CDL Monthly Newsletter : May Edition

ELECTRIC JOB HIGHLIGHT

Enhancing Customers store lighting in Kansas City

SAFETY HIGHLIGHT

Beat the heat and find out how to stay safe

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Meet the new Executive Director of Corporate Culture

MAY 2023

MONTHLY NEWSLETTER

Job Highlight

Health Inititive

New Hires

Job Openings

11.

A sincere thank you to Farmers Insurance of Girard for bringing Aunt Julie’s doughnuts, a local dougnut food truck, to our Pittsburg office. We have worked with Farmers Insurance on many projects and hope to continue our relationship.

INTRODUCING WANDA BEAUDOIN

ILLUMINATING CORPORATE CULTURE AT CDL

Greetings, CDL family! We are delighted to introduce our newest addition to the CDL Group of Companies family, Wanda Beaudoin, our Executive Director of Corporate Culture. With a wealth of experience and a passion for empowering individuals and fostering inclusive environments, Wanda brings a fresh perspective to our organization.

Hailing from Canada, Wanda recently made the exciting move to Pittsburg, Kansas, where she has found solace in the charms of smalltown living. She revels in the area’s slower pace, historically rich community, breathtaking weather, and the delightful absence of heavy traffic. And, of course, we all know why Canada’s loss is our gain—just a little inside joke that Wanda shares with a smile!

Wanda’s journey began in the field of nursing, graduating in 1992 and immersing herself in various roles within emergency departments, orthopedics, and neurology. However, it was her unwavering dedication to mental health, particularly in the aging adult population, that ignited her true passion. With a focused interest in cognitive impairments, Wanda has made significant contributions to the understanding and improvement of care for seniors facing these challenges.

In 2013, Wanda took a leap of faith and ventured into the realm of academia. She became a professor at a local nursing university, providing her with a unique opportunity to share her expertise with aspiring nurses from around the world. Wanda even had the privilege of traveling to Jamaica, educating international nurses eager to join the nursing profession in Canada. Always seeking personal and professional growth, she pursued an additional degree in Sociology, delving into the intricate ways human actions and consciousness shape our world. Her studies focused on uncovering unconscious human bias and improving interpersonal interactions.

Driven by her compassion for others, Wanda eventually transitioned into health management. This path led her to fulfill her dream of establishing an affordable housing community for seniors seeking vibrant retirement living, complete with ample social options, comprehensive support systems, and a wide range of amenities. Wanda’s dedication and leadership were rewarded with a silver medal, recognizing her community as the top place for seniors to call home.

Beyond her professional achievements, Wanda’s love for the great outdoors is evident. She finds solace in walking and hiking, always seeking new places to explore. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wanda embarked on an unforgettable adventure, trekking through the picturesque provinces of Thailand. Even in remote villages lacking electricity and running water, she marveled at the ability to connect with loved ones back home, thanks to the remarkable presence of cell service. Undeterred by the challenges of the past year, Wanda’s next planned adventure includes traversing the famed Camino Trail in Spain and exploring the enchanting city of Budapest, Hungary.

As Wanda settles into her new role and embraces the Pittsburg community, we are eager to witness the positive impact she will undoubtedly have on our corporate culture. Her diverse experiences, unwavering dedication, and infectious enthusiasm will undoubtedly inspire and elevate our entire team.

Please join us in welcoming Wanda Beaudoin to the CDL Group of Companies. Let us support and collaborate with her as we continue to build an inclusive and thriving work environment for all.

Here’s to new beginnings, extraordinary adventures, and a brighter future with Wanda by our side.

ELEVATE YOUR IMAGE

By wearing our company apparel, we can create a visual representation of our shared values, professionalism, and dedication to excellence. It's an opportunity to feel connected and proud as we collaborate and make a difference together.

SEK OVERHEAD DOOR

HOT TIPS FOR A COOL SUMMER

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE SUN’S RAYS AND BEAT THE HEAT WITH THESE ESSENTIAL SAFETY MEASURES FOR OUTDOOR WORK

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. Spending time outside is a great way to be physically active, reduce stress, and get vitamin D. You can work outside without raising your skin cancer risk by protecting your skin from the sun. Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. Protection from UV rays is important all year, not just during the summer. UV rays can reach you on cloudy and cool days, and they reflect off of surfaces like water, cement, sand, and snow. In the continental United States, UV rays tend to be strongest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daylight saving time (9 a.m. to 3 p.m. standard time).

The UV Index forecasts the strength of UV rays each day. If the UV index is 3 or higher in your area, protect your skin from too much exposure to the sun.

How to Protect Your Skin from the Sun:

Shade

You can reduce your risk of sun damage and skin cancer by staying in the shade under an umbrella, tree, or other shelter. Your best bet to protect your skin is to use sunscreen or wear protective clothing when you’re outside— even when you’re in the shade.

Clothing

When possible, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, which can provide protection from UV rays. If wearing this type of clothing isn’t practical, try to wear a T-shirt. Clothes made from tightly woven fabric offer the best protection. A wet T-shirt offers much less UV protection than a dry one, and darker colors may offer more protection than lighter colors. Some clothing is certified under international standards as offering UV protection.

Hat

For the most protection, wear a hat that has a brim all the way around that shades your face, ears, and the back of your neck. A tightly woven fabric, such as canvas, works best to protect your skin from UV rays. A darker hat may offer more UV protection.

If you wear a baseball cap, you should also protect your ears and the back of your neck by wearing clothing that covers those areas, using sunscreen, or staying in the shade.

Sunglasses

Sunglasses protect your eyes from UV rays and reduce the risk of cataracts. They also protect the tender skin around your eyes from sun exposure. For the work environment sunglasses must have the ANSI Z87 (protective eyewear designation).

Sunglasses that block both UVA and UVB rays offer the best protection. Most sunglasses sold in the United States, regardless of cost, meet this standard. Wrap-around sunglasses work best because they block UV rays from sneaking in from the side.

Sunscreen

Put on broad spectrum sunscreen that filters out both UVA and UVB rays and has an SPF of 15 or higher before you go outside. Don’t forget to put a thick layer on all exposed skin. Get help for hard-to-reach places like your back. And remember, sunscreen works best when combined with other options.

Sunscreens are assigned a sun protection factor (SPF), which is a number that rates how well they filter out UV rays. Higher numbers indicate more protection. You should use a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher. Sunscreen wears off. Put it on again if you stay out in the sun for more than 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, or toweling off.

Check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date has a shelf life of no more than 3 years. Its shelf life is shorter if it has been exposed to high temperatures.

TRANSFORMING A STORE IN KANSAS CITY WITH LED LIGHTS

At CDL we are always seeking innovative projects that align with our values to enhance operations, reduce energy consumption, and contribute to a greener future. Recently, our dedicated team embarked on an exciting project in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, that exemplifies our customers commitment to sustainability and efficiency.

Over the course of a day, a team of skilled electricians from CDL traveled to Kansas City to undertake a significant lighting upgrade at KC Cash & Carry. The mission? To remove over 200 outdated fixtures and replace them with state-of-the-art LED lights.

LED (Light-Emitting Diode) technology has revolutionized the lighting industry, offering numerous benefits over traditional lighting options. LED lights are known for their longevity, energy efficiency, and superior illumination quality. By transitioning to LED lights, we aimed to not only enhance the store’s aesthetics but also reduce their energy consumption and environmental impact.

Our team worked closely with the store management, devising a detailed schedule that allowed for the seamless installation of the new fixtures while keeping the store accessible to customers. The process involved carefully removing the existing fixtures, which had served faithfully for many years, but had become outdated and less energy-efficient over time. Each fixture was replaced with a new LED light, carefully selected to optimize brightness, color rendering, and overall lighting quality.

The transition to LED lights also had a significant impact on our environmental footprint. LED lights are known for their energy efficiency, consuming up to 80% less energy compared to traditional lighting options. This reduction in energy consumption translates to substantial cost savings and a smaller carbon footprint for their company. By investing in sustainable solutions, they are taking proactive steps toward a more eco-friendly future.

The success of this project in Kansas City serves as a testament to the dedication and expertise of our team members. Their meticulous planning, precise execution, and commitment to delivering exceptional results were instrumental in transforming the store and achieving our sustainability goals.

EMPOWERING HEALTH AND WELLNESS

INTRODUCING OUR COMPANY CLINIC AND EXCITING HEALTH INITIATIVE

CDL group of companies is excited to announce a new health initiative open to all employees and their dependents who are enrolled in either the CDL or Sermi Blue Cross Blue Shield company health plans.

CDL will be offering an Off- Site Health Care Clinic available at the Watco office, 315 W 3rd Street. These clinic times will be available to all employees/dependents covered on their health plans. Appointments are available every Monday morning from 8 am to 12 pm and on Thursday afternoons from 1pm to 5 pm starting June 5, 2023.

This initiative will make it easier for health plan recipients to:

Have convenient access to a doctor, Dr.Cosens

Receive some on site medications (if required) immediately for fast treatment of short term and common health conditions

Have access to some additional testing such as lab work, xrays, etc without extra cost to the employee. Have access to treatments for wellness such as weight less, smoking cessation, etc

Have access to quality care for work or personal injuries and follow up

Employees will have the ability to book appointments online or by phone (if unable to do so online) on a date and time that works best for them on the Monday mornings and Thursday afternoons. As an additional incentive we will not require an employee to claim sick time use for these personal appointments if going during a scheduled work time-however following the appointment the employee will be required to return to work- unless otherwise directed by the doctor.

This will assist CDL to have accessible and proactive health care at less cost to the employee and employer which will ultimately improve overall employee health, production, and attendance.

We encourage all employees to take advantage of this program. Initial appointments for new patients will run approximately 30 minutes and then most repeat appointments or follow up appointments will be booked in 15-minute slots.

We look forward to the success of this program.

EXPANDING OUR TEAM

WELCOMING TALENTED NEW ADDITIONS

Name Position

Larry Dye

Signal Maintainer

Charles Manuel Signal Maintainer

Daniel Shufelt Signal Maintainer

Adam Bowman Signal Maintainer

Emilee Luedke Intern

Cory Travis Sr. Signal Maintainer

Riley Ewen Apprentice Electrician

Tanner Bellai Signal Maintanence Supervisor

Silas Russel Apprentice Lineman

Matthew Ray Apprentice Electrician

Dylan Witthuhn General Apprentice

Trysten Williamson HVAC Service Tech

Chase Sanborn Intern

Adam Shireman Apprentice Electrician

Dylan Bruner Apprentice

Eric Wallace Signal Maintainer

OPEN POSITIONS

Refer a new employee and be paid up to $500 per employee hired based on position. You must fill out a candidate referral form. Payout is in two increments of 60 days of employee hired and 90 days of employee hire date.

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Master/Journeyman HVAC Technician

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Humboldt, KS Master Plumber

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HVAC Service Technician

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Joplin, MO Jourenyman Electrician

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Directional Boring Tracker/Operator

Houston, KS Boring Operator

Pittsburg, KS Master/Journeyman Plumber

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