SSC September/October 2019 Newsletter

First page 1 Next page Last page

Celebrating 50 Years

SSC SERVICE SOLUTIONS Newsletter SEPTEMBER/ OCTOBER 2019

50 years of SSC means 50 years of people working together to develop cultures and values that impact our business. Join as we remember our leaders and the values they use to shape SSC.

SSC is celebrating 50 years!

The Next 50 Years

Dekalb Summer Interns

Grounds Tips for Your Home

Student Opportunities

Retrofitting Your Campus

Employee Recognition

Save Water | Give Life Year 5 NAFA Clean Air Award

In This Issue

at Dekalb Schools The SSC DeKalb Summer Internship Program is designed to partner with the vocational schools within the DeKalb C unty School District to seek out students who are interested in gaining experience, being train and expose the different aspects on the commercial side of the building trade by providing real life experience within in the workforce. The internship last about 8 weeks, students of interest are referred through the vocational coordinator, they have to apply to the listing at the compass website and are selected through the interview process.

wind turbines or taking over 50 thousand cars off the road for one year. We would like to introduce you to the next step in 50 more years of progress with SSC Services for Education.

As you may have heard, SSC turns 50 years old in 2019, and instead of receiving a gift, we decided to give back. SSC Services for Education has committed to a greener tomorrow for the student and communities we serve. Steering towards the use of green products has been a conscious focus for us in the past as we have made the switch to chemical-free cleaners, bamboo handles, reusable microfiber cloths. Most recently , we have been helping campuses retrofit their facilities to increase energy efficiencies and to conserve water.

Name: Miracle Goosby Age: 17 Educational Status: Upcoming senior at Arabia Mountain High School. “As the only female intern in a male dominated trade work place, I felt like I had to work harder than others. I am 5ft, weighing 99lbs I was determined to prove my ability to accomplish the tasks I was given, and show that I can carry my own weight of responsibility. I found this internship opportunity to be a contribution to my real life experience in the area of time management, having to go to bed early to make sure that I got adequate rest to be on time to start my day”.

Name: Zain Adams Age: 17 Educational Status: Senior at Clarkston High School.

“I learned how to be a leader, as well as the importance of working together as a team with the collaborative effort to get the job. I had to be willing to work hard, pay close attention to detail. The application of real life experience I will take away is maintaining dependability as an individual, and continuing to show good work ethics. When your employer can depend on you to show up and get the job done right it speaks volumes, not just your skills but your character as well.”

This year we take it to the next level in a partnership with MeanGreen to move from traditional gas-powered mowers to fleets of electric mowers. Over the next 5 years, we will be reducing our carbon emissions by over 33%. As well as moving our fleet of mowers from gas to electric, we will be transitioning handhelds such as weed eaters, blowers, edgers, and hedge trimmers. The Janitorial and Maintenance divisions are getting in on the Earth-saving as well as we switch out golf carts and club cars from gas to electric. These changes will reduce our carbon footprint by almost 53 million pounds—this would take 282,099 acres of trees a full year to scrub from our atmosphere. It is the equivalent of building 51

Name: Jalen Ammons Age: 21 Educational Status: Jr. at South Georgia State College, Major- Computer science.

Name: Michael Reed Age: 20 Educational Status: 2nd yr. student at Warren Tech, Major-Construction

Join in our efforts and help SSC lead the way in providing a clean healthy environment for the students and clients we serve.

“While building trade is not my major, being an intern and having the opportunity to be exposed to something other than my area of education became an eye opener. I enjoyed the exposure of the hands on trade side of the workforce. I have been enlightened to the different avenues of the workforce, learning that even with a degree, obtaining the skill of a trade help you be more diverse and marketable in the workforce”.

“I enjoyed the hands on learning and one on one training. This opportunity helped integrate the concepts that I am currently learning. I learned things new things that I could apply to my knowledge as I continue my education. Knowing that this trade takes dedication, hard work, and a high level of integrity. I was grateful to have such a wonderful example.”

SSC | SERVICE SOLUTIONS | NEWSLETTER | JUNE/ JULY 2019

SSC’s Partnerships Through Senator West’s office in Dallas Texas: Providing Students with Opportunities This year SSC was happy to sponsor 3 interns in the Emmett J Conrad Leadership Program: Keith Washington, who worked with Michelle Garcia at Texas State University, Isiah Littlejohn at Desoto ISD and Bobby Griffin, who worked with Angela Boston in HR.

Campus to Advance Their Tomorrow Jasper County School District and SSC Services for Education announced an

Grounds Tips for your Home: Water, Water, there has been a serious lack of rainfall along the eastern seaboard and other areas of the country. If you are not providing supplemental water your plants may not show too much stress now but they will this spring. If you live in an area that has had less than 1” of rainfall in the last 3 – 4 weeks, soak your soil slowly and deeply, this includes lawns. You want water to get down at least 6” into the soil profile, preferably 12”, only 6” for lawns. This may require two extended soakings getting (1 day apart) that deep. Plants are storing nutrients for the winter ahead and they can’t move up through their system without water. Remember, Fall is for planting!

begin the engineering design and specifications to replace nearly all JCSD’s rooftop HVAC units with new, state-of-the-art units designed for improved air quality that combat mold and reduce CO2 impact. In addition, all lighting will be upgraded to LED, with correct indoor lighting temperatures that create optimal learning environments. Brighter, directional exterior lighting will also be implemented for greater exterior safety while staying dark-sky compliant, reducing overall light pollution. Additional improvements include upgraded thermostat controls for temperature scheduling efficiencies that reduce costs and maintain optimal learning environments; a solar array installed at the Administration building for more “green” energy production; and water efficiency upgrades such as reduced flow faucets, toilets, and urinals. “Given how many hours students are at school each day, we often overlook how much a school’s physical environment can impact a student’s ability to flourish, both physically and mentally,” said David Payne, VP for Facilities at SSC Services for Education. “We’ve worked with Jasper County School District for seven months and we’re thrilled to help make such important improvements to their facilities. The updates will greatly improve the students’ learning environments and ensure Jasper County School District continues to be a pillar in the greater community.”

$8.5 million investment to make significant energy upgrades to the district’s facilities. After recognizing a need for facility retrofitting and significant equipment improvements, JCSD and SSC partnered with CMTA Energy Solutions. The investment is projected to save the district $280,000 per year and is expected to be completed by the winter of 2020.

The program provides high-caliber college students with career-building summer employment, character- building education , and community service projects. In addition to receiving first hand experience in people management, budgeting, field training, and client interaction , they were also recognized at a luncheon with keynote speaker Royce West, Texas State Senator. We are also in our second year of scholarships with the NAACP Dallas. The four scholarships will support each recipient’s pursuit of attending higher education. This year’s award winners will attend Xavier University (Roberts), Prairie View A&M University (Mobley), Texas A&M University (Esters) , and Morehouse College (Edwards). “We all have a responsibility to do all we can to improve our society wherever possible. Uplifting the best and brightest of future generations is a key avenue for improving challenges facing our communities today,” said Aubrey C. Hooper, Branch President at the Dallas NAACP. “Because of critical partnerships with organizations like SSC Services for Education, we’re able to help actualize our mission and empower high achieving, diverse students across the Dallas community.”

In all, these facility upgrades will create healthier learning environments for students, faculty , and staff through improved air quality, better temperature controls, optimized lighting, and increased clean energy use. To learn more about these plans and ongoing developments, please visit www.jcsd.net

Michelle Garcia, Keith Washington and John Lane at the Recognition Luncheon

Scholarship recipients demonstrated academic excellence, a proven track record of outstanding leadership and community service. “It is core to our mission to support the communities where we operate, and this scholarship and the Dr. Emmett Conrad Leadership programs are ways we are privileged to bolster these wonderful communities,” said Seth Ferriell, President at SSC Services for Education. “We are honored to help make a lasting impact inside and outside of the local schools and campuses we serve. We will continue to support Dallas communities and look forward to seeing the great accomplishments this year’s class achieves in the future.”

George Bernardon Regional VP of Grounds

Once upgrades are completed, JCSD’s energy use intensity (EUI) rating will jump from 67th to 19th place among all school districts in South Carolina. “Creating a safe and productive learning environment for our students has always been a top priority in all our schools,” said Dr. Rechel Anderson, Superintendent at Jasper County School District. “We are confident in our decision to work with our trusted partners to make our facilities healthier for our students and staff and, in the process, become one of the greenest districts in South Carolina.”

Beginning this summer, CMTA will

SSC | SERVICE SOLUTIONS | NEWSLETTER | JUNE/ JULY 2019

Make SSC Great

At El Campo Middle School in Texas, Wilbert Miller, Elvita Alaniz, Evanis Torres, Margaret Solis, and Lucia Piedra were presented with the MONTHLY APPRECIATION AWARD IN RECOGNITION FOR ALL OF THEIR HARD WORK.

You have heard me talk about how important the SSC Team is to our daily accomplishments: we all work together to hold each other to the highest standards, and people take note. This is another month of high appreciation and praise to our associates. Just look at the stories we have seen recently:

Kaufman’s Helen Edwards Early Childhood Staff welcomes SSC’s Custodians Lucy Hernandez, Maria Fernandez and Norma Vasquez with a surprise appreciation celebration Mrs. Melanie Bowers, Principal at Helen Edwards, said : “Y’ALL ARE AMAZING AND WE ARE LUCKY TO WORK ALONGSIDE OF SUCH GREAT PEOPLE!”

Ms. Billie Williamson was recognized as The Matthew Hill-Michael Dean HEARTS Employee of the Month at Cartersville Primary School because her “positive attitude, her smiling face , and her high expectations for cleanliness are huge assets to Cartersville Primary School. She goes above and beyond her job description to ensure students have a clean, safe learning environment. She makes herself available and does whatever it takes to satisfy the needs of others, even if it causes more work for her. MS. BILLIE’S HEAR T IS IN IT EVERY DAY!”

SSC | SERVICE SOLUTIONS | NEWSLETTER | JUNE/ JULY 2019

Save Water Give Life Year 5!

Our team left Houston on Sunday, July 21st for the 2019 Living Water adventure to El Salvador. We were met at the airport by Enrique “KiKi” who would be our team leader for the week representing Living Water, International. We traveled by van to our hotel accommodations in St. Vincent , and at dinner , we met the rest of the Living Water teammembers and learned that we would be drilling for water and teaching hygiene/sanitation at a K-6 public school in the nearby community of Llano Grande. This was a unique opportunity for our team as most times drill teams go into small villages. We were all so excited that we would be spending the next 4 days with children who were excited about the opportunity to have clean drinking water. On just the 2nd day of drilling , we were blessed as we hit water at 121 feet. The water burst up , and the schoolchildren repeatedly chanted, “agua limpia, auga limpia.” The smiles on these little faces over water was simply exhilarating. Over the next 2 days, we completed the water well using sterilized PVC pipe and a great deal of gravel, and then later created a concrete pad around the unit and then installing the hand pump hardware. Late afternoon on Thursday many community members, teachers, and the children gathered around to help celebrate the dedication

of the new water well, showing their deep appreciation and love to the SSC / Weathermatic teammembers as well as the Living Water teammembers who contributed their time and efforts in giving them clean water. This event was emotional for all of us. The Living Water

team and children showed so much gratitude to the SSC team , but in reality, we were the ones that were thankful and so blessed by their grace. This experience was beyond anything one can imagine and certainly an experience none of us will ever forget.

By Peggy Cruse

SSC attendees: Front kneeling is Marina Garza and Joyce Garcia from TAMU in Laredo, TX Middle standing are Aneida Valdez – TAMU CS and recent SSC student worker, Leslie Izaguirre TAMU Laredo, LeTisha Zepeda – SSC Maintenance Supervisor, and Cindy Figueroa - TAMU CS. Back row Patrick Towns – Irrigation Manager, Peggy Cruse –SSC Human Resources Manager for TAMU, and Farid Realegeno – TAMU CS student.

SSC | SERVICE SOLUTIONS | NEWSLETTER | JUNE/ JULY 2019

Clean Air Award

Spotlight Do you know someone looking to grow their career? Do you want to grow your spending money? The solution to both is to help SSC and Compass Group fill open positions!

POSITION REQ 329943 ASSISTANT CUSTODIAL MANAGER COMMERCE, TX 308219 ASSISTANT MANAGER - CUSTODIAL EVENINGS - JACKSON, MS 329611 ASSISTANT UNIT DIRECTOR ROCHESTER, MI 321048 FINANCIAL ANALYST KNOXVILLE, TN 329496 GROUNDS MANAGER RIDGELAND, SC 323993 LANDSCAPE CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR COLLEGE STATION 306843 MASTER HVAC TECHNICIAN HOUSTON, TX 324744 OPERATIONS MANAGER - CUSTODIAL RICHMOND, VA 322858 PROJECT MANAGER II - STAT TEAM 310666 UNIT DIRECTOR - CUSTODIAL AUSTIN, TX 315947 UNIT DIRECTOR - CUSTODIAL EL CAMPO, TX 297210 UNIT DIRECTOR - CUSTODIAL EMPORIA, VA 327509 UNIT DIRECTOR - CUSTODIAL FORT WORTH AREA 289496 UNIT DIRECTOR - CUSTODIAL MARION, AR Refer and earn an extra $750+ LOCATION

SafetyFirst 365 The SafetyFirst 365 program went live for all SSC sites September 1, with the goal of reducing injuries for first year associates. ARE YOU HAVE REGULAR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SAFETY WITH YOU ASSOCIATES?

SSC | SERVICE SOLUTIONS | NEWSLETTER | JUNE/ JULY 2019

This class is comprised of leaders representing 10 sectors. Throughout the 7-month program, participants were challenged with self-directed learning, distance learning, live classroom, case studies, and business challenge action plans. We are pleased to announce the graduates of PR Class 52!

Would you like to contribute to next month’s newsletter? Please contact us

From SSC we had Trigona Mililli, Unit Director at Sacred Heart University, and Zachary Robinson, Unit Director at Stephenville ISD. Thank you for your support of these exceptional leaders.

with your idea! SSC Service Solutions PO Box 52370 Knoxville, TN 37950 865-546-8880 Contact@sscserv.com www.sscserv.com

Page 2-3 Page 4-5 Page 6-7 Page 8-9 Page 10-11 Page 12

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker