THE LEADING EDGE
GLAD TIDINGS
But the angel said unto them, “Do not be afraid I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.”
Now that the holidays are upon us and another year is quickly approaching, it’s time to slow down, take a breath, and give thanks for all we ’ ve accomplished in 2024 for our company and our customers.
We have so much to celebrate, from the opening of our Huntsville Branch to our new partnership with Walnut Grove Capital Partners Everything we ’ ve achieved has been with our Core Values – Integrity, Teamwork, and Excellence – in mind Your commitment to these values and our Winning Behaviors is the key to our continued success, and we look with hope and excitement toward the new year
Expect to Win!
RUSS SNEED Chief Executive Officer
CONTACT US
THE LEADING EDGE
8365 Center Hill Road Olive Branch MS 38654
901-755-3207 hatcherlandscape.com
EDITOR
GINNY SHIKLE
Marketing and Communications Specialist 901-664-8720 ginnys@hatcherlandscape.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Greg Houston Russ Sneed Josh Wilder
FOLLOW US
@hatcherlandscapememphis
@hatchlandscape mem @hatcherlandscapehsv @hatchlandscape hsv
(Formerly Twitter)
@hatchlandscape
linkedin com/michaelhatcher-&-associates-inc
ON THE COVER
Commercial Construction crew members are reflected in Christmas decorations waiting to be installed at Tanger Outlets Southaven/Memphis ahead of the holiday shopping season PHOTO BY GINNY SHIKLE
SAFETY BEHAVIORS
Sean Pestana
How to prevent cold-related illnesses, injuries
BY JOSH WILDER SAFETY MANAGER
Extended exposure to cold or freezing temperatures or a combination of cool temperatures, wind, and moisture can cause serious health problems, including trench foot, frostbite, and hypothermia. In extreme cases this exposure can be fatal Because you spend so much of your workday outdoors, you face an increased risk of suffering cold-related illnesses and injuries compared to workers in other industries Coldrelated health problems can be prevented or treated early when crew members are aware of the dangers precautions, symptoms, and first-aid procedures
WHAT ARE THE MAJOR COLDRELATED ILLNESSES AND INJURIES AND THEIR SYMPTOMS?
• Hypothermia is lifethreatening low body temperature Symptoms include shivering, blue lips, trouble speaking confusion irritability, lack of coordination fatigue and possible loss of consciousness Hypothermia can occur even when temperatures are above freezing, especially if you are wearing wet clothing or are exposed to brisk winds
• Trench foot is an injury of the feet in which skin tissue dies. It results from prolonged exposure to wet and cold or cool conditions Symptoms include reddened skin, numbness, leg cramps,
swelling, and tingling pain
• Frostbite is injury to the body caused by freezing. Symptoms: numbness, tingling or stinging aching and bluish or pale, waxy skin Since the frostbitten part of your body might be numb, frostbite can be difficult to detect
WHAT TYPES OF CLOTHING SHOULD YOU WEAR?
• An inner layer that wicks perspiration away from the skin (Example: long underwear)
A middle layer of wool, fleece, or synthetic fabric that absorbs perspiration and retains warmth Polyester fleece is lighter more insulating, and faster drying than wool
An outer layer of waterproof nylon or Gore-Tex that protects against wind and allows ventilation
• Don’t wear cotton tops and jeans because they don’t repel moisture
WHAT OTHER GARMENTS AND GEAR CAN HELP PROTECT ALL YOUR SKIN?
• Headgear should cover your ears and neck
• Insulated, waterproof gloves designed for cold weather
• Waterproof, insulated boots Polyurethane socks next to your skin, covered by wool socks
• A knit mask to cover your face
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of Commercial Construction shovels snow in the parking lot at a commercial property in Memphis during a snow event caused by Winter Storm Heather in January 2024.
ALWAYS BE PREPARED
Crews get CPR certified
At Michael Hatcher & Associates, one of our most valuable Safety Behaviors is to Always Be Prepared. That’s why 35 of our Commercial Construction and Commercial Maintenance crew members from the Memphis Branch participated in CPR and basic first aid training on Dec 19
“Somebody needs to be able to respond and respond appropriately in emergencies,” said Wendy Duron, an American Heart Association certified instructor and the owner of Mid-South CPR in Olive Branch When seconds count, “It’s not just knowing what to do, but what not to do ”
Thank you to Operations Manager Cameron Poindexter for organizing this vital training
– Ginny Shikle Marketing and Communications Specialist
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WHAT ELSE CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOURSELF?
Drink warm, non-caffeinated beverages and take short, frequent breaks in a heated area
• Change into dry gear immediately if water contacts your body
Jose Lomeli of the Irrigation Service Department and Commercial Maintenance Crew Leader Bobby Barton practice infant CPR compressions.
Wendy Duron of Mid-South CPR coaches team members as they practice adult CPR compressions.
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO FOR COLDRELATED ILLNESS OR INJURY?
If you experience shivering or blue lips, go to a warm place
• If hypothermia symptoms progress, call 911 Get indoors or inside a warm vehicle remove any wet clothing replace it with dry clothing, and cover with blankets
• Frostbite: Move to a warm, dry place and
call 911. Remove any wet or tight clothing Don’t rub or attempt to rewarm the skin Loosely bandage the area using supplies from your crew ’ s first aid kit
• Trench foot: Call 911, remove shoes and wet socks, dry the feet, and avoid walking
EXPECT TO WIN
Finish line nears for rollout of new technologies
BY GREG HOUSTON VP OF ANALYTICS AND TECHNOLOGY
At Michael Hatcher & Associates we are approaching the finish line of rolling out transformative new technologies This journey marks a pivotal step in modernizing our operations and preparing for sustained growth
Inova Payroll & HR, live since August 1 has revolutionized our Human Resources and Payroll processes By modernizing these critical functions, we ensure our team members are managed with the same precision and care as our financial operations
Aspire
Software is on track to go live on January 1 This comprehensive platform will support
GREG HOUSTON
our Construction and Maintenance teams by seamlessly handling bidding, scheduling, invoicing, procurement job costing and delivering live performance insights
Acumatica, our new ERP system will also launch on January 1 This powerful cloudbased accounting software
will streamline financial management and provide us with the agility and scalability needed for the future
Rolling out these major ystems gives our company a unified robust technological backbone, enabling us to facilitate future growth and innovation.
SO, WHAT’S NEXT?
At Michael Hatcher & Associates, we understand that our success hinges on one critical factor: customer satisfaction Our goal is to consistently over-deliver creating loyal customers who are not only satisfied but enthusiastic ambassadors for
our brand
We already have a strong reputation for exceptional customer service but we re committed to raising the bar To achieve this, we will leverage cutting-edge technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) agents
WHAT IS AN AI AGENT?
An AI agent is a software program powered by artificial intelligence that autonomously performs tasks, makes decisions, and provides recommendations It analyzes its environment, processes information, and acts to
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achieve specific goals These agents integrate seamlessly with existing systems or interact directly with users to enhance efficiency and outcomes
FUTURE INNOVATIONS
Once our major systems are fully operational, we will focus on implementing AI-driven solutions to enhance customer service and operational excellence Here are a few exciting areas of development:
Chatbots to improve communication and responsiveness with customers
Weather-based scheduling and services to optimize resource deployment
Plant health diagnostics to proactively address landscape needs
Smart routing and maintenance alerts to enhance efficiency
Sentiment analysis to better understand
1
A consultant leads training for the Aspire software on Dec 19 The platform will support our Construction and Maintenance teams by seamlessly handling bidding, scheduling, invoicing,
customer feedback
In-house training programs powered by AI for employee development
Vehicle and asset tag tracking to streamline fleet and equipment management
EXCELLENCE
Chief Human Resources Officer
Willie Shepherd has successfully completed PeopleBest – DNA Certification Training
Congratulations Willie!
2
procurement job costing and delivering live performance insights
Senior Field Operations Manager Noel Alsbrook uses Aspire
These innovations represent the next chapter in our journey to become a technology-driven industry leader As we roll out these advancements, we remain committed to delivering
unparalleled service to our customers
Stay tuned for updates as we continue this exciting transformation!
PHOTOBYGINNYSHIKLE
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