RETIREMENT

Clint Burdette

Well, he finally did it-he retired!  After a long and distinguished career in which he worked in the Parts Department and the Service Department, Clint has left us for the “easier life”.  He started on September 1^st, 1971 when Charleston was in Kanawha City-he was the truck driver.  Along the way he worked in Parts, was the St. Albans Service manager and then for the past several years, he took that combined knowledge as a Customer Service Salesman covering the Charleston and Southern West Virginia market.  He was very good at what he did and when he trained his replacement, she was amazed at how many hugs he got on his last round of visits.  For a brief spell in the 80’s he went to Nashville as Service Manager, but the WV market was home.  He also served as the Site Manager at the Toyota Engine Plant in 2006.  I guess if we would have thought of more things for him to do, he would have done them-cheerfully and well.  That’s just what he did for 39 years.

We wish him the very best in his retirement years and hope that he and Jo have a relaxing time ahead.  We miss the big hearty smile!

EMPLOYEE EXCELLENCE

Tony St. Clair of Tri Tech Labs thanked us for going "above and beyond the call of duty" on a Friday in June to get some chargers to them so they could continue to operate over the week end.

Brian Butler of Carter Lumber wrote "Jim Wroten (Parkersburg) is great-please duplicate Jim Wroten!"

Gary Revercomb (Verona) on very short notice, got several customers to see the 4Front traveling display full of dock products.  Greg Seever of 4Front said, "If I had 60 Gary in the SE, my job would be much easier!"  There is only one Gary!

RJ Recycling said of our Cross Lanes folks, "Your mechanics are very knowledgeable and helpful.  The entire staff is friendly and always willing to go above and beyond.  Don't change anything!"

Matt Adams, Branch Manager of Lyon Conklin said, "Kennith Keaton is the reason we have great service.  He goes above and beyond what's required.  He has always provided great service.  Thanks."

Jeff Bush of Atlas Cold Storage wrote, "I would like to acknowledge the outstanding job our partners from Homestead have been doing over the last 6-8 months.  We started meeting with Homestead and Crown last year as a team initiative to brainstorm ways to improve our overall equipment maintenance program.  Many concerns were brought up such as the number of machines needing repairs, repair time, machines not working properly, preventative maintenance program, sanitation, etc.  After many brainstorming sessions, adjustments were made with personnel and work procedures.  We continued to meet regularly to discuss, evaluate the progress, and fine tune.  The results have been very positive for our operations.

The PM program is a big success with an average of 80 machines going through the shop each month for preventative maintenance.  The number of machines waiting to be repaired has been reduced drastically; repair time is normally in and out and their work area is one of the cleanest shops I've been in.  The Homestead Team consists of Terry Akers, Lewis Price, Bill Smith and Gary Hale.  Willie Johnson was there until Lewis Price was added and Willie helped to get things started in the right fashion.  Brian Minnix has been coordinating details.  All of these folks work out of the Roanoke office.

Rick Busch of DuPont Washington Works Zytel operating Unit wrote, "I am very pleased with the work Jim De Weese (Parkersburg) does for me and the way he takes care of doors in my department."

James Bostic, Beckley Truck Sales called to say that Kennith Keaton does a "marvelous job".

Edgar Pete Somers of Climbin High Tree Service in West Milford, WV wrote, "Connor Thompson (Clarksburg) is the greatest.  I owe a lot to Jefferds.  God Bless you all.”

Chris Seaman, Assistant Manager of Toyota Motor Manufacturing WV wrote to commend our folks for their work on the 478F Project.  Monty Barnett, Clint Burdette and Randy Harrison (St. Albans) were invited to the meeting where they were told they had one week to make a huge installation.  The objections didn't come from the Jefferds folks, they came from Toyota personnel.  The depth of the task included designing and building the hoist structures (posts and beams), specifying and procuring the rails and the proper hoist device, getting PE stamps for each structure and installing everything on a week end.  "Jefferds did all the work within the time frame including a trip by Clint to a warehouse in Virginia during the week end to pick up some parts.  It was an effort that some in the project group said couldn't be done, but it was one of the best moments of the whole project.  You guys did whatever you had to do to meet my request and all the time with positive attitudes.  This experience crystallized for me that Jefferds truly was a partner with our company and was interested in our success."

COMPANY AWARDS

In May, we were notified that Homestead Materials Handling Company had won the Summit Award from Crown.  This is the highest award that Crown gives to its Dealers and it recognizes superior performance at every level of Dealership operations!

Bobcat of Advantage Valley was recently presented with a magnificent bronze Bobcat in recognition of being a Bobcat Dealer for 40 continuous years!

Jefferds Corporation has received the 2009 American Wire Products Dealer of Excellence Award.

John MacIver (Parkersburg) earned 1st Quarter Recognition from Toyota Material Handling for outstanding warranty administration

Monty Barnett (St. Albans) was recognized by Clark Material Handling Company as THE Salesman of the Year within the entire family of Clark Dealerships.

Kay Mallory (St. Albans) was recognized as THE Rental Manager of the year; Dennis Dunlap (St. Albans) was recognized as THE Sales Manager of the Year and Joyce Jones (Roanoke) was recognized as Sales  Coordinator of the Year.  Blaine Wells (Roanoke) was recognized as one of the six best Parts Managers in the Clark Family of Dealerships and Brian Minnix (Roanoke) was recognized as one of the six best Service Managers within the Clark Dealer network.  Folks-that's wonderful!

Trish White was recognized by Toyota Material Handling for Outstanding Warranty Administration in the first quarter of 2010.

EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Cody Lee Kidd son of Faron Kidd (Roanoke) has graduated from Roanoke College with a BBA concentration in Marketing.

TRAINING IS OUR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

On April 14 and 15 we held a course on Toyota Electrical Diagnosis and the following folks attended:  John Thomas, Ron Fuller and Rick Simms (St. Albans) and Travis Wigal and Gary Cottrill (Parkersburg).

On April 27th First Aid and CPR certification training was held in St. Albans.  The following received the training:  Landon Johnson, Mary Williams (Cross Lanes); Laura Ball, Phil Cogar, Stan Holley, Rick Simms, Steve Smith, Don Honaker, Mike Burns, Jerry Duskey and Donnie Hancock (St. Albans).

On June 15-17 a Toyota T470 Electronic Engine Control Systems class was held in St. Albans and the following men attended:  Steve Cooper, Roger Doneff, Rick Simms, Tommy Stratton and Keith Tyler (St. Albans) and Tim Van Dale and Travis Wigal (Parkersburg).

SAFETY

During a recent contractor’s safety meeting at DuPont Washington Works, Ian Hamrick and Randy Morris praised the barricading and safety awareness of our folks while doing a dock installation at the Telomers production unit.  Dustin Lewis (Parkersburg), Jerry Duskey and Mike Burns (WV Installation) were involved in the dock project.  The Washington Works Partners Group on June 12, 2010 set a 520 day milestone without a Recordable Injury.  In addition, the Partners group has worked 745 safe days without a Hand or Finger Injury.  Congratulations to all our folks, along with DuPont, for this record setting achievement!

COMPUTER UPDATE

The new Computer software program is picking up speed on a daily basis.  We are going to do a data conversion on June 28 and we're racing to get things completed in time for that.  Key User Training will start in mid-July-these are the folks who will sort of be Train the Trainers.  We will train, learn and test.  The train is moving down the tracks and gaining speed every day.  We are planning to go live in the 2nd quarter of 2011.  I invite you to get on the train and get ready for the change.  We must ALL change as we will be leaving MTA and Minitrac behind.  No body really likes change, but if you embrace it, it's much better than if you resist it.

Annual Pipestem Golf

On a glorious week end in mid May 21 golfers convened at Pipestem State Park for the 30th installment of that week end.  Virginia golfers included Jason Anderson and Denny Wagner (Glade Spring), Gene Brogan, Kim Anderson, Steve Hollins (Roanoke), Paul Gladwell, Gary Revercomb and Michael Burnett (Verona), Mike Milhoan and Zack Donovant (Lynchburg), Ken Miller, Dave Gartner, Jerry Adkins, Richard Sinclair, Charlie Brown ( St. Albans).  We were also joined by former employees Jim Horn (Nashville and his son Bryan, Joe Costa (Nashville), Dave Gartner's son, Chris and Paul Gladwell's son Jerry.  Matt Oakes, Cindi Hantke's son also joined us.  A good time was had by all.  Frank Hyre and Chase Turner (Roanoke) came over for Saturday night's dinner.

Hole in One

Richard Sinclair (St. Albans) got a hole in one on number 6 at Edgewood Country Club on June 19 using an 8 iron on a 152 yard hole.

NEW PLAYERS AS THE TEAM EXPANDS AND GROWS

Jarrett Amos is our new Technician in Roanoke.  He is married (Patti) and they have an 11 month old son.  Jarrett’s hobbies include four wheeling and golf.  He joins us from Virginia Bearings.

Les Angell has come back to us after a long absence.  He is married (Debbie) and they have five children.  Les enjoys farming and hunting when not working.  WELCOME BACK!

Russ Baer is working as an Installer in Lynchburg.  He has two sons and Russ is a former Coast Guard Material Maintenance Officer.  His hobbies include nature watching and fishing.

Steve Hollins is our new Engineer in Roanoke.  A Radford, Virginia native, Steve is married (Marcy) and they have three children.  Steve comes to us from GE and his hobbies include golf horseback and motor cycle riding.

Gary Hudson is a road technician in Lynchburg.  He is single, was born in Altavista and likes hunting, fishing and playing golf.

Steve Tyree is a road technician in Lynchburg.  Steve is married (Michelle) and they have four children.  He is an 18 year vet in the lift business and former employee of Atlantic Coast Toyota coming back to Homestead after a 4 year leave.  His hobbies include golf and hiking spending time with his wife.  WELCOME BACK!

MOVING UP

Tom Racer has left the Toyota Plant (St. Albans) is now working as a Mechanic II Road Technician

John Thomas has left the St. Albans shop and is now on the Road.

Mike Crouch has left the St. Albans parts Department and is now the WV Used Truck Sales Coordinator.

Congratulations!

BIRTHS

John Thomas (St. Albans) had a grandson in April.

Cindi Hantke (St. Albans) had a grand daughter in April.

Kim Anderson (Roanoke) had a grand daughter in June.

John MacIver (Parkersburg) had a grand son in October and we forgot to mention it!

Great news!

DEATHS

Jimmy Primm (Lynchburg) lost his sister in May.

Charlie Brown (St. Albans) lost his mother in May.

David Ludwig (Verona) lost his grandmother in June.

Jerry Adkins (St. Albans) lost his step-father in June.

Kevin Fluharty (St. Albans) lost his step sister in June.

We extend our sympathies.

MARRIAGES

Trish Simmons (St. Albans) is now Trish White and the change took place April 20^th.

JR Gibson has married Becky and they choose a great date-April 22 to tie the knot.

May you have long and happy relationships!