2023: Getting off to a strong (and safe start)
 
2023 has already been very busy for our company. We have some great early wins with our customers and continue to execute well in our facilities, and in the field, we completed physical inventory counts across our locations, we are closing the financials from 2022 and preparing for our annual audit, we went live with our New Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system and are working through the expected early implementation learning curve, we continue growth and integration activities with our San Luis Obispo team, we are finalizing 2023 budget details, and we are in the process of completing self-assessment performance reviews and 2023 goals.
 
We also start the year with a continued, re-energized focus on safety across our organization. Our goal is to mitigate risks, ensure everyone returns home safely every day and have zero injuries or recordable incidents. In 2023, we will have a safety theme that we will use throughout our facilities and as a part of our ongoing discussions, training, learning, process improvement and communication. We asked for your input on one of the 4 choices for our safety theme. The poll is still open here, if you have not had a chance to provide input, please do. We will talk more about our safety performance and announce the 2023 theme at our townhall next week on February 2.
 
Speaking of the town hall, I would really love your input on recognizing a colleague for outstanding performance. I am so proud of what our Newterra team has accomplished this past year, and what we continue to do every day. Please take a few minutes to recognize a colleague and/or submit a question for our upcoming town hall here. I appreciate it.
 
Thank you for all you do for our customers and our business!
 
Stay safe,
Kevin
Here are 10 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues

As the days get shorter, many people find themselves feeling sad. You might feel blue around the winter holidays or get into a slump after the fun and festivities have ended. Some people have more serious mood changes year after year, lasting throughout the fall and winter when there’s less natural sunlight. What is it about the darkening days that can leave us down in the dumps? Read more for some helpful tips to combat the "winter blues."
Are you wondering what the Product Development Team is up to? 
Just to remind you, the Product Development Team is led by Jing Huang (based in Chaska) and includes Ray Hedelson (Chaska), Joe Wideman (Chaska) and Jeffrey Snider-Nevin (Toronto). However, they can’t accomplish everything on their own, so they facilitate and lead our Product Development initiatives while drawing on resources across the organization as needed, including additional members from the Engineering, Product Management, Sales and Lifecycle Teams.
As we get started in 2023, the team is continuing to work through developing a more formalized process for product development & improvement while also working on the initiatives that “bubbled to the top” in the second half of last year based on ideas and input from all of you.
Below is a list of the initiatives that the team is planning to work on in 2023:

Reverse Osmosis: Finalize the development of a competitively priced, configurable offering for skidded Reverse Osmosis packages (50 GPM to 450 GPM) to increase our response time to customers, our delivery time, and our margins, all leading to growth in that market.

Digital Services: Define and implement next-generation digital services offering (i.e. monitoring, alarm notification, site-specific documentation, etc.) across our portfolio of products as appropriate. This will help our customers experience better equipment uptime while also making it easy for them to access Newterra support, parts, and service and therefore stick with us long-term.

AIRE-O2 Universal Float: Implement design change to the cross arch assembly, which represents 40+% of the assembly costs resulting in a 10% cost reduction on a product that we sell quite a bit of at good margins; this will help to improve those margins further.

Ceramic Membranes: Investigate ceramic membranes as an alternative/future solution for our various applications, understanding performance, design considerations, cost impacts, operation and maintenance. This is proactive work to look at ceramics and consider how they might play a role in our future.

Configurable Quoting: Investigate, select and implement a configurable quoting tool for our standard and configurable product lines. As our sales grow, so does the need for creating proposals and getting our customers what they need quickly can put us ahead of our competition. Finding a way to automate proposals for our configurable/standard packages more effectively means we can reallocate our Applications Engineering skills to solving our customer’s more complicated challenges.
The US Navy Says "Ahoy" to Newterra!

Newterra StormwateRx delivered a stormwater treatment solution to the United States Navy at their base in San Diego. The customer system consists of concrete Aquip 400CXE, and will operate underground accompanied by a concrete Clara 40C ilter.
Meet Steve Schwartz – VP, Manufacturing Optimization

You live in the warm sun of Florida; what do you know about snow?

Yes, I am about 100 ft from the Gulf, but I remember the days up north. I was born in Rochester, NY and studied Engineering at Syracuse. We call it SyberaCuse – sub-zero days and over 10 feet of snow per year. Don’t miss it a bit!

What brought you to Newterra?

I was familiar with Steel Services before and after the purchase by Newterra. One day I stopped in and met with General Manager. He texted me about a month later, saying he put in his notice and thought I would be a good fit. That was July 2017.

What do you know about safety?

I was once a Worker's Compensation case. I got sucker punched doing an interview after I offered the machinist a job and saw the lights go out, ending up on the floor. He got five days in jail and a $500 fine. It was my only ride in an ambulance.

Two bad experiences in management that I do not want to repeat:

  1. I had to tell the company team that a beloved employee had passed from a motorcycle accident. A helmet might have saved him. Dealing with a preventable accident where the employee lost two middle fingers on each hand (4 fingers). Therefore, I feel strongly about reporting incidents and accidents as learning events.
  2. I once dealt with OSHA audits multiple times, and some have been costly. Safety is about preventing accidents and ending the day in the same condition you started.

What do you like to read?

The Wall Street Journal! I always have books on the go; some of my favourites are pictured below.  

What is your favorite meal?

My favorite meal was when I worked for a German Company, and my favorite restaurant outside of Stuttgart had venison with rich burgundy and eatable flowers. Another thing about that company is that they did allow workers in the factory to have a beer at lunch back in the 90s. Another favorite spot is in Newark NJ’s Ironbound section, Portuguese section, Casa Vasca. Try the veal in sherry and cognac sauce with mushrooms and peppers. Start with shrimp in garlic, but everyone has to share, or your breath will be offensive.

Tell us about your family.

My kids are great and grow up too fast. I tell everyone to enjoy the moment. They are in California and off my payroll with great careers ahead of them. Amy is making continuous improvement in an R&D group at Danaher. Matt is a 3-year MD resident at LA County/USC Medical Center. Tracey is retired and enjoying the Florida sunshine. Chester, our dog, sleeps by my feet when I am on TEAMS calls. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Spare time is spent in a kayak following dolphins or manatees, biking, microbrew tasting (about a dozen places within a bike ride), trying to get my golf game and rebuilding the house (safely) as a hot wire looks like a cold wire.
Calling all Newterra Shutterbugs!

Have you been anywhere cool around the world? Or, were you lucky enough to capture something out of the ordinary on film (or digitally)? Have you met any celebrities? If so, we would like to ask you to send those pics to share with us in our next newsletter. Nowadays, family and friends want to know what you're experiencing when you travel. Sharing photos nowadays of faraway places helps them connect with you in real time, even when you're halfway across the globe. When they see your photos, they experience the joys and sights of your travels with you.
Starting this February, the Newterra Employee Engagement Committee proudly presents our Valentine's Bingo Contest from February 1-14. Each winner(s) gets a Special Box of Chocolates!

Next month, Bingo Cards will be issued Issued via email by Morgan Samuelson (Chaska), Christie Kocsis (Coraopolis), Brenda Holley (Heber Springs), Kathy Welcer (Trooper), and Joanne Hewitt (Brockville & Remote)

Stay tuned for more information!
Please join us in celebrating with these Newterra Staff this month!

Newterra Birthdays in January

Anthony Amendola, Brenda Holley, Paul Gorbunow, Brent McNeil, Dave Butchart, Colton Lucas, Wesley DeJeet, Cody Mullen, Keith Conklin

Newterra Anniversaries January

Ana Bashi (1 year), James Harwood (1 year), Olena Mozharovska (1 year), Marco Cacciato (2 years), Richard Brown (3 years), Ted Naugler (7 years), John J. Coleman (8 years), Rusi Kapadia (9 years), Robert B. Engle (13 years), Wayne Bernard (15 years), Deanna MacLean (18 years), Brad Gaffney (19 years)
Are you, or do you know anyone who is passionate about creating sustainable water treatment solutions that will help transform industry, communities, and the planet?

Let’s talk!
Please join us all in welcoming these newest members of the Newterra team!

January
Mark Cross – Jr. Accountant & Office Administrator
Richard A. Honeygosky – Sr. Accountant
Jen Savage – Sr. Staff Accountant
James Fennell – Production, Civil Team
Each month we feature employee recipes to help you cook delicious meals with less stress and more joy. Send us your favorite recipes!

This month's Red Pepper Sausage Pasta recipe comes to us compliments of Joe Strogus, Director of Operations, Trooper, PA.

Red Pepper Sausage Pasta

Ingredients:
  • 3/4 lb ground Italian sausage (we use spicy sausage to give it a bit of a kick!)
  • 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 1/2 cups milk, plus 1/4 cup for the sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups chicken broth, plus 1/4 cup for the sauce
  • 1 (16 oz) jar of roasted red peppers, drained and pureed (you can do this in a food processor or blender)
  • 4 oz goat cheese (or more, to taste)
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 handfuls fresh spinach
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 12 oz pasta of your choice (we prefer farfalle because the kids like bow ties!)

Directions:
  1. In a large pot, sauté the sausage meat with the garlic and olive oil over medium heat until browned.
  2. Stir in chicken broth, pureed roasted red pepper, milk and pasta. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat and simmer until pasta is cooked through about 25-30 minutes. Add the milk and chicken broth if the liquid has been absorbed.
  3. Stir in spinach, one handful at a time, and cook until wilted and hot.
  4. Stir in the goat cheese and parmesan. Continue to stir until melted. Remove from heat and serve.

This is a "fam-fave" of Joe's and something super easy to make and tasty, so enjoy!
Please Follow Newterra on Linkedin!

As the Newterra organization unifies to meet our customers' water goals, the former Newterra companies become product family brands under the trusted Newterra banner. To continue finding the latest news, insights and announcements, you can just complete the following three easy steps to follow Newterra.

  1. Click here for the Newterra LinkedIn company page
  2. Click the + Follow button
  3. Now you'll receive news from all of Newterra.

It's that easy – follow Newterra on LinkedIn and share our weekly content to your audience to increase our awareness!
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