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June 2020 eNewsletter
Safety today means Action tomorrow!
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Congratulations to our new Journeymen!
We want to congratulate all the apprentices that have tested and received their Journeyman License in the last year. We know this is no easy Feat!
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2020:
Justin Driggers
Cecil Griffin
Oscar Moreno
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2019:
John Cibik
Leonard Copeland
Thomas Livezey
Dustin Reding
Kenny Snell
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Congratulations, Justin Driggers
Action, Inc. Employee of the Quarter
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Justin Driggers
This is what his project manager has to say!
"Justin Driggers (aka Cousin) started at Action Mechanical at the Baptist Health Hospital Conway about 4 years ago as a 1st year apprentice. We immediately knew he was going to make it in this trade with his great attitude and work ethics. He passed his journeyman’s test in May right on time with no problems.
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He has been a model employee and apprentice and you rarely hear from Cousin due to he is always working with his nose down and he does not complain. He is another when you ask someone who they want to help they say “Cousin”. That is all a testament to his problem solving and mechanical abilities. I know he will be an exceptional Journeyman and the future is going to bright for him at Action.
He received his nick name "Cousin" on the first day. We already had one Justin and a Dustin on this job and he is Nathan Gaston’s cousin, hint the nick name Cousin and it stuck.
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Congratulations, William Stroo!
JBU Graduate
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Will completed his Construction Management degree at John Brown University in May of this year, and is now working for us full-time as an assistant project manager. While in college, Will completed his internship here at Action...we are so glad you stayed on and joined us full-time!
Will’s future aspirations include, settling down in the NW Arkansas area, where he can build his own home and shop. His goals also include working as a project manager or to own his own business. We’re thinking he needs to be a project manager here at Action!
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Oaklawn Expansion
Action, Inc. Job of the Quarter
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Oaklawn Expansion 2019-2021
Hot Springs, AR
Action provided the Plumbing and HVAC Piping on the Oaklawn Expansion.
The expansion consists of a Casino Expansion 27,735 SF, 8 Story Hotel 148,094 SF, and a Convention Center 46,779 SF
Plumbing system consist of:
- Sanitary Sewer
- Grease Waste
- Storm Drains
- Natural Gas
- Chill Water
- 2 full kitchens.
Equipment consist of:
- Multiple Roof Top Units
- 2 mechanical rooms – Chiller, Pumps, Dom.
- 6 Intellihot Tankless Water Heaters
- 2 – 5,000 Gallon Grease Traps
General Contractor: Flintco
Owner: Oaklawn Jockey Club
Action PM: Trent Keller/Ray Kesterson
Action Job Superintendents: Josh Walker/Todd Biles
Action Plumbers: 20-30 JP /AP combined
Subcontractors: Core Insulation, MAR Fisher
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Project Manager: Trent Keller
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Project Manager: Ray Kesterson
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Front to Back, Left to Right
1 – Todd Biles, Josh Walker, KC McClain, Logan Walker, James Creager, Collin Yandell, Brandon Benton
2 – Warren Cox, Frank Bailey, Robert Smith, Matt Young, Tyler Yoeman, Drake Evans, Quoshon Gillespie
3 – Derrick Woods, Kevin DeBoard, Andre Winston, Tony Halterman, Asher King, Hunter Rice, Tyler Brinkley, Cody Brinkley, Tom Davis
Not pictured – Tyler Douglas
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Junior Apprentice Promotions
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Congratulations to Alfredo Holguin on his promotion from jr. apprentice plumber to Apprentice Plumber! This year, he graduated from Broken Arrow High School in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
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Congratulations Eric Cook! He graduated high school and was promoted from jr. apprentice plumber to Apprentice Plumber and Trimble operator. Eric is Donny Cook's son, Action project manager.
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Mechanical Engineering Intern
Gabriel Castro
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My name is Gabriel Castro, I was born in Temuco, Chile, but grew up in the beautiful patagonian town of Coyhaique, Chile. A lifetime of being a soccer player, particularly the team captain of my college team, has taught me the importance of collaboration and helped me to develop leadership skills. These skills led me to begin my university career at Universidad de la Frontera in Temuco, Chile, and eventually to where I am now: finishing that degree at UALR. A fascination for understanding how machines work has defined my educational experience and led me to pursue Mechanical Engineering. The same spark of curiosity led me to take up tennis less than two years ago, a hobby I enjoy several nights out of each week.
I come from a family of professionals— my mother a physical therapist with a PhD in Neurology, my uncle is the chair of the systems engineering department at my previous university, and my grandfather a successful civil engineer and a real estate investor--and I look forward to growing and honoring this legacy. As a mechanical engineer I plan to learn from the best in the industry, taking advantage of every opportunity to increase my knowledge and gain a better understanding of not only the machines my studies address but also of the different teams of people involved.
I plan to pursue a Master’s in Business Administration when the time is right after graduating with my Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. This degree will enable me to leverage the skills that I have for profit, and to make a difference in the business community. My particular interests within the scope of engineering include the evolution of manufacturing technologies, and the application of mechanical engineering in the field of architecture and construction.
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Congratulations, Michael & Kelsey!
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Michael & Kelsey Sturdevant tied the knot on 3/23/2020. Michael is a 3rd year apprentice plumber from our Tulsa office.
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Back on May 6, 2019 Easton James Schmalz was born 3 months premature and only weighed 2.3 lbs. His first two months of life was spent in NICU and it was weeks before a family member could hold him.
Fast forward to 2020…LOOK WHO TURNED 1!!
Little Easton Schmalz isn’t so small anymore. With a clean bill of health, he’s growing by leaps and bounds!! Weighing in at 22 lbs and 29 inches long, he’s a busy guy, learning to walk, and surpassing all of the doctor’s expectations!
Easton is the grandson of Ronnie Schmalz, foreman, at Barling pre-fab shop.
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The Spotlight
James Ray Kesterson, aka Ray
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This quarter, the spotlight is on Ray Kesterson..
Ray was born in Benton, Arkansas and moved to the Hot Springs area in 2008. He attended and graduated from Benton High School in 1991.
Ever since Ray was a young boy, he wanted to be a carpenter and build houses. He got his chance right out of high school, when he began working for Rhodes Construction, in Saline County.
Ray worked for Rhodes Construction for many years, but his path took a turn into the plumbing/mechanical industry, when he began working for B.R. McGinty Mechanical Contractors in 1997. During that time, Ray attended apprentice plumbing school for 4 years, tested, and received his Journeyman Plumber license. He later tested and received his Master Plumber license, along with his Medical Gas license. Ray worked for B.R. McGinty for 17 ½ years and during that time, he was promoted to a job superintendent, lead field superintendent, and plumbing/mechanical Estimator.
Ray’s path took another turn, when he was offered a position as construction administrator at TME Engineering, and then was offered a position of operations manager at Russell & LeMay Plumbing in Little Rock, in 2017.
Ray had this to say: “In 2019 Action, Inc. made an acquisition that included myself and my commercial team into the Action Family.
Currently, I am a Project Manager here at Action out of the Maumelle Office and I hope to finish out my career here. I personally want to thank the Action Family for welcoming us into their family. It has been almost 1 ½ years since the acquisition and I have enjoyed every day of my time here. I have had the opportunity to work with some excellent office staff, foremen, plumbers and apprentice plumbers.
I have always been an outgoing individual who learns fast, devoted to my job no matter the task, I give my all. I’ve always exceeded what I have set out to do. With the Lord, my wife and my family by my side I will continue to do so.”
Ray has taught plumbing for 8 years at ACEF in LR from 2008-2016, and last year just started teaching again when he joined ABC Apprentice School in Maumelle (ACTA).
On the softer side, Ray has been married to the love of his life, April, for 25 years this year! They have two sons, Tyler & Brian.
Their hobbies include: Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Hiking, Kayaking and more….
Ray, April, and Tyler have been on the Lonsdale FD since 2015 and are part of Search & Rescue Team since 2017.
In closing, I want to add, I personally met Ray Kesterson for the first time, when I handled their orientation in Jan. 2019. Since that time, on many occasions, Ray’s true character has come out and I am proud to call him my friend.
Every time I call him, no matter how busy he is, Ray always has a smile in his voice, and a laugh waiting to come out.
He’s cool.
Robin D’Onofrio
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Visit our website to learn about our
Apprenticeship Program!
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Safety Training Videos
The Action Safety Training Videos are now on the company website! You can access this page by scrolling down to the footer of the website and clicking the link "HR Videos" or follow the link below.
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Employee Suggestions
In an ongoing effort to improve our company and our employees, Action Mechanical encourages you to participate in an Employee Suggestion Form. This form is open to all employees and can be submitted quarterly. This provides you the opportunity to improve and benefit our company and customers.
Suggestions that identify specific problems or opportunities and propose suitable solutions to enhance Action Mechanical's efficiency and effectiveness will be provided cash awards. Cash awards will be authorized each quarter for employees who's ideas are adopted and implemented or result in measurable dollar savings.
Cash awards are based on the best idea each quarter. The winner will receive $500. An employee suggestion form is attached for your use. Upon completion of this form, please submit to the following:
awright@action-mechanical.com or celliott@action-mechanical.com.
We look forward to your participation in this program and the success we anticipate it will bring.
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Family Scholarship Program
Action, Inc. has established a scholarship program to assist employees’ children who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. Scholarships are offered each year for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.
This scholarship program is administered by Scholarship Management Services®, a division of Scholarship America®. Scholarship Management Services is the nation’s largest designer and manager of scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs for corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. Awards are granted without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, gender, disability or national origin.
Follow the links below for additional scholarship information and scholarship application form.
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2019 School-Year Recipients
Left: Alan Wright, President, Logan Southerland, Jerry Southerland, Father & Superintendent
Right: Alan Wright, President, Dyllan Newell, Allan Newell, Father & Shop Manager
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Click here for a list of birthdays for this quarter!
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