Please contact me by October 7 at ts1725@ teamelmers.com or at 231-218-1042. For those of you outside of Traverse City you will be able to join through Zoom. Here are some other things that will be coming up in the next few months. There will be a new Men’s Bible study starting on Wednesday, October 12, at 6am. We will be studying the book of Luke. We will meet at the Traverse City location. A new ladies Bible study will be starting on November 2 at noon. The ladies will also be studying the book of Luke. Please contact me by October 7 if you or one of your family members is interested in attending either study. Our next financial Peace class will be starting January 14. We will meet on three consecutive Saturdays from 9am3pm. In the class we will cover topics such as building an emergency savings fund, getting out of debt, understanding insurance, saving for retirement, real estate and mortgages, and generosity. This is a great way to get your personal or family finances on track. The class is open to High school juniors and up. All materials and lunch are provided. It is open to employees and their family members. A Zoom option will be available for anyone outside of the Traverse City area. If you would like to personally attend but live far away, contact me and I will find you a class in your area. Please let me know if you or a member of your family is interested in attending. A SHELDER TO LEAN ON CHAPLAIN’S CORNER 8 Tom
SAFETY CALL THE SAFETY HOTLINE FOR ACCIDENTS/INJURIES: 231-735-8660 TOM WOLF ERIC SEABURG CATRINA SAYLER JIM PERKINS SAFETY TEAM
10 Thanks to all of you for getting projects done ahead of schedule, looking great, and putting YOUR name on it! Make sure we continue to be proud of what we do! IT IS OUR NAME! And our name is all we got! Started out this letter with “let’s not rush life any faster than it is already going”! Have you ever stopped to think about eternity and where you’re going to spend it? There is a mountain up north that is 100 miles high, and 100 miles wide (yes, hypothetically, but stick with me). Once every 1,000 years a sparrow comes and sharpens its beak on this rock. When this rock has thus been worn away by this sparrow, then a single day of eternity will have gone by! Would love to chat with you about the love HE has for YOU! “Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” Until next month stay safe and be the coffee. Troy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
5 1. Tonya Wildfong, Green Roof at Common Grounds 2. Joe Whitefield, Ethan Schut, & Bradon Lowe 3. Phoenix Greco, Tire Shop 4. John Zuidersma, TART Trail Connector Bridge 5. Brad Nichols, Traverse City 4 1 2 3
Can you believe it? It seems like we just got started and now we’re already in the fourth quarter! Although my favorite time of the year, I get really nervous that everyone is pushing hard to get everything done and may tend to cut corners to make up time. Please don’t! We all know safety trumps all. Everyone needs to get home safe! Well, to say we’re busy is an understatement and it’s going to take all of us to work hard, work smart, and work safe to get it all done. With that being said, if everyone could keep their time off requests to a minimum it would be greatly appreciated. Remember for the most part we are an 8 month a year company which gives everyone plenty of time for R&R. As I’m writing this we have to shut 2 jobs down on a Friday and postpone the start of another that’s already behind schedule because of all the PTO being used. Don’t forget we will pay out 40 hours of vacation time on your last week of work before layoff. Please help me with this! Outside of that everyone is kicking butt and taking names! I’m not sure if it’s just me but it seems like everyone has kicked it up a gear this year, wanting to make sure we hit completion dates and concerned about hitting the budget. A Team with that kind of attitude is very tough to beat! Keep up the good work ladies and gentlemen! Stay safe and have fun! OUR TEAM IS TOUGH TO BEAT HILLMAN/PETOSKEY Mike US-23 | Harrisville 12 Aloha State Park (It’s not in Hawaii) “Everyone needs to get home safe!” “Keep up the good work ladies and gentlemen!”
First, I’d like to wish Al Papcun a happy retirement. Al and I have so many awesome memories together over the years. His vibrant personality, work ethic, and everyday teamwork will be greatly missed. Happy retirement, Al! Speaking of retirement…Yes, 30 years later I am still here and not retiring, YET. Hah! When I started in 1990 as a truck driver/laborer I never dreamed I would celebrate 30 years with this wonderful company but I am so glad I chose to be a lifer here. In the beginning, my Dad worked for Elmer’s and he asked Butch if they needed extra help in which he responded, “YES”! I had an interview and that day I was out working, driving a tandem truck to Cherry Growers. Soon after, I was pulling Low Boys and Rock Tubs, doing small dirt jobs and got sent to a pipe crew in Leland for a sewer job. They assigned me to be a Loader Operator and I spent MANY years in underground sewer and water. Back then, Traverse City dirt traveled everywhere prior to Hillman or Petoskey becoming locations. So, when the opportunity to become the Crane Division Manager opened up (after some words from my wife about being home more) I asked Troy if he thought I could tackle it. We sat down at the Maple City Beer Company and made a game plan. Eight years later, here I am going strong as the Crane Division Manager. As I reminisce, I do find myself missing my time in the field. I recall two years we spent in Grand Marias with the greatest group of guys. Talk about getting stuff done! Justin Kelenskey, Jason Ruppert, Doug Esman, Jason & Randy Schultz, Bob Pearsall, Mike Markby, Marty Lonn, Rick Thomas, among others. It was such an eclectic group of guys and it was fun all of the time. Team Elmer’s has changed so much over the years. Change is good and it has been inspiring watching us evolve. I truly believe even acquiring a job here is an incredible feat and accomplishment in itself. I hope each of you are equally proud to call it your home as I am. You all are my family. I have grown up here. Butch, Troy, Todd, and Tonya have contributed significantly to building the man I am today. I cannot imagine working anywhere else. The best people work for Elmer’s and I will stand by that gratefully and sentimentally forever. I am proof anything can happen in Team Elmer’s with hard work and dedication. If you do your best and exceed what is expected of you - you can do ANYTHING you want to do here. Thank you for making the last 30 years the best 30 years. Here is to many (maybe not 30 haha) more! Conduct is the best proof of character. Kent THIRTY YEAR REFLECTIONS Boyne Highlands 13 CRANE AND RIGGING
14 It smells like pumpkin spice around here! It is simply crazy that we are in the last shift of the season. It is tough to wake up on these cooler mornings and shorter days and grab another gear, but using the shift analogy, we all need to downshift and dig in. A longer season will help us with our year overall. We didn’t have the early spring like 2021, so we will see if we can stay steady after deer season. Often our Decembers are better than November depending on weather. Keep giving the smiles, the extra step to help, and the little things that set us apart and get us a call again the next week, month, or year. It all adds up. Give them the pickle, the special sauce, and the extra fries! While we are pushing in the clutch to downshift, keep safety in the front of your mind. We still have been challenged with a lot of backing and “too tall” incidents this year. Please finish strong and stay off the safety list. We WILL be doing in person safety training this winter. Getting everyone in a room helps set expectations and clarifies goals and concerns. I look forward to seeing you for safety training and also for reviews. We are getting close, grab a hot pumpkin spice triple ginger latte and we will focus in and keep up the good fight until the snow flies. Safe is the only way, Jason DOWNSHIFT & FINISH STRONG CONCRETE Harrison Concrete Plant “Give them the pickle, special sauce, AND extra fries!” “While we are pushing in the clutch to downshift, keep safety in the front of your mind.”
record any mechanicalor safety defects and payclose attention to: Equipment Pre-Inspection: Refer to your Driver Inspection Report to complete a thorough inspection of your mobile equipment prior to operation. KNOWbefore you go fireextinguishers Backup alarms windshields tires/treads fops/ rops seatbelts 15
16 FEATURED ARTICLE IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY On May 31st Team Elmer’s broke ground on Keystone Road. Two roundabouts, one at the intersection of Cass Road and Keystone. The other is at the intersection of River Road and Keystone. “They say a single-lane roundabout reduces severe crashes by 90% and reduces all crashes by 75%,” said Krista Phillips an MDOT Operations Engineer, while interviewing with 9&10 news. A much needed solution for the heavily travelled road. The county estimated the two projects to take roughly 19 weeks to complete. This initial estimate would have meant that construction would last from April 25th to September 2nd. With the local schools resuming sessions in early September, Team Elmer’s crew knew these two jobs needed to get done swiftly. Team Elmer’s also knew they could help streamline the construction process. Building a better community means making safe and efficient ways for families to travel, especially to and from school. Nick Broad, Project Manager at Team Elmer’s, proposed constructing both roundabouts at once. A time saving suggestion, accepted by the Grand Traverse County Road Commission. “Our team was lucky enough to partner with Team Elmer’s on such an impactful project!” -Windemuller
17 IN A ROUNDABOUT WAY Our team maintained one-way, north bound, traffic during the entirety of the very complex project. Doing so meant less of a travel burden for our community during construction. ONE BIG PROJECT Although this was a massive job, our outstanding Team Elmer’s crews worked efficiently and safely to complete it in only nine weeks. Ten full weeks ahead of schedule. Can you say A-M-A-Z-I-N-G? Nearly 5,800 tons of asphalt were used to pave the new circular additions. Roughly 7,767 feet of concrete was poured to create over a mile of curbing. In a roundabout way, our Team is simply the best. No job is too big and no road is too long – for our crew. Hard work and grit are not hard to find around here, and we are thankful for that! TEAM EFFORT Team Elmer’s was not the only company on site, working hard. And quite frankly, we could not have done it without our friends. Apple Fence Company, Bella Concrete, Give ‘em A Break Safety, PK Contracting, Traverse Outdoor, and Windemuller Electric all helped us get the job done. All working together to serve our community. “Thank you Team Elmer’s for your excellent service to our community and congrats for completeing the Keystone Roundabouts weeks ahead of schedule! ” -Peace Ranch
18 SERVICE ATTITUDE CONSISTENCY TEAMWORK Make serving others your #1 priority. You’re in a noble profession. Be proud of what you do and where you work. Choose your attitude. How you think about customers is how you will treat them. Remember your mental “I Like Yous!” Customers return because they like what happened last time. Stick to your high service standards. Go out of your way to make each other look good. Everything you do ends up in front of the customer. GIVE ‘EM THE PICKLE “Just a note of appreciation to the team at Elmers for doing a professional job on my new driveways. They look great and I appreciate the details and solutions that came about during our discussions. A big shout out to Lonnie, Mike and Dan and crew - great team of talent!” PICKLE HIGHLIGHTS “I wanted to let you know how much I have enjoyed working with Justin Kelenske. Justin was able to adjust the schedule to accommodate our timing. Throughout this entire process Justin’s communications and responsiveness was above and beyond. “ “I am writing to commend the Team Elmer’s crew that is handling the street re-construction on Lake Street in Petoskey. I was a horizontal contractor in Colorado, so I understand the work that is being done here. Your entire operation here is A+. Can’t say enough good things about them. They are friendly, courteous and professional. Every single one of them is a dedicated Team Elmer’s employee. One can tell. They feel special being a part of Team Elmer’s. From Foreman Al down to everyone on the site, all professionals and they truly seem to enjoy what they do. And as I said, absolutely courteous and friendly. This is a tough projects for the residents to endure. Would be a lot worse if your crew were not such professional, hard working and courteous folks.” “Steve & Team, Thank you so much! Love my new driveway! Dream come true. Appreciate everyone’s excellent work and friendliness. Team Elmer’s is the BEST!“ “We can’t thank you enough for Al and Brian’s help this afternoon. Cheerful and eager to solve the problem. We’re so grateful for their help.Once we got the fork tines under the whole unit, we asked what we might do to help. “Watch” said Al. And we did… watched it go right into the 10’ garage door.”
SERVICE ATTITUDE CONSISTENCY TEAMWORK With the days already getting shorter, I know the pressure is on to finish all the jobs and the shops are doing a great job keeping up with demands. I would just like to remind everyone to call myself or the shop number first for breakdowns or emergencies. Calling the shop first will expedite the repair process and keep everything running smooth. I would like to thank all of the operators for keeping up on the Re-gen’s on their equipment. I know this process can be time consuming and always seems to happen at the most inopportune time but keeping up on it will reduce parked re-gen’s and avoid down time and costly repairs. I know everyone in the field is extremely busy, but if you operate a piece of equipment and notice worn cutting edges, bucket teeth, or any other issues, please call the shop and let us know so we can order and schedule accordingly. Please keep in mind, lead times are still long and unfortunately don’t expect to get better anytime soon. With that said, we are working with several vendors to secure parts ahead of time to keep downtime to a minimum. Until next time…keep it running! KEEPING IT RUNNING 19 MECHANICS “Calling the shop first will expedite the repair process and keep everything running smooth.” 231-943-5689 (Eric) 231-463-6143 (Doug) Eric “ Thank you to all of the equipment operators for keeping up on the Re-gens on their equipment. ”
20 HEALTH AND WELLNESS ANDI DREFFS [email protected] 231-943-5690 ABBY SUDNEY [email protected] 231-463-9534 MEGHAN SARNA [email protected] 231-943-5690 WELCOME TO THE FAMILY WHY VISIT THE DENTIST? A simple routine of brushing and flossing may help prevent tooth decay, gum disease and bad breath. A trip to the dentist for a regular cleaning should also be a part of your oral hygiene routine for several reasons: • Bad breath or bleeding gums can be a symptom of adult-onset diabetes. • Bruxism, or the grinding or clenching of one’s teeth, is a telltale sign of stress. • Sometimes tissues in your mouth may change. For example, red spots on the tongue can point to immune system-related disorders. • A dental x-ray can alert a dentist to possible osteoporosis of bone loss. • Regular dental cleaning reduces your chances of suffering a heart attack or stroke. • Dentists check for signs of oral cancer which are curable if detected early. WHEN SHOULD YOU GO? Seeing a dentist twice a year is recommended for most people. However, people with very little risk of cavities or gum disease can usually see their dentist just once a year, while people with a high risk of problems might need to see the dentist every three or four months for optimal care. Remember, maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. In addition to completing your annual wellness assessment, one trip to the dentist for a cleaning prior to March 15, 2023 will help you keep your health insurance at no cost to you. HOW TO SELECT A DENTIST • Log onto Delta Dental’s website (www.deltadental.com), and scroll down to ‘Find a dentist in your area’. It will list all dental clinics by you that are in-network with Delta Dental and if they are accepting new patients. • Ask people you know who they would recommend. Please call Abby at (231) 463-9534 with any questions about our dental coverage or help finding a dentist. CRWW CONTACTS Quinn Rae, 7lb 7oz, 20”, Born August 6th to Taylor Brock and Zachariah Hillier, Redimix Driver, Harrison Lazarus John, 7lbs, 21”, Born June 16 to Elizabeth and John Argersinger, Equipment Operator, Traverse City
HR CONTACTS HUMAN RESOURCES CINDY KARKER [email protected] 231-943-5544 AMY BARRY [email protected] 231-943-5577 NICOLE LESPERANCE [email protected] 231-943-5610 KRIS HARRINGTON [email protected] 231-943-5610 EMPLOYEE ANNUAL EVALUATIONS Managers will start to work on employee annual evaluations in late October. You will have a schedule meeting with your supervisor to discuss your evaluation. Please contact your Division Manager if you have not heard anything by the end of December. ONLINE BENEFICIARY DESIGNATION Available through One America Retirement Services (your 401k provider), a simplified process for you to ensure your retirement assets are paid out according to your wishes. Team Elmer’s requires all participants to log in to their account online at www.oaretirment.com, and complete a beneficiary designation. MEDICAL/DENTAL/RX BENEFITS Layoffs during the benefit plan year are considered a qualifying COBRA event and are subject to the fee schedule below. • Monthly amounts are based on years of service completed prior to your lay off date. • The plan type will be the same plan you selected during enrollment. • You will receive your COBRA packet from Navia Benefits with instructions on how to continue your group health benefits during lay off. WINTER LAY OFF • Unemployment Insurance sign up information will be mailed to your home address at the end of October • COBRA information with rates on what you can expect to pay for medical benefits for you and/or your family (this does not affect employees on reduced hours or Elmer’s snow plow crew). • Return all CINTAS rental uniforms for count and laundering while on lay off. If an employee does not return to employment with Team Elmer’s when recalled following a winter lay off, these rates do not apply. The employee is required to repay the amount of company paid-coverage. MARRIAGE GETAWAY Team Elmer’s sponsors couples who would like to attend the Weekend to Remember (WTR) Marriage Getaway (provides encouragement, hope, and practical tools to help build and grow your marriage) in Grand Rapids on Friday, February 3, 2023 through Sunday, February 5, 2023. Sponsorship includes the seminar and hotel accommodations (2 nights). Please contact Cindy in Human Resources by November 15, 2022 to reserve your spot.
Hello Team Elmer’s family! It seems like it has only been a couple of years since I first walked through the front door of Team Elmer’s office with my resume in hand. A college student that was new to the Traverse City area with some previous experience in construction, I knew I would be a great fit as part of the team. Hired by Butch in 2002, I started as a laborer in the field for the paving division. At the time, we were paving the US131 bypass around Manton. I got my feet wet in the field and got to know a lot of the guys. It was during that time that I realized Team Elmer’s operates as a well-oiled machine. From there, I worked my way up to an estimator/project manager in the office and then, 12 or 13 years later, became the asphalt division manager. Twenty years have truly flown by. I can honestly say it is because Elmer’s has felt like home to me. It has been an absolute privilege to work alongside the wonderful group of people that make up our Team Elmer’s family. Being a part of the bigger picture, getting out in the community and seeing the projects we are providing for our customers, it is so rewarding to know that whatever project we take on, we are going to leave it better than we found it. I am proud to be involved in building better communities. Our crews are doing amazing work, every day. Over the last two decades, there has been so much growth. Not only as an Elmer’s employee but also as a family man. Getting married and having two amazing children during my time here. My family loves Team Elmer’s as much as I do. I love how Team Elmer’s prioritizes family time now more than ever. Thank you and every crew member for 20 awesome years. I look forward to 20 more! 22 ASPHALT Brian TWO DECADES OF PEACE “Thank you for twenty awesome years. I look forward to twenty more!” “It has been a privilege to work alongside the wonderful group of people that make up our Team Elmer’s family. ”
Where did the summer go? It’s time to start thinking about cider, falling leaves, and pumpkins. It’s also time to take a hard look at workload and what new work we can still fit in this year. Our schedule for the remainder of 2022 is full. We have picked up a few new projects that we felt like we had to fit in because no one else would do them, and this is our town. A few of the projects we didn’t bid are now delayed to 2023 due to permitting or supply issues with materials and we have a new opportunity to bid. Everything else we are bidding is next year’s work. We have had a great year so far when it comes to staying on schedule and getting work done. A lot of projects are ahead of schedule allowing us to push other projects up and create opportunities for the other fall work we have picked up. When we all get pulling in the same direction it is amazing what we can accomplish. Thanks to each and every one of you for all of your hard work. It seems like all of the comments from anyone you talk to are positive. People are amazed at how much work you get done and how fast you do it. You should be proud, I know I am proud of you. I want to bring up a trend I am seeing more frequently with vacation time. With the new Orange system it is easy to apply for time off with your computer or phone. Thanks to the generosity of the owners everyone has PTO, even seasonal employees that take layoff in the winter. I am starting to see a lot of time off requests for “No Pay Leave”. This should only be used under certain circumstances. First, if you have PTO remaining you need to use it. Don’t ask for No Pay Leave if you have unused PTO time. Secondly, No Pay Leave should only be used for emergencies. We are all allotted a certain amount of PTO based on company policy and years of service. Anything over and above that should be for emergencies. We all have things that pop up that we weren’t expecting and we are certainly willing to be as flexible as possible but the bottom line is we need you here. When you are gone, we miss you. If you are out of PTO and need time off for something give me a call, I would love to talk and help in any way I can. Thanks again and… Until next time, keep calm, and dig on. EXCAVATION Max 23 DIGGING INTO FALL
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT THE HOLIDAY MAN: CARL JANS “It all started when I was little. I was a huge fan of horror movies. I loved watching Vincent Price and Alfred Hitchcock films. I grew up with an interest in Halloween and spooky things.” For the last 16 years, Carl Jans has been elaborately decorating for Halloween and building his endless collection of “spooky things.” “When our children were young, my wife Jenni and I took them to a campground that hosted a trick-ortreating event. It was so much fun walking through the campground with the kids and enjoying all of the decorations. It was during that time that I realized I wanted to do this.” Carl said his competitive nature has fueled his dedication to his frightful display. “I’m the kind of person that always tries to do something better than the next guy. One thing led to another and here I am making props, zombies, and tombstones.” A Haunted Ride Not only does Carl have an elaborate collection of props and decorations, but in 2016 he bought a hearse. Yes, you read that right. A hearse. It was a completely spontaneous purchase (adult beverages might have been the main factor) and has since turned into one of his most prized possessions. The hearse was purchased from a morgue. So it transported real bodies during its years in service. “My wife doesn’t like it, and it kind of gives you a creepy feeling, you can still smell the embalming fluid in the car. Every once in a while you’ll get goosebumps while riding in the car or have an eerie feeling.” Carl has a collection of accessories for his hearse. A casket collection - of all sizes. “Some people call my collection weird. However, the same people are typically very interested to look inside the hearse, or at the inside of a casket. So is my collection weird or is it interesting?” During the Halloween season, he will deck the hearse out with LED lights, skeletons, and sometimes even a fog machine.
25 THE HOLIDAY MAN: CARL JANS However, he puts miles on his hearse all year round and gets a kick out of the strange glances he gets while driving around town in his body mobile. “It’s fun to take it to the grocery store. It never fails, no one wants to park by a hearse. People will pull into the spot next to me, promptly back out, and then move two parking rows over.” If money were no object Carl said that he would without a doubt add another hearse to his collection. “I would like to buy an old-fashioned hearse. A horsedrawn buggy.” Taking his hearse to Hell Michigan for “Hearse Fest” is on Carl’s bucket list. This event is a festival where hundreds of hearse owners gather to display their prized cadaver wagons. Every year Carl and Jenni like to change up their Halloween display. Having different themes and main attractions. Most of their decorations and props are homemade. They start the majority of their seasonal preparations in late July. The construction of the actual display takes around three days to complete. Holiday Spirit Judging by his spine-chilling collection, one might assume that Halloween is Carl’s favorite holiday. However, that is surprisingly not the case. Carl is an even bigger fan of Christmas. ”I like to scare people in the Fall and then welcome them in December with the warmth of Christmas spirit. It’s all about getting the family together.” Right after Thanksgiving dinner, Carl breaks out the Christmas decorations. His Christmas display takes four weeks to set up and consists of five different Christmas trees in his home. He even sets up a Christmas tree in the Manistee plant office. One Christmas, Carl had the idea to recreate the scene from “Christmas Vacation” of Clark Griswold hanging from the roof after his ladder slipped out from under him. Carl dressed one of his Halloween dummies up in Clark Griswold attire and attached him to the eve of their home. “It lasted about two weeks. People were stopping constantly thinking that it was me dangling from the roof and in need of assistance. Even the local fire chief stopped one day in a panic. So, I had to take it down.” ”The reactions on peoples faces are priceless. I don’t decorate elaborately for any awards or recognition. I decorate so other people can enjoy it.” And that, is true Holiday Spirit.
KEEP ON TRUCKIN’ 26 Jim TRUCKING It seems like just a short time ago we were bidding and preparing to start the 2022 workload for trucking. Looking back, what a great job by everyone to get it done. We have been shorthanded all year long but still managed to figure out a way to keep up with the workload demands of Dirt, Concrete, & even Asphalt. Way to go, to all the drivers and crews. We have had some bumps and potholes in the road but we have managed to make it happen one load at a time. The fall rush started early in August this year and it is not going to let up until early Winter, I am expecting it will be into December before concrete’s winter stock piles are completed. We have a long ways to go and a short time to get it done. We all have to work together and take it one load at a time, doing it right and not making mistakes. Pushing or rushing is no excuse for not doing our jobs right. Let’s finish strong, remembering to work safely and do our jobs correctly. A few things that are on my mind that can help us get better in the Trucking Division and finish strong. CONTROL IDLE TIME DEF Emissions Motors will have problems if you let them idle too much, shut them off when fueling. When it looks like it is going to be awhile before you have to move or need engine power for something, basically if you are going to be sitting still and do not need engine power for 5 minutes or less, you should be shutting off the engine so we are not wasting fuel and plugging up the DPF Filters. When idling, the engine exhaust does not create enough heat to clean the emissions system resulting in poor performance and DPF issues. DRAIN YOUR AIR TANKS DAILY OR MORE Second biggest thing is that cooler temps are just around the corner causing moisture in the Air Systems. Start draining the air tank on the tractors and trailers every night to get the moisture out of the systems and prevent freeze ups the next morning when temps drop below 32 degrees. Do not wait until temps get cold to start draining the moisture, it will be too late, start right away to get the moisture out of all the valves and lines before it freezes. You should already be draining the air tank once a day on the trucks, it’s time to drain air tanks on trailer also if you have not been already. INSPECT YOUR CLAMPS FOR LEAKS Watch for cold coolant leaks in the mornings, clamps have a tendency to loosen or stretch during the warm months and start to leak a little when it turns cooler. Keep The Wheels On The Ground & Finish Doing It The RIGHT WAY. “One Load at a Time”
SAFETY I’ve done this a thousand times. I’ve been doing it this way for 20 years. Have you ever made a statement similar to one of these? When you’ve done something the same way for a long time you might become so comfortable with the task that you set your cruise control and almost complete it without giving it a second thought. You don’t take a close look at your surroundings to check for new or hidden hazards. You don’t realize that you’ve become complacent until you have a near miss, or worse, an incident. Compared to the first 7 months of last year we’ve experienced an almost 10% increase in property damage incidents. We’ve also suffered four times as many recordable injuries. Some of these incidents can be traced to inexperience, but others were caused by seasoned employees. Experienced workers are aware of the hazards around them, but they’re more likely to accept risk without addressing all hazards – this can be dangerous and property damage or personal injury may result. What can you do to prevent complacency and reverse these trends? Are we taking shortcuts? Are you seeing negative trends at a job-site, plant, or crusher? Does someone you work with seem dissatisfied with their work, or unmotivated? Be aware of what’s going on around you and each other, inspect your equipment, wear your PPE (and make sure others in your crew are), and stick with company and industry standards. Construction is a hazardous occupation, and it requires that you remain absolutely focused on your work. The season’s almost over and we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, but there’s still a lot of work to do. Take a moment to refocus so you and your team finish the year injury and accident free. Rob 27 WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
AROUND THE STATE 6 4 1 SNAPSHOTS 2 5 3
1. Meijer, US-31, Traverse City 2. John Firman, Boyne Mountain 3. Alex Twigg, Boyne Mountain 4. Robert Klotzier, Honor Paving 5. Luke Puffer & Doug Esman, Kalkaska Streets 6. Collin Carter, Boyne Mountain 7. Paul Rongey, US-31 Paving, Honor 8. Rick Broad, Trucking 9. Boyne Mountain 10. Levi Kelenski, Mechanic Shop 11. Venice Hidalgo, TART Trail Bridge Installation 12. Megan Wilkinson, Common Grounds Pour 8 9 10 12 7 9 11
TO TAKE IT'S TIME PEACE Financial WHEN: JAN 7,14, & 21 9:00AM - 3:00PM WHERE: TEAM ELMER'S (TRAVERSE CITY LOCATION) CONTACT: TOM SHELDER 231 - 218 - 1042 [email protected] SCHOLARSHIPS TEAM ELMER’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Team Elmer’s is proud to award education scholarships for the dependents of our employees. Since 2010, Team Elmer’s has awarded over $96,500 in scholarships for continuing education. Team Elmer’s scholarships are available to employee dependents 17 years or older. This year, we have available at least: Three (3) $500 Elmer’s Education Scholarships A copy of a college class schedule may be required before the final award payment. One (1) $1,000 Elmer’s Believes FPU Scholarship The applicant must complete a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Course (in-person or online). Applicant must provide FPU instructor name or certificate of completion for the course. Team Elmer’s will pay for the FPU class registration regardless of essay submission. (Please email Tom Shelder at: [email protected] to sign-up or for more details.) One (1) $1,500 NMC Scholarship The $1,500 scholarship to Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City is available for enrolled 2023-24 classes. One (1) $1,000 Trades Scholarship The $1,000 Trades Scholarship is available for an accredited Career and Technical Education Program, including skills utilized in the Trucking, Heavy Construction and Road Building, Testing, Mining, Construction, Welding, HVAC, or Electrical, to persue a career in the construction industry. A copy of a college class schedule may be required before the final award payment. To Apply Online: Please submit a 250 word or less essay answering Why you should receive this scholarship by scanning the QR Code or by visiting: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TE2023Scholarship All applications must be received by March 01, 2023. Recipients will be announced in the April 2023 (Spring) Team Elmer’s newsletter. Recipients will also be notified directly via email about how to claim their prize. These are non-renewable scholarships. You must submit each year to be eligible for the award. Check will be made payable directly to educational institution. Builders Exchange of Northwest Michigan also has scholarships available. The deadline to apply is March 2023 For more information please visit: https://bxtvc.com/scholarship-application/ 30 SCAN TO APPLY
TO TAKE IT'S TIME PEACE Financial WHEN: JAN 7,14, & 21 9:00AM - 3:00PM WHERE: TEAM ELMER'S (TRAVERSE CITY LOCATION) CONTACT: TOM SHELDER 231 - 218 - 1042 [email protected] 31 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS Tonya Wildfong, EDITOR Aimee Butts, EDITOR & WRITER Emily Hansen, WRITER, & PHOTOGRAPHER Alex Twigg PHOTOGRAPHER FREQUENCY OF PRINT 2022 Quarterly publications January, April, July, October PRINT Village Press CONTACT US 3600 Rennie School Road Traverse City, MI 49685 231-943-3443 www.teamelmers.com THE DIRT PUBLICATION COMMUNICATIONS TEAM TONYA WILDFONG AIMEE BUTTS TEXT US YOUR AWESOME SNAPSHOTS AND VIDEOS OF PROJECTS: 231-679-0919 EMILY HANSEN ALEX TWIGG FOR MORE DIRT FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @TEAMELMERS
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