A MESSAGE FROM OUR PRESIDENT, MATT MALONE
Dear Team,
It’s hard to believe we’re already closing in on the end of March—and what a strong start to the year it’s been. From operations to sales to support, I’ve been energized by the momentum we’re building across the board. Thank you all for the hard work that’s gone into making the first quarter such a success.
I want to take a moment to give a warm welcome to all of our new employees who have recently joined the Kurtz team. We’re glad you’re here and excited for what we’ll accomplish together. I also want to say welcome back to our returning team members—it’s great to have you back as we head into our busiest and most exciting season.
If you haven’t had a chance to watch the 2024 Kickoff/Town Hall yet, I encourage you to do so here. It’s a great overview of where we’re headed and how we’ll get there together.
As we gear up for spring, we’re in a strong position to attack the market and deliver a great year. The preparation we’ve done over the winter has us well-positioned to serve our customers, grow our business, and support each other as a team.
Thanks again for all you do. Let’s keep pushing forward—together.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR, RYAN CARUSO
Even though 2025 is 5% behind last year, we are primed to have a successful year! Two big wins this winter – Salt Sales are up 3 times and Organic Sales to Scott’s are up 45% compared to last year – have contributed to our positive outlook. Unfortunately, the loss of this winter’s ash pond revenue from the sewer district significantly impacted our project revenue and profits. However, removing the impact of the sewer district, we would be up 20%, so this is something we will have to overcome. On the positive side, we had planned on not seeing this revenue, which is why we are currently 19% ahead of budget!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, JASON ZISS
With all the nice weather happening across northeast Ohio our team in Conneaut was able to start back to work earlier than anticipated, unloading the sluiceways at the sediment recycling center. We recently made an agreement with a neighboring site, Canadian National, to use the sediment as a cap material for an industrial area of their property that they hope to parcel off and sell in the future. The agreement represents another great use of dredged river sediment and further showcases Kurtz’ ability to find new alternative uses for sediment beneficial reuse.
🌱 Turning Challenges into Solutions! 🌊
We’re proud to be part of the Cleveland Sediment Revolution, a groundbreaking initiative led by the Port of Cleveland to transform dredged material from the Cuyahoga River into a valuable resource. This national model for sustainable sediment management is making a real impact—protecting our waterways while creating innovative opportunities for land restoration and development.
At Kurtz Bros., we’re committed to environmental stewardship and circular economy solutions. Through our involvement in this project, we’re helping repurpose sediment into beneficial uses, reinforcing our mission of turning waste into resources.
🔗 Read more about this innovative approach: https://www.portofcleveland.com/cleveland-sediment-revolution-how-the-port-of-cleveland-turned-a-disposal-problem-into-a-national-model/
A MESSAGE FROM OUR COMMERCIAL SALES MANAGER, PETER ZAPPOLA
Spring Sales Update: Gearing Up for a Strong Season!
The transition from winter to spring is in full swing, and the sales team has finalized pricing for distributors and commercial landscapers. We’re actively following up with construction customers as projects get ready to launch, while also engaging with new potential customers—negotiating when needed to secure opportunities.
Spring is also prime time for “Lunch and Learns” with major construction companies and engineering firms. Several are already scheduled, reinforcing the best way to build relationships: face-to-face interactions with our customers!
We’re continuing to expand our sports turf product sales, as more repeat customers count on us for infield mixes and baseball field conditioning products. Each year, this market grows, and we’re quickly becoming a leader in this specialty.
A new product in our lineup this year is Blast Furnace Slag. Due to its specialized nature, the sales team will handle all inquiries for now—please direct any requests to Peter Zappola. We have ODOT-approved 57’s and 304’s ready to ship from the downtown docks, offering a cost-effective alternative to limestone.
Despite snow still on the ground, calls for soils and mulches are already coming in—just like every year! The economy appears to be picking up, with more projects out for bid than we’ve seen in recent years. As industry leaders, we must continue to prioritize quality and service, ensuring we deliver the best for our loyal customers and business partners.
It may not be Memorial Day yet, but before we know it, the Fourth of July will be here! The season moves fast once it starts.
Remember: NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL SOMEBODY SELLS SOMETHING! Let’s make it happen.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, AARON BROCKWAY
Our teams have been hard at work keeping operations running smoothly across multiple sites:
- Hudson: Grinding and screening are complete, and we’ve moved on to coloring.
- Grand River: Sediment removal from one chute is finished, and soil production is underway.
- NC: Grinding, screening, and coloring are in progress.
- BV: We’ve hauled 9,500 yards of first-grind mulch from Grand River.
- Avon: Mulch grinding and coloring are in full swing.
- Scott’s: Compost hauling from Hudson is ongoing.
Great work, team! Let’s keep up the momentum as we move into the busy season.
A MESSAGE FROM OUR LOGISTICS AND SAFETY MANANGER, MATT BRENNAN
February is traditionally a slower month for transportation, but our team remained focused and productive. We completed 1,170 total truckloads this month, ensuring continued service and operational efficiency.
Key Highlights:
CDF Sand Deliveries: We transported 101 loads of CDF sand, which is used to stock our site for soil production, ensuring we’re well-prepared for future needs.
Bulk Cargill Salt Shipments: We completed 104 loads of bulk Cargill salt deliveries, supporting ongoing winter operations and meeting customer demand.
Scotts Deliveries: We also fulfilled 156 loads for Scotts, keeping their supply chain running smoothly.
Fleet Maintenance & Preparation:
With the quieter month, we dedicated time to maintaining our fleet. All trucks were thoroughly inspected, serviced, and readied for the busy 2025 season ahead.
As we look toward the months ahead, we remain focused on delivering reliable service and ensuring our fleet is in top shape.
Thank you to all team members for your continued commitment!
A MESSAGE FROM OUR REGIONAL STORE OPERATIONS MANAGER, TAMMIE HATTERY
Celebrating Success and Looking Forward!
We’re already off to an incredible start in 2025, and it’s all thanks to YOU! Here’s a quick recap of our recent achievements, exciting updates, and what’s on the horizon.
🌟 Record-Breaking Salt Sales
From October through February, we sold a staggering 42,382 bags of salt and 9,328 yards! Give yourselves a pat on the back for the hard work that made this possible.
💪 February Results Crush Our Budget
February was one for the books! We hit 65% ABOVE budget, setting the tone for an impressive 2025. A special shoutout to North Canton for a record-breaking day on February 26th, processing an unbelievable 107 invoices in one day! Amazing work!
📝 Manager Meeting Success
This year’s first monthly manager meeting focused on problem-solving “Pain Points” for 2025. To boost engagement, I changed things up by asking each manager and assistant to present one of my slides. The results were fantastic! Thanks to everyone for your enthusiasm and participation.
🚨 Akron is Now Open + Spring Updates
We’re excited to announce that our Akron location is now back open!
Additionally, we’re officially transitioning into spring mode, with our new Spring Hours in effect. We’ve also switched back to All-Purpose soil now that winter is behind us. (Fun fact for new team members: Winter Blend is All-Purpose soil, just with special care to keep it dry during colder months!)
👏 Welcome Back, Seasonal Staff!
We’re thrilled to welcome back our seasonal returners! To date, we’ve had 3 successful training sessions led by Kelly and JJ. Your enthusiasm and guidance help set us up for success.
But we’re still looking for more talent to join our team. If you know someone passionate about excellence (and ready to crush some sales!), encourage them to apply.
🎉 Grand Opening at Grand River!
On March 13th we celebrating the Grand Opening of our Grand River location— thank you to all that joined in on the fun!
Thank you for bringing your energy, dedication, and passion to everything we do. Together, we’re making 2025 a record-breaking year!
HUMAN RESOURCES / MARKETING
NEW Employee Perk – Discounted Playhouse Square Tickets! 🎭✨
Kurtz Bros. is excited to announce a new partnership with Playhouse Square, bringing our employees exclusive discounts on tickets! Enjoy special access to pre-sale tickets for amazing performances, including hit shows like Hamilton!
Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to experience world-class entertainment at a great price!
ADP Mobile Issues 📱🕜
If you experience any issues with ADP Mobile, please try these troubleshooting steps:
- Update the app
- Clear CacheAndroid Users:
- Navigate to Applications > Application Manager
- Find the ADP Mobile app
- Select Storage
- Select Clear Cache
- iPhone Users:
- Find the ADP Mobile app
- Select Continue under Advanced
- Toggle the radio button to enable Clear Data
- Reset the app
- Log into your ADP Mobile app.
- Select your Profile Picture > Browse to Settings > Reset ADP Mobile.
- You will be prompted with a confirmation message. Click Reset ADP Mobile to confirm you want to reset ADP Mobile App.
- The Mobile App will start resetting to your last update or install.
- When the process is completed, you will be prompted to log back in.
- Reinstall the app
- Uninstall and reinstall ADP Mobile completely
HealthJoy is LIVE!
What HealthJoy Offers:
✅ A personalized experience tailored to your benefit elections
✅ A live chat feature with representatives who can assist with bill review and appointment scheduling
✅ Access to company-paid benefits like life insurance, short-term disability, and paid holidays – even if you didn’t elect medical coverage
✅ A seamless, user-friendly way to manage your benefits anytime, anywhere
Launch Details:
On March 3, all non-seasonal employees received an activation email and/or text message from groups@healthjoy.com. This message will include a personalized link and instructions for logging into your profile and getting started with HealthJoy.
If you need activation assistance or account support, you can reach out to the HealthJoy Member Services team at:
📧 support@healthjoy.com
📞 (877) 500–3212
We encourage everyone to take advantage of this new resource to make managing your benefits easier than ever!
Recruitment:
As we gear up for the season, seasonal openings are posted! Our employee referral program pays YOU to help us find great team members! Check out the positions and refer people by going to the ADP Career Page:
Be sure to share the link with your friends, and they will be able to add your name if they were referred by you!
Friends and Family Discount Code:
We’re excited to announce this year’s Friends & Family Discount Code:
🌟 “73 MEL” 🌟
This year, we’re making things simpler! We will no longer have three different Friends & Family discount options—going forward, there will be one code and one level of pricing for everyone in the program (Wholesale). Once a customer is set up under this category, their account will remain at that level, so they won’t need a new code each year. This year’s code, “73 MEL,” is a special tribute to Mel Kurtz—the original friend and family member of Kurtz Bros.!
As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to the HR team!
SAFETY TRAINING:
APRIL IS NATIONAL DISTRACTED DRIVING AWARENESS MONTH
With the arrival of April, spring is in full swing—bringing warmer weather, outdoor sports, and road trips. As we enjoy the change of season, it’s also a critical time to focus on safe driving habits.
April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, reinforcing AAA’s important message: “Don’t Drive Intoxicated. Don’t Drive Intexticated.”
Distracted driving goes beyond texting—it includes eating, adjusting music, and even talking to passengers. Despite the known dangers, studies continue to show a troubling “double standard” among drivers, acknowledging the risks yet engaging in these behaviors.
Law enforcement agencies, including the Ohio State Highway Patrol, are actively cracking down on distracted driving violations. However, real change starts with each of us making safer choices behind the wheel.
Tips to Stay Focused While Driving:
- Put electronic devices away and enable “Do Not Disturb” mode.
- Prepare for your trip before you start driving.
- Avoid multitasking, such as grooming or eating.
- Keep your focus on the road and secure loose items.
- Ask passengers to assist with navigation or texts.
- Be a responsible passenger by helping the driver stay distraction-free.
For more information, visit:
AAA.com/DontDriveDistracted
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Let’s all do our part to make the roads safer this spring!
BE SURE TO COMPLETE THIS MONTH’S SAFETY TOOLBOX TALK BY LOGGING INTO ADP & CLICKING MYSELF-TALENT-MY LEARNING
FEBRUARY, MARCH & APRIL BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES
FEBRUARY
4 – Tiffany Bean
6 – Wendy Valencic, Christopher Horn (2 YEARS)
8 – Samantha Spivey
9 – Mitch Cooper
11 – Paula Welch (6 YEARS)
12 – Leslie Safranek (7 YEARS)
14 – Tim Barrett (5 YEARS), Jeff Mundson (5 YEARS), Dan Weir (5 YEARS)
16 – Greg Kurtz
19 – Debbie Toth, Alan Hall
20 – Efrain Gonzalez (17 YEARS)
21 – Cory Strempek (3 YEARS), Donviere Cammon (3 YEARS)
25 – Greg Mullins
26 – James Frantz
MARCH
1 – Ryan Caruso
2 – Frank Falkman, Nicholas White
3 – Ivan Rodriguez Vargas, Debbie Toth (21 YEARS)
4 – Tyler Horn (4 YEARS)
5 – Holly Zelenskas (24 YEARS)
6 – Ryan Vargo
10 – Traci Ward (17 YEARS)
11 – Luis Santiago (12 YEARS), James Frantz (6 YEARS)
13 – Sarah Mathewson (8 YEARS), Brandon Wood (1 YEAR)
15 – Makayla Goe (4 YEARS)
16 – Cynthia Sapp, Tammie Hattery (18 YEARS), Kelly Hattery (18 YEARS), JJ McCoy (3 YEARS)
17 – Jason Ziss (28 YEARS)
19 – Mario Martin
20 – Angel Bauzo, Susan Harris (36 YEARS)
24 – Denise Balog, Debbie Mahar (22 YEARS)
28 – Angel Rivera, Jack Eyers (3 YEARS), Thomas Redella (3 YEARS)
29 – Sue Harris, Samantha Spivey (4 YEARS) Christina McIntire (4 YEARS)
APRIL
1- Caitlin Hartman (3 YEARS)
2 – Kip Hornish (11 YEARS)
3 – Karen Lekan (36 YEARS)
4 – Jill Schuelein (3 YEARS), David Martin (2 YEARS)
5 – Ryan Vargo (15 YEARS), Amy Newrones (4 YEARS)
6 – Trent Gregal
7 – Kip Hornish
8 – Frank Falkman (12 YEARS)
9 – Jackson Jabbour (3 YEARS)
11 – Juan Torres
15 – Jimmy Vargo, Mike McCabe (1 YEAR)
16 – Jacob Gura (1 YEAR)
17 – Wendy Valencic (10 YEARS), Alan Hall (6 YEARS)
19 – Diamond Savage (4 YEARS)
22 – Victor Martinez (6 YEARS). Matthew Binder (1 YEAR)
23 – Brandon Wood
25 – Dan Barton (9 YEARS)
27 – Peter Zappola
28 – Maria Heinz (5 YEARS)
28 – Fred Voros
CHECK OUT THIS MONTH’S SPOTLIGHT: THE AKRON STORE
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 !
