THG Quarterly - Spring 2021

A N U PDATE F ROM TH E H E R ITAG E G ROU P

SPRING 2 02 1

INSI D E T HIS IS SU E

Building Bridges MEET OUR HOUSTON HEROES TA K E A S P R I N G (LE ARNING) BRE AK S AY H E L L O T O N E W S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y I N I T I AT I V E S

B E O U R N E X T COV E R M O D E L !

Send a picture of yourself demonstrating safety in action to C O M M U N I C AT I O N S @ T H G R P. C O M for the chance to be our cover model for the summer edition of the Quarterly!

Heritage family, This spring marks one year since the pandemic changed our lives. I am grateful for your resiliency as we have persevered through several challenges, both as a company and as individuals.

According to our recent COVID survey, more than 60% of you have already been vaccinated or plan to be soon.

As vaccines become more widely available, I am hopeful for a return to “normal.” I look forward to reviving our relationship culture with more in-person collaboration.

According to our recent COVID survey, more than 60% of you have already been vaccinated or plan to be soon.

We will continue to follow CDC guidelines and adjust our operations to keep everyone as healthy and safe as possible.

More than 1,300 of you responded to our COVID survey… thank you for speaking up. Two-way communication will be a consistent theme for me. We need your voice.

I am listening and committed to taking action on what matters to you.

Late last year, I met virtually with over 100 leaders from across THG to hear what’s going well, and ask “how can we do better?” I heard loud and clear… you care deeply about talent development, sustainability, and opportunities to network with your peers across THG. This summer, I will provide an update on these focus areas. You can expect to hear more about our shared culture and the development of our big picture strategy.

There is a lot of work ahead of us, and I am excited to better define how we win together.

In the meantime, please continue to take care of yourselves.

Tap into the support and resources THG provides, many of which are featured in this edition of the Quarterly.

You are our greatest asset, and your health and well-being are a top priority.

I hope the stories in this issue instill a sense of pride in what we have built together and excite you for where we are headed.

Be well,

AMY SCHUMACHER

T H G R P. C OM

2

CEO OF T HE HER I TAGE GROUP

Houston Heroes

Caring for our Monument family in Houston In mid-February, Winter Storm Uri caused bitter temperatures and a power crisis that left thousands of people without power — and heat — and shut down water treatment plants across Texas. While Houston’s boil water order was still in effect, a team of employees from across The Heritage Group stepped up to help Monument employees in need.

Teams from AMI and Heritage Transport put together a plan to deliver two 18-wheeler trucks’ worth of bottled water to Houston. These are the heroes who made it happen: THE DOERS:

Tyler Trent, Chris McGee, Scott Hippert, Todd Hillard, and Kyle Cepaitis of AMI and Steve Clausing and Ken Szymczak of Heritage Environmental Services/Heritage Transport handled procurement, logistics, administration, and people.

THE DRIVERS:

Michael Lewandowski from Tri-State/AMI out of Morris, Illinois, and Tim Wilson of Heritage Transport in Indianapolis volunteered to drive the loads down.

HOUSTON HEROES:

Despite the loss of power, nitrogen, natural gas, and water at Monument’s Texas sites, employees stepped up in big ways to get operations back up and running safely—while also dealing with the impacts of the winter storm and the pandemic at home. On behalf of the entire THG family, thank you to our Houston heroes!

Need Storm Assistance?

THG continues to offer financial support to employees in Oklahoma and Texas impacted by the winter storm through May 18, 2021. Affected employees are eligible to receive a tax-free immediate response grant of $500 by contacting HR Shared Services at hrss@thgrp.com or (800) 303-0408. A tax-free grant of up to $5,000 is also available through the One Heritage Fund to employees who complete an application and provide supporting documentation at oneheritagefund.com.

Watch our Houston Heroes in action!

(Learning)

TAKE A SPRING BREAK L ET WA RM E R, BRIGHT E R DAYS INSPI R E YOU TO D EV E LOP AN D G ROW YOU R C A R E E R, YOU R SKI L L S , AN D YOU RSE L F

Like a breath of fresh spring air, a break in your day to brainstorm and learn can motivate you to feel better and perform better, too. Got five minutes for a brain break to stimulate innovation and creativity?

Been thinking about introducing an icebreaker to improve self-awareness and team performance? We can help!

Check out these five fun and effective suggestions from The Heritage Group Learning & Development Team.

1. Icebreaker Collection

2. Creativity Tips Brain Break

Icebreakers at the start of meetings or safety huddles help team members learn about each other and have fun at work. Sample this collection of 19 icebreakers.

No matter where you are in your career, you need a break — and some inspiration! Here are more than a dozen ways to get unstuck.

Here’s a fun icebreaker you can try with your team.

Rose and Thorn Icebreaker

Start your huddle or meeting by asking everyone to share their rose (any positive thing that makes them feel grateful, happy, etc.) and their thorn (a challenge). Roses and thorns can be related to work, but they don’t have to be. Here are some examples: A BOU T WO R K

Rose: I figured out how to help a customer in a new way today!

Thorn: One of my customers keeps rotating who we deal with, so I’m having a hard time gaining traction.

A BOU T L I F E

Rose: I found time to go for a walk today.

Thorn: There was no time to go for a walk today.

T H G R P. C OM

4

ENFJ ENFJ

3. Gratitude Garden App

Cultivate your sense of gratitude by building a garden. Consider sharing this gamified app with friends and family members.

4. Brainsparker App

This app invites you to ignite your creativity and unleash your best ideas.

The best thing about it? Once it’s on your phone, you can use it anywhere.

5. Myers-Briggs Garden Chart

Personality assessments like DiSC and Myers-Briggs can help you gain self-awareness and apply it to improve almost anything — communication, emotional intelligence, team effectiveness, and change management.

P RO T I P:

Turn it into an icebreaker!

Have everyone on your team complete this quick personality assessment. Then share this graphic (pictured at right) to help people find their garden type and talk about it to kick off your next meeting.

Keep Growing Chelsea Patterson, THG’s learning & development leader is an ENFJ. She’s pictured here with her dog, Turley (also an ENFJ). She is the face behind the learning & development inbox, which you can reach at programs@thgrp.com.

She’s passionate about seeing people gain value from THG programs so they feel more excited and empowered at work. “Holding and creating a space where people can have conversations and collaborate is crucial for the growth and success of our company — and for our people, too,” she said.

“Whether you try a workshop, one of our resources, or an app, we want each learning opportunity to be a positive moment in your day.”

Enjoy these ideas? Find more icebreakers, eye-openers, and brain breaks on the THG virtual resources page at thgrp.com/thg-resources. Check out the 2021 learning & development course catalog for upcoming workshops.

To register for a workshop, ask for your manager’s approval and then visit the THG Learning Stream page to sign up.

Got questions about learning and development? Email programs@thgrp.com.

SUSTAINA BI LIT Y

THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS The Heritage Group supports sustainability by creating partnerships that turn big environmental challenges into even bigger opportunities The science of ecology explores connections between organisms and their physical environment. In a similar way, The Heritage Group relies on connections and relationships that help us thrive while staying true to our purpose to create a safer, more sustainable world.

THG supports that goal by investing in and partnering with innovative companies, startups, and new technologies that help improve human and environmental health and safety. Sometimes the impact of our partnerships is direct and easy to see. Sometimes it’s more subtle. Yet every relationship and every company we invest in is a piece of the puzzle that connects all of us to our goal of making the world a better place.

You can learn more about HG Ventures and its portfolio of companies at hgventures.com.

Revved Up for Recycling A partnership between HG Ventures’ portfolio company, Romeo Power, Heritage Environmental Services, and Heritage-Crystal Clean has created a dynamic new battery recycling company.

HG Ventures, our in-house venture capital group, supports innovation and growth across THG by investing and partnering with private companies developing new technologies and approaches in both our core and adjacent markets.

A recent HG Ventures development is the dynamic partnership between Romeo Power, a lithium-ion electric vehicle battery pack company, Heritage Environmental Services, and HeritageCrystal Clean. The result? A new company, Heritage Battery Recycling.

Why now?

As technology advances, we are looking at massive battery development and use that will result in an unprecedented number of end-of-life batteries.

Without a sustainable process to recycle these batteries, there will not be enough material to continue the electrification of our economy.

Aware of this growing need, several Heritage companies have intentionally built expertise in battery recycling.

The Heritage Research Group has been exploring reuse applications for lithium-ion batteries for years.

From a scientific perspective, they have been studying composition, safety, and lifecycle management of full battery packs as well as cells and manufacturing scrap. HG Ventures hosted an event at The Center with battery experts from across the industry to build relationships and leverage expertise.

And Heritage Environmental Services has experience working with automotive manufacturers to handle automotive lithium-ion battery packs. It all adds up to making The Heritage Group a great partner.

What will Heritage Battery Recycling do?

Under the leadership of industry expert Shane Thompson, the newly formed

company will address growing market demand for safe, sustainable solutions for lithium-ion batteries near or at end-of-life with the goal to recover and reuse critical battery resources. A new recycling facility in the Southwestern United States will recycle (or recover the critical materials) and repurpose end-of-life batteries safely and responsibly, serving commercial truck manufacturers, commercial fleet managers, and conscientious business owners investing in clean energy.

The refurbishment gives batteries a second life as an energy storage device, further contributing to the circular economy. One practical example would be making renewable energy assets more diverse and effective. Bonus? By not having to build another battery for that application, you can get a carbon offset.

Where does Crystal Clean come in?

The new venture has another important partner: Heritage-Crystal Clean, which provides parts cleaning, used oil re-refining, and hazardous and non-hazardous waste services. Crystal Clean will partner with Heritage Battery Recycling to jumpstart efficiencies in transportation and logistics for battery collection operations, tapping into its extensive network of 89 branch locations, logistic operations, and customer relationships across the automotive sector. Together, THG and Crystal Clean will bring Heritage Battery Recycling access to: > 100,000+ customer locations > 2,500 knowledgeable employees > 1,300 power units > 108 facility locations across the US

Electrifying the Future Romeo Power has also partnered with Heritage Environmental Services to help electrify 2,000 trucks between 2022 and 2025.

The partners will enter long-term production relationships with program participants that deliver the best solutions for Heritage — another step in THG’s quest to find the safest, greenest, and most reliable solutions.

Cutting our Carbon Footprint In early 2021, The Heritage Group purchased a minority stake in ClimeCo, an advisor and trader of environmental commodity market products. ClimeCo specializes in regulated carbon, voluntary markets, and project development and financing of greenhouse gas abatement and mitigation systems. The partnership combines THG’s leadership in specialty waste management and beneficial reuse with ClimeCo’s expertise in climate change policy, sustainability program development, and emission reduction project implementation.

Innovating in the UK HG Ventures has been selected as one of only five organizations around the world to partner with the economic development arm of the United Kingdom and will have approximately $2 million to award to startups.

The program is focused on growing startups that can reduce energy and resource use or otherwise improve the construction, materials, and chemicals industries. “We are honored to be chosen to identify companies for our collective investment, knowing the lasting positive impact these startups will make on the environment and the economy,” said Kip Frey, Managing Director of HG Ventures.

“It is inspiring to be part of such a forward-looking vision, and exciting to participate in a program so closely aligned with our areas of investment focus and the industries in which The Heritage Group operates.

One of the ways HG Ventures is already making a difference in the UK is through its investment in London-based Puraffinity, which protects environmental and human health by using a unique technology that filters dangerous PFAS chemicals from water. Puraffinity has been working to solve problems of Heritage Environmental Services customers and has also worked closely with the Heritage Research Group.

T H G R P. C OM

7

We are better together. Going forward as we provide safe and high-quality services and products across the state, we will make lives better one road and bridge at a time.”

CJ Potts

C H I E F OP E R AT IN G OF F I C E R, C ON S T RU C T ION , H E R I TAG E C ON S T RU C T ION + M AT E R I A L S

Building Bridges Across Heritage Construction + Materials Better Together

IN DI ANA CONS T RU C TION CONSOLI DATION In early 2021, our Indiana construction companies, including Walsh & Kelly and Wabash Valley Asphalt, consolidated under the name Milestone Contractors.

The three companies were highly successful individually, and now as a group will be better able to increase their ability to perform and succeed.

While honoring the legacy of the families who started these organizations, we’re excited to look to the future. This alignment allows our construction business to unify talent and resources across Indiana, position the group for future growth, and gain a competitive advantage in a changing market.

“We are three very reputable companies coming together as one. We are better together. Going forward as we provide safe and high-quality services and products across the state, we will make lives better one road and bridge at a time.”

— CJ Potts, Chief Operating Officer, Construction, Heritage Construction + Materials

T H G R P. C OM

8

A New Way to Engage Agg Customers US AG G R E GAT E S R EV E A L S N E W W E BSIT E

With a fresh, modern look, the new US Aggregates site is easy to navigate, and will serve as a great tool for our customers. Best of all, it highlights our people and the great work we do. We encourage you to explore the site and share it with your contacts.

“The new website we’ve brought to life together really represents who we are and how we do business.”

— Patti Gault, Strategic Communications Director, Heritage Construction + Materials

Welcome to the Family

A MI W E L COM E S N E W EM PLOY E E S TO OU R H E RITAG E FA MI LY Asphalt Materials, Inc. (AMI) acquired three asphalt terminals from Marathon Petroleum Corporation in late 2020. The purchase of these facilities further expands AMI’s capabilities in the Indiana and Illinois markets and its footprint in the Midwest.

AMI will continue to invest in and grow the product suite and capabilities at those sites.

“We are excited about the addition of our new teammates. Their proven track record of safety, quality, and service mesh well with our values, and these facilities are a tremendous strategic fit for our business and will enhance our commitment to support our core customer base.”

— Chip Ray, President, Asphalt Materials, Inc.

Yellow Belts by the Numbers 1

Cohort (group) at THG that has completed Yellow Belt training so far

39

Yellow Belts trained

32

Completed Yellow Belt projects

Join the Movement

Want to learn more about Lean Six Sigma training?

Reach out to the “Movement Maker” in your business area. (see page 13).

Yellow Belt Victories How five THG employees transformed their work lives by earning their Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belts At The Heritage Group, we’re building a roadmap to excellence by adopting Lean Six Sigma (LSS), a methodology that improves the way we work together and solve complex business and customer problems.

Adopting a continuous improvement mindset and finding ways to eliminate waste — including wasted materials, time, talent, and effort — makes our people, teams, and companies stronger.

Training in LSS takes the whole idea to the next level. You may have heard of Green Belts and Black Belts, which recognize levels of achievement in LSS training. In Yellow Belt certification, which is aimed at people who are new to the world of Six Sigma, trainees focus on one process step and daily challenges within their direct sphere of influence.

THG’s first-ever Yellow Belt cohort included the five people showcased here. Take a few minutes to get to know them, their projects, and how LSS helped them improve their jobs, teams, and lives. They may inspire you to think differently about your work, too!

T H G R P. C OM

10

Getting ahead of injuries

Perfecting policies

Shaquille Breeding, Safety Representative, Milestone Contractors, Northern Indiana

Tonya Klinglesmith, HR Business Partner, Monument Chemical, Brandenburg, Kentucky

PROJECT: Improve communication and safety by increasing the number of reported near misses to 25 WHAT SHAQUILLE LEARNED: Shaquille, an ambitious young leader who’s passionate about helping the people on his team, also has an interest in the power of data to create change. “If you can gather data on near misses and investigate, you can get ahead of incidents and fatalities,” he said.

Shaquille’s project, which began as an idea to improve safety huddles, focuses on promoting an inclusive environment where people aren’t afraid to speak up about near misses. “I want to create a safe space where people can talk,” Shaquille said. “Sometimes people aren’t motivated to share. They think it’ll cause more paperwork.” Shaquille is overcoming those hurdles by giving presentations as he travels across Indiana for safety training sessions.

Shaquille’s goal is to increase the average number of reported near misses to 25 per year in each area he covers (South Bend, Lafayette, and Griffith, Indiana).

The current stat is an average of 16 reported near misses per year in all those areas combined. “The number is low because people aren’t reporting,” he said.

TAKEAWAY: “Data can help you get your idea across even if you don’t have seniority or experience.

It takes opinions out of the discussion so it’s about stats you can prove or not prove. It can also lead to something new that breaks a barrier.”

PROJECT: Designed a process for review to keep Monument Corporate policies current and accurate WHAT TONYA LEARNED: Tonya, a 19-year HR veteran, loves projecttype work and has a passion for improvement.

Having been exposed to Six Sigma principles throughout her career, she jumped at the chance to pursue her Yellow Belt.

Being in the HR field, Tonya knows that regularly reviewing policies is important to keep the organization up to date with regulations and industry best practices while ensuring consistency and effectiveness. The Monument Corporate policies had not been reviewed and updated in several years. Tonya’s project identified causes for failed attempts to update the policies while implementing a pathway to a remedy for a regular review period.

She began her project interviewing other team members. “I was able to collect information and gain an understanding of why past attempts had been unsuccessful,” she said. The next step was to develop a plan going forward and a process for reviewing policies every couple of years. After the Yellow Belt project was completed, Tonya, along with other HR team members, completed the Monument Corporate policy review and refreshed the Monument Connect page where the policies reside.

TAKEAWAY: “A continuous improvement mindset is part of professional and personal growth.

There are always ways to improve, and small steps matter. Be willing to ask for feedback and be open and receptive to it. All these ideas can be used in your personal life as well as your career.”

Counting clicks, learning tricks

Equipped to succeed

Katelyn Brewer, Program Manager, Customer Service, Heritage Environmental Services

Benjamin Woodworth, Research Manager, Heritage Research Group

PROJECT: Reducing time to create a weekly waste disposal request report by 50% WHAT KATELYN LEARNED: Katelyn, who has worked at HES for four years, manages the UPS freight account. “When they have damaged freight, they send us a disposal request form and schedule it for pickup,” she said. Katelyn receives 10 to 30 requests each day.

On Fridays she prepares a report that tallies up all the requests for both Heritage and UPS. Known as the Weekly Unconfirmed Report, it’s a task that can take up to two hours — not fun on a Friday. It had been causing stress, and the manual process created the risk of errors and omissions.

Katelyn’s goal was to cut the time it took to create the report and improve its accuracy.

“When I started, Kent Steele (a Master Black Belt who helps with Six Sigma training), watched me do the process over Zoom for an hour, counting clicks,” Katelyn said. “He said, ‘you could improve here.’” Kent pointed out an Excel formula that would copy items from one column to another — a process Katelyn had been doing herself for up to 200 lines.

“A simple Excel formula saved the time,” Katelyn said.

TAKEAWAY: “I’m a visual learner, so putting all the steps in front of me in a process flow map helped me break things down and simplify.”

T H G R P. C OM

12

PROJECT: Consolidating equipment and creating a photo log to make it easier to find and use WHAT BENJAMIIN LEARNED: Ben started his career at Heritage in 2016 working in the gas chromatography lab.

He loves the creative problem-solving part of his job, so he was happy to pursue his Yellow Belt project. “Many of our projects around recycling, waste treatment, or new product development require chemical synthesis work,” Ben explained. Several groups do this kind of experimentation, and equipment and materials are often shared. “It can take quite a while to track down everything needed for runs.

Equipment is often broken down between trials, which can result in higher variability than we’d like.” Ben compares the equipment problem to trying to bake a pie and having to go to the attic for your pans, a friend for your whisk and a neighbor for your mixing bowl.

His project looked at things like equipment saturation and availability, number of storage locations, and institutional knowledge of what materials are available. “We were able to consolidate storage and develop a photo log of a portion of our glassware (over 100 pieces) that serves as a digital reference document for the group,” he said.

TAKEAWAY: “There’s a huge reapplication potential anywhere we have physical items being stored, from product inventory to office supplies. We could save time by not having to search for things.”

Fueling progress Nathan Gaskill, Project Manager, Milestone Contractors, Columbus, Indiana PROJECT: Identifying cost structures of on-site fuel options and determining the best choice for each project WHAT NATHAN LEARNED: Nathan is proud to have worked on the State Road 46 overpass project in Columbus, Indiana. When he first started at Milestone back in 1995, the company was in the process of building the first gateway into the city. “A few years later, we built another bridge, and this is the third gateway into Columbus,” he said.

Nathan, who had some experience with Six Sigma, understood the data analytics aspect of the process, although his project took a big-picture view. “I wanted to let management know the costs for different fueling options so they could make a decision not solely on upfront cost but on what would be the right application for each project,” he said.

There are usually three options for fueling equipment on a job site, he explained. “One is a fuel tank in the back of a pickup like you see farmers do. Another is a commercial bulk fuel truck that Milestone operates. The driver of that truck can also lubricate and perform preventative maintenance on equipment. The third option is a third-party vendor who drives out to the job site to refuel the equipment.”

The overpass project included 25 pieces of equipment.

The pickup-and-fuel-tank option didn’t make sense.

The third-party vendor option was the least expensive, but it didn’t work because of poor customer service. The Milestone truck and operator, though a bit more expensive, could provide maintenance and greasing as well as fueling.

Another perk: The driver could come in before the shift started or stay after it ended to do the fueling. “It takes two hours to fuel all the equipment,” Nathan said. “That could be $5,000 in lost production time. So even though our truck was the most expensive fueling choice based on data, it was the right choice for the long run because it saved us money in other ways. The Six Sigma process helped me capture costs and show that option was actually costless.”

TAKEAWAY: “I learned not to stop at Point A — to look and see if there was a Point B or C farther down the line. I also learned to stay within the scope of my project and avoid going down rabbit holes.”

Joining the continuous improvement movement starts by simply asking yourself:

HOW CAN WE DO BETTER?

The Movement Makers THG CORPORATE:

Jeannie Phillips HES: Ernie Walker HC+M: Al VanDenBergh MONUMENT: Sarves Peri

H E RITAG E INNOVATION T EAM

The Next Big Idea …COULD BE YOUR S

The Heritage Environmental Services (HES) Innovation Team (HIT) program recognizes employee innovation with coaching, connections, and cash. No matter which Heritage Group company you work for, you can still develop innovative ideas that improve your business.

Here’s some inspiration to help you get your idea off the ground.

T H G R P. C OM

14

Joanne Jones, Sustainability

Leader at HES, knows a lot about innovation. A 36-year HES veteran, she submitted her first HIT idea in 2002, the year the program started.

Now a coach and passionate HIT advocate, she shared these tips to help you get your idea going.

Make space to think big.

Give yourself a little time to take your idea to the next level. Take a workshop on brainstorming or tap into mind-opening resources offered

by THG’s Learning & Development team. (See page 4 and learn more at programs@thgrp.com.) The best part? You can brainstorm anytime, even during a “brain break” on a busy workday.

Know what makes a great idea.

“The best ideas for Heritage Environmental often relate to waste or byproducts because that’s our core business,” Joanne said. Your idea should address your company’s core business, too. Winning HIT ideas usually impact more than one location.

They often address waste in business processes. A new idea could become a new service, a new supplier, or even a new company, Joanne said. New ideas also help Heritage grow. (Check out the idea checklist!)

Think outside of your box.

A fresh perspective can lead to a great idea. Say you’re a plant engineer, and you notice trucks outside idling while they pump material from a tank.

You think: What if I could install electricity there? The trucks wouldn’t have to run and burn diesel fuel.

It’s not an engineer’s job to think about fueling trucks, but an engineer’s thoughtful approach to cutting fuel emissions could become an actionable idea.

Notice details.

That’s how Paul Metrovich, Plant Utility Specialist at our incinerator in East Liverpool, Ohio, came up with his winning idea. He noticed something strange going on with 265-gallon metal totes, which had begun to pile up in what he calls a “tote mountain.”

Customers drop off the totes, waste is pumped out of them, then some used totes get cut up, but not all of them.

The steel cages can be recycled but the plastic often gets chopped up and tossed into the incinerator. “A recycling contractor used to take away 52 totes at a time, but when that contract ended, the totes started to pile up, and they kept coming,” said Paul.

Idea Checklist Relates to your business

TOTES AWESOME!

Paul Metrovich thought HES should clean the empty totes and resell them at a profit.

His idea? HES should clean the empty totes and resell them at a profit. “New totes cost $600. Used totes cost half that,” Paul said. His simple question — Why aren’t we just reusing the totes as they are? — led to a breakthrough.

Paul’s coach, Matt Jones, Program Manager II, Growth & New Ventures at HES, is helping usher the project through the process. Soon the totes will be shipped to an HES facility in Pennsylvania that has more space, a service center, and a truck wash. “There’s always something that could be better,” Paul said. “Just stop a minute and ask: ‘Why are we doing it that way?’ There may be a better or safer way.”

Take a chance — and get out of your comfort zone.

Sometimes it takes stepping away from your normal workspace to come up with a great idea. That’s what Heritage Transport Asset Management Coordinator and HIT winner Teresa Wade did. When her boss, Dean DeSantis, encouraged her, Teresa, then an administrative assistant, jumped at the chance to attend the Indiana Motor Trucking Association trade show.

Walking the floor, she noticed that fuel companies offered discounts if you could consolidate purchasing power.

Since she regularly processed paperwork, Teresa knew that drivers bought fuel all over the place. She wondered: Could we benefit from consolidating?

Teresa Wade

Teresa and Dean, now Chairman at Heritage Transport in Phoenix, vetted the options and went with Pilot.

During the implementation process, Teresa spoke at safety meetings and worked with drivers to encourage them. In the Pilot program’s first year, Heritage saved more than $200,000, and the benefits go on. “With that one idea, we keep saving and saving on fuel cost,” said Teresa. Heritage Transport also tracks fuel better and uses the savings to replace trucks, which in turn helps reduce the company’s carbon footprint.

Keep trying.

Wondering what happened to the idea Joanne proposed back in 2002?

It wasn’t chosen then, but THG uses it now: SharePoint collaboration software. Joanne’s idea arrived before its time. That happens a lot, she said.

So don’t be discouraged if your first, or second, or third idea doesn’t move forward. Just come up with another one. “It can take years before an idea makes sense,” Joanne explained. “It may take new technology or money or physical space to make something happen. But it could happen! Coming up with the idea is the first step.”

Can be implemented at multiple locations Improves an existing process or service, or adds a new one Outside the scope of your regular job Grows sustainability Expands our culture of safety

Get your idea off the ground!

If you’re an HES employee, check out the HIT page on SharePoint or email HITIdeas@thgrp.com.

If you work in another THG business, try implementing a new-idea brainstorming session as part of your next safety huddle or team meeting.

How can you share new ideas and inspire others to do the same?

Be the catalyst who inspires success!

TAKING TIME for YOU

M EN TA L H E A LT H R E SOU RC E S

Mental & Emotional Wellness You and your family have access to 24/7 support from our Employee Assistance Provider (EAP), Perspectives. Call (800) 456-6327 or go to perspectivesltd.com and enter the following login information: THG, HC+M & HES Employees

Username: THG500 Password: perspectives

A COMMON THREAD

that connects all Heritage employees is our commitment to one another, our families, and our communities… but taking care of others requires first taking care of yourself.

We’ve been through a global pandemic, social isolation, political unrest, and most recently a winter storm. If you’re feeling burned out, exhausted, or stressed—you are not alone, and it’s okay to ask for help.

The Heritage Group provides several ways for you and your family to find the support you need.

Monument Employees

Username: MON501 Password: perspectives

Employees on our health plan are eligible for virtual health visits through Anthem. Visit livehealthonline.com for details on how to connect with a doctor through an online video session.

(Pro tip: Have your Member ID number available. You can find it on your Anthem Health ID card, your online account at anthem.com or on the Sydney app.)

Employees who live in Indianapolis and are enrolled in our health plan can engage a mental health counselor through our Heritage Employee Wellness Center. To schedule an appointment, call (317) 713-0430 or go to stvincent.org/heritage.

The Crisis Text Line is available 24/7 to help you work through anxious thoughts and feelings. To seek help or talk to someone without fear of judgment, contact the Crisis Text Line.

Text HOME to 741741 or contact the Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).

If you’re a victim or survivor of domestic abuse and need support, call (800) 799-7233. If you’re unable to speak safely, you can text LOVEIS to 22522.

T H G R P. C OM

16

Financial Wellness ONE Heritage Fund The ONE Heritage Fund was created to help employees who are facing financial hardship following a natural disaster. Employees can apply for a one-time, tax-free grant of up to $5,000, that does not have to be repaid. Visit oneheritagefund.com for more information.

Childcare Grant If you have children ages pre-K-12 at home, you can apply now through April 30, 2021 for a one-time, tax-free grant of $500 to help with unexpected childcare expenses as a result of the pandemic. Contact HR Shared Services at hrss@thgrp.com or (800) 303-0408 to get started.

Family Wellness THG has partnered with TutorMe to provide two hours of free online tutoring per employee each week through November 30, 2021.

You and other learners in your household can connect with a live tutor in under 30 seconds on over 300 subjects—24 hours a day! Contact MyHeritageLearning@thgrp.com if you have not received an email with your username and password.

Visit thgrp.com/elearning for more information and additional resources to support families balancing work and virtual learning.

Golden Hour Monument Houston wins the 2020 SOCMA Gold Performance Award

The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates (SOCMA) recently honored several Monument teams with a series of 2020 Performance Improvement Awards. Kudos to the teams that performed so well, and especially to the gold-winning Houston team! We celebrate your strengths and your success as we reflect on all the ways you shone last year.

Great communication In a normal year, communicating effectively can be difficult. In a year like 2020, it became essential, and our Monument Houston team rose to the challenge. Adapting to the uncertainties of a shifting communications landscape, including virtual work for some, didn’t affect the team’s clear, simple, and relevant communications. They punched through the clutter and kept employees connected and safe.

Proactive protocols During the pandemic, the Monument Houston team didn’t wait for orders to be handed down. “As far back as January, we started ordering things like masks, sanitizer, and thermometers for our teams,” said Stacy Johnson, Houston Area EHS&S Manager. “Our closets were jam-packed, but that proactivity came in handy when we needed supplies quickly.” It also meant fewer fire drills, less stress, and safer operations.

Continuous learning Even though they prepared well, the Houston team didn’t rest on its laurels.

As Jody Caines, Global Compliance Manager, puts it, “There was nothing ‘one and done’ about our COVID response.” A task force met regularly to update plans based on the latest information” and a background in Root Cause Analysis training helped leaders adapt. They did such a good job of it, SOCMA suggested the Monument Houston team serve as a resource for OSHA’s updated emergency response protocols. Global HSE Leader Dave Narayan called the opportunity thrilling — and another chance to learn.

Putting our people first The Monument Houston team went above and beyond to care for employees. “The safety and wellness of our employees doesn’t stop at the gate,” Johnson said. Employees received wellness kits, which included snacks, sanitizer, wipes and a building kit for kids, at their homes. Employees dealing with Covid received prepared meals, digital thermometers, disposable masks, and more. The Houston team focused on mental wellness, too. “The past 12 months have been the hardest many of us have ever experienced,” Narayan said. Resources and engagement activities helped remind team members to take care of themselves, express gratitude, and focus on the year’s silver linings.

T H G R P. C OM

17

Winning teams The Society of Chemical Manufacturers & Affiliates® (SOCMA), which supports the growth, operational excellence, and safe operations of the specialty chemical industry, recognized Monument with several 2020 Performance Awards.

The recognition underscores these teams’ leadership in the areas of environment, health,safety, security, and community involvement.

Awards include:

Gold Performance Improvement: Monument Houston

Educational Outreach Award: Monument Kentucky

Bronze Stakeholder Communications Award: Monument Baytown & Bayport (Pasadena)

Bronze Employee Training: Monument Baytown & Bayport (Pasadena)

T H G R P. C OM

17

Around THG We love seeing the smiling faces of our Heritage family of employees — on the job, in a home office, or out in the community.

1

T H G R P. C OM

18

J o n Te m p l i n , Plant Operator, C o r e y P r i c e , Quality Control Lead, and J i m C a s s u d a k i s , Equipment Operator, from US Aggregates in Portland, Indiana, stop for a quick selfie to show their support for breast cancer.

2

C o l l i n W a r r i c k , Facility Maintenance Technician at Heritage Thermal in East Liverpool, Ohio, was happy to take home ice melt that the company provided employees to help them stay safe this winter.

3

Congratulations to Alexandra Bledsoe, Production Engineer at Monument Chemical in Brandenburg, Kentucky, on her recent wedding. Coworker and friend (pictured left) A l l i e G r e e n w o o d , Safety Process Engineer, stood by her side.

4

The People + Culture team participated in some festive teambuilding with a virtual cookie decorating contest.

5

K a i t l i n C a m p b e l l , Equipment Administrator at Milestone Contractors, is all smiles in her hard hat.

6

The JBAND team from Asphalt Materials wore red to support Heart Health Month in February.

7

The team at Heritage Interactive Services in Juarez, Mexico, sported PPE during a photoshoot for their Employee Spotlight feature on the HES Facebook page.

1

2

3

4

5

6

We want to hear from you! Send your pictures and stories to communications@thgrp.com for the chance to be featured in an upcoming THG Quarterly.

7

R E A L LY, T RU LY

We want to hear from you!

SEND YOUR S TORY IDE A S , PIC T URES , AND SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE E D I T I O N S O F T H E T H G Q U A R T E R LY T O C O M M U N I C AT I O N S @ T H G R P. C O M !

@IN H E RITAG E G ROU P

@T H E-H E RITAG E- G ROU P