Jasper Journal Q2 2021

Jasper 2ND QTR 2021

Journal

RENEWED PROCESSES BOLSTER JASPER VENTURES FUN EVENTS FROM Q2

Jasper Ventures

The Jasper Journal is a quarterly publication of Jasper Ventures, Inc.

Communicating, celebrating and engaging the people of Jasper Ventures, our clients and communities.

JA SPE R V E N T U R E S I N C .

EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

101 Glenda St. Whitehouse, TX 75791 903-939-1555

Maureen Kaiser Elissa Thompson

JA SPE R J O U R N A L E D I TO R I A L A DV I S O R Y B OA R D

Carrie-Ann Jasper-Yearty Melissa Winebarger Liz Low Jim Newberg Joshua VanBuskirk G R A PH I C D E SI G N A R T I S T S

BW Design

TABLE of CONTENTS

3 VALUES AWARD WINNERS

8 JASPYS SPRING 2021

14 NEW SYSTEMS KICK-START OWNERSHIP

5 CHANGES AT VANGUARD BRING A FRESH START

9 SEEING GOD’S GOODNESS

16 FOCUSING ON PRIORITIES

7 JV FAMILY EVENTS

11 GETTING A FRESH LEASE ON LIFE

17 WHEN GOD CAUSES A NEW THING TO SPRING UP

SECOND QUARTER

VALUES AWARD WINNERS NOMINATE YOUR CO-WORKERS!

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KELLY COOPER | Overall

LISA LAROUX | Innovation

LIZ LOW | Stewardship

LANDEN BOOTH | Responsiveness

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CHANGES AT VANGUARD BRING A

FRESH START

VANGUARD is running strong with new changes in leadership and operations. Bryan Nicholson, plant superintendent, has been a great addition to the team. He has brought in new perspectives and processes. One change was new titles: four of our guys in Vanguard are now plant lead operators. These guys have really stepped up in these roles. Vanguard has weathered the storm before and they believe they can continue to be adaptive as a team.

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JV FAMILY EVENTS

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JASPYS SPRING 2021

WHEN WE CREATED THE JASPYS IN 2019, our goal was to celebrate our values award winners in a unique way because we realized that moments matter.

We wanted to create impactful moments of elevation, insight, pride and connection through the Jaspys, to provide an experience that is both memorable and meaningful for all that attend. We are immensely grateful for the time we had at the Jaspys in April and look forward to hosting again in October!

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SEEING GOD’S NEW EVENT CENTER AVAILABLE TO EMPLOYEES Oak Crossing has stood tall and strong since its inception. It continually wraps its arms around us and gives us a beautiful and safe place to gather with seating for up to 264 guests. Oak Crossing is the new gathering place, not just for Jasper Ventures, but for many others outside of our organization.

If you are looking for a space for a party, corporate meeting or conference, check out www.JasperVenturesInc.com/Oak-Crossing for more information. Employee discounts are available; please contact Liz Low at llow@jasperventuresinc.com.

EAST TEXAS GIVING DAY SUCCESS! The generosity of Jasper employees shown brightly as part of East Texas Giving Day this April. The Beyond Business team challenged people to commit to give, with a goal of 50 givers and an old fashioned “goal thermometer” to record commitments. JV employees blew that away, and 59 people gave as part of Giving Day! In total: employees gave $49,656 and Jasper Ventures was able to match $15,507, for a total of $65,163 coming from JV employees and the matching fund. Way to go, JV family!

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S GOODNESS BIG BASS FISHING TOURNAMENT We had a great turnout and an awesome time at the Fishing Tournament in March! You have probably heard by now that one of our participants caught a record-breaking fish that day. It was a pretty big deal! Thanks to everyone who came out and we are already looking forward to next year! Below are the results from the event:

BIG BASS – 15.44 lbs James Crawford (Broke Softball Dads) 1ST PLACE – 23.55 lbs Broke Softball Dads (Chuck McDonald & James Crawford) 2ND PLACE – 20.72 lbs Mackey (Derek Mackey & Kevin Mackey) 3RD PLACE – 14.32 lbs Chris McNamara

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GETTING A FRESH LEASE ON LIFE THANKS TO FINANCIAL KNOWLEDGE

BY SONYA CALTON, Document Control Specialist

M

y financial wellness journey started 10 years ago when I was a stay-at-home mom and my husband unexpectedly lost his job. We were not prepared for this financial hardship. When we got paid, we paid the bills and figured that was good enough. We did not track where the money went. We would charge things on credit cards. Sadly, and I hate to admit it now, we had a horrible amount of debt. We had no savings, and honestly, we had no clue why or how we should be managing our finances.

If you are or have ever struggled with your finances, I want you to know you are not alone. It is possible to have financial wellness, to feel confident with your finances and to obtain financial freedom.

I am not a financial expert by any means, but I have spent years learning how to manage my money. I have taken the knowledge I learned and flipped my financial situation around.

My husband and I have financial peace that we once did not, especially in early 2020 when we went from two incomes to one (pandemic craziness) and have been on one income for more than a year now. This would not have been possible if we were still in the same situation as 10 years ago. We control our finances; they do not control us. We live frugally and, although we are not millionaires (yet!), we have a goal, we have financial freedom and so much less stress!

“My husband and I have financial peace that we once did not.”

So how confident are you with your financial wellness? What I mean is, are your finances in good order, do you have a budget, do you have any savings, are your finances stressing you out, are you worried about your finances or how you are going to pay your bills?

How much debt do you have, do you have insurance? If you are married, are you and your spouse on the same page when it comes to your finances? All of it.

If someone had asked me these same questions 10 years ago, five years ago and now, it would be a different answer each time.

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Why? Because financial wellness is a journey, one that honestly most of us were never taught. Our finances are ever-changing and always evolving. Our personal lifestyle affects them greatly and differently than anyone else’s.

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How did I improve my financial wellness and how can you? Knowledge! It is in the daily decisions, and anyone can achieve it no matter where you are in your financial journey.

Being frugal and being on a financial wellness journey is not about giving up everything you love, but rather learning how to acquire everything you love – the smart way and debt

free. It’s also about your mindset. Instead of saying, “I/we can’t afford this,” say, “How can I/we afford this?” Have a plan and set goals.

The first thing I suggest everyone do is set a budget.

I know, I know – honestly evaluating your financial situation can be a bit painful and a little overwhelming if you have never done it before, but it can also be freeing. This knowledge will give you the power you need for success in your finances.

Through Jasper Ventures we have free access to a vast amount of financial wellness knowledge with the Dave Ramsey program SmartDollar. The Dave Ramsey method is a great place to start.

Using the EveryDollar App or on EveryDollar. com, you can start creating your budget and even connect it to your bank account for more accurate tracking of what you spend. It tracks all your income coming in and your expenses going out every month.

The next step depends on where you are on your personal financial journey. Dave Ramsey has some baby steps you can follow

to take charge of your finances. To access this information visit https://www.smartdollar. com/enroll/jasper4417.

If you have any questions or want to know more, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I would love to help you get started on your financial wellness journey!

MY FAVORITE MONEY SAVING TIP Have a spending freeze one week out of the month. Seriously – try it! You pick the week. Buy your groceries, fill up your gas tank, pay your utilities and then freeze! Don’t eat out, don’t buy Starbucks, no convenience stores, don’t go shopping or to the movies, nothing for one week (seven whole days). The money you would have spent – save it! Put the money you saved toward debt, toward savings or toward another goal!

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MID-YEAR CHECKUP

BY JOSH VANBUSKIRK

Human Resources Generalist

WE ARE 3000 MILES (OR SIX MONTHS) INTO 2021 AND IT IS TIME TO CHECK UP ON: 401K CONTRIBUTIONS • It is recommended to review your 401k contributions annually, at the very least. It is beneficial to increase contributions by one percent each year if possible.

HSA CONTRIBUTIONS • Just like with 401k, it is important to be aware of what you are contributing from each check to your HSA. Have a major health expense coming up? Plan ahead and change your contribution to save for the expense tax-free.

SAVINGS ACCOUNTS • Even setting aside $20 a week, you will end up with more than $1,000 in a year. This can help pay for unexpected expenses, save for dependents’ college expenses or even that annual family trip. If you need to add or change your direct deposit info, change it in ADP or contact someone in HR. ANNUAL CHECKUP • Was 2019 the last time you went to see your primary care doctor like many others? Annual preventative checkups are free with both of our insurance plans. An apple a day only does so much, so call your doctor today!

BUDGET • 2020 came and went, but it is never too late to create or change your monthly budget. SmartDollar has a great budgeting tool and guidance, plus it is free. www.smartdollar.com/enroll/jasper4417 COLLEGE SAVINGS ACCOUNT • If you have a dependent under the age of 18, you could be saving for their college expenses tax free through a 529 account. See HR for details.

*Save money on prescription medications by comparing prices to find the lowest price for your prescription at local pharmacies. – GoodRX app

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NEW SYSTEMS KICK-START OWNERSHIP

BY DARRELL PETTY

Project Manager

“The biggest benefit of all this is ownership.”

The recent changes in our operating practices and procedures have positively impacted projects. As project manager, I have seen the results of these changes firsthand.

With the addition of a more defined schedule on projects and a project manager keeping us accountable to the schedule, projects remain on track much more effectively.

The project engineering position has developed into a role that runs alongside the project manager. Together they maintain the schedule, oversee project changes and developments and work with the client to solve issues that may arise to ensure we stay on schedule and under budget.

The entire team from the office to the field has a better understanding of the project timeline and clearly sees when they need to complete their portion

of the project. This has resulted in team members being more proactive to ensure they complete things on schedule. Many other procedures, standards and checklists have brought efficiency and clarity to our projects as well. Items that might have been missed or overlooked in the past are now being caught and corrected early on.

The biggest benefit of all this is ownership. The changes we have made to how projects are executed have brought about a different level of ownership in each team member, which results in smoother projects.

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RE-CONCEIVED PROCESSES STRENGTHEN THE BOUNCE-BACK

BY SHAWN FORGY, General Manager of Project Construction

Throughout 2020 our shops have been working at a reduced capacity but our desire to improve has not. We spent time identifying metrics for each department that help us estimate and determine if we are on track to meet project schedules. The days of “work as hard as you can” and “throwing bodies at a job” are behind us and have been replaced with mathematics.

For example, we now know with a respectable level of accuracy how many weld inches per man-hour our pipe shop achieves on average.

This allows us to determine more efficient work schedules and staffing levels. When work schedules and the decisions to hire are rooted in analytical data, we all perform with a higher level of confidence and purpose. If a decision is made not to increase hours, also known as cost, despite pressure to the contrary we can be more confident in that decision based upon the data.

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By no means have we reached a point to say we are finished improving. What we have achieved is a solid foundation of reporting that is scalable and can be built upon going forward. We must always make an effort to implement processes and changes that are scalable. As Jasper Ventures grows and workloads increase, we need the ability to scale our processes up. The often-forgotten element of scalability is the importance of scaling down as workloads decrease.

This was a collaborative effort across multiple departments: Shop Supervision, Quality Control, Accounting, Human Resources and Document Control to name a few. They all made contributions, many without knowing the end goal.

FOCUSED PRIORITIES LEAD TO NEW JOB, REVITALIZE FAMILY

BY MAUREEN KAISER, Cultural Engagement Specialist

Years ago at a safety meeting, Javier Perez heard a startling near-death story causing him to re-think his priorities. He realized, “there are many jobs out there, but there is only one family.”

In August 2017 Javier took a job at Vulcan as a foreman. “I found out this company was out of East Texas and I wanted to build a reputation so that when I wanted to get transferred closer to home, I could,” he said.

Javier and his wife Marianna wanted a second baby, but she did not want to grow the family if Javier was working out of town. Plus, Javier’s brothers were younger and needed a good voice in their life, so Javier sought out a fresh start closer to home.

“I went from the top to the bottom but coming home to a family and not just an empty camper made it worth it,” he said.

Timing was amazing, in the way that only God can work. A few months later, Vulcan’s operations scaled back considerably due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which would have likely left Javier without a job.

“I thought I was lucky but then Joey Pope told me I was not lucky, I was blessed. God has been so good to me,” Javier said.

“I came home, got a good job, we got pregnant, had another baby – so it was pretty good year for me.”

Javier’s advice for anyone looking for a fresh start is, know your priorities. Javier is grateful for God’s blessing of a fresh start.

Javier got that in the form of a new job at Veritas on the assembly team. No foreman positions were open, but he was willing to take a pay cut and a different position.

“I went from the top to the bottom but coming home to a family and not just an empty camper made it worth it.”

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WHEN GOD CAUSES A NEW THING TO SPRING UP

by MELISSA WINEBARGER

Beyond Business Manager

D

o you get excited with anticipation when you know there is a new experience on the horizon? Maybe you hate the thought of something new and unexpected. Everyone has a different personality when it comes to trying new things. As I write this, it is spring.

Lots of new things are happening outside my window. Most of us have experienced springtime. New growth, fresh smells, and sunshine. New - yet familiar.

There is a verse in the Bible, Isaiah 43:19 where the Lord is talking to his people and says to them, “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert…” As I consider this phrase new thing, I don’t think it is new as in familiar, like the springtime, but – new, the never-been-knownbefore kind – unfamiliar. The Lord is famous for new, never- known-before kind of new.

Have you ever felt your life is in the wilderness or a desert? In a place where you know you cannot make it on your own? It can be

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hard for me to admit this because I want to believe that I can do it all in my own strength.

Jesus delights in making a way in our messy wilderness and watering our dry desert places.

There is no doubt, new and unknown things can be scary. Learning I would have a baby for the first time was a bit scary. For you it could be committing to a new role, getting married or saying goodbye to a loved one.

When God is doing something new, it may require us to step out of our comfort and into the unknown which may feel scary or unpleasant. I am often tempted to hold on to the familiar and comfortable, but in order to experience the new, letting go of the old may be required. Putting faith in Him to make a way may require an action from us so He can do a new thing. Springtime can only come after nature has experienced winter.

God’s new things are the things we could never do or experience on our own. I believe our very lives are perfectly designed to fail without the Lord’s work. Our human hearts,

“Springtime can only come after nature has experienced winter.”

minds and emotions cannot be renewed outside of our creator’s work. Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will also give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit within you…” He takes our old, surrendered places and makes a beautiful newness.

I believe the Lord has some new and unfamiliar things springing forth for Jasper Ventures as a company. I believe He is making a way in what has seemed like wilderness and desert over the last year. He has brought us so many opportunities. I believe we will see the “like never been known before” things and be grateful.

However, I want to challenge each of us to open our hearts and lives up to the Lord and allow Him to do a new thing. You can trust Him. His love is steadfast toward you. In the unfamiliar and discomfort, He will guide you and protect you. You will never be the same, He will make a new way!

REFLECTION Questions •

What new thing do you see happening in your life?

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Where would you like the Lord to do a new thing in your life?

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Do you trust/believe the Lord will and can do a new thing?

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Is there something you need to let go of in order to experience the Lord’s newness?

If you would like your answers to the questions to be added to the next Jasper Journal, email them to BB@jasperventuresinc.com.

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Jasper Ventures

GAS PROCESSING

FIELD CONSTRUCTION

PROCESSING SOLUTIONS

DEW POINT CONDITIONING

KINGDOM PURPOSE Building people and products for God’s purpose.

VISION Delivering solutions.

Impacting lives.

MISSION Offering the oil and gas industry an unmatched service experience through world-class turnkey solutions.

INTEGRITY Behaving honorably, even when no one is watching.

SERVICE Considering others’ interests as more important than our own.

EXCELLENCE Doing our best work efficiently and safely and expecting the same from those around us.

RESPONSIVENESS Meeting needs and solving problems in a timely and professional manner.

INNOVATION Encouraging and applauding the exploration of new ideas and creative solutions.

Faithfully managing what God has entrusted to us.

FOLLOW US ONLINE: Facebook.com/JasperVenturesInc LinkedIn.com/company/JasperVenturesInc Instagram.com/JasperVenturesInc

STEWARDSHIP

JASPER VENTURES INC. 101 Glenda St., Whitehouse, TX 75791 jasperventuresinc.com · 903-939-1555