The
Dispatch The newsletter for Watco Companies
May 2020 | Volume 21 | Issue 5
Table of Contents Safety Anniversary – BHRR Locomotive Department _______________________________________ 3 Progressive Railroading Honors Watco’s Brad Walker _______________________________________ 4 Final Winners Selected for March Winter Freeze Bonuses ________________________________ 5 Team Member Spotlight: Cameron Ginther ___________)____________________________________ 8 Ann Arbor Railroad Wins Business Development Award ____________________________________ 10 Watco Moves _____________________________________________________________________________ 13 Team Member Anniversaries _______________________________________________________________ 15 New Arrivals _______________________________________________________________________________ 17
Highlights
On the Cover
Watco is proud of our team for continuing to serve our customers and communities during these challenging times. See how Watco teams are making a difference:
North of Toledo, Ohio, the Ann Arbor Railroad loads vehicles fresh off of the assembly line onto autoracks.
Share your story with us: marketing@watcocompanies.com
2 The Dispatch | May 2020
Safety Anniversary BHRR Locomotive Department
3 Years Injury Free Pictured left to right: Dan Cain, Shawn McClendon, Ben Tarran, John Herron, John Gaither, Tim Boyd, Anthony Hoyte, George Freeman, and Michael Marino. Not pictured: JaCorey Murray.
Congratulations to the locomotive team at
“We’ve been to Idaho, New York, Houston, and a
the Birmingham Terminal Railway (BHRR) on
number of Watco properties to assist with their
celebrating their third injury-free safety
locomotive care,” said Herron. “It’s nice to break
anniversary. The Alabama group observed the
away and visit other parts of the country and see
occasion with steaks grilled by Chief Mechanical
different Watco locations and what they do and
Officer John Herron.
how they operate.”
Herron stated, “Working with such a great group
On top of celebrating three years, the BHRR recently
of guys that take pride in their safety and
received the American Short Line and Regional
everyone’s safety associated with locomotives or
Railroad Association’s Jake Award. To win a Jake
their department, makes my job much easier.”
Award, the railroad must perform better than the
The team works on the BHRR’s 14 locomotives as
Class II and Class III industry average for injury
well as locomotives for the nearby Alabama
frequency rate, as reported by the Federal Railroad
Warrior Railway and locomotive fleets for three
Administration during the calendar year.
customers. They also travel to Cherokee, Alabama,
David Tarwater, BHRR General Manager, said, “It was
where Watco performs switching operations
a group effort, and these guys are dedicated to their
to maintain the locomotives at that facility. The
job and the well-being of everyone around them.
experienced team also goes to several other Watco
They take pride in what they do and take being their
sites to assist with locomotive repairs, inspections,
brother’s keepers to heart. It’s their goal to put out a
and maintenance.
product that is safe for everyone who will be using it.”
May 2020 | The Dispatch 3
Progressive Railroading Honors Watco’s Brad Walker
Brad Walker Director of Safety
Brad Walker, Watco’s Director of Safety, was recently
“He’s a great person to have on a team with you
named as a Rising Star for 2020 by Progressive
because there’s nothing off limits to the guy,”
Railroading. He was one of 25 Rising Stars selected
Coomes said. “Taking notes, getting coffee, leading
from more than 100 nominees.
the meeting. Whatever you need from him, he’ll do
“I was pretty surprised, pretty taken aback,” Walker
it. He’s very selfless.”
said about receiving notification from the magazine.
Walker joined Watco in May 2004 as a brakeman to
“It was pretty cool to be recognized that way.”
help operate the Kaw River Railroad. He impressed
“I’m honored by all means,” Walker said,
coworkers as a smart, affable guy – a reputation that
emphasizing that “it’s a team recognition; this
has followed him the last 16 years as he’s moved
represents the team effort. It’s cool to see
through the company’s ranks.
Watco recognized.”
Walker oversees all the company’s transportation-
Progressive Railroading recognizes individuals
related safety for Divisions 1-4: railroad and
under age 40 working for North American railroads and related businesses who have made or are making “a positive impact on his or her company, organization, department or team.” The magazine says a Rising Star “is viewed by others – peers, colleagues, supervisors, clients or associates –
switching operations. Among his responsibilities are data collection; classroom and field safety training; safety for the switching operations; the company’s drug and alcohol program; coordinating audits and inspections; facilitating quarterly and annual safety meetings; and staying current on
as an up-and-coming leader in the rail industry.”
industry regulations.
Walker fits the criteria, said Steve Coomes, Senior
Progressive Railroading will post winners’
Vice President of Operations. He calls Walker “an outstanding leader recognized throughout the Watco system as one of the best mentors our company has to offer. 4 The Dispatch | May 2020
profiles to its website this summer, and in the September issue.
Final Winners Selected for March Winter Freeze Bonuses Nine Watco team members were selected to receive a Winter Freeze safety program bonus for March. The Winter Freeze safety program focuses on rewarding team members for near-miss reporting and safety suggestions from Dec. 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
March Bonus Winners Phillip Spears, Jr., Jeffrey Hillabrand, Shawn Eller, Matt Nicol, Jeremy Schwarzhuber, Kenith Langsford, Rickey
“By reporting near misses, safety suggestions, SAFE Observations,
Moore, Ryan Johnsrud, and
and acting on lessons learned from them, we can continue to drive
Jeff Hoagland.
to zero, and make this our safest year on record,” said Travis Herod, Senior Vice President of Safety and Training. “It needs to be a part of our lives, something we do daily.”
Team member Phillip Spears, Jr., Railcar Coordinator, noticed a beehive in a tree outside of the railcar repair location’s parts storage building at the Hatton Quarry in Arkansas. This storage building is accessed frequently by the team to get material, and the beehive could have resulted in a bee sting, which can be dangerous to anyone who is allergic and painful for those who are not. The team member contacted the facility owner, who had pest control safely remove the beehive.
Phillip Spears, Jr. Railcar Coordinator Hatton, Arkansas
At the mechanical shop in Omaha, Nebraska, Jeffrey Hillabrand, Railcar Repairman, was assigned the task of removing running boards of a railcar. While performing his pre-work walk around, he saw a low-hanging electrical wire directly above the railcar. The team moved the railcar before working on it, and the shop’s leadership team implemented a practice to discontinue using the spot for that specific task.
Jeffrey Hillabrand Railcar Repairman Omaha, Nebraska
May 2020 | The Dispatch 5
Shawn Eller, Junction City Railcar Repairman, noticed a lessexperienced team member having difficulty with a centrifugal punch. Shawn used his Stop Work Authority to inspect the punch and determined it was worn and could break. The leadership team reinstructed all team members on pre-use inspections of equipment and included topics regarding inspections to perform when malfunctions occur. Shawn Eller
Railcar Repairman Junction City, Kansas
The team inspected other punches in the shop and repaired all worn punches.
On the rail side, Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad Trainmaster Matt Nicol identified a sizeable concrete hole near the mainline that posed a hazard to the team and the public on and near the railroad’s right of way. The MOW team filled the hole, possibly an old well, with ballast and dirt, and then capped it off. Matt Nicol
Trainmaster Decatur & Eastern Illinois Railroad
Jeremy Schwarzhuber, an Assistant Trainmaster at the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad, noticed an unfamiliar vehicle enter the yard area where the team was working. When approached, the driver mentioned he was observing and had never been to that part of town before. The team member suggested installing private property signs to help with the Jeremy Schwarzhuber
Assistant Trainmaster Wisconsin & Southern Railroad
security and safety of both the team members and the public by identifying areas that are not safe for the public to be.
At the Bogalusa Bayou Railroad, Crew Leader Kenith Langsford was performing a pre-switch inspection of cars and noticed a damaged piece of guard rail on a loading dock in a customer facility. It was hanging in a way that would be a hazard to equipment and team members. The pre-switch inspection identified the issue and allowed corrections, resulting in Kenith Langsford
Crew Leader Bogalusa Bayou Railroad 6 The Dispatch | May 2020
customer safety, with no damage or risk of injury.
Rickey Moore, an Operator at the Louisville, Kentucky, River Road terminal, noticed when he opened a fertilizer barge that the product, loaded by another party, was not what the customer was expecting. He confirmed the barge number then alerted the customer that the product was DAP (a type of fertilizer) instead of urea, the product they were expecting. Team members at the facility worked with Ricky Moore
the customer to resolve the issue.
Operator Louisville, Kentucky
Ryan Johnsrud, Pump Operator at the Fryburg, North Dakota, terminal, caught an issue at the terminal’s crude rack. He noticed the vent line was making a hissing noise, indicating a leak. He used his Stop Work Authority and contacted utility operations. They inspected and repaired the leak, and then Ryan Johnsrud
loading resumed.
Pump Operator Fryburg, North Dakota
At the Omaha, Nebraska, terminal, Operator Jeff Hoagland noticed that drivers were hooking hoses to the ethanol loading rack while switch operations were being performed on the adjacent track. This was corrected and changed, eliminating a potential hazard. Jeff Hoagland
Terminal Operator Omaha, Nebraska
May 2020 | The Dispatch 7
Team Member Spotlight: Cameron Ginther Cameron Ginther has had a unique career with Watco so far. He’s originally from western Kansas but attended Pittsburg State University to play football for the Gorillas. Between his junior and senior years, Ginther joined the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad’s Maintenance of Way team during the summer. During his senior year, he stayed on and helped in the Pittsburg, Kansas, warehouse when he wasn’t busy with football. “The guy who recruited me to come play football at Pitt State had joined Watco,” said Ginther. “That’s Lance Cullen (People Services Manager), and he ended up recruiting me to come to Watco as well. He helped me get my foot in the door.” After graduating in May 2018, Ginther wasn’t sure what to do, but he learned about a management trainee opportunity with Watco Terminal & Port Services (WTPS). It was based out of the Amory, Mississippi, terminal and provided a chance to learn more about the transportation industry. “Coming out of college, I thought I’d go to work at a railroad site. I learned about an opportunity Cameron Ginther and his wife, Marriah, welcomed their daughter to the family in October 2019.
at Amory and got to talking with the manager. It sounded like a great opportunity, and I’ve been learning ever since,” said Ginther.
8 The Dispatch | May 2020
Amory does a little bit of everything. They work
Ginther said. “I’m trying to learn as much as I can,
with rail, barging, trucking, storage, and more, so it
so I can be as helpful as I can where I end up. This
was a great place for Ginther to learn the aspects
is very unique, it’s different, and it’s fun. I’ve been
of WTPS’s business. His supervisors, the WTPS
blessed to have this opportunity.”
AVP’s and VP’s, also wanted him exposed to other operations as much as possible, so he also spent time at other terminals in the area. He worked at the Columbus, Miss., location; at terminals in Decatur, Guntersville and Birmingham in Alabama; and in Osceola, Arkansas.
Ginther’s unique career path through Watco has taken him to many places in the Watco network. He says the leadership and the team members he’s met along the way have been the best part of it. “The leadership that I’ve had throughout this whole experience has been great. Starting with Lance
“Amory is kind a Swiss Army knife. You’ve got all different sorts of stuff going on down there. You’ve got barge switching with tugboats, and there’s petcoke and pellets.,” Ginther said. “I was able to do a lot of stuff, work on a lot of really interesting projects, and learn a lot of things from a lot of valuable and seasoned team members at these terminals.”
and moving on from there, my mentors and my leaders along the way have been excellent,” Ginther said. “The places I’ve been embody the Watco environment and the Watco culture, and they just do a great job of getting the job done and providing safe service to our customers. It’s all interesting to me, and it’s been really interesting to see all this
Ginther received an opportunity to move back a
different stuff and apply what I’ve learned. It’s an
little closer to home in July 2019, when he joined
adventure, and it’s been a blast.”
the Tulsa Port of Catoosa team in Oklahoma. That team specializes in moving steel products and large, dimensional cargo by barge, rail, and truck. He helps the team with most aspects of loading railcars, working with the barges, and other loadouts. He also covers safety procedures, works with Terminal manager Keith Bowman on the location’s financials, and recently started working with the terminal’s customer service representatives to learn how they interact with and help our customers.
When he’s not at one of Watco’s terminals, Ginther enjoys spending time with family. He and his wife, Marriah, welcomed a daughter in October 2020, and they spend a lot of time with her watching her grow. And he says they often visit his parents in Kansas and Marriah’s parents in Missouri. “Family’s very important,” Ginther said. “I also liked to hunt in high school. I haven’t had a lot of time between football, work, and now our daughter, but hopefully, I can get back into it at some point.”
“In the big scope of it all, I just try to learn every facet of what everyone does at the places I’ve been,”
May 2020 | The Dispatch 9
Ann Arbor Railroad Wins Business Development Award
It’s always a win if the various Watco teams can
Criteria for the award included demonstrating
come together and make something special
one of the following: utilization of the railroad’s
happen for a customer. To get an award recognizing
unique operating characteristics to deliver value;
their efforts is just icing on the cake. The Ann Arbor
partnership with other development authorities,
Railroad recently won the American Short Line
Class 1s, or companies; delivering economic success
and Reginal Railroad Association’s (ASLRRA) 2020
to both the railroad and the community it serves.
Business Development Award for their work on
The Ann Arbor was able to meet the criteria with a
finished vehicle logistics.
project described in the award-winning submission that follows.
10 The Dispatch | May 2020
Silver Creek Vehicle Distribution and Homologation Center
CREATING A SOLUTION
When a vehicle rolls off the factory line, there
dedicated to finished vehicle distribution. The
is often an additional step in the process before
Temperance rail yard in Toledo had been used for
the unit gets sent on to its final destination.
various transloading and mechanical projects, but
This is the customization piece, where the
nothing significant or long term. In 2005, during the
vehicles are given those final touches that make
housing boom, 84 Lumber leased and constructed
it meet the new owner’s or dealer’s exact
a 28,000 square foot building at the rear of the
Ann Arbor had a perfect location for a new space
yard to assemble prefabricated homes
specifications, whether it’s graphics, chrome accents,
team, a customized solution
“Congratulations to the Ann Arbor Team. This is one group who is constantly thinking outside of the box and looking for new ways to grow.” - Jimmy Patterson,
was developed to solve a
SVP of Sales — Railroads
headliners, chrome packages, or a variety of other extras. Watco’s Ann Arbor Railroad has the opportunity to transport many such vehicles and, thanks to a lot of hard work by the Ann Arbor
customer’s problem in handling
and trusses. During the 2008-2009 recession, 84 Lumber closed their adjacent terminal, but maintained the lease on the building and surrounding paved three acres. The Ann Arbor team worked with 84 Lumber, who was eager to assist with the opportunity, and obtained ownership of the building and acreage within a three-week period. Basic grading was completed on the property and then, to protect the customer’s investment, solid steel
what the automobile industry
fencing with concrete highway barricades was
calls finished vehicles.
completed on the property in March 2019. This
ANTICIPATING CUSTOMER NEEDS
completion date was planned to support the initial
Short line railroads specialize in not only getting
launch of the Jeep® Gladiator. From February to
our customer’s products from A to B, but more importantly, in understanding our customers and their needs, and then finding ways to meet those needs. The Ann Arbor team was following the auto industry’s sales and production trends and recognized a possible need for additional capacity in the finished vehicle distribution network. After discovering this need within the overall finished vehicle distribution network, including the growing truck/SUV market, Ann Arbor approached Fiat
June 2019, Watco’s homologation partner modified and up-fit the building with vehicle lifts, lighting, air plants, and tools. Homologation services began in July 2019, handling the Jeep Wrangler product from the Toledo assembly plant. Temporary lighting was utilized until November 2019 when permanent LED lighting was installed. EXECUTING THE PLAN This facility is Ann Arbor’s fifth vehicle distribution center and covers approximately 20 acres. It has a
Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) about their future requirements for distribution and homologation services in Toledo, Ohio, supporting Toledo and Detroit assembly production. FCA confirmed their desire and need, and development work on the Silver Creek Vehicle Distribution and Homologation Center began in late 2018.
state-of-the-art 28,000 square foot homologation building, a 12-car rail spot with the ability to handle a 90-car auto rack train with inbound/outbound haul-away carrier and drive-away shuttle services. The Homologation Center handles 510+ through-put vehicles per day, with current Vehicle Distribution Center capacity at approximately 1,800+ vehicles.
May 2020 | The Dispatch 11
The new workflow is as follows; when the finished
Corporation and 40 with Auto Warehousing
vehicles roll off the line, they are staged nearby for
Corporation. The Ann Arbor was able to fit the
immediate loading onto railcars or to be sent over
additional rail moves into current job assignments
to the Homologation Center where custom options
adding little to no additional operating expenses.
and packages are added. The Ann Arbor team
The Ann Arbor team worked with a number of
drives the vehicles to the center in a small convoy
partners to make the project a reality. The Ann Arbor
of around 10 vehicles at a time to the Silver Creek
Railroad handled the overall project concept and
Distribution facility. Our team is shuttled back to the
initial presentation to FCA. They are also the facility
plant for the next round and the contractor begins
owner, designer, contractor and operator. Ann
their work on the recent arrivals. After the custom
Arbor’s customers; Auto Warehousing Corporation,
work is complete, the vehicles are staged in the
Argus Corporation, and FCA all worked together
Ottawa South Yard, where the Ann Arbor also has
to drive the project to completion. One remaining
two loading tracks. The team loads and secures the
phase of the development process is left for
vehicles into the autoracks, prepares the railcars for
completion. The need for the facility was immediate
shipment, and switches the loaded cars out of the
due to customer and market demand, and it
yard for interchange with our Class I partners.
was pressed into service prior to fully paving the
PROTECTING TOLEDO JOBS The project expanded revenue opportunities for Ann Arbor Railroad and all of our partners involved in the project while creating efficiencies and cost savings for the customer. The project has created approximately 102 full time jobs; 52 with Argus 12 The Dispatch | May 2020
facility. By being apprised of market trends, and anticipating customer needs, the Ann Arbor Railroad was able to repurpose an unused facility, have a positive impact on all parties involved, and help stabilize the local economy.
Watco Moves Commodity: Intermodal containers
The demand for intermodal freight made one of
Location: Butler Intermodal Terminal –
Watco’s newest operations, the Butler Intermodal Terminal (BIT) in Shell Rock, Iowa, a great
Shell Rock, Iowa
opportunity. The terminal is a collaboration between
Customer: Various
Valor Victoria, Union Pacific (UP), the Iowa Northern
Intermodal freight plays a large and important role in the U.S. and global supply chain. The colorful containers on chassis we pass on the highway or see stacked on trains and vessels contain everything from electronics to car parts, hay bales, and more. America’s 25 largest ports handled 54 million
Railway (IANR), Watco Terminal & Ports Services (WTPS), and Watco Supply Chain Services (WSCS). The terminal serves as a hub for intermodal traffic outside of the congested Chicago area, and reduces highway miles for delivery of shipments arriving from the west coast.
containers in 2018. Nearly 14.5 million containers were shipped by rail that year, and millions more move by truck each year.
“Basically, what we’re doing here is receiving containers, on rail, that are coming from overseas
May 2020 | The Dispatch 13
loaded with all different kinds of merchandise and
and then the Coronavirus, we had some downtime
goods for retail stores and distribution centers
early on. We used that time to train and learn more.
around the area,” said Terminal Manager Joey
Now that we’re seeing more traffic, we’re perfectly
Casey. “After our inbound customers unload them,
positioned to handle it.”
the containers are reloaded with grain, and put back on the rail to go back overseas.”
Much of the traffic they see is consumer goods. They receive products destined for big box retailer
Valor Victoria creates and develops relationships
distribution centers, plumbing equipment suppliers,
with freight customers in the area, while UP
furniture retailers, and more. They also provide the
transports the eastbound intermodal shipments
surrounding agriculture-heavy area with another
from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
outlet for grain exports, because containers
in California to interchange with the IANR, who
returning to the west coast ports are loaded with
provides the final-mile delivery to the terminal.
grain bound for foreign markets.
From there, the Watco team provides unloading, loading, and drayage services for our customers.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, stores have had problems keeping up with demand, and this new
“Building this team has gone very well. We started
intermodal hub has played a role in making sure
with a very solid team. No one really had any
consumers have access to the products they need.
intermodal experience or ran the big reach stackers
The team at Butler, WSCS, and other partners
we use to move the containers, but we’ve only
work together to ensure this new intermodal hub
gotten better,” Casey said. “Due to the Chinese
is benefiting our customers and the surrounding
New Year, which was happening when we started,
communities.
14 The Dispatch | May 2020
Team Member Anniversaries Congratulations to the following team members celebrating May anniversaries:
1 Year: Lindie Adair, Raul
Treadwell, Rachel Turner-Brown,
Want, John Watson, Jason
Aguirre, Miguel Barrera Vasquez,
Robert Wallace, Jacob
Williams, Lynae Womble
Stephanie Bell, Logan Benham,
Wasserman, Mia Webber,
Elliot Bercier, Kenneth Berg,
Jason Wilson
3 Years: Mario Almazan, Evan
Zachery Blackwelder, Justin
2 Years: Gregorio Alvarez, Brooks
Blum, Joshua Briseno, Jerald
Burns, Adrian Camarena Valdivia, Colten Camp, Gregory Carley, Christopher Chavez-Maendele, Terence Davis, Jesse De Soto, Roy Dixon, Chase Driscoll, Scott Durham, Ryan Ellington, Shane Erwin, Freddy Escobar Diaz, Connor Ferguson, Barry Fredericks, Blayne Frey, Juan Garcia, Juan Garcia Perez, Kim Gardner, Morgan Giesy, Angelica Godinez, Jorge Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Tex Grantham, Jeremy Haner, Dana Hartleib, Hosea Hayes, Charles Hernandez, Martin Hernandez, Daniel Hindmarch, Tevin Hooper, Layne Howard, Larry Huff, Domenic Ibanez, Christian Iverson-Sorrells, Heather Kontz, Esau Leiva Orozco, Jenifer Little, Rudy Lopez, Michael Maddux, Jonathan Marcantel, Charlie Massingille, McKenna Mitchell, Jemar Modique, Ronnie Mooney, Kevin Moore, Leonard Neal, Juan Olivares, Tony Perkins, Matthew Pittman, Haydan Prescott, Armando Reyes, Victor Reyes, Martin Rodriguez, Alejandro Sanchez, Steven Schaefer, Joseph Schoech, Ernesto Sedillo, Marcelo Silva, Don Skaggs, Deanna Smith, Laekin Starr, Christopher
Baker, Shane Bauer, Alexander
Backes, Richard Burns, Willard
Clark, Isaac Coomes, Keith
Burwell, Jose Carrizales, Richard
Cornett, Veronica Garcia,
Cooper, Nicholas Desjarlais, Perla
Cole Kershner, Rojelio Lopez,
Diaz, Alton Durham, Clinton
Christopher McGee, William
Falcon, Joshua Fetzer, Ashley
Mckinnon, Phillip Moorlag,
Finnie, Broderick Fountain, Justen
Kenneth Morgan, Aaron Morris,
Gardner, Andrew Gossett, Jacob
James Ortiz, Jennifer Otto, Luis
Green, Robert Green, Roosevelt
Oyervides, Derek Peek, Ray Price,
Green, Shane Guglielmetti,
Logan Reed, Kylie Robinson, John
Timothy Guymon, Jimmy
Salazar, Tyler Smith, Jonathon
Guyton, Abraham Hamilton,
Tangeman, Victorio Tudon, Erick
Payton Hedge, Dionicio
Wagoner, Jimmie Welch, Brandon
Hernandez, Ryan Hisey, Nicholas
Willis, Chad Zentz
Holiday, Josue Izaguirre, Harold Jackson, Miguel Jacobo, Jessica James, Derrick Johnson, Danny Kelley, Eric Kirby, Robert Koehn, Zachary Landrum, Charles LaRocque, Tuscan Larsen, Bielka Leiva, Nerisa Leota, Brett Lindstrom, Stephen Maloney, Jarrett Manharth, Sheldon Mashburn, Isaiah Mata, Bret McGuire, Mercedes Medina, Detayvious Merrill, Clara Moore, Ryan Neal, Johnathan Nowland, Ronald Owens, Shannon Parker, Jose Perez, Denise Phillips, Jose Pina, Walter Punteney, Donald Ryan, David Sanchez Gonzalez, Joshua Schultz, Jordan Seideman, Christopher Sholdebrand, Kalasinh Sihabouth, Samantha Starks, Christopher Steed, Dalton
4
Years: Keith Abele, Charles Ashley, Jorge Castaneda, Christian Daniels, Aaron Garcia, Santonio Goins, Joshua Golightley, Joseph Hamm, Dakota Hedges, Tori Herman, Michael Hoops, Charles Hudson, Brier Johnson, Matthew Magee, Chris Martin, Thomas Power, Hector Reta, Tyler Sessions, Patrick Stephenson, Amanda Thomas, Douglas Tolliver, Scott Young
5 Years: Jason Abbott, Cameron Allen, Ansil Antoine, Joshuah Armel, John Bickle, Dustin Brant, Miguel Cantu, Miguel Cantu, Gardner Cole, Shanna Damesworth, Jacques Freeman, Willie Gibson, Robert Gross, Zachary Hilton, Garrett Hoover, Adam Johnson, George King, Johnni Lawrence, Pedro Luna,
May 2020 | The Dispatch 15
Team Member Anniversaries Paul Martin, Chad Matthews II, J Asencion Munoz, Omar Reyes, Corey Rittenhouse, Michael Robert, Keily Schumann, Jennifer Simpson, Matthew Sprayberry, Daniel Tumbleson
6
Years: Ryan Albracht, David Alvarado, Robert Blevins, Tim Cain, Pamela Cannon, Travis Chamberlain, Marcus Connelly, Aaron Davis, Derrick Davis, Caleb Dellasega, Rasheed Devine, Gabriel Gonzales, Sharon Hansen, Michael Holland, Christopher Kleman, Scott Korth, Dave Kunes, Brandon Lockley, Matthew Lumm, Christopher Maxwell, John McRae, Christopher Nunnelley, Adam Oveson, Jerry Quintana, John Ray, Ryan Shockley, Jacob Short, Dwayne Smith, Jerry Waun, Jason Wehr
7 Years: Jordan Brown, Shawn
Delaney, Carl Dunlap, Thomas Fabis, Melissa Gardner, Tabitha Hansen, Kris Hemby, Jeff Huser, Roy Lanthorn, Cole Schulz, Lawrence Shinavar, Michael Smith, Jessica Swafford, Zachary Wooldridge
8 Years: Terry Bell, Timothy
Boyd, Ozell Campbell, Trinity Campbell, Jason Castie, John Davis, Daniel Farr, Ivan Gallegos, Denon Green, Tashata Jackson, Jerome Lawson, Raul Lazo, Jerry Lowe, Drexel Newton, William Patterson, Daniel Perez, Tyler Pruitt, Lovon Simmons, Matthew Tarwater, Christopher Thomas, Christopher Thyer, Mem Webb
16 The Dispatch | May 2020
9 Years: Joseph Bradley, David
Castagno, Anthony Hampton, Wesley Lindell, Christopher Miller, Magdaleno Monjaraz, Frank Nickowski, Kenneth Powell, James Richards, Robby Rodriguez, Samuel Rodriguez, Jack Scott, Terence Snell, Jeremy Stegner, Eric Thurlow
10 Years: Mario Bretado,
Kristopher Colley, Matthew Collins, Alejandro Fonseca, Adam Hall, Joshua Holt,
11 Years: Kevin Anselmi, John
Matteucci
12 Years: Mark Bohr, Thadius
Hawkins, Nakia Jenkins
13 Years: Michael Hubbs, Chris
Labrie, Ricardo Leija, Kenneth McGarity, Danyale Norman, Jeffrey Raker, Matthew Smith, Chris Spear, George Yanas
14 Years: Jason Danz, Matthew
Koser, Gregory Lewis, Hugh Peo, Dan Sanger, Keith Schlotman, Nicholas Zerebiny
19 Years: Enrique Castillo,
Christopher Hamill, Allen Kellar, Richard Kelly, Duane Spurrier
20 Years: Chuck Shaffer 21 Years: Robert Cronch,
Terrance Redd, Casey Thrall
22 Years: Howard Belgrod,
Stanley Bryant, Thomas Lipp, Douglas Marshall, David Muth, Jay Parsons, John Watson
23 Years: Scott Davis, Jason
Jeane, Calvin Jyles, Sean Nally
24
Years: John Snow, Jose Vidal
25 Years: Barbara Cody,
Anthony Delecce
28 Years: Birdie Thomas,
Walter Tisler
30 Years: Terry Schiska 31 Years: Michael Brown,
William Gray
32 Years: Randall McPherson,
Todd Mulrooney
15 Years: Aaron Coester, Steven 33 Years: Terry Market Conrad, Douglas Corbin, John 34 Years: Mark McClellan, Gaither, Evan Groth, Timothy Groth, Kevin Leport, John McFadden, Jason Noll, Charles Wagner, Jerrel Whiteside, Ron Willman
16 Years: Nicole Bailey, Aaron Hawkins, Melissa Ross, Bradley Walker, Lance Williams
17 Years: Matthew Fetzer 18 Years: John Banks, Michael
Greenwalt, James Lilly, George O’Connor
Jay Prawucki
35 Years: Daniel Barrington, Patrick Ray
41 Years: Michael Roberts 42 Years: Jose Acosta 45 Years: Billy Wiley
New Arrivals
Leonard Minor and Billie Burris announce the birth of their daughter Alania Renee Minor, born on February 28, 2020. Alania weighed 7 lbs., 15 oz., and was 20.5 inches long. Alania was welcomed home by her brother Landon and sister Natalie. Leonard is a Car Cleaner at the Neodesha, Kansas, mechanical shop. Photo: From left to right: Natalie Minor, Billie Burris, Alania Minor, Landon Minor, and Leonard Minor.
Kelly and Matt Stringer announce the birth of their daughter Paige Teresa Stringer, born on March 26, 2020. Paige weighed 5 lbs., 5 oz., and was 19 inches. Kelly is a Sales Support Associate and works out of the Pittsburg, Kansas, office.
To submit your new arrival send a photo and information to marketing@watcocompanies.com
May 2020 | The Dispatch 17
