www.pyebarker.com
1-800-282-9784
P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Drive Forest Park, GA 30297
SEPTEMBER 2019
A BEAUTIFUL GAME
FOOTBALL AND BUSINESS
was from my younger days. I popped out of the scramble with one hand on the ball, and the other holding up my pants. I got through that play without fumbling either important piece of equipment, but, after the game, my father asked me, “What would you do if you needed both hands to hold up your pants?”
I have a habit of watching all sports, even when I don’t want to. Take golf, for example, I think it’s the most boring game on the planet. But if I’m at a restaurant and there’s a PGA match on, I’ll be utterly absorbed by it. This drives Margaret crazy. “I thought you hated golf?” she’ll ask. And I’ll reply that I do, all while watching Tiger take another swing. But if there’s one sport I’ve never minded getting lost in, it’s football. Unpacking why I love the game feels a little strange. Growing up in Georgia and asking someone why they like football is like asking someone why they like sunshine; it’s just a great part of life. But if I have to delve into it, the contact is probably what puts the game above other sports in my book — it certainly makes for good TV. But deeper than that, the strategy and mentality it takes to play football is very similar to what it takes to be a small-business owner. There are a lot of important lessons in football, and I learned my first when I was 5 years old. Playing safety in peewee football isn’t exactly exciting. Nobody breaks through the defensive line at that level of play, so my job was to sit on my helmet 20 yards away from the line of scrimmage and wave at the fans. Still, the handful of moments I did have to go after an opposing player really wore me out. Halfway through the season, I asked my father if I could quit. I still remember what he told me. “You’re committed to the season,” he said. “Stick it out to the end.” Those of you who knew my father probably aren’t surprised by this. John E. Lunsford Jr. wasn’t a quitter, and he was keen on passing that attitude down to me. By the time I finished my first year of football, I discovered my love for it. I kept playing all the way through junior high school. I had a few memorable plays in my football “career,” as short as it was. I broke the record for the longest touchdown run on our school’s 80-yard field, running the ball all the way from our own 5-yard line, for instance. Still, the story my father liked to tell best
“I’d drop the ball,” I told him. Even at that age, I had my priorities in order.
Spoiler alert: I never grew into an all-pro high school athlete, and my longest-lasting trophies from football were leg injuries. But if I had the chance to do it all over again, I’d take it in a heartbeat. The lessons I learned from my time playing, from teamwork to game plans, still underpin the work I do to this day. Jack Daly’s books have really drawn a parallel between the sport and the challenges of running a business. Not only do you have to have a game plan broken down into plays, but you also have to give your team the flexibility to adapt as situations change. If the sales department drops the ball, service needs to be there to recover it. When the snap gets fumbled, you don’t see linemen standing around pointing fingers; they dive on the thing! It all comes down to having a team you trust to always keep their eye on the prize. I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve put together here at Pye- Barker. We have some truly adaptable individuals who never mind having to call an audible if it means making a difference for the customer. As we head toward football season and the fourth quarter of 2019, we’ll keep moving the chain toward growth (with my pants firmly in place).
Go Falcons,
-Eric Lunsford
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INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND YOUR BUSINESS HOW TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT YOUR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
to protect. If you have taken the steps necessary to protect your own trade practices, you may have a case if you ever discover your trade secret has been leaked. Having your employees sign a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) is a great way to initially establish your unique business practices as trade secrets.
Intellectual property is defined by Merriam-Webster as “property (such as an idea, invention, or process) that derives from the work of the
mind or intellect.” As you can no doubt glean from this definition, intellectual property can be a lot of things, so it’s important to identify and protect you and your business’s intellectual property. Here are the main categories and protections for your company’s creations.
TRADEMARKS The name of your business, product, or service — anything a customer uses to identify a product — generally requires a trademark.
TRADE SECRETS A trade secret is any useful piece of information that the public doesn’t know about and the owner has taken steps
This may include your company’s name, product name, etc. Think of the distinctive Nike “Swoosh” and the familiar ending sound of Dell’s
SMARTS AND PEOPLE SKILLS DERRICK SALADNA HAS IT ALL
friends and going on hikes, he enjoys getting outside to experience all Georgia has to offer. We’re lucky to have such a talented professional on our team!
We’re spotlighting another new face here at Pye-Barker this month! Derrick Saladna came on board this February, but he’s already been making a huge difference for the people we serve. Doubling as an application engineer and an inside salesman, Derrick is one of those rare individuals who understands machines and people alike. “Honestly, I didn’t think too much about going into sales until my last semester,” Derrick explains. A recent graduate of Kennesaw State University, Derrick earned his degree in mechanical engineering but discovered he didn’t just want to work around machines all day. “I’ve always had good people skills, and some other members of my family had gone the sales route, so I thought I’d try my hand at it.” Coming to Pye-Barker after college, it would seem Derrick has found the perfect balance between his two passions. “I love it here. Every day there’s some new challenge, but I always get to work with good people.” At the time of writing, Derrick just finished helping a client find the right pump for a process involving hydrochloric acid. Finding a custom solution for such a corrosive material is exactly the kind of challenge Derrick thrives on. “If there’s one thing I’ve learned at Pye- Barker,” he reflects, “it’s to not be afraid of thinking outside the box.”
Thanks, Derrick!
When Derrick isn’t working with a client or tinkering with machinery, you’ll likely find him in the great outdoors. Between playing sports with
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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com
3 EASY WAYS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT THAT WON’T BREAK YOUR BUDGET Caught between increased urban development, rising power prices, and ever-stricter environmental regulations, it’s easy for wastewater treatment plants to feel the squeeze. Like so many industries, these vital pillars of our infrastructure are constantly being asked to do more with less. But make no mistake, these problems aren’t insurmountable. Optimizing your plant can drop your energy consumption while increasing your processing capacity. THE EFFICIENT SOLUTION Energy efficiency is the key to overcoming many of the issues treatment plants face. Energy use is the largest single expense for most plants and a significant contributor to their carbon footprint. Thankfully, there’s a lot that can be done on this front. The Water Research Foundation found that plants that optimize their process can cut energy consumption by up to 30%. Our dedicated team of wastewater specialists can help get you there. THE WRONG PUMP FOR THE JOB Going from plant to plant, our experts have noticed a few recurring problems that cause energy use to skyrocket. Most often, it’s simply a matter of the positive displacement (PD) technology not matching the process it’s being used for. If you have an old pump or a makeshift PD system that was installed because “something is better than nothing,” it’s probably costing your plant money. SO MUCH WASTE On a similar note, it’s possible that increased demand means the capacity of your PD pump is now too low to generate the required flow for the job. While it may still “work,” continuing to use a pump like this will lead to your line continuing to run below specification, and pumps will either clog or push up their performance curve. Not replacing lower capacity units leads to higher energy consumption, reduced performance, and more maintenance. If any of these scenarios sound familiar or if you’re facing a unique challenge, Pye-Barker can help. Getting the lowest possible energy consumption with the highest output takes a team that knows how every component in the process fits together. As a supplier of pumps, blowers, and compressors, we’re equipped to handle any system at any stage of your plant, from headworks to discharge.
commercials. To properly protect your trademark, file a trademark application to have it registered.
COPYRIGHTS Most people seek protection under copyright law for a variety of things related to their product or business, like images, specific words on packaging, labeling, the actual product, and the business webpage. The best thing about copyright registration is that it’s inexpensive. Plus, the law allows you to demand attorney fees from those who infringe on your copyright. PATENTS Patents are a fantastic way to protect your designs, and companies have utilized patents to maintain their competitive advantage. A great example of this strategy is when Sony Pictures patented their animation style for “Spider-Man: Into the Spider Verse” which grossed over $375,502,565. There are two types of patents: one for utility (function) and one for design (aesthetic). To apply for a patent, register with the United States Patent Office. Regardless of the type of intellectual property you have, it’s important you identify what type it is and which type of protection is most appropriate. Even a small amount of intellectual property is worth protecting, so start the process now to safeguard it. LAUGH OUT LOUD
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P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Drive Forest Park, GA 30297
CALL US NOW! 1-800-282-9784
INSIDE THIS 1
ISSUE
A Lesson From Peewee Football
Types of Intellectual Property Meet Derrick Saladna!
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Have a Laugh on Us! Is Your Wastewater Treatment Optimized?
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NFL Lowers Concussion Rates in 2018
Prior to the 2018 National Football League (NFL) season, the league administration introduced two rules aimed at preventing concussions: Players are no longer allowed to “wedge” block — players running shoulder-to-shoulder into another player — during kick-offs, and they can’t lower their helmets when they tackle. Fans and players complained about the “soft” stance the NFL took on the gritty play football was built on. Most notably, former Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews was subjected to a game-costing “roughing the passer” penalty for tackling in a way that would have been allowed in years prior. The NFL reported that it would be using Matthews’ hit as a teaching tape. Despite the backlash, offseason reports may suggest that these rules have influenced concussion rates. The NFL reported a 24% decline in the number of concussions between the 2017 and 2018 seasons, lowering the total from 281 in 2017 to 214 in 2018 when combined with preseason play. In the regular season alone, the number of reported concussions was 135 compared to 190 from the year prior. THE NFL’S NEWEST RULE CHANGES TO DECREASE CONCUSSIONS A HEAD ABOVE
However, it’s worth noting that 2017 saw high recorded rates of concussions. Figures going as far back as 2012 indicate that 2017 was one of the most concussed years in recent football history. Still, NFL and medical officials point to 2018’s decrease in concussions as a positive sign that league initiatives are working. Officials say the new rules helped push the numbers down, and the use of more sideline concussion protocol testing and increased advanced helmet technology aided in this boost. The NFL reported that 74% of its players were now wearing its latest protective headgear, a 33% increase from 2017. According to USA Today, the NFL’s chief medical officer, Dr. Allen Sills, also indicated that medical teams across the league performed more sideline concussion tests than any year prior and saw a 75% decrease in diagnosing. The league is considering testing mouthguard technology that would give medical teams more information for diagnosing concussions. As we prepare for another season of football, there’s no telling what 2019’s numbers will show about the NFL’s latest safety protocols, but if 2018 was any indication, they just might be headed in the right direction.
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