World Blood Donor Day: Ergon Corporate Supports Mississippi Blood Services

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On this World Blood Donor Day, Ergon’s Dave Pekol, Director of IT Operations, shares the importance of donating blood and how Ergon supports Mississippi Blood Services at our corporate headquarters.

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Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, and our entire country’s blood supply is provided by volunteers.

Giving blood is a good thing to do. Donating provides a way to give of yourself for the sole benefit of helping someone else. You may never know how you saved or improved the life of a trauma victim, a cancer patient or a child with sickle cell anemia.

Quarterly blood drives at Ergon headquarters. There are around 40 volunteers at Ergon’s corporate headquarters who give blood regularly during our quarterly blood drives, but we are always looking to improve that number while encouraging the public to donate blood at their local blood services centers, if possible.

“But I don’t’ like needles!” That’s a common response of people who are fearful of getting shots or donating blood. You may not find too many people who “like” skin pricks, but I challenge you to think about this another way:

If you needed blood right now, would you be worried about the needle prick you’d need to receive it?

A legitimate fear of needles is justifiable and should never be taken lightly. You should always do what makes you comfortable. But if there’s a chance you can comfortably set aside your dislike for needles for the sake of saving lives, please consider donating blood at your local blood center. You can find locations near you here. You never know who may be on the receiving end of your generosity.

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The next blood drive at Ergon’s headquarters at Mirror Lake Plaza will be held July 14; However, you can donate today, wherever you are. According to Martone and Page (2019), “Blood donors are able to give one pint of blood every 56 days — the time it takes for an adult’s body to return to normal levels.”

Reference: Martone, J., & Page, D. (January 2, 2019). 5 things you never knew about donating blood. Retrieved June 13, 2022, from https://thewell.northwell.edu/feel-good-stories/5-things-you-never-knew-about-donating- blood.

Evotherm – Environmentally Friendly Warm Mix Technology

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Ergon is committed to creating innovative solutions to meet customers’ needs while maintaining an environmentally conscious mindset. In recognition of World Environment Day (which was June 5, 2022), we’re highlighting Evotherm — a patented green paving solution for road agencies developed by Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EA&E) and Mathy Construction Co.

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The Green Solution
One of the ways EA&E has sought to reduce our carbon footprint is through the development of Evotherm warm mix asphalt technology, formerly known as REVIX™. “The need for such a product arose out of desire to reduce the risk of exposing road crews and the environment to hydrocarbons,” explained Dr. Gaylon Baumgardner, EA&E Executive Vice President – Technical Operations. EA&E and Mathy Construction Co. joined forces to patent this technology in 2007.

Benefits
Evotherm is an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional hot mix applications. The warm mix additives in Evotherm allow for a reduction in temperature during both asphalt production and application. The result is a reduction of hydrocarbon fumes. Evotherm can be hauled longer distances while maintaining workability, and it allows for paving in cooler weather while still obtaining density.

An additional benefit of Evotherm is the technology does not alter mix design. It simply enhances the traditional asphalt binder (Reinke & Baumgardner, 2007).

Environmental Impact
In addition to reduced carbon emissions, Evotherm’s environmental impact includes a significant reduction in volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxide, dust and more. This is in keeping with results from the Federal Highway Administration’s 2008 SCAN report that showed the environmental impacts of warm mix asphalt technologies. The following are a few results from the report:

  • CO2[e]* reduced 30- 40%
  • SO2 reduced 35%
  • VOC reduced 50%
  • CO reduced 10-30%
  • NOx reduced 60-70%
  • Dust reduced 20-25%

Since its development, Evotherm has been used on asphalt projects around the world, in both hot and cold climates, with the U.S. being the largest market. “Texas, in particular, has been a leader in the use of this green technology,” said Andrew Crow, Vice President, Pavement Technologies for Ingevity, the exclusive global marketer of Evotherm.

Promoting Sustainable Solutions
Evotherm is just one of many results of EAE keeping sustainability at the forefront of innovation. “There is a shift to an even greater focus on sustainability around the world,” said Crow. “Promoting paving technologies that reduce greenhouse gases is the next logical step.”

*CO2e is the designation for global greenhouse gases, or CO2 and its equivalents.

Reference
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. (February 2008). Chapter 2: Benefits of WMA warm-mix asphalt European practice.

Reinke, G., & Baumgardner, G. (2007). REVIX™ BDP.

Ergon Family Supports the American Cancer Society

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Since 2020, Ergon has continued to raise funds annually on behalf of the American Cancer Society’s (ACS) breast cancer awareness initiatives. Read the article below to find out how we got started making our own strides against breast cancer. This article was written in 2022. Since that time, our organization has raised $185,000 in 2023 and $225,000 in 2024 on behalf of the ACS.

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The Ergon family was introduced to the American Cancer Society’s Real Mean Wear Pink (RMWP) campaign when Larry Tomkins, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions VP – Southeast Region, was nominated to serve as a RMWP ambassador in 2020. RMWP campaign ambassadors across the nation commit to raise funds and awareness for the fight against breast cancer, and the organization has raised more than $40 million since its inception. In just two years, Larry and Ergon have raised over $100,000 in the ongoing campaign for breast cancer research and patient support.

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In early 2022, Ergon received four awards from the American Cancer Society in recognition of funds raised for the 2021 breast cancer campaigns. In addition to company awards, Tomkins received ACS recognition for ranking fifth in the nation among individual contributors for his efforts in steering our 2021 fundraising initiatives. “None of this would have been possible without the Ergon family, our partners, our friends and other generous donors,” Tomkins said.

A Fundraiser Close to the Heart
Tomkins had never led a personal fundraiser before his RMWP nomination. “I wasn’t sure if I wanted to do it, but then I thought about my mother-in-law,” he commented. Tomkins’ mother-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, just before he married his wife, Tracy. “That took a toll on the whole family, but I’m glad to say she’s a survivor and has had the opportunity to have a wonderful relationship with my children. We have been blessed, but for some families, that hasn’t been the case.”

Tomkins used his opportunity as an RMWP Ambassador to get Ergon Corporate involved. Upon receiving the OK for Ergon’s participation, Tomkins enlisted others at the corporate headquarters to be part of a committee to help with fundraising.

Ergon Employees Dare to Care
One of the fundraisers the committee came up with was the 2020 Dare to Care Halloween Costume Contest in which employees could dress up in their favorite workplace-appropriate costume in exchange for donations toward Tomkins’ RMWP campaign. This was the first contest of its kind at Ergon, with winners receiving certificates and everyone getting to let loose and laugh a little for a good cause. In addition to the contest, those who donated $10 were entered in a drawing for a pink YETI cooler.

Thanks to generous donations during the costume contest, as well as countless others who donated on behalf of Tomkins, Ergon raised nearly $46,000, and Tomkins was recognized as number eight in the nation for individual contributors for 2020.

The Tradition Continues
The Ergon family had come to look forward to donating for a cause while dressing up for a laugh. The Dare to Care contest resumed in 2021, and although Tomkins was not officially a part of the RMWP campaign, he did enter Ergon as one of the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer fundraising teams.

This time around, in addition to raising $62,000, many Ergon family members also came out to participate in the ACS-Mississippi’s annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. “The teamwork and dedication have been mind blowing to witness,” said Tomkins.

For the Love of ACS
Ergon and other top performers of the 2021 donation year participated in an additional fundraiser to kick off 2022 called “For the Love of ACS.” Ergon was recognized as a top performer of the top performers, contributing $5,440 in donations. “We really want to break last year’s $62,000 record,” said Tomkins. “This fundraiser provides us the opportunity to get an early start on fundraising and has already been a great help toward us reaching this goal.”

National Cancer Survivor’s Awareness Day is June 5. If you would like to contribute toward Ergon’s 2022 breast cancer awareness fundraiser, email Larry.Tomkins@ergon.com.

Doing Right: Helping Employees Beat the Heat This Summer

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On this Heat Awareness Day, we introduce Ergon’s 2022 Heat Awareness Program. Corporate Health & Safety Manager James Upton shares the importance of heat safety awareness in organizations such as Ergon, where employees work in extreme temperatures year-round.

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The past few years have shown that the risk of heat illness from high temperatures is one of the most serious challenges to the health and safety of workers. In 2019, despite widespread underreporting, 2,410 workers in the U.S. experienced a heat-related injury or illness, with 43 workers even dying from a heat illness. The real tragedy is that heat illness is almost always preventable.

High heat impacts everyone, and we can’t afford to ignore its effects on health. This year, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has implemented a new national emphasis on heat stress, prioritizing heat-related interventions and workplace inspections on days when the heat index exceeds 80°F. This is in addition to their campaign to educate and assist employers on heat illness prevention.

ERGON’S HEAT AWARENESS PROGRAM:

Recognition is critical; prevention is key. Ergon’s Environmental, Health & Safety (EHS) Team has initiated an organization-wide Heat Awareness Program (HAP). The goal is to educate the Ergon Family on ways to recognize heat/temperature hazards and prevent related illnesses.

Here are some things we’ve done to help spread awareness so far. In May 2022, all Ergon facilities received HAP boxes with heat safety awareness information, OSHA posters in English and Spanish, and chill-its (evaporative cooling bandanas) for all employees.

We’re communicating heat safety awareness through digital monitors at all facilities and an organization-wide Heat Awareness Webinar series developed to provide tips on how to recognize and treat heat-related illnesses, including what to do to if you or a coworker start to experience symptoms.

Can you recognize the signs of a heat illness? The following graphic includes quick tips on how to recognize the symptoms and/or signs of one common heat-related illness — heat exhaustion.

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Whether you work for Ergon or another company, we want to be sure you know how to avoid heat-related illnesses. We encourage you to refer to your company’s health and safety policies and guidelines, as well as any local, state and federal safety organizations with which you comply, for details on best practices for your organization.

If you’re interested in ways you can promote relevant heat safety awareness within your organization, email us and we’ll be in touch. Stay cool!

Selfless Leadership — Ergon Focuses on the Greater Good

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We lead with compassion and put those around us before ourselves. We don’t say we’re the experts; we demonstrate it through technical expertise, category innovation and genuine care for what we do.

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Selfless Leadership is a core value of Ergon and has been an integral part of our business model for the past 68 years. We got our start in 1954 in the petroleum industry’s service sector — with service being the operative word.

Ergon has always been a company that has anticipated and put the needs of those we serve above our own interests. We look outside of ourselves for the greater good of our family of employees and our customers. It’s what sustains us. And we employ over 3,200 people who embody this same ideal in their everyday work.

Watch as members of the Ergon family explain our collective commitment to the value of Selfless Leadership below.

Ergon is cultivating leaders at every level of our organization. By empowering our employees to be compassionate leaders, we are able to broaden our capabilities and capacity to provide the exceptional customer service that has become synonymous with the Ergon name.

We don’t boast about our successes in the industries we serve, but if we could attribute them to one thing, it would be that we operate simply as a service company with a decades-long mission of meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers.

We thrive by championing our people, and by being available and being responsive when needed the most. That’s the Ergon way.

If you’re interested in a company that thrives off of being available and helping others, then Ergon is the place for you. Visit our Careers page for more information on how and why you should join the Ergon family.

Empowering Employees to Lead, Innovate and Serve

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Putting our best foot forward to anticipate and meet customer needs and then exceed their expectations has been a driving force in Ergon’s commitment to empowering our family of employees.

Regardless of role or location, empowered service means being trusted to do your job and being prepared to contribute to the success of Ergon’s customers through training, proactive learning and curiosity.

“My favorite thing about working at Ergon is the endless opportunities,” said Andrew Rigaud, Maintenance Engineer at Ergon – West Virginia. “I really love learning, and so the opportunity to go out and pick up a new skill, learn a new program, learn a process within the refinery, is something I cherish, and that really excites me.”

Learn how we embody Empowered Service — the Ergon way — in the video below, part of our Culture & Values video series.

Nurturing the passion and curiosity employees have about processes and technologies in their respective fields has been key in Ergon’s development of innovative products in the asphalt and specialty oils industries. And the ongoing learning opportunities we provide have helped foster the cream of the crop of confident and competent leaders in the industries we serve.

“We have very extensive training programs because we want our people to be all they can be,” said Roger Harris, Senior VP – Marine Operations for Ergon’s Magnolia Marine Transport Co. (MMT). For decades, MMT has provided training opportunities for employees, including those joining at entry-level.

While empowering employees is a benefit to them and to Ergon, the ultimate goal is woven into the fabric of the organization — serving customers. “We want to make sure that every interaction has the customer in mind, and that we’re exceeding their expectations,” Brody McCreary, Production Leader – Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions.

Interested in working for a company that thrives off of investing in your professional growth? Visit ergoncareers.com today, and search for job openings within the Ergon family of companies.

CEO Provides Update on Sustainability at Ergon

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“Ergon has recently contracted with a leading global provider of ESG performance solutions to calculate our global carbon footprint, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Carbon reduction goals will be part of Ergon’s efforts to establish clear sustainability targets for the future in the areas of our products, planet, people and principles.”
— Emmitte Haddox, Ergon CEO

Since our founding 68 years ago, Ergon’s mission has been to meet needs, support families and serve customers. Long before the world’s attention turned to environmental, social and governance (ESG) impacts, Ergon’s culture and values were built around Doing Right with our products, for our planet, by our people and through our principles. That focus on the right things has facilitated our growth from a small Mississippi company to a global leader in a wide range of businesses related to specialty oils and chemicals, asphalt and emulsions, pavement preservation techniques, surface protection systems and more.

Although ESG has always been a part of Ergon’s DNA, as a privately held company, we had not formalized protocols for collecting data and reporting on ESG efforts. Since establishing a Doing Right Launch Team in 2020 and a new ESG subcommittee in 2021, I have been delighted to see the compilation of reports of how our companies are working together to find innovative ways to impact sustainability. We are focused on cleaner products, supporting and protecting our people and our communities today and for future generations, and ensuring the continued success of this organization upon which so many people around the world depend.

As a family-owned and -operated organization, we have demonstrated our long-term commitment to sustainable business practices by reinvesting an average of 93% of earnings back into our facilities and our people over the years. Our commitment to sustainable practices starts with our Board of Directors and management and is communicated throughout every level of the organization.

Ergon’s first Doing Right Report, published in 2021, highlights the impressive progress we have made so far. We are currently working to establish clear sustainability goals and targets for the future. Ergon has recently contracted with a leading global provider of ESG performance solutions to calculate our global carbon footprint, including Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions. Carbon reduction goals will be part of Ergon’s efforts to establish clear sustainability targets for the future in the areas of our products, planet, people and principles. We look forward to sharing these goals in our upcoming 2022 Doing Right Report.

In the meantime, our focus on providing the reliable products and services upon which our customers depend will not waiver as the entire Ergon family works to make our world a better place.

Learn more about Ergon’s Doing Right efforts and sign up for our quarterly newsletter HERE.

Ergon Team Walks 13K Miles Toward a Healthy Lifestyle

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On this National Walking Day, we introduce you to a new program Ergon Terminaling Inc (ETI) has implemented to help promote a healthy workforce. Read below as Steve Clark, ETI Environmental, Health & Safety Compliance Specialist, expounds on this step in a healthier direction.

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At Ergon, we are family, and we look out for each other. The health and well-being of our employees are the top priorities for Ergon and our family of companies, and our goal is to have every employee return home safely at the end of each day.

Beyond Ergon’s safety initiatives, ETI wanted to encourage employees to be healthier and more active. We launched a new health and wellness program — Ergon Active —on February 14, 2022, inviting ETI employees and some departments from Ergon Inc. to participate. This voluntary program encourages teams to be more active through fun and friendly step/walking challenges on the MoveSpring mobile app. Each participant’s activity is logged in the app by syncing with the user’s Apple Watch, Fitbit, iPhone or similar activity tracker. To reduce any barriers to participating, we provided a FitBit free of charge to any team member wishing to join in.

Ergon Active began with 38 participants or Steppers and has grown to 82 Steppers and counting. Since the launch, Ergon Active Steppers have logged over 30,000,000 steps and more than 13,000 miles.

Added Benefits of Ergon Active
Through the MoveSpring app, ETI can share health-related information with participants. The app provides chat and friends features so Ergon Active Steppers can connect and encourage each other across multiple Ergon locations. So, in addition to promoting health, we are also upholding Ergon’s reputation as a relationship-driven organization.

We’re Just Getting Started
Going forward, we want to continue to create fun step challenges to align with our goals, but we also want to provide awareness of our other corporate health and safety initiatives. Stressing the importance of proper hydration and pre-activity stretching are two examples of where Ergon Active can help prevent common workplace injuries.

For more information about Ergon Active, or to learn how you can implement a similar program for your team, please email ergon.active@ergon.com. We’re happy to help.

Happy Stepping!

National Employee Appreciation Day at Ergon

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A Message from the Lampton Family, CEO Emmitte Haddox and COO Kris Patrick

On this National Employee Appreciation Day, Ergon and the Lampton family extend our heartfelt thanks to our family of employees around the world. Thank you for your continued commitment to working hard, working safely and looking out for each other.

Watch our “Thank You” video.

“Ergon is where we choose to invest our time, energy, talents and contributions toward a common goal,” commented Emmitte Haddox, Ergon Chief Executive Officer. “With a focus on Doing Right, we strive to make this company the best it can be. Each person owns their contribution to Ergon’s mission of meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers.”

The Ergon family has gone above and beyond to serve and protect their coworkers, customers and communities since the pandemic started.

“Our clear motivation from day one was to protect our employees. Period,” said Kris Patrick, Ergon Chief Operating Officer. “I would put our actions on a scale against those of any other company.”

Kris explained that Ergon’s mission hasn’t changed over time, and it didn’t change because of COVID. “It has been said that the moments that challenge us the most define us, and this has certainly been a defining time period,” he added. “While many companies were trying to hold on or slow the free fall, our employees moved Ergon forward in so many ways. Those employees are what make this company great.”

Ergon. United by Service. Driven by Solutions.

What Does Purposeful Growth Mean for Ergon, Customers and Employees?

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At Ergon, we understand that our success is tied to the success of our both our customers and our employees. Purposeful Growth is a core value — one we live and breathe every day, with every decision and every solution.

The positive trajectory of our organization has been steady since our founding in 1954. Growth has always been aligned with a clear purpose and vision as we have expanded from serving customers locally to providing products and services in more than 90 countries around the world. We are focused on growing the right way — not just the fastest way.

Watch the video below (part of our Culture & Values video series) to learn about Purposeful Growth at Ergon, as told by a few members of the Ergon family.

For Our Employees
We are investing in present and future generations, empowering our teams to realize their full potential. We are committed to providing the best opportunities for employees to succeed. Ergon’s Organizational Development Department partners with leadership to ensure all companies excel in recruiting, retaining and developing the best people to reflect our core values and to ensure continued growth.

Brandi Julian, Training Director with Crafco, recently shared about their Leadership Essentials Program. Crafco, part of Ergon’s Asphalt & Emulsions Segment, is the world’s leading manufacturer of pavement preservation products and the equipment used to apply them. Based in Arizona, Crafco has manufacturing facilities in six states and abroad, in addition to distribution and sales offices around the world.

“This program covers the employee life cycle,” Brandi explained. “We look at everything from selection and recruiting, to onboarding, then on to engaging and retaining employees. It’s not just about finding a good employee. It’s about developing them to be their most efficient and effective.”

Once someone is part of the Ergon family, we want to do everything we can to keep them here. Our low turnover rate (14.9%, compared to the national average of 24%) is a testament to our success in that area, as is our 11-year average length of service.

Education and Knowledge Sharing
Another interesting project Brandi has been working on is documenting the knowledge and experience of our current employees to benefit future employees. “How do we take the experiential knowledge of our people who have all this tenure and have been here for years and years, write that down and capture that knowledge? We have developed a very robust product knowledge training library,” Brandi explained. “We have spent so much time interviewing leaders, plant managers — trying to really capture their knowledge about our equipment, our products, and get that knowledge captured and written down so that we can share it across all of Crafco.”

As Jana Branham, Ergon Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, explains in the Purposeful Growth video linked above, “We are investing in education to make sure our people have the right skills and capabilities to deliver on the projects that we do — so that we can be productive in every interaction.”

If you’re interested in working for a company that makes your growth a priority, visit ergoncareers.com for job openings within our family of companies today.