A MESSAGE FROM OUR V.P. OF OPERATIONS, MATT MALONE
November is the perfect time to pause and reflect on all we have to be grateful for, personally and professionally. I want to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to each of you, I am truly thankful for our team.
I am thankful for the dedication, creativity, and resilience all our team members bring to work on a daily basis. Our success as a team is not just built on sales and profits, it’s built on the relationships we share, the collaboration we foster, and the energy we pour into everything we do.
I also want to extend my gratitude to your families. Behind every hard-working team member is a support system that helps make it possible for us to show up and give our best. Whether it’s the encouragement of a partner, the understanding of children, or the guidance of a friend, these unseen contributions are vital to what we accomplish together.
As we look toward the final stretch of the year, let’s channel this spirit of gratitude into action. November is a time to celebrate what we’ve achieved, but it’s also a time to set our sights on finishing the year strong. Whether it’s wrapping up key projects, preparing for the year ahead, or simply finding ways to streamline and improve, let’s make these last weeks count.
I am confident that, with your talent and commitment, we’ll close this year on a high note and set the stage for even greater success in the months ahead.
Thank you for everything you do and for being part of this incredible team. Let’s finish November with gratitude in our hearts and determination in our actions.
Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful Thanksgiving season.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, RYAN CARUSO
October finished with a 27% increase in revenue over last year (20% was attributed to the Conneaut Dredge and 7% to our Core Business) and a Net Loss that was a third of last year’s loss. Notably, Valley Belt did not contribute income in October and has a loss that was 1.25 times larger than last year’s profit.
Year-to-date, we’ve achieved approximately 2.5% growth in Sales and a 40% improvement in Net Income. Additionally, we expect to clear out the remaining 78% of material from Conneaut by year-end, which will significantly reduce Q4 losses. While the progress at Conneaut is positively impacting both Revenue and the Bottom Line, increased activity at Valley Belt for site closure has offset some of these gains. As it stands, we may not fully reach our Budget Goal, but we are on track to come close.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, JASON ZISS
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR COMMERCIAL SALES MANAGER, PETER ZAPPOLA
As we await the snow to fly, construction projects continue, and we’re supplying soil and aggregate for projects across Cleveland, Euclid, Westlake, Wickliffe, Brecksville, Oberlin, Broadview Heights, and Shaker Heights; working on ODOT, City of Cleveland and Metroparks projects, to name a few. Our Winter Blend soil is ready to ship as temperatures drop—a special mix designed to stay workable in cold, wet, and snowy conditions. We’re the go-to soil provider during the winter months, also offering bulk and bagged salt, delivered straight from Cargill or available at our stores. Meanwhile, our Commercial Sales team is prepping for 2025, focusing on new products, vendors, customers, and opportunities.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, AARON BROCKWAY
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR LOGISTICS AND SAFETY MANANGER, MATT BRENNAN
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A MESSAGE FROM OUR REGIONAL STORE OPERATIONS MANAGER, TAMMIE HATTERY
I hope this message finds you well. I’m excited to share some key updates and achievements from our region, highlighting the remarkable efforts and developments within our team.
Staffing and Cross-Training:
We’ve been experiencing lean staffing due to a few unexpected early layoffs. However, the resilience and adaptability of our team have been commendable. Cross-training is underway for remaining staff, ensuring that we maintain operational efficiency and service quality. Our stores have truly exemplified teamwork, stepping up to cover for one another when needed.
Customer Goals and Revenue Increases:
A special shoutout to our Garfield and Hudson locations for achieving their New Customer goals! Congratulations to all for contributing to a store-wide revenue increase of 17% over last year, totaling an impressive $1,076,332. Our stores are also on track to meet their Soil, Misc., and Hardscape Goals for 2024.
Current Store Hours:
To align with our staffing situation and operational needs, our current store hours are Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM, and closed on Saturdays.
Convention Attendance:
Some of our managers had the opportunity to attend the HNA convention in Louisville, while others participated in the Sweet Peet Open House. These events provided valuable insights and networking opportunities that we aim to leverage for continued growth and innovation.
Operational Adjustments:
We have successfully increased our dumping charges for yard waste, which not only boosted our revenue but also reduced our load intake. This strategic decision has positively impacted our bottom line.
Year-End Reviews and Strategy Planning:
Stores have submitted their Year in Review PowerPoints, which will be instrumental in shaping our strategy for 2025. Thank you for your thoroughness and insights.
October Revenue Leaders:
Our top revenue generators for October were:
Soil: $465,562
Dumping: $171,637
Unilock: $146,439
Gravel: $118,081
These results are a testament to the hard work and strategic focus that each of you brings to our operations.
Thank you for your dedication and commitment to excellence. Together, we are setting new benchmarks and driving forward with vigor and vision. Let’s continue to support each other, innovate, and achieve even greater milestones.
Valley View Transformation to Clearance section:
Rust Belt Riders tour the North Canton Production facility!!
HUMAN RESOURCES / MARKETING
THANK YOU to all who registered for ADP and completed open enrollment! We heard many people say ADP was pretty easy, and we hope that feeling continues as we keep moving towards our Go Live date! Please make sure your information (address, phone number, e-mail) is up to date and make changes as needed!
STAY TUNED… Manager and employee training is coming in December! The next step will be to get everyone trained on time and attendance in order to start punching in at the end of December. We will work with everyone on how to clock in, use the app, request time off, approve time cards, and more!
PTO policies are getting added to the system and to employee records in the next few weeks. Any roll over PTO will not be loaded until after our final pay in APS, so that all balances are accurately transferred.
Reminder: If you forget your username or password, HR is not able to reset it in ADP.
You will have to click the link “Need help signing in?” on the log in screen to retrieve or reset your information.
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to the HR team!
SAFETY TRAINING:
NOVEMBER IS CARBON MONOXIDE AWARENESS MONTH
Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can easily go undetected, catching victims unaware—even in their sleep.
Each year, hundreds of people in the U.S. die from accidental carbon monoxide poisoning, with over 20,000 visiting emergency rooms and more than 4,000 requiring hospitalization, according to the CDC.
This “invisible killer” is emitted when fuel is burned in vehicles, small engines, stoves, fireplaces, grills, gas ranges, generators, or furnaces. In enclosed spaces, carbon monoxide can build up, poisoning people and animals who breathe it. Even with ventilation, safety isn’t guaranteed.
PLEASE VISIT THE THIS WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CARBON MONOXIDE AS WELL AS PREVENTATIV MEASURES
HOLIDAY SAFETY
From late November to mid-January, when families gather, parties are scheduled and travel spikes, safety should be top of mind. Following is tried-and-true advice to ensure your family remains safe and injury-free throughout the season.
Check out this website for more information!
SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER & NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
OCTOBER
2 – Nelson Knudsen
4 – Jill Schuelein
6 – Christopher Shipley
7 – Matt Barnhart
12 – Tim Barrett
14 – Debbie Maher
15 – Jon Kuss
16 – Michael Fhaner (1 YEAR)
17 – Wes Snee
21 – Dakota Burkett
24 – Steve Safreed, Kimberly Ritchey
25 – Louis Alexander (1 YEAR)
26 – Kelly Hattery
29 – Charlie Snee
NOVEMBER
1 – Mike Lenahan (6 YEARS)
2 -Daniel Jagger
4 –Faith Calabrese (22 YEARS)
6 -Michael Cooper, Daron Rowley, Dan Weir, Aleeya Pavlick (3 YEARS)
11 – Dan Barton
12 – Cody Behrens
14 – Maria Heinz
17 – Jackson Jabbour, Carlos Nunez (10 YEARS)
18 – Louis Santiago, Tim Mayle, Angel Rivera (18 YEARS)
20 – Kathy Hatfield (21 YEARS)
21 – Nelson Knudsen (1 YEAR)
24 – Matt Malone
28 – Cindy Sapp (19 YEARS)
DECEMBER
1 – Clint Smith
6- Jeff Mundson
7- Andy Kochera, Karen Lekan
10- John Kurtz
19 – Michael Battaglia
21 – Fred Voros (14 YEARS)
25 – Victor Martinez
27 – Paula Cramer
29 – Tyler Horn, JJ McCoy
30 – Grandma Kurtz
THIS MONTH’S SPOTLIGHT: HUMAN RESOURCES
CHECK OUT THIS WELLNESS PROGRAM TO EARN $75, MORE INFORMATION IN THE FLYER BELOW
https://cloud.ema.activehealth.com/BYBO/Home
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
FEEDBACK? CUDOS? CONCERNS?
Let us know what you are up to! We want to highlight our employees both at KB and outside of work! Send them to feedback@kurtz-bros.com
