CID Monthly Newsletter
April Volume 2, Issue 5
CIDMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Arturo Amaro
Cheryl Burns
James Collins
Amanda Cupp
Kevin Davis
Mysti Doshier
Marshall Hearn
Holt James
Juan Manuel Martinez Jr.
James Andres - 4 years
Garry Blankenship - 3 years
Charles Burt - 4 years
Darrel Ferguson - 4 years
Mark Garza - 2 years
Doris McCandless - 2 years
Hal McLelland - 3 years
Sam Muniz - 3 years
Aidan O’Keeffe - 2 years
Virginio Ortega - 3 years
Jesse Roth - 3 years
Ricky Tadlock - 3 years
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The End of the 2024-25 Winter Inspection Season
By: Gilbert Herrera, Field Ops Director - CID
Congratulations to all CID for another Winter inspection season in the books. This is a shout-out to everyone in CID – from techs, leads, seniors, Austin staff, and especially inspectors. Not only did we complete 6,357 inspections by March 31st, but they were some of the most thorough and informative I have seen as a team Your hard work, precision, and teamwork have set a standard for upcoming site verifications and inspections
During site verifications our hope is to keep enhancing CIIS from the valuable insights provided by everyone, that drive continuous improvement. This past cycle presented its challenges (like time crunches and multiple winter storms), yet you all handled them with professionalism and an unwavering commitment to quality
Celebrate this accomplishment you’ve earned it! Here's to building on this success and continuing to set the bar even higher.
The Gas Compressor Association (GCA) Conference
The Gas Compressor Association (GCA) Annual Expo and Conference took place from March 24 to 26, in Galveston, Texas. This event is a key gathering for professionals in the natural gas compression industry, offering opportunities to network, learn about the latest technologies, and attend educational sessions and presentations focused on safety, maintenance, and best practices
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The Gas Compressor Association (GCA) Conference (cont.)
Highlights included:
•Exhibits showcasing cutting-edge equipment and services from leading manufacturers and suppliers.
•Educational sessions addressing topics like compressors 101, emissions updates, hand safety,
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EDC lessons learned, and current topics discussions panel.
The conference emphasized innovation, education, and collaboration.
CID plans to update the facility observation list and common practice guidelines, from some things we all learned about during the conference.
CPR/First Aid Training at the North Region
The RRC’s Safety and Emergency Management Team hosted a CPR/First Aid training course for the CID North regional staff. The participants learned how to recognize cardiac emergencies and respond effectively. This included performing CPR, giving rescue breaths and using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) safely.
The course was led by RRC Safety Officer Chance Karshens. Chance is American Heart Association and Stop the Bleed certified and has years of experience.
The participants who completed the course received CPR/AED/First Aid and Stop the Bleed certifications.
Arella Xu joined the CID Austin Data team as the new Data Analyst, I on April 1st. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a Minor in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin. She has 5 years of experience in data analytics, process automation and dashboard reporting. She is skilled in SQL and data visualization and delivering data driven solutions for top tech companies. Outside of work, she loves playing board games.
Welcome, Arella Xu!
CIDMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
Vol.02/Issue5
April isAutism Awareness and Acceptance Month!
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April is Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month—and for many of us, it’s more than a calendar observance. It’s personal. Some of us have children, siblings, partners, or friends on the autism spectrum Others are autistic themselves This month is a chance to grow not just in knowledge but in empathy By learning more, we create a workplace and a world where neurodiversity is understood, valued and respected
Quick Facts:
Autism is a spectrum meaning it affects people in different ways and to varying degrees. 1 in 31 children in the U S are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) - meaning many of our co-workers, friends and family members are impacted
WaystoSupport:
Participate in Local Events: Join theTexas Autism Society’s Autism Walk to raise awareness and funds
Support Autism-Friendly Businesses: Visit and support local businesses that offer sensoryfriendly services and accommodations Volunteer or Donate: Contribute your time or resources to organizations supporting individuals with autism.
As April wraps up, lets remember that support for the autism community doesn't have to.
RRC/TPWDAngler Education Event
RRC’s Trevor Hance in collaboration with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s Angler, Natalia Gonzales hosted a fun, hand-on outdoor event celebrating all thingsfishing
During the event, participants took part in a fun backyard pond challenge. They had the chance to learn how to properly use a fishing rod and reel, while also gaining valuable insights into freshwater fish species commonly found in Texas. Additionally, they learned important skills like tying the Pal-omar and Improved Clinch knots, making it an informative and enjoyable experiencefor all.
CIDMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
How to Prepare Your Home for Wildfires By:
North Region
Wildfire Risk Reduction Steps that Can Make Your Home Safer During A Wildfire
Vegetation
Management
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1.Home Ignition Zones: To increase your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire, choose fire resistant building materials and limit the amount of flammable vegetation in the three home ignition zones.
2 Landscaping and Maintenance: To reduce ember ignitions and fire spread, trim branches that overhang the home, porch, and deck and prune branches of large trees up to 6 to 10 from the ground. Remove plants containing resins, oils, and waxes. Use crushed stone or gravel instead of flammable mulches in the immediate zone. Keep your landscape in good condition.
Fire
Resistive Construction
3.Roofing and Vents: Class A fire-rated roofing products, such as composite shingles, metal, concrete, and clay tiles, offer the best protection. Inspect shingles or roof riles and replace or repair those that are loose or missing to prevent ember penetration. Box in eaves but provide ventilation to prevent condensation and mildew. Roof and attic vents should be screened to prevent ember entry.
4.Desks and Porches: Never store flammable materials underneath decks or porches. Remove dead vegetation and debris from under decks and porches and between deck board joints.
5.Siding and Windows: Embers can collect in small nooks and crannies and ignite combustible materials; radiant heat from flames can crack windows. Use fire-resistant siding such as brick, fibercement, plaster, or stucco, and use dual plane tempered glass windows.
Be Prepared
6.Ensure your home and neighborhood have legible and clearly market street names and number. Driveways should be at least 12 feet wide with a vertical clearance of 15 feet for emergency vehicle access.
GetFitTexas!ChallengeResults
To celebrate the end of the Get Fit Texas! challenge, Doris and Donna,challengecoordinators,hostedafunpartybothin-person and virtual! During the event, three participants who completed thechallengeandearnedall10starshadthechancetowinsome excitingprizes.
The 2025 Get Fit Texas! Challenge created by the Department of State Health Services, was a weekly statewide competition betweenagenciestoseewhichagencycouldcompletethemost minutesofphysicalactivity.
Participants earned a star for each week by logging at least 150 minutes of physical activity. To complete the challenge, participantsneededtoearnastaratleast6ofthe10weeks.
Checkoutourfinalstatsbelow!
CIDMONTHLY NEWSLETTER
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Get Fit Texas! 2025 Results:
Number of Participants: 194
Total Time Logged: 392,017 minutes of physical activity
1,079 stars (each star represents 150 minutes or more in a week)
RRC finished 11th out of 27th peer state agencies.
Shout Outs
Darrel Ferguson, Johnny Martinez, ChrisGage and Dani Oakes
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East Region would like to give a shoutout to Darrel Ferguson, Johnny Martinez, Chris Gage and Dani Oakes for stepping up to assist in a last-minute project and for their accurate and timely work We appreciate their contributions and quick action!
-Amanda Cupp, Director, East Region
CIDSouth Region Inspectors
“Thank you, CID South Region Inspectors, for getting your inspections in at our goal date! We were successful and we were able to have everything reviewed and done before the actual deadline which helped tremendously. Thank you for your flexibility and hard work.”
-Andrea Meyer, Director, South Region
Stress Management Bingo
April is National Stress Awareness Month. Managing stress is crucial for maintaining both mental and physical health, as chronic stress can lead to a range of health issues like anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular problems. Effectively managing stress improves overall well-being, increases productivity, and strengthens emotional resilience.
Challenge yourself or others to a game of Stress Management Bingo. The goals are to complete a line of squares (horizontally, vertically, or diagnostically) and prioritize your wellbeing in the process!
