NOVEMBER 2019
A LOOK AT OUR NEWEST LOCATION IN DETROIT HOME SWEET HOMECOMING
We have so much to be thankful for as we approach the holiday season. We’ve grown by leaps and bounds nearly every year of business, but this year is particularly special for us because we’ve opened our newest location in Detroit. Now with four locations and counting, it’s always a thrill to see the newest branch of the compressor team hit the ground running. But this Detroit location holds just a bit more significance for me, because it means I’m coming full circle and returning to my hometown. The city of Detroit has had its share of ups and downs — in many cases, more severe downs than ups. In the mid-’90s, I was just a 19-year-old kid living in the city who married his childhood sweetheart. When we had our first child soon after that, doubts about making the life we envisioned for ourselves began to creep in. So we left our hometown to start anew, wondering if we might be back one day. Now, almost 25 years later, opening Detroit Compressor is the most overwhelmingly wonderful homecoming I could possibly imagine. To come full circle and return to Detroit with a business that opens the doors of opportunity for the community that raised me is beyond any of the dreams I had when I was 19. As our fourth location, we know how to wrangle the rodeo, but this time around, the outpouring of support we received from family, friends, and the community made the project so thrilling. It gives me goose bumps to think about all the hard work that went into making this happen. Not to mention that creating awesome jobs for awesome people is a lot of fun. Detroit may be far from our flagship location in Atlanta, but our company mission and values remain the same. We have many fantastic team members to thank for that, but it wouldn’t have been possible without Patrick Seymour as the president of Detroit Compressor, and Kevin Caruthers as Detroit’s lead service technician. Patrick was there at the company’s beginning to help create our vision and establish our core values, and Kevin moved his entire life from Atlanta to Detroit to ensure our company culture was embodied from day one. They bring everything we value to the city of Detroit and continue to go above and beyond to serve the community. I have every faith their team will thrive and provide outstanding service.
No matter how big we grow or where we end up, our goal will always be to create peace of mind for our clients. With Detroit up and running, we have our sights set on opening one new branch a year for the next five years. It’s ambitious and thrilling, and I’m so thankful to have the hardworking team and dedicated clients who make that a possibility. In my family, we are loyal Lions fans. So this Thanksgiving, we will be rooting for them like we do every year. No matter the outcome of the game, I’m looking forward to a great time. That’s because I’ll be surrounded by people who support me, feel inspired by a city I’ve always loved, and feel humbled knowing that we have the opportunity to work side by side with the people of this great city. If that’s notsomething to be thankful for, then I truly don’t know what is.
–Morty Hodge
Lessons in Innovation From Henry Ford REIGNITE YOUR PASSION
Our New Equipment Is a Game-Changer ULTRASONIC LEAK DETECTION
With the goal of providing peace of mind to our clients by making sure their systems are as energy-conscious as possible, we’re always looking for the best equipment to make that happen. That’s why we’ve recently invested in the highest-grade ultrasonic leak detection equipment to hit the market. Ultrasonic leak detection is even more useful than it sounds. It doesn’t just detect leaks that are hard to locate based on size or pressure; it goes beyond that to pinpoint leaks that would never be discovered because of the environment in which they’re located. Much of our business occurs in large facilities where machines and employees contribute to loud noise levels. That means there are certain leaks that can only be discovered when business is stopped. This isn’t optimal for anyone involved, so the power of ultrasound allows us to hear, locate, and fix leaks of any size, no matter how chaotic or busy the location. Our new equipment allows us to easily detect and classify leaks in compressed air, gas, vacuum systems, and more. Combined with innovative sensors and software for preventive maintenance, we can more effectively monitor the conditions of machines and better determine what type of work needs to be done and when. We’ll keep your facility up to compliance standards, all on a system that’s entirely digital to reduce paper records and keep data stored in one convenient location. But what does this really mean for our clients? It means we’ll be able to more efficiently and more accurately show what their leaks are costing their business. A simple walk-through of their facilities while utilizing this machine will allow us to potentially uncover tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of leaks that have existed for years because they’ve gone undetected. When we can find and fix these leaks, we lower their energy bills. And best of all, it has a direct positive impact on the environment. This equipment really is a win for everyone.
As entrepreneurs scale their businesses, there is a lot to focus on: hiring the right staff, creating the most effective marketing strategies, and setting up efficient operations. With so much to do, it’s easy to lose sight of your initial vision for your company. If you’re stuck in a rut, know that you’re not alone. Plenty of the most successful entrepreneurs have endured the same struggles and, with a little ambition and a lot of creativity, came out on top. Take Henry Ford, for example. Henry Ford made the automobile accessible and appealing for the common citizen. This ignited interest in the market from consumers and manufacturers alike, which led to innovations like air conditioning and other appliances we can’t imagine living without today. There were some key factors that played into his success, and, if you apply them to your own journey, you could gain a new perspective and be inspired to create and innovate in your industry. CONSUMER-FOCUSED Ford realized cars were unreliable and unaffordable to most and set out to change that. After developing the first moving assembly line, Ford lowered the price of cars and made them accessible for people outside the upper class for the first time. As long as you keep the consumer and their needs in mind, you’ll find ways to make their experience better and increase your success. SMALL CHANGES, BIG IMPACT Unlike many companies today who sacrifice quality for quantity, Ford found ways to focus on both. He looked at how cars were actually made and found that, if he could build more cars within a certain time frame, he could pay less per car, per worker. Thus, the moving assembly line was born. When looking for ways to innovate in your industry, rethinking even the smallest, simplest details can make a huge difference for your business. You may not be able to reinvent the wheel, but who said you couldn’t reinvent the brake pads? Henry Ford may have changed the automobile industry forever, but you don’t have to go to such lengths to innovate in your own. The next time you find yourself uninspired or stagnant, look to those who made your industry what it is today. You might just find the inspiration you’ve been searching for.
Charlotte Compressor | 2 | www.charlottecompressor.com
The Crazy Case of Jacobs v. Kent NOT YOUR ORDINARY TURKEY SHOOT When their case came before the Supreme Court of the 4th District of New York, the courts denied both the motion and the cross-motion. They agreed that Jacobs had assumed the inherent risks of hunting — just not the risks it would be unreasonable to assume, like getting shot by another hunter who thought you were a turkey. Beyond that, the courts did not pronounce judgment because they did not have enough verifiable facts. Jacobs asserted that turkey hunters should not shoot unless they can see the turkey and verify its gender. The court could not determine whether Kent had failed to follow this rule when he shot Jacobs. They also could not determine whether the doctrine of primary assumption of risk, which Kent pointed to in his defense, was even applicable. The court also called into question whether Jacobs had also been negligent. Ultimately, the case didn’t move forward.
It began like any other hunting excursion. Neil Jacobs was walking softly through the bushes, looking for a spot to hunker down and watch for a flock of turkeys. The only problem was that someone beat him to that neck of the woods. James Kent had established a hunting spot for himself, and, when he heard rustling and gobbling in some nearby bushes and saw a flash of red, he took aim and fired. Unfortunately, the movement in the bushes was not a turkey. Kent was horrified to find that he had shot Jacobs. Jacobs promptly moved for a partial summary judgment against Kent on the basis that he had failed to determine that Jacobs was not a turkey but, in fact, a human being. Kent cross-moved for summary judgment, saying Jacobs should have expected risks when he stepped into a popular hunting environment.
Maybe next time, they should just try getting a turkey from the supermarket.
Pair Beer Instead of Wine This Thanksgiving
Forget the wine — beers are full of unique taste profiles that make them just as worthy of pairing with your favorite Thanksgiving foods. APPETIZER A refreshingly tart Gose is sure to wake up your tastebuds. If you’re already eating appetizers, sip a light Pilsner or lager so you don’t fill up. They also mesh well with eclectic appetizer spreads. ENTREE Brown ales provide a perfect nuttiness to bring out the flavor in turkey. Hoppier brown ales will cut through fatty sides like casseroles and gravy. The hops of an India pale ale will achieve the same effect too. DESSERT Milk stouts are perfect for just about anything sweet, like pumpkin pie and chocolate cake. A coffee stout is also a great way to end your meal. Bold flavors and a hint of caffeine will keep you from napping on the couch after dinner.
For Winterizing Your Compressed Air System Winter conditions can take a toll on compressed air systems, so be sure to follow these best practices to maintain a healthy system. 1. Drain your receiver tanks to keep moisture from freezing the tank. Use an automatic drain for maximum condensate collection, and check your tanks consistently.
2. Use heat trace tape on your system’s drain lines and drain bowls so they can function in the cold weather.
3. Adjust your louvers so you minimize the amount of cold air to the compressor inlet. You can recover heat from the compressor outlet by ducting the warm air away to heat an adjacent room. 4. Use cabinet or ambient heaters to keep lubricant warm, and keep an eye on their operating temperatures to they don’t rise too high.
5. Clean and rebuild your separators, drains, and valves while they have reduced production over the winter months.
Charlotte Compressor | 3 | www.charlottecompressor.com
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
338 S. Sharon Amity Rd., Ste. 201 Charlotte, NC 28211 (704) 399-9993 www.charlottecompressor.com
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Detroit Compressor Is Up and Running
How Henry Ford Innovated His Industry Leak Detection Hits a New Level Not Your Ordinary Turkey Shoot How to Winterize Your Compressed Air System
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Expense Reporting Made Easy
EXPENSIFY
Luckily, there’s a great app to make the whole process easier so you can focus on what you really love about running your business. Expensify is a business tool for both in-house reporting and employees on the go. It has a user-friendly interface that allows businesses to maintain summaries of their accounts, track debt and income ratios, and report expenses of all kinds. The app is perfect for easily importing business purchase receipts and can even keep track of employee travel expenses, including tracking reimbursable miles via an app-specific GPS. Everything is recorded and calculated in real time, so there’s never any question about where your expenses stand. The app automates
the entire expense reporting process by tracking every expenditure from start to finish. It also automatically integrates with your financial institutions, credit cards, and other methods of payment so that you never have to manually input anything. If you make numerous purchases for your business or have employees who travel on the dime of your company, Expensify is something you shouldn’t be without. It’s the easiest way to track all the moving parts of your business, and, with different tiers of membership plans based on your type of company and number of employees, its low cost is an expense that’s easy to track too.
No business exists without expenses. No matter how big, small, old, or new your business might be, you have costs associated with running it that need to be accurately tracked, managed, and reported in order to keep things afloat. But, if you’re anything like us, we’re guessing you didn’t start a business just to manage its expenses.
Charlotte Compressor | 4 | www.charlottecompressor.com
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