From the Heart for the Heart — Ergon’s First Healthy Heart Campaign

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On February 3, 2023, during American Heart Month, Ergon kicked off our first Healthy Heart Campaign created to increase awareness of the causes and symptoms of heart disease and stroke, provide employees with healthy heart tips and raise funds on behalf of the American Heart Association (AHA).

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The campaign began with an organization-wide Wear Red Day celebration as well as a video message to the Ergon family from Lee Lampton, son of Ergon founder Leslie Lampton Sr. In the video, Lee shared the story of how his battle with heart disease began and the steps he has taken to ensure he stays on top of his heart health to date. Ergon employees were encouraged to share their heart stories as well throughout the campaign period, some of which helped others identify symptoms they may not have known were connected to heart disease.

Lee Lampton shares his heart story with the Ergon family.

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Each week of the campaign, employees had the opportunity to donate funds toward the AHA Go Red for Women/Woman of Impact initiative for a chance to win a raffle prize for that week. All donors were then entered into a grand prize drawing. While the campaign included all Ergon companies, Ergon Corporate also incorporated Food Truck Days in which a portion of the proceeds from food truck sales went to the AHA. Over the nine-week campaign, Ergon raised approximately $27,000.

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Healthy Heart Ambassador
Ergon Board Member Amy Walker served as our Healthy Heart Ambassador and was one of AHA’s Metro Jackson (Mississippi) Go Red for Women/Woman of Impact representatives. For Walker, heart disease is an issue she is all too familiar with, which has driven her motivation for wanting to do her part to help others. “Heart disease has greatly impacted my family,” said Walker. “My father Lee Lampton’s struggles with heart disease began at age 52. I lost my maternal grandfather to a heart attack when he was just 52 years old as well. Also, my father-in-law and sister-in-law died of heart attacks.” In addition to heart disease hitting close to home, Walker’s motivation for her involvement includes being able to enhance research on how to help women specifically, as heart disease and stroke claim the life of a woman every 80 seconds.

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Did You Know?

According to Go Red for Women, men have historically been the subjects of research on heart disease and stroke, making them the basis for treatments and guidelines and leaving a gap in education on the impact of heart disease and stroke on women. Funds donated by the Ergon family went toward the AHA’s Go Red for Women/Woman of Impact initiative to help ensure more balanced measures to treat and/or reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. “I’m proud to be part of the network of women leaning into our power to help transform lives and mitigate the risk of heart disease,” said Walker.

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Metro Jackson Go Red for Women Luncheon
Following Ergon’s Healthy Heart Campaign, Ergon was honored to attend the 2023 Metro Jackson Go Red for Women Luncheon where Walker was named the Woman of Impact runner up. “I share this recognition with the entire Ergon family for their efforts and generous donations,” said Walker, “Thank you.”

Also, during the luncheon, Cindy Wagner represented Ergon as she cat walked down the Heart Disease Survivor Fashion Show runway. Cindy is a heart attack survivor who is passionate about encouraging women to take care of their hearts.

 

“The symptoms of women’s heart attacks are so different than men,” said Cindy. “My pain was in the middle of my back and my right jaw — no chest pain, no left arm pain. It turned out I had 98% blockage and had to have a stent put in.” We are grateful to Cindy for sharing her heart story and for being an advocate for women’s heart health.

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Donations to the AHA go toward funding research and education initiatives, supporting advocacy of healthier communities, improving patient care and more.

Achieving Healthier Lives One Step at A Time

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On this National Walking Day, we touch on what walking means for physical and mental health, celebrate the dramatic impact of Ergon Active and shine a light on a few of the many Ergon employees who are enjoying healthier lives due to more active lifestyles.

As the Ergon family continues to meet needs, support families and serve customers around the world, it is important that we incorporate daily physical activities that help maintain and improve our body’s ability to move freely, otherwise known as mobility. Often regarded as a key to longevity, mobility decreases the risk of injury, improves circulation, boosts creativity and cognitive function, relieves stress and helps us manage our moods. Essentially, good mobility allows us to keep doing what we love and feel good in the process. A simple yet effective physical activity that can help boost mobility and optimize our lives is walking. As it happens, Ergon Terminaling Inc (ETI) introduced a health and wellness program that encourages this very activity.

Ergon Gets Active
ETI launched Ergon Active, a voluntary health and wellness program, in 2022 to encourage employees to be more physically active through the MoveSpring mobile app. Users who connect with the platform can participate in friendly step and walking challenges, track their fitness in real time via an Apple Watch, Fitbit or similar wearable device, and receive ongoing health information and tips. This program has since been launched to multiple companies throughout the Ergon organization, and the Ergon family has taken millions of steps collectively through walking challenges on MoveSpring. Results among the family have been amazing to witness.

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JD Wynne, an Industrial Engineer with Ergon’s Business Process Management Department has shed 30 pounds since adopting healthier habits that include increased physical activity.

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Katie Warren, Payroll Administrator with Lampton-Love, makes it a daily goal to participate in high-intensity exercises such as CrossFit and, in turn, exceeds every Ergon Active challenge.

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Gio Baldizon, a QA Laboratory Supervisor with Ergon Refining Inc., has committed himself to a healthier lifestyle and has the weight loss to prove it.

On sunny days, some teams across different departments can be seen walking outdoors. On rainy days, groups walk the halls, not allowing a little weather to rain on their parade to better health. Finding joy and community in physical activity has been a great way to become motivated and stay motivated.

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!

CEO Update: Ergon’s 69th Anniversary

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Thanks to the efforts and dedication of the Ergon family, our business continues to grow stronger. As I reflect on my first six months as President and CEO of Ergon and my 23 years with the company, I’m reminded of another important milestone. April 1 marked the 69th anniversary of Ergon. [WATCH VIDEO UPDATE FROM KRIS HERE.]

Day after day, I continue to be amazed at the intelligent design of this organization. We were built to service industries essential to manufacturing and infrastructure around the world. And we continue to be a preferred partner for our clients — putting innovation and specialized solutions that drive success at the center of our work.

Ergon’s long-term success has been grounded in relationships — both internal and external. We are as invested in providing opportunities for our employees to be the best they can be as we are in creating competitive advantages for our customers.

For 69 years now, we have led with compassion, expertise and care for the industries we serve, for our communities, and for the roughly 3,500 people around the globe who make up the Ergon family.

We abide by a set of core values that serve as a mirror we hold up to ourselves every day. They are unwavering commitments to hold true to the strong legacy established and lived out by the Lampton family. We all strive to emulate their authentic and selfless style of leadership, balancing that legacy with a goal to continue the trajectory of growth that will build our future.

Most of you are aware of the devastation that occurred as a result of the tornado that hit the Rolling Fork community which is close to our Vicksburg Refinery. The true test of our core values is how we respond when our people and our communities face adversity. The Ergon family responded in an amazing way. We’ve had teams on the ground supporting families by providing meals, meeting financial needs, cleaning up, and offering every kind of support imaginable. Thank you to our employees and to the Lampton family for living out our values and our mission.

We have so many exciting things happening at Ergon right now. I have made a commitment to be more active on LinkedIn going forward, so I can share more about The Ergon Way and the work our employees are doing. I hope you will connect with me there.

To the Ergon family — happy anniversary! Thank you for your hard work and dedication to this amazing organization.

Celebrating Women In Construction Week 2023

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In celebration of Women In Construction Week 2023, we highlight a few women within the Ergon family of companies who are making an impact in unique ways within the construction and infrastructure fields.

Amy Blaida

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Amy Blaida is Technical Marketing Manager for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions’ (EAE) Florida market. In this role, Blaida educates, trains and collaborates with industry engineers and meets with agencies regularly to discuss the benefits and best practices of pavement preservation. This includes highlighting options available to stretch road budgets and extend the life of asphalt roadways as well as troubleshooting when necessary during roadway construction, preservation and maintenance projects.

Blaida’s career in public works began in 2008, following in the footsteps of her father, who served as Public Works Director for Hillsborough County, Florida. According to Blaida, “People in the public works industry are the salt of the earth, and they do their job not for the acknowledgement, but because they want to make a difference in their communities.” Prior to joining Ergon in 2020, Blaida worked for an engineering/architecture firm and a pavement preservation contractor, but she has since found her niche with the Ergon family. “Public works is my passion, and I genuinely love what I do,” Blaida said. “Working for a company like Ergon provides me the opportunity to support the industry by providing solutions to pavement preservation needs.”

In addition to serving as EAE Technical Marketing Manager, Blaida also holds leadership roles within state and national public works and asphalt associations. Most recently, she was named the Committee Chair of the Asphalt Emulsion Manufacturers Association (AEMA) Leadership Development Team (LDT). This team focuses on developing future leaders within the asphalt emulsion industry while also providing industry insights and research updates and increasing AEMA participation. As LDT Chair, Blaida oversees these efforts and ensures various subgroups are on track to accomplish annual goals. One of the subgroups she helps to oversee the curriculum for is the AEMA Leadership Education for Asphalt Preservation (LEAP) program, in which Charity Cook, Group Leader for Ergon’s Paragon Technical Services laboratory, was named 2023-2024 Class Dean. The following are additional industry roles Blaida holds for various associations:

American Public Works Association Florida Chapter

  • Past President
  • Council of Chapters Delegate
  • Presidential Award for Chapter Excellence Committee Chair
  • Nominating Chair

Florida Association of County Engineers and Road Superintendents

  • Sustaining Member Director, Facers Board
  • Newsletter Chair

Florida Pavement Preservation Council

  • Board Member

To women interested in construction/infrastructure careers, Blaida says, “Go for it! A career in construction is truly rewarding. You know that at the end of the day, you had a hand in making a difference in communities.”

Blaida earned a bachelor’s degree in criminology and a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Florida.

Theresa Moore

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Theresa Moore is Asphalt Lab Analyst for EAE’s Vicksburg, Mississippi, facility. In this position, she is responsible for testing performance grade (PG) and other neat asphalt products to ensure they meet state specifications and certifications.

Moore joined the Ergon family in 2012 and worked as an Asphalt Lab Analyst for Ergon Refining before transitioning to EAE in 2020. She has always been interested in a career in the construction industry, specifically on the production side. “I enjoy testing and just being part of creating good quality asphalt products to sell to various agencies,” said Moore. “I love that the work I do makes a difference and is used to help construct and maintain roads people use every day.”

When asked what she would say to women interested in pursuing a career in construction, Moore offered this encouragement: “Most view construction as a man’s profession, but there is always a place for women to succeed in this space.” Thanks to women in construction like Moore, EAE is able to ensure consistent quality products to meet needs and extend the service life of roadways.

Moore earned an Associate Degree in general studies from Hinds Community College in Mississippi and is a certified asphalt analyst.

Rhonda Michael

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Rhonda Michael is Senior Lab Technician for EAE’s Nashville, Tennessee, facility.  She helps to oversee quality control and assurance efforts to ensure EAE products meet specifications provided by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Tennessee Department of Transportation and other agencies. Quality control efforts include receiving, labeling, testing and analyzing asphalt product samples as well as troubleshooting.

As Lab Technician, Michael must be able to handle a variety of challenges in her daily work, including equipment malfunctions, unexpected product testing results and other unforeseen circumstances. But handling challenges is where her attention to detail, problem solving and ability to work independently are real assets.

Michael has family and friends who work in the construction and infrastructure industries, and she has always been interested in following a similar path. When the Lab Technician job became available at EAE – Nashville, she jumped at the opportunity. “I have enjoyed all 25 years with the company.”

Women make up approximately half of the population and, according to Michael, “It’s only right that we fulfill our potential and thrive in careers across multiple industries, including construction.”

Michael has Asphalt Institute Professional Development Certification.

Maris Risinger

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Maris Risinger is Industrial Engineer for Ergon’s Business Process Management Department (BPMD). “I have always been fascinated with the processes of building, maintaining and repairing structures,” said Risinger. In her role, she is involved with process improvement projects, such as drafting design layouts for maximum efficiency at Ergon facilities. This includes utilizing lean manufacturing methodologies to analyze, identify and implement cost, quality and workflow improvements. Regarding new construction, Risinger’s position is critical to  determining both interior and exterior layouts of materials and traffic flow to help determine construction needs and feasibility. Risinger also works with Ergon personnel to write out procedures for operations, including, for example, procedures for gauging and emptying tanks, injecting additives and transferring products at Ergon’s fuels, refining and asphalt facilities.

Risinger graduated from Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and a minor in mathematics. She is also a Certified Associate in Project Management.

Megan Ancelet

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Working alongside Maris is Megan Ancelet, who also serves as Industrial Engineer for Ergon BPMD. Ancelet is responsible for designing and improving facility layouts, reducing waste and increasing efficiency within Ergon facilities. She has always been interested in engineering, but it wasn’t until she joined the Ergon family that she began to learn more and uncover how her interests could not only help improve facilities but ultimately ensure these facilities are operating at maximum efficiency to produce the quality products needed to serve customers within various industries, including construction and infrastructure. Ancelet’s advice to women wanting to pursue careers in these industries is: “Continue to work toward your goals, be confident in your skills and knowledge, and surround yourself with people who continuously challenge you to work harder.”

Ancelet earned her Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and her Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from Mississippi State University.

Read about more of Ergon’s women in construction HERE.

Celebrating Women in STEM – Meet Melinda and Monica

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For International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11), we highlight two women within the Ergon family of companies who have turned their passion for STEM into impactful careers at Crafco Inc.

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Crafco Inc., an Ergon company, is the world’s leading manufacturer of packaged pavement preservation products that seal, protect, repair, strengthen, preserve and extend the service life of infrastructure worldwide. Two of Ergon’s many women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), Monica Maschue and Melinda Baier have used their skill sets in these areas to help maintain the quality of Crafco’s products. Read about them and their views on women pursuing careers in STEM below.

Melinda Baier
Baier is Crafco’s Materials Quality Assurance Manager. In this role, Baier is responsible for employing scientific methods and information to critique, interpret, construct and connect physical systems in order to ensure Total Quality Management (TQM) for materials produced at Crafco’s specialty sealant plants. TQM involves quality control, quality assurance, product testing and other measures to ensure the highest quality products and customer satisfaction.

Baier has always been passionate about the sciences, finding genetics and physics most appealing. With a desire to be a horse vet since childhood, she earned an Animal Sciences – Pre-Veterinarian degree from Auburn University. That is, until her aspirations shifted and led her to a career in research and formulations at Abbott Laboratories. “With my degree, I had extensive education in chemistry and microbiology, which I was able to take advantage of during my time with Abbott.”

In addition to her background in science, Baier also attended Better Process Control School at Michigan State University, and she earned Project Management and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certifications from Arizona State University. She is now able to apply her extensive education in her current role to ensure efficient, quality production at Crafco facilities.

When asked why women should pursue careers in science and STEM in general, she commented: “When women pursue careers in STEM, we are helping to diversify companies and close the gender gap in these careers. Sometimes you have to be the only girl or woman in the room, and that’s OK. Don’t be afraid to bring your own chair to the table.”

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Monica Maschue
Monica Maschue is Crafco’s Specialty Products Engineer (SPE) responsible for the company’s asphalt roofing and waterproofing products. Specifically, she helps evaluate formulations, monitor raw materials, track product quality, and oversee production adjustments and resolve quality issues as needed.

Maschue has always been interested in math and science and wanted to pursue an analytical career. “I was drawn to engineering as a college major because of my interests in math and science and the vast opportunities an engineering degree would provide.”  Maschue earned her degree in Chemical Engineering from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. She joined Crafco in 2014 and has been able to apply her STEM interests and her knack for numbers, as she calls it, to a rewarding career with a significant role in quality control and, ultimately, the customer satisfaction journey.

On why it is important for women to pursue STEM careers and why companies should create opportunities to embrace anyone with STEM interests, Maschue said: “Diversity in your workforce can create a greater diversity of ideas, perspectives and experiences within industries, ultimately leading to more unique solutions. Creating welcoming environments that allow everyone with strong interest and aptitude in STEM the opportunity to pursue those goals, regardless of gender, is a net positive for everyone.”

Read about other women in STEM at Ergon HERE.

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If you’re interested in working for a company that allows you to pursue your interests and make a difference, visit ergon.com/careers.

Ergon Employees Giving Back to Communities

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From fundraising events involving entire facilities to individual efforts, employees throughout the Ergon family give generously of their time, talents and blessings to help their communities and people in need.

One great example is the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Program, which Ergon’s Information Technology Department began supporting in 2017 and now is an annual fundraising event for the corporate office. According to Jana Branham, Ergon Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, “We love this charity because it meets needs of the community where we live and serve … and all the donations go directly to children in need.” When Ergon’s CEO asked for ideas for giving back to communities on an enterprise-wide level, Jana suggested Toys for Tots, and employees in the corporate office were quick to join in.

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Each year, employees have an opportunity to purchase toys or provide monetary donations for a toy drive on behalf of the program. Ergon has matched employee donations annually. This year, Ergon was proud to present a check to Toys for Tots for $17,299.71, bringing the total contributions since 2020 to $49,182.58.

Not only do employees donate toys and money, but they really get in the Christmas spirit to encourage each other to participate. Groups of Ergon Elves volunteer to collect donations while others volunteer to shop for toys for children from newborn to age 12. Outside of corporate efforts, volunteers from various Ergon locations also support the Toys for Tots Program, like Juan Torres, who helps set up toy drives in Texas on behalf of the organization.

In addition to Toys for Tots, Ergon employees volunteer their time and resources to support a wide variety of causes, just a few of which are listed at the end of this story.

Ergon’s Refining & Marketing segment is living out company values through a variety of initiatives. Employees at Ergon – West Virginia in Newell, West Virginia, committed to increasing their number of work-sponsored community service hours from 180 to approximately 300 in 2023. Ergon Refining in Vicksburg, Mississippi, has already surpassed their 2023 goal of 1,000 hours, which comes to five hours per employee.

The R&M Mirror Lake Plaza team developed a Community Outreach Program which offers at least four community outreach events each quarter. Their goal for 2023 is 400 volunteer hours and $25,000 in charitable giving. Recently, the group spent time at the Boys & Girls Club of America in Jackson, Mississippi, where they hosted a career panel. Nine Ergon employees were able to share their respective career paths and encourage, inspire and pour into more than 30 teens and preteens.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) is another important charity to members of the Ergon family — especially Larry Tomkins, Vice President – Southeast Region for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions (EAE). Larry has championed the Ergon family in raising $150,000 for ACS in the ongoing campaign for breast cancer research and patient support. EAE recently launched the Road to Recovery campaign, partnering with companies within the asphalt industry to ensure the provision of complimentary rides for cancer patients to get to their treatments.

As our CEO, Kris Patrick, mentioned in his recent message in Ergon’s Doing Right Report, “More dots on Ergon maps and more products in our portfolios are exciting, but I believe even more important is the positive impact we have on the lives of people around the world. May we never lose our focus on the fact that while we should strive to be profitable in our business, our higher calling is to impact the lives of employees, customers and communities we serve in a positive way.”

Happiest of Holidays from the Ergon Family!

Some of the causes supported by Ergon employees:
Adopt-A-Highway
Andre House
Baptist Children’s Village
Boys & Girls Clubs
Broadway Wharf Cleanup
Canopy Children’s Solutions
Chambers of Commerce
Chester and Newell, WV, Volunteer Fire Departments
Children’s Hospital of Mississippi
City of Chester Beautification Committee
Dempsey Centers for Quality Cancer Care
Extra Table
Feeding America
Gracious Givers of Arizona
Habitat for Humanity
House of Grace
Hurricane Disaster Relief Efforts
Idaho Coastal Conservation Association
International Ballet Competition
Jackson, Mississippi, Water Relief
La Vernia Community Food Bank
Mentoring College Students
Mississippi Blood Services
Mountaineer Food Bank
Rescue Mission of the Mahonig Valley
Salvation Army Family Store
Shower Power
Stewpot Community Services
Sunnybrook Children’s Home
Supporting Local First Responders
Teaching STEM Classes at Richland
Upper Elementary
The Brightside Project
The Lily Pad Foundation
The Little Light House, Central Mississippi
Title 1 School Volunteer Programs
Toys for Tots
Truckers Against Trafficking
Valley of the Sun United Way
Vicksburg Warren College and Career Academies
Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Foundation
Warren Central High School Life Skills Class
Youth Outdoors Unlimited

Purposeful Growth Profile: John Finley Achieves Safety Certifications

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We believe the Purposeful Growth of our family of employees lends to our continued success in the industries we serve. That’s why Ergon management encourages employees to seek opportunities to grow professionally. We want every employee, from the veteran to the new hire, to feel empowered to reach their potential and be the best they can be. In this Purposeful Growth Profile, we highlight the recent accomplishments of John Finley, Senior Environmental, Health & Safety Technician for the Operational Excellence Department at Ergon – West Virginia (EWV).

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John Finley recently completed courses at West Virginia University to become a Certified Safety Specialist – General Industry and a Certified Safety Trainer – General Industry.

While these highly sought-after certifications are not required for John’s position, he took the initiative to seek out and complete the courses to further educate himself and also to further impact Ergon’s goal for every employee to return home safe every day. “John truly embodies the values of Purposeful Growth and Empowered Service,” said Jack Azar, EWV Continuous Improvement Manager. “He is a driven individual who wants to learn and grow in his position and find ways to best serve, support and ensure the safety of others.”

John’s journey to obtaining the certifications did not come without challenges, as it was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he remained focused through over 150 core and elective course hours. “The courses were originally intended to be taught in person, but because of the pandemic, courses were switched to an online format,” said Chip Roush, EWV Environmental, Health & Safety Supervisor. “This was out of John’s comfort zone, but he persevered.”

John joined EWV on October 11, 2010, as an Oil Movements trainee in the Operations Department. He has since held roles as Area E Operator, Area D Operator, Health & Safety Technician and now Senior Environmental, Health & Safety Technician, overseeing the provision of safety, first aid, CPR, fire brigade, rescue and training services for EWV personnel.

Veterans Day Profile: Juan Torres, Selfless Leadership and Service

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Ergon is proud to have United States military Veterans as part of our family of employees who are committed to meeting needs for our customers and in communities we serve. On this Veterans Day, we celebrate all who served and also highlight a Veteran who exemplifies our core value of Selfless Leadership in his local community.

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Selfless Leadership is not just a value of Ergon alone, but a shared value among military personnel who willingly give of themselves for the common good.

Juan Torres is Lead Operator for Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions’ Manor, Texas, facility. He has volunteered for the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation since he joined the United States Marine Corps in 2011. While he left active duty in 2018, Torres continues to support the Foundation by volunteering or setting up donation drives for the Toys for Tots Program every year during Christmastime.

Servant Hearts
Torres joins many members of the Ergon family who lend their time and resources on behalf of the Toys for Tots Program. Each year, employees at our corporate headquarters in Flowood, Mississippi, provide toys and monetary donations to support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation’s goal of ensuring children of disadvantaged families are able to receive gifts and experience the joy of Christmas. Over the past five years, Ergon has raised $63,000 toward this effort.

About the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation
Established in 1991, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created to provide toys and send a message of hope to less fortunate children at Christmas. Through their program, the Foundation distributes approximately 18 million toys to 7 million children annually.

The Foundation welcomes support from various organizations to help provide toys and other resources for the children. To learn how you can help, visit https://www.toysfortots.org.

 

A Culture of Respect, Diversity and Acceptance

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Watch the video below and learn how our commitment to the value of Respectful Relationships helps ensure Ergon is a place where you can feel welcomed to contribute, collaborate and succeed as part of a team dedicated to meeting needs, supporting families and serving customers around the world.

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Ergon is committed to fostering a culture of respect. We welcome ideas and opinions, regardless of role, empowering our family of employees to contribute meaningful work that impacts the industries and communities we serve.

“I think that it’s incredibly important to respect everybody’s different opinions, and that’s something that I’ve learned at Ergon, that has carried over into my daily life,” said Samantha Patterson, Division Order Analyst for Ergon Oil Purchasing Inc.

We are One Ergon: United by Service. Driven By Solutions. That means we value input from each other, understanding that from the CEO to the intern, the sum of all of our efforts is far greater than our individual endeavors. We are united in a shared purpose to provide innovative solutions our customers need and the support they need to succeed.

At the heart of this unity is Respectful Relationships among team members, who are treated as family. And like family, each employee is valued and encouraged to add value to the Ergon organization. “What brings me back to work every day is, hands down, the family culture,” said Samantha. “The moment you start working for Ergon, you just feel accepted. You feel like a part of the family, whether you’ve been there five minutes, whether you’ve been there 10 years.”

Respectful Relationships are not limited to employees. Ergon seeks to build strong relationships with customers as well. We know that part of providing solutions for our customers is listening to first understand what they need now and then listening to determine how we can anticipate and meet future needs. Meeting these needs takes an “all-hands-on-deck” approach, and we believe the greatest ideas come from intentional collaboration and open communication.

“It really is encouraging to be able to sit down and dialogue with a group of people who are very talented, very smart and also are very helpful to each other’s efforts and goals,” said Ken Cooley, President of Resinall Corp.

Work Where You Belong
Want to work for a place that respects and supports the diversity of ideas and of people? Visit ergon.com/careers to learn how you can become part of the Ergon family.

Ergon Logistics Built to Handle Low Water Events

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Michael Carpenter is Senior Port Captain for Magnolia Marine Transport Company (MMT), in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Part of the Ergon family of companies, MMT operates one of the largest inland waterways petroleum transportation fleets in the United States. With 24 towboats and more than 88 barges, they transport asphalt, crude oil, process oils, fuel oil and additional products on the Mississippi River and intracoastal waterways of the Gulf of Mexico.

Due to the low water levels from recent dry weather and drought conditions, the Mississippi River is low enough to create transportation issues for cargo ships and barges, with many companies across the marine industry having to significantly slow down or even stop deliveries.

Carpenter spoke with Mississippi Public Broadcasting about the ways MMT is adapting to these extremely low river levels — https://www.mpbonline.org/blogs/news/dry-conditions-causing-low-water-levels-on-mississippi-river/. MMT’s operations plans ensure that security of supply is protected in situations like these where loads need to be lightened to reduce draft and traffic is slower due to low water or congestion along certain segments of the route.

Ergon is a global organization delivering products and services essential to manufacturing and infrastructure needs to customers in more than 90 countries around the world. The diversified logistics provided by a variety of businesses, including MMT, mean that when one area faces hardships, others are ready to step up to get the job done. In this case, when waterways are impacted, Ergon’s trucks and railcars can assist with transportation of products.

That same ability to adapt is one of MMT’s strengths. According to Carpenter, “Challenges are nothing new for MMT. We take them as they come. Whether it’s near record-high water levels, hiring employees for our growing fleet of boats and barges, or our present low water situation, adapting to an ever-changing environment is one of our major strengths.”