Business briefcase
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Originally published 09:52 a.m., March 1, 2008
Updated 09:52 a.m., March 1, 2008
Safety high at plant
Wolf Creek Generating Station passed a milestone last month: 8 million hours worked without a lost-time accident. The counting period dates back to December 2003.
Rick Muench, Wolf Creek’s president and chief executive officer, credited the company’s employees with attaining the record.
“Each and every person on site is dedicated to meeting our mission of the safe, reliable, cost-competitive production of electricity,” Muench said, “and we place the highest value on safety.”
Wolf Creek utilizes an employee-driven, volunteer, behavior-based safety program that emphasizes positive feedback for safe behaviors, with a no-name, no-blame approach. The program, called ATOMS (Attitudes Toward Observations Maximizes Safety), involves peer observers who look for at-risk behaviors and situations. Their observations have identified a number of potentially unsafe conditions that were fixed by modifications that enabled employees to work safely.
Because of his contributions to the “safety culture,” Muench was named to the National Safety Council’s 2008 list of seven CEOs Who “Get It.” His nomination came from Joan Steinert, operations specialist and original ATOMS observer.
The safety program has also paid off in lower compensation costs levied by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Over the past five years, the company has averaged only $70,000 for a 1,000-person staff — $70 for each employee.
Retires from Corps
As of Thursday, Master Gunnery Sgt. Michael L. Schrader, the son of Jack and Jane Schrader of Olpe, is retired from the U.S. Marine Corps.
During his 29 years of service, Schrader held many assignments, from infantry to recruiting duty. He was a base historian and curator for historic sites and also served as a corrections specialist, a member of an absentee-collection unit, a duty brig supervisor and senior counselor, instructor, program service officer, programs chief officer, victim-witness and sex-offender coordinator. His last billet was as senior gunnery officer in charge at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.
Schrader and his wife, the former Brenda Barber, have one son, Samuel.
Attains safety
milestone
Emporia truck driver John P. Motley has logged 2 million accident-free miles, putting him into Werner Enterprises’ Million Mile Club. That’s the rough equivalent of driving around the world 80 times.
Motley, who has been driving for Werner for 20 of his 29 years as a solo driver, is among several of the company’s drivers who have reached the 2-, 3- and 4-million-mile mark without an accident. Nearly 800 Werner drivers have recorded 1 million accident-free miles.
Special decals on the side of his tractor identify him as a member of the Million Mile Club.
Motley said in a news release that he considers the rank a privilege.
“It makes me proud to see the look on people’s faces when I let them know about my safety record,” he said in a news release.
Symphony saluted
Emily Hunter of Symphony in the Flint Hills has garnered statewide recognition as one of the Huck Boyd Leaders of the Year for 2008.
The Huck Boyd Institute salutes individuals and organizations that demonstrate leadership, entrepreneurship and craftsmanship, chosen from those featured on its weekly “Kansas Profile” radio program and newspaper column.
In a news release, the institute recognized Hunter, a Matfield Green resident who is the event’s coordinator, and noted Cathy Hoy of Emporia, the chair of the board. This year’s performance is set for June 14 in Morris County. Information is available at www.symphonyintheflinthills.org.
Teachers in class
Sara Schwerdtfeger of Emporia, Terri Bush of Americus and Daniel Baldwin of Eskridge were among 28 educators present for a workshop to prepare them for readying their fifth- and sixth-graders for a statewide social-studies test.
The three joined the Jones Institute for Educational Excellence to pick up tips on the Kansas Social Studies Assessment, which will be given this spring.
The institute, on the Emporia State University campus, continues to train teachers and administrators to assist their students.
Earns certification
Melissa Rich of Americus has received the eMarketing Association’s Certification in eMarketing, placing her among only 3,000 certified e-marketers in 30 countries. She passed a 2 ?-hour certification exam on Feb. 9; the requirements also include three years of marketing experience and professional membership in the eMarketing Association.
In a news release, Rich described e-marketing as “utilizing electronic means (such as the Internet and e-mail) to promote a company or Web site.”
Rich, who owns and operates several businesses from her home-based office near Americus, said she plans to use the certification and her experience “to assist her clients with their online business strategies to ensure strong business growth and development.”