MHA Newsletter_Fall 2023

FALL 2023 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

THE LEADING EDGE

THE EMPLOYEE NEWSLETTER OF MICHAEL HATCHER & ASSOCIATES AND MASTER LAWN

FALL 2023 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

SAFETY 101

Operate leaf blowers safely to avoid hazards By josh wilder steff manager Leaf blowers are extremely useful in our industry. They allow us to clean leaves, grass clippings, and small debris from driveways, sidewalks, patios, parking lots, and other areas five times faster than using a rake or broom. While they might not seem dangerous, leaf blowers can turn rocks, sticks, mulch, glass shards, and other debris into projectiles that can cause cuts and eye injuries. They also can damage your hearing and cause ergonomic injuries, electric shocks, and respiratory hazards if you don’t operate them correctly and take safety precautions.

What are some things you should not do with a leaf blower?

• Spread or mist fertilizers, chemicals, or other toxic substances.

• Move dusty materials.

• Clean up large amounts of gravel, dust, construction dirt, plaster, cement, or dry topsoil.

Where are some places you should not operate a leaf blower?

• Indoors or in a poorly ventilated area.

• From a ladder, rooftop, tree, or other unstable surface.

What PPE should you wear when operating a leaf blower?

• Pants and long sleeves, hearing protection, goggles or a face shield, work gloves, work boots with non-slip soles, and a respirator or dust mask.

What should you do before beginning work with a leaf blower?

• Inspect the leaf blower and bring damaged, worn, or defective safety devices to a supervisor’s attention. Check the air filter and clear any debris from the air intakes.

• Clear the work area of bystanders. People and animals should be at least 50 feet away.

• Wet down dusty areas.

• Remove any loose debris (trash, tree limbs, rocks, etc.).

What precautions should you take while operating a leaf blower?

• Stop blowing if someone steps inside the 50-foot boundary.

• Pay attention at all times. Never point the blower toward people, pets, vehicles, or open windows or doors.

How can you avoid electric shock when using an electric leaf blower?

• Make sure it is plugged into a ground-faulted outlet or is used with a ground-fault-circuit

ON THE COVER Commercial Maintenance crew members plant pansies to add fall color to a common area at Southwind in October. PHOTO BY ALDO RUIZ

HAYDEN HUTCHISON

Jose Padron of Commercial Maintenance operates a backpack leaf blower at a Youth Villages property. interrupter.

• Don’t use an electric leaf blower in a wet area or drag an extension cord through water.

• Don’t adjust or service the leaf blower without unplugging it.

wipe spills before using.

• Don’t smoke while handling fuel or operating the machine.

• Refuel before starting.

If you refuel during work, turn off the engine and allow it to cool.

What can you do to • Start the leaf blower at avoid fuel-related least 10 feet from the accidents when using a fueling spot. gas-powered leaf • Make sure the sparkblower? plug boot is secure to • Don’t spill fuel when refilling the machine, and avoid sparks and

Website www.hatcherlandscape.com Careers

Scan the QR code to see our current open positions.

How can you avoid ergonomic injuries when using a leaf blower?

• Wear the shoulder harness or strap on hand-held leaf blowers.

• Keep your back straight while operating the leaf blower.

FALL 2023

THE LEADING EDGE Editor GINNY SHIKLE Marketing and Communications Specialist 901-664-8720 ginnys@hatcherlandscape.com

possible ignition of fuel vapors.

Volume 2, Issue 7

Follow us @hatcherlandscape

@hatchlandscape

@hatchlandscape

linkedin.com/michaelhatcher-&-associates-inc.

Michael Hatcher & Associates is a proud member of

THE LEADING EDGE | PAGE 2

FALL 2023 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

EXPECT TO WIN

Company plans expansion to Huntsville Huntsville FAQs The following announcement was emailed to employees Oct. 19 and is reprinted here.

about our expansion and the opening of a

What type of jobs are available at the new office?

We are currently looking outside the

I am excited to announce that Michael Hatcher & Associates will be expanding to Huntsville, Alabama, as soon as Q1 2024. We RUSS SNEED are still CEO committed to providing superior service in the

branch office in Huntsville, Alabama.

Company for a Commercial Maintenance

Team,

These FAQs aim to address common questions and concerns you may have

Business Developer, and we are advertising Why are we opening an office in Huntsville?

Huntsville is a growing city with a strong

within the Company and externally for a

economy, and we believe that our expertise

Other positions that will eventually open up

in commercial landscaping construction and

include Crew Member, Supervisor,

commercial maintenance will be in high

Foreman, Irrigation Technician, Field

demand there. This expansion will allow us

Operations Manager, Account Manager,

to serve additional customers in a new

Mechanic, and Admin. As these jobs

Memphis market. However, this

market and continue to grow our Company

become available we will update you

expansion will allow us to serve

and our business.

through internal communications and job

additional clients in a new market and continue to grow our team and our

Huntsville Operations Manager.

postings.

business.

What part of our business will have a presence in Huntsville?

Projects in Huntsville will initially be for

If you are interested in working at the new

Huntsville is a growing city with a

Commercial Construction. Commercial

strong economy, and we believe that

Brown, Head of HR/IT, at

Maintenance projects will follow. Master

our expertise in commercial

lana@hatcherlandscape.com. See Deanna

Lawn is not included in the expansion at

landscaping construction and

Crum for an application.

this time.

maintenance will be in high demand.

location in Huntsville, please contact Lana

will be a great success for our

What will happen with our current office?

The headquarters for Commercial

Company and our team members, and

Landscape, both Construction and

Will the Company cover relocation expenses for employees who move to Huntsville?

The Company will assist with moving

Maintenance, will remain at The Landscape

expenses, to be determined case by case

Center in Olive Branch. There is plenty of

based on the employee’s role.

We are confident that this expansion

as the work begins to start the new location planning, we invite you to be part of the process.

If you are interested in working at the new location in Alabama, please

work to do here, and we are still committed to providing superior service in the Memphis market.

What is the timeframe for the expansion?

We will be expanding to Huntsville as soon as January.

contact Lana Brown, Head of HR/IT, at lana@hatcherlandscape.com.

Positions including Crew Member, Supervisor, Foreman, Irrigation Technician, Field Operations Manager, Account Manager, Operations Manager, Mechanic, and Admin will be available.

The current announcement is for our Commercial Landscape business. We intend to evaluate if our Master Lawn business will enter the Huntsville market during the 2024 Budget Planning cycle.

Thank you for your continued hard work and dedication to Michael Hatcher & Associates.

Expect to Win,

THE LEADING EDGE | PAGE 3

FALL 2023 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

COACH AND BE COACHED

PHOTOS BY CHRIS BRUNO, ANGIE OLIVE, TYRONE ROGERS, GINNY SHIKLE, STEPHEN SHIKLE, AND JOSH WILDER

Commercial Construction, Commercial Maintenance, and Lawn Care team members took part in the Fall Safety Rodeo on Oct. 19.

The purpose of the event was not only to train employees on equipment but also to promote workplace safety. Amerisure, Betty’s Glass, Bradley Auto Glass, Enterprise Fleet Management,

Insight Risk Management, McGriff Tire, Oldham Chemicals Company, Parman Energy Group, Radians, and Williams Equipment & Supply sponsored the event, which was catered by Soul Fish Cafe.

POSITIVE, CAN-DO ATTITUDE

GINNY SHIKLE

GINNY SHIKLE

From left, Karl Newson, a Senior Crew Leader in Commercial Maintenance; Cesar Perez, a Foreman in Commercial Construction;

MIA FRIEND

and Jose Padron, a Foreman in Commercial Maintenance, were recognized as Team Spotlight winners this fall.

THE LEADING EDGE | PAGE 4

FALL 2023 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

MEET THE TEAM: LUPE BOWNES

Lupe Bownes helps grow our Team By ginny shikle marketing and communications specialist

In late August, we welcomed our new Recruiting Coordinator, Lupe Bownes.

“I’m looking forward to helping the Team grow and to helping make the Company stronger,” she said at the time, adding that our core values – Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence – are what drew her here. “They’re all important, but you can’t have teamwork and excellence without integrity.”

Lupe is fluent in English and Spanish and comes to us with HR, recruiting, payroll, and safety experience in the construction and health industries.

Both career paths were appealing in their own way, but Lupe said she’s found her home here.

“This is a family-oriented company,” she said. “It feels warm. You guys are amazing people, and I really do hope I do a good job.”

Lupe’s interests outside of work are her relationship with God and her family, which includes a son, Tony, a daughter, Sammie, and her 9-year-old grandson, Lucas. She’s traveled to Italy, France, Spain, and Grenada, and she also spends time baking and cooking.

“I love to cook Mexican food like

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUPE BOWNES

New Recruiting Coordinator Lupe Bownes, who loves to travel, is pictured here in front of Cloud Gate, the famous bean sculpture in Chicago’s AT&T Plaza.

chicken tinga, mole, and sopes,” she said. “I like to bake breads, cakes, and cheesecakes, but not biscuits. I could kill somebody with my biscuits.”

Lupe has seven brothers and one sister and grew up in Mexico City. After high school, she studied architecture for two years in college and later won a student exchange to San Diego, California.

“That’s where I learned English,” she said, adding that she enjoys volunteering to teach English and Spanish at a Christian ministry.

We love working with you, Lupe!

PHOTO BY DEANNA CRUM

Recruiting Coordinator Lupe Bownes, left, attended the Horticulture Department Career Fair at Auburn University Sept. 19 with Senior Account Manager Alex Moore.

THE LEADING EDGE | PAGE 5

FALL 2023 | VOLUME 2, ISSUE 7

DO THE NEXT RIGHT THING

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CAUGHT BEING KIND We love recognizing our teammates who Do the Next Right Thing! To nominate a teammate who you Caught Being Kind, email the details to ginnys@hatcherlandscape.com.

1. Jordan Martin, Master Lawn 2. Caleb Ratcliffe, Commercial Maintenance 3. Chris Ratcliffe, Master Lawn 4. Gavin Ploch, Shop 5. Chris Thomas, Master Lawn 6-7. Cam Poindexter and Eli McNease, Commercial Construction 8. Kelly Ogden, Commercial Maintenance 9. JJ Crum, Shop PHOTOS BY JARRET FOWLKES AND GINNY SHIKLE

THE LEADING EDGE | PAGE 6