Pye-Barker Engineered Solutions May 2019

www.pyebarker.com

1-800-282-9784

P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Dr. Forest Park, GA 30297

MAY 2019

THE LAST HE S Mother’s Day

In the past month, many of my internal emails have been emphasizing the importance of triple checking every last aspect of an order. After all, despite our growth, we are still a small business. Dotting our i’s and crossing our t’s at the outset is key to keeping us nimble in today’s marketplace. I’ve seen the benefit of this approach for my own daughter’s organization and motivation, and the same can be true of a company. Of course, this isn’t the only lesson my wife has taught me. One of the biggest inspirations I draw from her is her near-limitless patience. For as long as I’ve known her, Margaret has been incredibly levelheaded, even in the most challenging circumstances. She always chooses the right words and doesn’t allow anything to get under her skin. Her temperament is something I aspire to, both as a business owner and a father. I’m far from mastering this skill, but I try to learn from Margaret’s example every day. Needless to say, it’s hard to overstate the contributions mothers make in our lives. It really is too bad we limit ourselves to a single day of recognition for everything these incredible women do. For my part, approaching this “last Mother’s Day,” I want to say thank you, Margaret. You’re an incredible mom, wife, and friend. Jessica and I will always be grateful for everything you are and all you’ve helped us to be.

If you’re a longtime reader of this newsletter, I don’t have to tell you we’re an emotional family. My wife, our daughter, Jessica, and I tend to place a lot of weight on milestones, and I suspect this Mother’s Day will be no exception. This will be Jessica’s last time celebrating the holiday at home with us, and honestly, there probably won’t be a dry eye in the house. Like most other holidays in the past year, Jessica’s imminent departure for college has put a little more weight on Mother’s Day, and deservedly so. My wife, Margaret, has been the epitome of an attentive parent these past 19 years. Without her diligence, discipline, and care, I doubt I could have raised such an amazing daughter. I’ll be the first to admit that Margaret has done far more than her fair share of parenting. To support us during Jessica’s formative years, I worked two jobs, heading out before she went to school and getting home after her bedtime. Margaret took it upon herself to stay home and provide our daughter with the one-on-one support she needed. There are many things I admire about my wife, but these years dedicated to motherhood are near the top of that list. Margaret did more than just stay home. Her conservative, detail- oriented parenting style helped our daughter mature at an early age. To this day, when Jessica asks me if she can go to the movies with friends or take a road trip, my answer is always: “Okay, but you better know all the details.” We both know Margaret will want a complete rundown of who’s going to be with her, when they’ll be returning, and which phone numbers she’ll need in an emergency. Believe it or not, this detail-driven approach has rubbed off on our operations here at Pye-Barker.

Happy Mother’s Day,

-Eric Lunsford

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1-800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com

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WHY YOU’RE EXPERIENCING CHURN INSTEAD OF GRATITUDE THE CURSE OF THE UNGRATEFUL EMPLOYEE

No matter how much someone loves their job, at the end of the day, most people come to work to get a paycheck. But providing steady income to your employees doesn’t mean they will automatically feel appreciated and stick around, and it shouldn’t! If you’re struggling with employee churn and an unhappy workplace, it’s time to look at how you can create a culture of gratitude. need to lead the charge. This doesn’t have to be a big production; a quick, genuine “thank you” when you’re passing through the break room can go a long way. A study from the University of Pennsylvania found that when leaders expressed gratitude to their employees, those employees were 50 percent more successful. Plus, employees that feel appreciated tend to have a higher degree of job satisfaction, which is crucial for longevity. KEEP COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS CURRENT Offering good benefits shows employees you’re invested in their overall health and futures. If you find yourself losing good employees to your competition, it might be time to look at what they offer that you don’t. Are you paying employees a fair wage for their work — or better? Do the benefits go beyond the legally required minimum? Are BE A LEADER If you want to cultivate a culture of gratitude, you

GROWN WITH THE COMPANY

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT JESSICA LUNSFORD

Jessica’s time with our team is limited, however. She will be starting her freshman year at Covenant College this August, where she will pursue a degree in sociology. “I’m so excited,” she says, explaining how she hopes to go on to become a social worker, helping those affected by homelessness. Helping people in need has long been Jessica’s passion. “My mission work inspired me,” Jessica reflects, remembering a 2013 trip to help impoverished communities in the inner city. “From that point on, I knew this is what God wants for me.”

This month, we’re highlighting a team member who, in a very literal sense, grew alongside our company. Jessica Lunsford has been a part of the extended Pye-Barker family all of her life, beginning work here when she was a teenager. Well-spoken and masterful at multitasking, she now excels as our administrative assistant. “I do a little bit of everything,” Jessica explains with a laugh. “I started working here when I was 14, just for 4–8 hours a week,” she says, adding, “It was a lot of filing work.” While Jessica was initially brought on to temporarily fill a gap between hires, she proved more than up to the task. “I have a lot more responsibilities these days, but I like it that way,” she reflects. “How many other people go into college knowing how to run an office?” Beyond the unique experiences administrative work has offered her, Jessica loves the tightknit culture here at Pye-Barker. “The atmosphere here is very family-like,” she says. Referencing our two other administrative members, Jessica explains, “April and Jaylene are great friends of mine. In fact, I’ve known Jaylene my whole life.” Being a Lunsford, Jessica has gotten to see Pye-Barker and its team evolve over the years. “My favorite part has been watching my dad and the way he’s grown,” she says. “Watching him take on the mantle of president has been inspiring.”

While it will be hard to see her go, it’s clear Jessica has a bright future ahead of her. We can’t wait to see her take this next exciting step in her life. Plus, the Pye-Barker team knows she’ll be back to share her stories. As Jessica reminds us, “I’m leaving but not gone for good.”

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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com

IMPORTANT BLOWER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN YOU CAN CHOOSE BETWEEN POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT AND CENTRIFUGAL OPTIONS In many industries and applications, you don’t have a choice when it comes to blower type. However, there are some instances when you can elect to install either a centrifugal or positive displacement blower. In these cases, many people opt for a centrifugal blower because of the lower upfront costs. But what you pay on day one is far from the only factor you should consider when making this choice. Here are a few more crucial factors to think about when deciding between a positive displacement or centrifugal blower. When a brand-new line is installed and everything is running perfectly, it can be easy to assume you’ll never have to worry about maintenance work or productivity issues. If you’ve been in the business long enough, you know that’s not the case. Regular maintenance is essential for top performance, but you also have to be prepared to deal with unexpected breakdowns. These breakdowns can happen to blowers of all makes and models, but positive displacement options tend to be more robust and, therefore, less likely to sputter. Regardless of the blower you choose, you should shoot for an online time at or exceeding 99 percent. MAINTENANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY

they the kinds of benefits your employees actually want and need? Having a reputation for offering the best benefits in your area will attract quality employees and make your current employees feel valued, keeping them from seeking greener pastures. PRIORITIZE RESPECT Respect is one of the top three things employees look for in the workplace. In fact, a 2012 survey of social workers found that a lack of respect is a large contributing factor of voluntary turnover. Paul Marciano, organizational psychologist and author of “Carrots and Sticks Don’t Work,” outlines a few critical ways managers can show respect.

• Equip employees with the tools they need to be successful.

• Set clear expectations and hold employees accountable.

• Practice thoughtfulness, empathy, and kindness.

• Trust in your employees’ abilities — don’t micromanage.

Employee happiness doesn’t have to come at the cost of company profit — just look at Salesforce! This global CRM leader was voted the No. 1 spot on Forbes “100 Best Companies to Work For” list in 2018. More often than not, happiness translates to overall success. Look around and see how you can start building a culture of gratitude and happiness at your own company.

TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP

While positive displacement blowers carry a larger initial investment, they tend to outlast centrifugal alternatives. This longer lifespan, coupled with the lower maintenance costs, often means that the total cost of ownership is actually lower for a positive displacement unit. Due to their added heft, they are much less likely to need premature replacement.

UNDERPERFORMANCE

If you’re experiencing performance issues, the blower unit itself may not be the culprit, but rather how it works within the entire system. Initial piping estimates don’t always end up coming to fruition, which means the blower needed for your system could be different than initially presumed. In situations like these, either the blower or the piping will have to be altered. It’s crucial to assess factors other than price tag when deciding on a blower for your needs. Call Pye-Barker Engineered Solutions to ensure you make the best decision for your company.

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1-800-282-9784 • www.pyebarker.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

P.O. Box 1387 (30298) 121 Royal Drive Forest Park, GA 30297

CALL US NOW! 1-800-282-9784

INSIDE THIS 1 The Last Mother’s Day

ISSUE

How to Cultivate a Culture of Gratitude Meet Jessica Lunsford!

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Have a Laugh on Us! Positive Displacement Vs. Centrifugal Blowers

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What Is the World’s Best Exercise?

THE WORLD’S BEST EXERCISE

Not all exercises are created equal. In fact, there is one form of exercise that is better than many others: walking. Harvard Medical School took a look at various exercises and concluded that walking is up there with swimming and tai chi in terms of health benefits. Regular walking can help maintain good cholesterol and blood pressure levels and keep your bones strong and healthy. One study showed that 40 minutes of walking every day helped people reduce blood pressure from hypertension to prehypertension, and then eventually to normal over several months. Walking can even keep many different kinds of diseases at bay, such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition to these physical benefits, walking daily can improve your mood and overall mental health. As simple and straightforward as walking is, it can be difficult for many people to find the time. Most experts agree that you need 30–60 minutes of physical activity per day, but the good news is that you can split those minutes up throughout your day. For example, you can take a brisk 20-minute walk in the morning before work, followed by another one at lunch and one more after dinner. Those 60 minutes also don’t have to be strenuous; they just need to happen.

However, the more time you invest in walking, the more you will get out of it. If you slowly increase your distance and speed, you’ll end up burning more calories and strengthening your legs over time. The great thing about walking is that it’s not particularly taxing on the knees, and you can move at your own pace. It doesn’t get any better than that! To get the most out of walking, schedule your walks for after mealtimes, especially the ones that come later in the day, like lunch and dinner. It’s a great way to aid digestion and burn calories — which can’t hurt your waistline!

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Pye-Barker Supply Co. • www.pyebarker.com

Published by The Newsletter Pro • www.NewsletterPro.com

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