Aggregates Manager Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/708006
Build better relationships with your neighbors and community leaders OPERATIONS L ogically, most operators understand the importance of having a good com- munity relations. In the day-to-day environment of running a business, however, not all are willing to invest time into nurturing those relationships. Big mistake. "A strong relationship with our neighbors and community leaders is such an integral component to the success of our business," says Patty Christensen, land and environment manager for Aggregate Industries – North Central Region. Growing up, her father worked for an aggregates business that was later acquired by Aggregate Industries, and there was a very different atmosphere than the strong relationship she enjoys with neighbors today. "Things were always contentious between the residents and the mining company," she recalls. But with some fairly simple initiatives to improve com- munication between operators and neighbors, she found a much better dynamic when she joined Aggregate Industries in 2000. "What a differ- ence," she says. "I was amazed." Some community relations pro- grams can be quite elaborate, but small, simple outreach efforts can go a long way. When Tom Dupuis no- ticed the crowds that gathered near the Dolese Bros. Co.'s headquarters in Oklahoma City for a Pearl Harbor Day memorial, he suggested the company sponsor a hospitality tent with warm beverages and sweets. That simple task led to a series of additional community relation initia- tives with local veterans, who greatly appreciate the support. "It's been a good marriage for us," Dupuis says. While Wendling Quarries has a splashy community event with the 6k race that runs through its proper- ty, it continues smaller scale initia- tives such as school tours at its site. "We have folks whose yards back up to the quarry. For us to maintain a relationship, not only with our close neighbors, but the town itself, is very important to us," says John L. Kulper, safety and environmental director for Wendling Quarries, Inc. "We just like the community involve- ment. It's a chance for us to work with a close-knit, organized, and truly nice community." Establishing good relationships with the surrounding community is not only the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do. "We had a variance hearing in the city of Minneapolis in September 2015," Christensen says. "One of the board members stated, 'I just want the board to know that this company has been a great corporate citizen in our community. They have been involved with the National Park Service for years. They are a great example of how a business and the community can work together.' "The value of hearing that state- ment from a regulatory offi cial says it all for us," she adds. "It just brings home to us how important our community relations efforts are with these municipalities." AGGREGATES MANAGER Aggregate Industries–North Central Region has a long-standing policy of actively participating in the communities in which it conducts business. It says the open-door policy has led to better communication, bet- ter understanding in both directions, and a signifi cant level of trust with neighbors and community leaders. Each year, every close neighbor and local offi cial from the communities in the greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Metropolitan Area are invited to attend its "Neighbor- hood Barge Ride." Guests enjoy a unique cruise on the Mississippi River on a "working" barge and have the opportunity to meet employees and learn fi rsthand about the aggregates and ready-mix industries. Lehigh Hanson's Gainesville Quarry's historic lake house and 9-acre man-made lake draw hundreds of visitors each year. The lake house was founded in1971 and has hosted hundreds of events involving thousands of community members over the years. Hanson shares the venue free of charge to ensure that fi nancial con- siderations will not restrict its use. Earlier this year, a wedding took place at the site. More than 150 people enjoyed the scenic setting of a tranquil lake at an op- erating quarry. The venue made for some dramatic and unique wedding photos. Create a recreation area Involve community leaders 1 4