Employee Newsletter
A LOOK BACK & GLIMPSE FORWARD WITH MIKE RYAN
Looking back, 2022 has been a transformative year with:
The launch of our Triple Zero Quality Control program for taking our performance in quality, safety, and retention of tenured technicians to the next level with alignment throughout the organization and continuous enhancement of training and quality auditing.
Restructuring of 811 field leadership, with the segmentation of our operations into three geographical regions, each led by a General Manager who will work closely with our Quality Control Team and utilize the data produced by our technicians to develop actionable plans for delivering Triple Zero.
Sale by our parent company, Partners Group, of a 50% stake in the company to Kohlberg & Company, a testament to all that we have accomplished over the past three years with the execution of our business initiatives and to the tremendous potential we have to take the company to even greater heights.
There is much to look forward to in 2023 and beyond. With our Triple Zero goal as our guide, we are positioned to deliver even greater value for our customers.
We remain focused on making USIC a company our employees want to stay with to build a longterm career. Continuing to build our army of tenured technicians will be key to achieving our goal of Triple Zero. We also remain committed to providing the work/life balance so important to well-being. Your ongoing feedback is needed to continue our progress. Please keep it coming.
Thank you for your dedication throughout this year to protecting our nation's infrastructure and our communities and for your continuous kindness and generosity in supporting our communities. The true spirit of the holidays is alive and well at USIC!
I wish you all a safe and joyous holiday season and happy and healthy New Year!
DECEMBER 2022
SKILLS ON DISPLAY AT SAFETY & LOCATE RODEOS
USIC regions and districts held their 2022 safety and locate rodeos, where our technicians got the opportunity to display their skills, compete for bragging rights and prizes, learn, and have a whole lot of fun! Thank you to those who planned the rodeos and to all who participated.
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CENTRAL TEXAS & NEW MEXICO DISTRICTS TAKE THE TIGER CAGE CHALLENGE
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The Central Texas and New Mexico Districts tested their driving skills and competed in the Tiger Cage Challenge. The controlled maneuvering course enables technicians to learn the limitations of their work truck with a turning radius in a safe and fun environment.
Congratulations to the West Texas techs who placed in the Individual Tiger Team Spirit category!
L to R: Second Place Winner Tony Rico, First Place Winner Phillip Rozenboom, Third Place Winner Daniel Sutton
Congratulations to Team Grapevine for winning the Best Overall Tiger Team Spirit Award!
SERVING UP GRATITUDE IN ILLINOIS
The Friday before Thanksgiving, USIC’s Illinois Region distributed more than 1,000 turkeys to technicians, field managers, and support staff throughout the state in appreciation of all they do to protect our customers’ infrastructure and our communities and support each other.
The tradition, which began six years ago, is a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season with gratitude for team members.
OREGON TECHNICIAN REPRESENTS USIC IN CHRISTMAS LIGHTS PARADE
Technician Jake Buchanan volunteered to represent USIC in the Christmas Lights Parade held by the town of Dallas, Oregon.
He decorated his work truck with lights, candy canes, and magnets and signs reminding those along the parade route of the importance of calling 811 before digging.
As a veteran who served with the Army National Guard for 15 years, he also displayed his truck magnet displaying USIC’s pride in hiring America’s heroes.
Jake’s motivation for participating in the parade was two-fold. His daughters, fouryear-old Charlee and two-year old Weslee, were excited about their dad being part of the parade, which ended at the courthouse for the lighting of the town’s Christmas tree. Jake tells us, “I’d do anything to make my girls happy.”
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EHS MANAGER PLAYED FOR U.S. BALL HOCKEY TEAM AT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Six years ago, EHS Manager Bernie Richards began playing in pickup ball hockey games on Sunday mornings, which led to him being asked by a team from Lancaster County, PA to play with them in a tournament in Las Vegas, where he was invited to play in other tournaments and then eventually asked to join the U.S. Masters (age 40+) Ball Hockey Team at the Ball Hockey World Championship in the Czech Republic. Bernie, who ran track in college, secured one of three spots open to players between the ages of 37 and 40. Ball hockey is a variant of ice hockey and street hockey played on a non-ice surface with a ball instead of a puck.
While his team didn’t qualify for a medal at the World Championship in September, Bernie says it was a great experience playing against 12 teams from around the world, and they did beat Great Britain’s team and had some very close games.
Bernie's play earned him one of just 75 invitations to try out for the U.S. Ball Hockey Team (age 35 and over) for the 2023 World Championship in Buffalo, NY. He is preparing for the tryouts early next year by training and conditioning.
Bernie says playing for the U.S. team at the World Championship and visiting the Czech
Republic "was a great experience I’ll cherish the rest of my life." He highly recommends visiting the Czech Republic. "I saw a statue built in the 1500s, which was a replica of an older statue, and got to see Beethoven’s house in Prague.” Good luck, Bernie! Your USIC family is rooting for you.
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INDIANA SUPERVISOR PRESENTED PATRIOT AWARD
Central Indiana Supervisor Jasup Smith was presented with the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Patriot Award on November 11 at USIC's Veterans Day Ceremony, held at our corporate headquarters in Indianapolis.
The award recognizes an employer's or supervisor's support of a member of the National Guard or Reserves. Jasup was nominated for the award by technician Mason Horine, who serves in the U.S. Army Reserve.
Seven members of Jasup's team have served or are currently serving in the National Guard or the reserve components of the U.S. Armed Forces.
"I am honored and humbled by the award," Jasup said. "I am a big supporter of the military, and I was just doing my job by supporting Mason in protecting our country."
Congratulations, Jasup, and thank you for supporting your team members who serve or have served our country.
L to R: Jasup Smith, his wife Amanda, father-in-law and veteran Paul Christie, and mother-in-law Debbie Christie
Early in 2022, our corporate headquarters staff was presented with a charitable giving challenge by CEO Mike Ryandonate $1 every Friday in support of a central Indiana hospice organization.
With our most recent donation, the hospice staff was thrilled to be able to purchase CD players and CDs for their patients and spread some holiday cheer.
“We cannot express our gratitude enough. The USIC team is touching so many lives with your generous donations! We are very excited to get some mini Christmas trees to put in their rooms. The joy all of this will bring will be so beautiful to see.”
Thank you to all who have continued to give generously in support of our community.
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HQ STAFF SUPPORTS COMMUNITY HOSPICE
USIC'S COLUMBUS DISTRICT DONATED SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR KIDS IN NEED
USIC's Columbus, OH District donated school supplies to a local charity that distributes them to kids in need. Their District Safety Council helped with stuffing backpacks full of everything a kid needs to start the school year off right. Thank you to all who participated for supporting our community!
SPOTLIGHT ON QUALITY
West Texas Technician 1 Victor Guerrero was recognized for performing a locate in a very congested area and marking the threephase million feeder accurately.
While Victor has been with USIC less than a year, he has over 20 years of locating experience. His supervisor describes him as "a great locator who exceeds expectations on every locate, has a positive attitude, and is very detail oriented."
Operations Manager Andy Shrek commends Victor, who was moved into an area with a high number of fiber overbuilds, for "doing a phenomenal job staying connected with the multiple contractors and for pointing out errors he finds in the field so they can be addressed."
Thank you, Victor, for your commitment to providing the highest level quality for our customers and community.
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USIC'S EAST TEXAS TEAM HELPS KEEP HEROES WARM
USIC's East Texas Team donated blankets, coats, and other winter apparel for the Military Order of the Purple Heart's coat drive for local veterans in need. Thank you, East Texas Team, for your generosity in caring for our community!
CREATING TOYS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN
USIC VP National Account Development Janet Sanford’s hobby is painting. Members of her church asked her to hand paint flowers on doll cradles made by Hobby Crafters, a group of retirees who handcraft more than 6,000 wooden toys each year as holiday gifts for underprivileged children. Janet has since added decorative embellishments to 80 cradles.
Most of the toys produced by Hobby Crafters, an organization of about 50 volunteers established in 1944, are distributed in North Texas by charitable organizations, with some provided to a missionary group for children in Nigeria. The toys are crafted in a workshop provided by an anonymous donor, while others, such as Janet, add embellishments from their homes. Local businesses and retailers often donate the pine from which the toys are crafted.
“I was blessed to be able to be a part of making these beautiful handcrafted wooden toys as gifts for children in need,” Janet said. Thank you, Janet, for sharing your time and talent in support of your community this holiday season!
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Hobby Crafters’ Ed Etchison with doll cradles & dolls
Janet Sanford