THE LEADING EDGE
T H E E M P L O Y E E N E W S L E T T E R O F M I C H A E L H A T C H E R & A S S O C I A T E S A N D I T S S U B S I D I A R I E S
Safety glasses protect eyes from injury
By ginny shikle communications specialistEarlier this month, our friends at Martin Supply shared some straight talk about PPE with our Commercial Construction, Commercial Maintenance, and Lawn Care team members, who face potential hazards daily that can cause eye injuries
“Personal protective equipment is your responsibility to use and maintain,” Account Manager Chelsea Byrd of Martin said, adding that when it comes to eye protection, that means wearing safety glasses even if they’re uncomfortable or you think they make you look funny
Safety glasses should be worn whenever there is a potential hazard and should fit with a gap no larger than 5 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser) Flush with eyewash for 15 minutes if debris or chemicals get in your eyes
“No one wants to lose their eyesight,” Byrd said "Remember, the goal is to go home the
Editor GINNY SHIKLE
Communications Specialist 901-664-8720
ginnys@hatcherlandscape com
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Commercial
Jay Whitfield whose career path has led
from farming to aviation management to landscaping speaks to Foreman
Jr about laying sod at a
site
THE LEADING EDGE Michael Hatcher & Associates is a proud member of ON THE COVER
Construction Install Supervisor
him
Gustavo Fonseca
job
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PHOTO BY GINNY SHIKLE
SAFETY
Scan the QR code to see our current open positions Volume 2, Issue 5
same way you came to work ”
Martin Supply Account Manager Chelsea Byrd, above, demonstrates that safety glasses should fit with a gap no larger than 5 millimeters (about the size of a pencil eraser). If debris or chemicals get in your eyes, flush with eyewash, like the type shown below, for 15 minutes.
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EDGAR VALDOVINOS
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EDGAR VALDOVINOS
POSITIVE, CAN-DO ATTITUDE
July spotlight shines on Tyrone Rogers
At 6 feet 8 inches tall, Commercial Construction Foreman Tyrone Rogers is a towering figure His impressive stature is matched only by his exceptional work ethic and dedication to his job, contributions that haven’t gone unnoticed
“Tyrone is forward thinking, always knowing what his next move will be,” Install Supervisor Jay Whitfield said “He takes care of the guys he works with and is a great teammate to have on any job site any day ”
In appreciation of his performance, Tyrone is the July recipient of our Team Member Spotlight recognition The award is just one perk that Tyrone, who’s worked in Commercial Construction
since March 2015, said employees can benefit from at Michael Hatcher & Associates.
“I love everything here,” Tyrone said “Everybody is friendly There are a lot of opportunities here, and this is the only job I’ve ever worked at where I can get a safety bonus ”
In the eight years that he’s been with the company, the project Tyrone said he’s most proud of was planting over 200 trees for a customer He added that although the work he does is physically demanding, especially in the summer, “I do like it I’m an outside person ”
Congratulations, Tyrone!
By Ginny Shikle, SpecialistDO THE NEXT RIGHT THING
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Communications
Tyrone Rogers, a foreman in Commercial Construction, is our July Spotlight winner.
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GINNY SHIKLE Irrigation Service Manager Lance Whitworth rescued a kitten he found at a job site and took it to the Olive Branch Animal Shelter.
MEET THE TEAM: JAY WHITFIELD
Right at home on the farm or job site
he had a paying job, doing “anything I was told from running a tractor to running irrigation to equipment maintenance and repair ”
He worked on various farms over the years, most notably MHC Farms in Indianola and Inverness and Barr Farms in Mound City
After graduating from Delta State University with a bachelor’s degree in Commercial Aviation Management, Whitfield spent a little over a year in Airport Operations at Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport
That wasn’t for him
It’s a good fit, GM of Construction Operations Jeff Peterman said
“Jay has been a fantastic addition to the team,” said Peterman, who hired Whitfield as a Foreman in Commercial Construction in 2020 “He came to us a ‘little green’ in the landscape department, but his work ethic and skill set quickly showed through.”
Whitfield said he was promoted “a year and change ago” to Install Supervisor, and he’ll celebrate his third anniversary with the company on Aug 10
By ginny shikle communications specialistWhen he started working at Michael Hatcher & Associates nearly three years ago, Jay Whitfield had no prior experience in the landscape industry What he did have was a wealth of knowledge gained from his farming roots in the rich soil of the South Mississippi Delta Surprisingly, he’s found that the two worlds have more in common than he initially thought
“It doesn’t directly translate, but growing up on a farm helped,” he said “When you grade dirt, it has to drain When you plant, it needs water ”
From the fields of Sunflower and Issaquena counties, where he worked on farms that grew row crops including corn, cotton, rice, beans, and wheat, Whitfield learned a way of life as well as how to make a living
“It’s as down to earth
as you can get, growing food for people, and all it takes is dirt and hard work,” he said “Down home it’s just the lifestyle
Everyone is either a farmer, farmhand, or works for any number of companies that are all directly in business with the farms ”
At 12 years old, Whitfield helped out his maternal grandfather, whom he affectionally calls “Pepaw.” Then at 15
“He has been up to every opportunity put before him and has the potential to have a very productive career in this industry,” Peterman added “I have been impressed with his ability to
“I enjoy working with my hands, having grown up farming, and always wanted to join a trade,” he said “That led me to a job here, which is where my landscaping career began ” Continued on Page 6
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Jay Whitfield, left, an Install Supervisor in Commercial Construction, lines out a crew preparing to lay sod at a job site
GINNY SHIKLE
Every Saturday since May, Jay and Jamie Whitfield have sold produce grown at JW2 Farms at the Hernando Farmers Market
COURTESY PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAY WHITFIELD
Continued from Page 5
keep a calm demeanor in difficult situations, and I love his willingness to own responsibilities He truly makes my job easier.”
In his current role, Whitfield’s duties include confirming the crews have the materials and equipment they need, ensuring they’re lined out on what work needs to be completed, and verifying timesheets and receipts
Sometimes he steps in to run equipment or fill in for a crew leader
“He’s one of the hardest workers I’ve ever known and he isn’t scared to get in there and get dirty,”
Assistant Operations Manager Cam
Poindexter said about his teammate “It doesn’t matter how busy he is, he will find time to help you out when you need it ”
Whitfield is just leading by example
“You can’t lead from the truck, as they say,” he said “You have to be willing to get in there with the guys, even in hard times ”
Whitfield said his immediate professional goal is to become hyper efficient in his current position To that end, he’s obtained his OSHA 30
MEET THE TEAM: JAY WHITFIELD
certification and is currently enrolled in the Landscape Management Certificate Program through the National Association of Landscape Professionals
“There’s always room to improve,” he said, adding that his long-term aspirations are to “gain a low-level management position, eventually retire early, and run a small farm ”
He and his wife, Jamie, already own and operate JW2 Farms from their home in Hickory Flat, where they share 5 and ½ acres with their three dogs, Bear, Tootsie, and Biggie, and grow peppers of all kinds, tomatoes, peas, okra, sweet corn, cantaloupe,
watermelon, honeydew, cucumbers, and squash. Every Saturday since May they’ve been selling their homegrown produce at the Hernando Farmers Market, and they’ve also ventured into pickles and pepper sauce
Whitfield’s other business, JW Custom Calls, keeps him busy on weekends as well
“I’m a little notorious for always working when I’m not at work,” said Whitfield, who creates everything from dart boards and bottle stoppers to tables and turkey calls “I always have a project of some sort going on, whether it be around the house, a woodworking project, or something on the farm.”
Whether it’s the produce he grows, the hand-crafted
items he makes, or the jobs he’s a part of at Michael Hatcher & Associates, they all share a common mindset
“We have a pride in our work and the ability to do what needs to be done,” Whitfield said “We have a great group of people, and we support each other well Aside from that, our quality of work sets us apart ”
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Jay Whitfield uses a chainsaw mill to cut planks from a cedar log on his property in Hickory Flat
A custom duck call hand crafted by Jay Whitfield. Inset, a pen he made. See Page
for gift ideas!
COURTESY PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAY WHITFIELD
COURTESY PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JAY WHITFIELD
Master Lawn rolls out fierce, friendly competition
By ginny shikle communications specialistA new incentive program in the Lawn Care Division called Bruno’s Beasts is creating a buzz
“I’m the best there is, plain and simple D Woods is going down,” Jordan “The Beast” Martin said after Daniel Woods won the first-ever Bruno’s Beast production award for walk routes.
Shannon Smith was the winner for ZSpray routes. Smith and Woods each received a trophy and a $100 gift card at Master Lawn’s morning launch July 13, when the program was rolled out based on second quarter results
“I wanted to come up with a fun way to award the top producers for both walk routes and Z-Spray routes at the end of each quarter,” said Chris Bruno, Director of Operations, Admin & Analytics for Master Lawn
Bruno said any full-time tech in a truck producing is eligible for the award. He’ll determine each quarter’s Bruno’s Beasts based on weekly production, and said it is possible for someone to win more than once
For now, winners will keep their trophies, but next year it’s possible recipients will be awarded possession of a single, highly coveted
Shannon Smith, left, and Daniel Woods are the first winners of a new incentive program at Master Lawn called Bruno's Beasts. For the second quarter, Smith was the top producer for Z-Spray routes and Woods was the top producer for walk routes.
trophy that Bruno called “essentially bragging rights until the next tech can knock you off.”
Bruno said he’s heard only positive feedback since the incentive program was introduced
“We had 31 techs on hand at the last meeting, and they are totally in it to win it for Q3,” he said, adding that friendly “smack talk from the fellas” includes these gems:
• “If you ain’t first, you last ” –Anonymous
• “I don’t always talk smack, but when I do, I win ” – Brandon Garrison
• “I’m just looking around to see who’s gonna finish second ” – Leon Lewis
• “Get your popcorn ready, ’cause I’m gonna put on a show.” – Tanner Holland
As for Martin’s comment about Woods?
“Yeah, good luck with that,” replied Woods, a man of few words
Bruno said he’s loving the healthy competition, which is just another way to motivate the team
“It’s all about culture and driving each other to be the best while having fun doing it,” he said “It’s not just about the trophy and recognizing top producers It’s about promoting excellence and encouraging others to strive for greatness ”
CHRISTMAS IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER
It may be the middle of summer, but Cam Poindexter said it’s never too early to think about Christmas gifts from Jay Whitfield’s wood shop or farm And don't wait
“Don’t sleep on his homemade pickles or pepper sauce ����, ” Cam said “Somehow he makes time in the wood shop for his hand-crafted
beautiful custom duck calls, pens, bottle stoppers, and tables Anything that has to do with wood he can make it! Which by the way are great Christmas presents, so get your orders in quick so he has time to hand craft them!!”
For details, visit jwcustomcalls com
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BRUNO’S BEASTS
GINNY SHIKLE
GINNY SHIKLE Jay Whitfield and his wife, Jamie, make and sell homemade pickles and pepper sauce.
The Fun Committee extends its sincerest thanks to SiteOne Landscape Supply in Memphis for generously sponsoring Aloha Snow’s visit to The Landscape Center July 25 and Sno Me Something’s visit to Master Lawn Headquarters July 27
SiteOne’s support helped our hardworking crews and technicians beat the summer heat and provided a cool refreshment after a demanding workday Aloha Snow of New Albany brought delicious Hawaiian shaved ice and Sno Me Something of Collierville served their tasty New Orleans style sno balls.
PHOTOS BY BROOKE JOHNSON AND GINNY SHIKLE
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