Monthly Archives: September 2014

Anaco Conducts Clear Management Training [UPDATE!]

Anaco Clear Management Training
Anaco has been conducting Clear Management Training since March 2014. Managers, Supervisors, and Leads are interacting and exploring alternative ways to address items that affect the business such as employer and team member relations. The goal for this group is to improve their communication skills across the Team.

Group HR Director Joe Maziarz also made a trip to AB&I to help them facilitate their Conflict Management Training.

The Anaco Team is excited about the Clear Management Training and can’t wait to use the skills they have learned during this training!


 

Updated: 9/30/14 at 10:20AM

Anaco Clear Management Training 2

We are pleased to report that 17 team members concluded their training on September 16!

Management training is essential to the success of a business and team members with leadership responsibilities have extensive duties, from handling employee relations to making sure the business remains profitable. Since management responsibilities are complicated, and not exactly self-explanatory, Clear Management Training plays an important role in keeping our company on the right track.

The training curriculum included:

  • Management Zone
  • Time/Emotion Grid
  • Effective Communication
  • Clarity in Communication
  • Communication Styles
  • Active Listening Techniques
  • Steps in Effective Management Communication
  • Circle of Walls
  • High Performance Teams
  • SMART Goals
  • The Planning and Metrics Decision Making Grid

The Anaco team would like to thank trainers Zeydi Gutierrez from AB&I Foundry and Aimee Kenney from Anaco. Great job!

Meet McWane: Joe Jarvis, Pacific States

Joe Jarvis 45 Years
We are proud to announce that Pacific States team member Joe Jarvis is celebrating 45 years of service! Joe has been a member of the Pac States team since September 1969! He is an excellent employee and his work space is always clean and tidy. Joe likes to be at work early and no one, including Joe, can remember the last time he missed a day of work. He currently works in the Melting Department and runs the Lab Spectrometer.

Happy Anniversary, Joe. We’re glad you’re still a part of the team after 45 years!

McWane EHS Steering Committee at Work!

EHS Steering Committee

R to L: EHS Steering Committee: Greg Simmons, Tony Orlowski, Larry Whitehead, Barbara Wisniewski, Bryan Hoggan, Kevin McCarthy, Dale Schmelzle, Jeet Radia, and Cathy Wright; James Proctor (not pictured)

McWane’s EHS Steering Committee is continuing its work to help guide the continuous improvement process for our industry leading EHS programs and systems. The group met on September 17, 2014, to continue deliberations on various initiatives and projects aimed at streamlining our programs and systems and looking for newer ways to improve our EHS performance while reducing burdens on our operating divisions.

An EHS Steering Committee consisting of leaders from operating divisions and corporate was formed in the Fall of 2012. The primary purpose was to develop a strategic plan for EHS at McWane with adequate input from all stakeholders to take EHS performance at McWane to a new high. Since then, the Steering Committee has been tirelessly working behind the scene to accomplish its mission. Some of its accomplishments include improvements to EHS training and audit processes based on input from a team members throughout the company using Integrated Project Teams.

Feel free to contact any of the EHS Steering Committee members or corporate EHS staff if you have any questions or comments.

Meet McWane: Jeremy Stewart, Pacific States

Jeremy Stewart Citizenship

The Pacific States team came together recently to celebrate team member Jeremy Stewart becoming a U.S. citizen. Jeremy grew up in Jamaica and is now a Process Improvement Engineer at Pac States.

At the team’s morning meeting, they celebrated with an American favorite – apple pie and ice cream.

Congratulations Jeremy! We’re proud to have you as a member of our team.

Amerex Takes Steps to Improve Contractor Safety Compliance

Amerex Improves Contractor Safety Compliance

L to R: Fred Rohde/ Branch Manager, Chicago; Garth Embree/ Branch Manager, LA; Norla Walker/ Branch Manager, Seattle; and Jack Miller/ Branch Manager/Sales, New Jersey)

On August 28, the Amerex Branch Managers attended a training seminar in Dallas, Texas, with ISNetworld. ISN’s process of collecting, verifying, and connecting will allow Amerex to review safety, insurance, quality, and regulatory information on all contractors and suppliers that they do business with.

Amerex will use ISNetworld to standardzize contractor management across multiple states and geographic regions and help them clearly communicate requirements and expections to contractors/suppliers.

This is Amerex’s next step in safety compliance by contractors/suppliers and having the support and educational opportunities from ISN will make their branches safer not only for team members, but for visitors and contractors as well.

Tyler Pipe Announces “Right Stuff” Winners

Tyler Pipe & Coupling Right Stuff Grand Prize Winners

L to R: Gary Young, Lori Cook, and Mike Cantrell

Tyler Pipe & Coupling in Marshfield, Missouri, concluded the Right Stuff Challenge for Wellness on August 15. They celebrated the finals with a meal and prize presentation on Friday, August 22.

Team members collectively lost 129 pounds and 56 ¼ inches in route to a healthier lifestyle. Eating a healthy breakfast daily, drinking plenty of water, getting 30 minutes or more of exercise daily, and 7 hours or more of sleep per night made everyone who participated a winner when it comes to developing healthy habits.

Congratulations to the following winners:

Grand Prize Winners
1st Place – Mike Cantrell, $150 Academy Sports Gift Card
2nd Place – Gary Young, $100 Academy Sports Gift Card
3rd Place – Lori Cook, $50 Academy Sports Gift Card

Other Prize Winners
Tim Graham
Jo Bowers
Bill Hoffman
Jim Sartin
Alan Dickerson
Randy Witherspoon
Angela Dotson
Rick Hutsell

Congratulations to all winners and participants! Job well done!

Pacific States and Tyler Union Donate to USS Iowa

Modern McWane Summer 2014 - Page 7 ArticleHave you read the latest edition of Modern McWane yet? If so, you probably saw the article on page 7 about McWane’s involvement in the permanent home of the USS Iowa. If not, read ahead for a portion of this interesting story!

Through the Engineering Contractors’ Association (ECA), Pacific States and Tyler Union made donations of ductile iron pipe to the USS Iowa. This donation went toward the final phase of the USS Iowa’s permanent home at the Los Angeles Harbor.

Though now a battleship museum, the USS Iowa once hosted presidents, first ladies, and many other dignitaries during nearly 50 years of service. With that being said, we are delighted that our ductile iron pipe is a part of this national treasure!

Meet McWane: Mike Connor, Clow Valve

(L to R: Back row: Jesse Anderson, Eric Benson, Pete Settimi, Jim Ryan, Richard Ledesma, & Nolan Foran. Front row: Mike Vore/Sales and Marketing Manager for McWane Valve & Hydrant Group and Mike Connor)

(L to R: Back row: Jesse Anderson, Eric Benson, Pete Settimi, Jim Ryan, Richard Ledesma, & Nolan Foran. Front row: Mike Vore/Sales and Marketing Manager for McWane Valve & Hydrant Group and Mike Connor)

The Clow Valve team came together to bid a fond farewell to Mike Connor who retired after 40 years of dedicated service. Mike worked as a member of the outside sales team and was located in California.

Mike joined the Clow Valve team 40 years ago after answering an ad to be a forklift driver and worked his way into sales where he spent most of his career. He was a leading salesman, great co-worker, and friend to anyone that knew him in his time with Clow.

Mike plans to travel with his wife, Gale, in the upcoming months of retirement. Clow is thankful for his years of service and friendship, and we wish him a wonderful retirement.

We are going to miss you Mike!