DECEMBER 2025

We are just one month away from closing out on a record year!

November delivered results very much in line with both last year and our budget, with only a few thousand dollars of variance either way.  While there wasn’t much new movement compared to last month, our year-to-date performance continues to showcase just how strong 2025 has been.

Year-to-Date Highlights

(with minimal change from last month)

• Sales up 25%
• Gross Profit up 48%
• Gross Margins up 4.3 points
• Net Income more than doubled
• EBITDA up 70%+

November Overview

• CDF 12: No contract revenue for the month.
• Conneaut: Removal of dredge material delayed to December, leaving us two months behind last year.
• NEORSD: Strong  contributor; new material-only contract delivering 80% margins vs historical margins ~50%.
• Cliffs C&D Project: Landfill finished positive for the first month in two years, as we continue site closure prep.

With NEORSD running strong into December and delays shifting Conneaut revenue into December, we are within reach of finishing two to three times better than last year.

Focus remains on finishing Q4 strong and closing out the milestone year!

Winter came early in Conneaut, and so did sediment unloading at the Conneaut Creek Sediment Reclamation Facility. Unloading of the sluiceways has begun ahead of schedule. The Kurtz contracted team of EAE Logistics is taking advantage of the freezing weather conditions and has started removing the sediment material from the sluiceways. The material is being beneficially reused at the oil Canadian National coal dock where the material will be used to cap and cover old, contaminated soil from the legacy industrial activities of the rail yard. This is a great use of the material and keeps the material in close proximity to the site, avoiding traveling through town. This project demonstrates projects that fit our mission and objective of protecting our environment through the great environmental services that Kurtz provides. We are grateful for our project partners and look forward to another great year in Conneaut, Ohio in 2026!  

December is always a great time to pause, reflect, and recharge. For those in sales, it’s also the perfect moment to revisit your greatest asset — your customers. Take a few minutes to scroll through your contacts, emails, and text messages. Who haven’t you connected with in a while? Reach out. A simple holiday message goes a long way, and you might be surprised by how much your customers appreciate the gesture.

Meanwhile, the Commercial Sales Book of Business for 2026 is already gaining momentum. We have several projects kicking off in January that will keep the team moving strong into spring. Municipal bids and contract submissions are also on the horizon, along with ongoing “Lunch and Learns” that will continue throughout the winter to keep us engaged with both new and long-standing customers.

Another key focus this season: 2026 pricing preparation. Distributors and commercial landscapers rely on receiving pricing early—typically by February—so gathering accurate information now is essential to staying ahead.

Spring will be here before we know it. Stay connected, stay prepared, and set yourself up for a strong start to the new year.

Our teams have been hard at work across multiple locations this week, keeping operations running efficiently and materials moving through each stage of processing.

• Willowick: Grinding yard waste to prepare it for further processing.
• Hudson: Grinding and screening first-grind mulch to ensure consistent quality.
• Avon: Receiving ash and managing incoming material flow.
• North Canton: Screening first-grind mulch to refine product output.
• Bridgeview: Shearing logs to support ongoing production needs.
• Broadview: Grinding collected leaves into usable material.

Each site continues to play a key role in meeting demand and maintaining smooth operations across our production network.

As we close out the year, Transportation finishes 2025 on an incredibly strong note. Through December 11th, we’ve completed 48,465 loads, moving an estimated 1,174,690 yards of material across our network. We even set a new all-time single-day record this year with 579 loads moved — totaling nearly 12,000 yards in just one day.

Our year was defined by major projects and strong partnerships. We moved 15,813 loads into or between our sites and completed 1,039 loads for our sister companies, including 737 for KB Bio Energy, 206 for Quasar Energy Group, and 96 for KB Central Ohio. Large external projects remained a core driver as well, with 7,245 loads moved for Cleveland Cliffs, 1,010 loads delivered to Scotts Miracle-Gro, and 656 loads for the Cuyahoga County Land Bank. Additional key partners included Green Rock (546 loads), Leontis (435 loads — our largest distributor), Rust Belt Riders (365 loads), and Urban Organics (263 loads). Our container work also remained strong, totaling 1,712 container loads for the year.

Behind the numbers is a massive team effort. In 2025, 150 different drivers from 47 companies helped move material for us, reflecting the scale, coordination, and relationships needed to support such a diverse and demanding operation. Collectively, our trucking network logged an estimated 53,000 driving hours this year.

For perspective, the 1.17 million yards we hauled this year is enough to:

• Fill more than 350 Olympic-sized swimming pools, or
• Cover over 8,000 football fields with one foot of material, or
• Build a 3-foot-high pile stretching ~15 miles long.

As seasonal work winds down, we want to recognize the tremendous effort from our drivers, dispatchers, contractors, and partners. This year’s accomplishments show the strength, resilience, and coordination of the entire Transportation team. We look forward to gearing up for a strong, productive 2026.

Operations Update & Year-End Highlights

Salt Sales

Bulk salt sales for November–December remain steady, while bagged salt is up an impressive 21% over last year.

· 2024: 7,417 bags

· 2025: 9,030 bags

We also transitioned from All-Purpose Soil to our Winter Blend, a higher-margin product that offers the same versatility while staying dry—a win for both customers and profitability.

Restocking Fees

A huge improvement this year:

· 2024: 8 restocking fees

· 2025: 43 restocking fees

This policy continues to encourage mindful ordering and saves the team significant time and expense. Great job, team!

Equipment & Yard Improvements

· Tow motors were purchased for Hudson and Valley View to support growth and maximize space efficiency in smaller yards.

· Electric service added in Broadview, bringing an end to the legendary “guy with the tablet” days.

Store Performance

· Valley View: Up 30% in Natural Stone and boulders

· Hudson: Up 13% in Hardscapes

Support & Maintenance

With the annual closing of the Akron store, we now have our own full-time handyman: Tim Mayle (Akron Manager). He’s been visiting both new and established stores, keeping repairs on track and improving efficiency across the board.

Holiday Spirit

· North Canton & Strongsville are fully decorated for Christmas.

· Hudson is spreading cheer (and smiles) with their suggestive stockings!

· Customer appreciation cards and gifts are actively being delivered—thank you to everyone helping make this happen.

Girls’ Trip to High Format

A portion of our dream team—Traci, Wendy, Holly, Kelly, Paula, Sarah, Addie, and Meg—visited Michigan to tour the High Format facility, producer of Rosetta Stone and now one of our suppliers. What an exciting step forward!

A Message to the Team

To my AMAZING TEAM: Thank you for your resilience, teamwork like never before, and unwavering passion. Wishing each of you a wonderful Christmas and an exciting year ahead.

You make all of this possible.

There are not many updates this month for marketing, but I didn’t want to miss the chance to share my gratitude. Thank you to everyone who has supported, collaborated, and lent a hand to marketing throughout the year. I’m continually reminded that what makes this company truly special is the people I get to work alongside each day.

Together, we keep this great world of ours turning, and I feel incredibly blessed to call each of you a colleague. I’m excited for what 2026 has in store and look forward to the work we’ll continue to do together.

Wishing you and your families the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year. May the season bring joy, good fortune, and cherished memories to each of you.

Peanut Butter Drive

Sue Harris is organizing a KB peanut butter drive to support the Parma fundraiser.  Donations can be brought to the main office, and Sue will get it to the pantry.  

Thank you, Sue, for always getting involved and finding ways to support and help others and your community! 

401k Contribution Limits for 2026

The IRS announced the 2026 contribution limit is $24,500.  For those ages 50+, you can do a catch up contribution of an additional $8,000.  For those age 60-63 in the calendar year, you can contribute an additional $11,250

ADP – Verify Your Address 

You may have received reminders from ADP to verify your address.  This is to ensure all your tax forms and other important year end items are sent to the right address.  This e-mail is legitimate! 

New Medical Cards / SHARx

You will receive new medical cards in the mail for 2026.  Please keep an eye out for them! This is because of the change in our Pharmacy Benefit manager. Your UMR member ID has not changed!  If you receive a call from SHARx, please engage with the customer advocate to ensure you do not miss any prescription refills in the new year. 

Employee of the Year

Our Employee of the Year will be announced at the Christmas Party on Friday, December 19th.  Watch for updates on the big winners! 

Happy Holidays! 

The HR team hopes you have a wonderful, safe, relaxing holiday.  Enjoy your time with friends and family, and rest and recharge over our Christmas Break.  

As always, if you need anything, please reach out to us!  We look forward to an amazing 2026!