Thank you, Generation Y: Part five of five

by Dr. Larry Cole Where have the last twelve months gone? It doesn’t seem possible that this is the fifth article in a series that is published quarterly. The speed of time should remind us of the importance of taking action, instead of waiting. The purpose of this article is to serve as that reminder. [...]

You’ve Got to Ask for Business

We thought you guys didn’t want us to see the house until it was finished.” Don said. “Oh no. Not at all! We just didn’t want to make you feel you had to see it just to be cordial,” Edwina responded. Then both Don and Sue explained how they had wanted to see it while it was being built. They loved to see things while they were being built and then get to see the finished product.

Publisher’s Perspective, Volume III, Issue III

I once read that one of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his greatest surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn’t do.
It is not uncommon to hear an executive or board member conclude a conversation by saying “we can’t do that here.”

Leadership Impacts Safety

The superintendent stated, “The corporate office believes we’re hiring the wrong person because our accident rate is so high on this job!” The prevailing notion, at one time, was to hire the “safe personality type.” That notion has died a slow death. Today, the focus is on the impact that leadership has upon the safety [...]

Damage prevention: It’s about dollars and sense

Fred Johnston is not one to spend a lot of time debating the value of damage prevention. “It all comes down to the dollar,” he said. “What amount are we willing to put on a human life?”

Me and Dillard, Volume III, Issue III

Boy howdy, it was unnecessarily hot! Half this hot would have been entirely too hot. Mercifully, I got to Dillard’s just before I passed out from heat exhaustion. I mean, a seven year old boy’s melting point is just to the left of ice. “Hey Dillard, can I get a drink?” He stopped rocking for a second and pointed to the well, “It’s already drawed.”

Can’t never could

His parents taught him he could do whatever he set his mind to do. “Can’t never could,” they said. Jeff Patterson’s “can do” determination propelled him to a state championship in track and field in high school, a successful business, a great family, and in 2008, into the office of 2nd District County Supervisor in Alcorn County.

From the desk of Sam Johnson, Volume III, Issue III

The Mississippi 811 Board of Directors continues to debate ways for promoting a stronger and more effective damage prevention program. As a result of their commitment, I am elated to welcome Bill Rutledge to our Mississippi 811 team. Bill is well-known across the state as a proponent of damage prevention and effective partnerships. His experiences [...]

Contractor’s Perspective: Eubank Construction Company

Just a little respect is something everyone would like – Rodney Dangerfield proved that when he complained that he never got any.
In the push and shove world of utility construction, respect is occasionally in limited supply. In many day-to-day operations, it can be neglected – not intentionally, it just happens, usually when time is short and budgets are tight.

Pipelines … your quiet neighbor

Millions of people all across the country share the same neighbor. This neighbor does not intrude where it’s not wanted and simply goes about its business helping all of us every day. Pipelines are the energy lifelines of many of our daily activities from driving our children to school, heating our homes, to buying groceries at the store delivered by trucks run on diesel.

The US has the largest network of energy pipelines of any nation in the world. There are more than 200,000 miles of oil pipelines and 300,000 miles of natural gas pipelines all across the country. These lines are tucked under our streets, through neighborhoods and communities traveling below farmland, forests, and deserts. Since Americans consume more than 700 million gallons of petroleum products per day, pipelines are an essential component of our nation’s infrastructure. Without them our roads and highways would be overrun with trucks trying to meet this demand. Pipelines are the safest most reliable manner for transporting crude oil and other liquid petroleum products according to National Transportation Safety Board statistics. And just like any good neighbor, pipeline companies are ever mindful of the safety of those around them.