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IN THE FIELD ROW MAINTENANCE 4x4 JARRAFF

Customer Service Standards Reach New Heights at
Carroll Electric
Since 1937, Carroll Electric, Berryville, Ark., has been dedicated to provide its customers
providing northwest Arkansas and southwest Missouri with “safe, with better service, the
reliable electricity at the lowest possible cost.” For more than seven cooperative has been
decades this dedication has spurred the Carroll Electric team to steadily increasing
explore every avenue that would allow them to better serve the the amount of ROW
cooperative’s members, including the addition of new services. In maintenance it handles
1982 the cooperative chose to employ an in-house tree and brush in-house. In order to
service that would fully comprehend the needs of its members. manage the increased
trimming responsibilities,
According to Rex Hendrix, right-of-way manager of Carroll Electric, Carroll Electric has gradually
“Our crews most definitely have the interest of all of our members in added crew members and
mind as they perform our work.” Each crew member is trained by a equipment for the past 25 The Jarraff All-Terrain Tree Trimmer keeps
certified arborist on how to employ proper pruning techniques. This years. Carroll Electric’s crew members safely
dedication is recognized by the community the crews serve. “We on the ground while the trimmer’s fiber
have had several members request that we have our in-house right- Today, 60 crew members glass boom reaches cutting heights up
to 75 feet.
of-way crews do the work on their property versus contractors,” handle 70 percent of
Hendrix said. the cooperative’s ROW needs in 11 counties. The cooperative’s
service area spans over 2,800 square miles, bringing electricity to
Employing an in-house crew also streamlines communication. The 68,000 members. Carroll Electric’s ROW crews work to trim 9,000
communication process between the cooperative’s departments is miles of power lines every five years. They also return to several
much more efficient and effective than it would be with an outside trouble areas each year to clear storm damage or re-trim trees that
contractor. Hendrix said, “[Each department’s] efforts complement grow more quickly than normal.
each other. Our [ROW] crews can prepare right-of-ways for the
next step, which is our construction crews coming in to build the In addition to the Carroll Electric crews, contractors are employed
lines. It allows everybody to be on the same page and prevents to handle the work that the in-house crews do not manage. Hendrix
lost time.” said, “With the new equipment we are putting in place we are hoping
to narrow that gap and do more of it in-house as we progress.”
In addition to the proper removal and trimming of trees, Carroll
Electric’s crews work to educate members about power line safety. Customer Service Tools
This includes teaching people about the hazards of utility lines and The cooperative’s equipment complement has grown from two
explaining where and where not to plant trees. buggy trucks and a tractor to a 35-unit arsenal made up of three
Jarraff All-Terrain Tree Trimmers (Jarraff Industries, St. Peter,
Continual Growth Minn.), four mechanical trimmers, eight ground clearing machines,
When Carroll Electric began handling tree trimming in-house, the four Geo-Boy Brush Cutter Tractors (Geo-Boy, St. Peter, Minn.),
team consisted of three crew members. In a continual effort to and 16 right-of-way bucket trucks with chippers.

PROJECT PROFILE:
Contractor: Carroll Electric
Location: Berryville, Ark.
Equipment Used: Jarraff 4 Wheel Drive All-Terrain Tree Trimmer & GEO-BOY Brush Cutter Tractor
Specifications: Row Maintenance in 11 counties
1-507-934-8688 - www.jarraff.com

Aside from basic power line safety training, crews are also trained
on how to use the equipment that the cooperative employs in
the field. “We train our operators by utilizing the manufacturer’s
representatives to come in and make sure that we understand the
equipment that we use and that we are able to maintain it in a safe
fashion,” Hendrix said.

“The safety of our customers is a top concern, which is why we work
so closely with them to help them utilize our equipment safely and
effectively. Working with Carroll Electric is great because not only
are they very conscientious about maintenance and safety, but they
also have great communication within the company, which ensures
that everyone is well informed.” said Heidi Boyum, president of
Jarraff Industries.

Carroll Electric’s vegetation management crews clear right-of-ways, making As an in-house vegetation management crew at an electrical
way for its construction crews to come in and build utility lines.
cooperative, the employees are exposed to additional safety
training. Hendrix said, “They are involved in all of our lineman
This equipment allows Carroll Electric crews to remain committed to
safety meetings. We try to make sure that they are very educated
their mission. They are able to maintain ROWs efficiently, keeping
on electrical safety.”
costs low and electricity flowing. “One trimmer has proven, on
average, to take the place of five bucket trucks in rural areas,
It is also important that any contract crews that are brought in to
reducing the amount of man hours and labor for hand climbers and
handle a portion of Carroll Electric’s work be held to the same
ground crews,” said Hendrix. The Geo-Boy also contributes to the
safety standards as the in-house crews. The key to achieving this is
mission in that it keeps community members safe while providing
communication. Contract crews go through an orientation process
them with uninterrupted power. “The [Geo-Boy] bull hog has a
to make sure they understand the voltage they will be dealing with.
minimal amount of debris thrown from it during operations. This
Carroll Electric also provides the crews with any additional safety
greatly improves public safety and reduces the chance of property
equipment they may need to perform the job safely. While the crews
damage,” Hendrix said.
are in the field a trained journeyman lineman from Carroll Electric
serves as a team leader to ensure that everyone is working safely.
In order to effectively serve Carroll Electric’s members, the
equipment must be maintained and kept in working order. To do so,
Storm Restoration Challenge
the operators are trained to properly maintain the equipment and
Carroll Electric makes it their mission to serve its customers in every
make minor repairs. The cooperative also employs four mechanics
situation. This was illustrated during the severe northern Arkansas
at a garage in Berryville, Ark. and two at a smaller garage in
Ice Storm in January 2009. The in-house right-of-way crews
Bentonville, Ark. These mechanics handle most of the major
teamed up with several crews from other states to help minimize
repairs.
outage times and restore power to the cooperative’s members.

When more difficult maintenance questions arise, the cooperative
One of the biggest issues during this ice storm was accessing the
relies on the equipment manufacturers. Hendrix said, “[Jarraff’s
power lines. “We normally try to get assessment crews out ahead
staff] can lead you to any problem that you may have. They can
of time to assess the damage before we can actually get our trucks
help you diagnose it on the phone, they know exactly what part
to the areas of need. Our assessment crews during this ice storm
you need and, in most cases, they can have that part to you by the
had to carry chain saws to cut the trees and clear the roads before
next day. On a couple of occasions, we’ve been stumped on some
they could even get to the power lines,” Hendrix said.
issues and they’ve never failed to fly down and get out in the field
with us to correct the issues.”
The ice storm caused residual problems for four to five days after
the initial storm had hit. Crews would cut their way in to repair the
Safety is Key
power lines and then had to turn around and cut their way out again.
The importance of safety is deeply seeded within Carroll Electric,
not only the safety of its customers but of its crews as well. “We
During the January 2009 ice storm, as with all of Carroll Electric’s
have an in-house safety coordinator that comes in and puts on
work, safety was the first priority. Hendrix said, “We want our crews
different classes and helps us with all this training,” Hendrix said. All
to slow down and double check all of their safety equipment before
of the employees are required to go through an Electrical Hazard
they begin the work.”
Awareness Program in order to become certified to clear vegetation
around power lines. Beyond the initial training, crews attend safety
meetings each month. These meetings cover everything from
electrical safety to driver’s safety.

1730 Gault St. • St. Peter, MN 56082 • Fax: 1-507-934-8690
Phone: 1-507-934-8688 or 1-800-767-7112

After the January 2009 ice storm Carroll Electric’s in-house trimming crews
worked with crews from other states to quickly restore power to its members.

The equipment employed by Carroll Electric also proves its worth
during storm restoration projects. Hendrix said, “The Jarraff is
an off-road machine and the operator has an enclosed cab. The
machine can maneuver into areas and allows our crews to continue
working with minimal adjustments for the weather. It prevents
employees from having to get out and physically do the work in bad
conditions.”

Just as important as being able to spring into action during an
emergency restoration situation, are the preventative measures
taken to minimize potential problems during a storm. Properly
maintained ROWs ensure that Carroll Electric will be able to
better serve their customers rain or shine. “We prepare right-of-
ways to withstand small storms and in case of major storms the
maintenance plan will help reduce the number of problem trees and
help provide faster restoration time,” said Hendrix.

Phone: 1-507-934-8688 or 1-800-767-7112

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METAL CONSTRUCTION NEWS - ARTICLE

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Engineering a Door that Provides both Protection and Aesthetics

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By Kevin Landgraff
Technical Sales Specialist
Door Engineering and Manufacturing
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Contractors know the need for strength and protection when selecting a vehicle access door
for a hurricane zone. In these zones architects must take into consideration protection as
well as aesthetics and function. It is the contractor’s responsibility to find a door that fulfills
the architect’s specifications and the customer’s needs, and wants.

Protection can be ensured by selecting a door system that has been approved for hurricane
zones. There are different requirements in every area, Miami-Dade and Broward counties in
Florida have the highest standards. These counties make up the High Velocity Hurricane
Zone (HVHZ). Wind speeds in this zone can reach, and exceed, 146 mph. The HVHZ
section of the Florida Building Code requires that openings in commercial and residential
building, in these areas, be covered with approved windows, doors or shutters. For a
company to receive an HVHZ rating for a particular product, their product must undergo a
series of strenuous tests.

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The doors must pass both positive
and negative loading of 150% of the
design load for which the
manufacturer is applying. Next, there
are two categories of impact tests:
small-missile resistant and large-
missile resistant. Doors installed less
than 30 feet above the ground level
must be large-missile resistant. The
doors, and glazing, are impacted with
pieces of wood weighing 9 pounds,
traveling at 50 feet per second.
Afterward the door and glazing must resist 9,000 cycles of positive and negative pressures. In order for the product to pass, no penetration through
the door or glazing can occur. If a door passes these tests it complies with the Florida building code, as well as the Miami-Dade and Broward
standards. These strict standards are not required in all hurricane zones along the Gulf and East Coast. However, they are taken into
consideration when building in these areas.

Engineering and manufacturing a door that is able to meet these requirements presents a challenge to any
manufacturer. Door Engineering, Kasota, MN, has over 40 years of experience in engineering and manufacturing
door systems. This experience lends itself to designing hurricane rated doors. In addition to heavier gage
construction and impact resistant 9/16” laminated glass, hurricane locking mechanisms were added to Door
Engineering’s four-fold door in order to meet the requirements. The doors are rated for 65 psf, which corresponds to
wind speeds of approximately 160 mph. To ensure the Door would pass the tests, Door Engineering worked closely
with Florida Certified Professional Engineers along with utilizing SolidWorks Design Software. This software package
allowed engineers to design a 3-D model of the system and apply loads to determine how the structure and
components will react under stress.

The recent harsh hurricane seasons and increased building code regulations have raised awareness of the need for
hurricane rated products. For this reason, Door Engineering expanded its product line to include a hurricane rated
door system. There is a need in this market for a door that offers glazing and color options. According to Blair Novy
of Door Systems, Inc. in Florida, “Many contractors are concerned about how the doors look in relationship to the
rest of the building in terms of color and glazing.”

Aesthetics have also become more important to municipalities. Because fire stations are being built in the
middle of high-traffic urban areas, the demand for attractive doors increases. Contractors are looking for doors
that offer more glazing to allow natural light into the facilities they are building. This is not always an option as
most manufacturers offer limited glazing and color options. In some cases, contractors have had to use two
doors for one opening to meet hurricane requirements. A full glass sectional door is used to offer the aesthetic
experience while a coiling hurricane door is mounted over the sectional door to offer protection during storms.
Door Engineering’s hurricane rated four-fold door system provides a one-door solution that offers protection
without compromising on aesthetics. Other available aesthetic features include, raised panel finishes, powder
coating and finish painting, which allows contractors to choose from a virtually unlimited number of colors.

It is important to know what is available for hurricane resistant doors. In most commercial and residential
buildings the vehicle door systems cover the largest and most visible openings on the building. In many cases
this fact is overlooked. “As a dealer it is our job to inform and educate contractors about the available options
so they can make the wisest choice,” said Novy. Talking with a knowledgeable dealer will help a contractor
learn more about the options so they can find both protection and aesthetics in a hurricane door.
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Rising Above Circumstance

By Eliza Koch

When Chuck Hirt reflects on his life he is amazed at how God has shaped it. As his story unfolds
you will begin to understand why.

Hirt was left by his unwed mother to be raised by strangers on a farm outside Isanti, Minn. He was
raised in an environment full of sin and perversion. This affected his four siblings deeply and permanently.
Hirt, for a time, escaped inexplicably unscathed. “For some reason God just had his hand on me,” he
explained.

After high-school, Hirt joined the United States Air Force. He also met and fell in love with a local
pastor’s daughter, Kristen. Hirt came home on leave in 1966 and they were married. The happy couple
moved to England, and Hirt left his painful childhood behind. It was when he and his wife returned to the
U.S. that his past caught up with him.

He became an alcoholic. Like so many other addicts, his behavior affected his family. In September
of 1989 his wife finally had enough. She told him he was an alcoholic and he had to move out. “If you
decide you have a problem and you want to get well I will give you a chance,” she said. He fought as hard as
he could to convince her that he wasn’t an alcoholic but she refused to budge. Defeated, he agreed to go
through a recovery program.

After he completed the program, there was still something missing. “I didn’t know how to live
sober,” he said, “I just knew that the penalty hanging out there [losing my family] was too severe for me to go
back to alcohol.” He struggled with anger and resentment for years, until August 9, 1993. That night he
found what was missing from his recovery.

He went to North Heights Lutheran Church to attend a conference on the Holy Spirit. Before the
conference, he stepped into a prayer room, where he was forever transformed.

“I wish I could tell you exactly what I prayed, but I have no recollection of that. It was genuine
repentance and just crying out to God. I remember distinctly that something very deep happened. When I
got up the next day I was a brand new creation. This burden of guilt was lifted. It was euphoric. I was sold
out to Christ from that point on,” Hirt said.

He realized that this was exactly what was missing; there was a complete lack of spiritual guidance in
his recovery. His marriage was renewed and God revealed his new purpose. He has since made it his
mission to help addicts find that spiritual guidance. As the board president of Metro Hope Ministries, he is
working with churches to aid them in reaching those who need help in their congregations.

One of the ways he is doing this is working with other faith-based recovery organizations to host the
Annual Recovery Celebration Friday September 14. The purpose of this event is to celebrate Christ’s
involvement in the recovery process. This year the Recovery Celebration Committee including Minnesota
Teen Challenge, Metro Hope Ministries, AlphaCitiCorps, and many others are working to provide workshops
at the celebration.

“This is an incredible tool,” Hirt said. The workshops are designed to teach churches how to offer
“a strong Christ-based place for recovering addicts to go.” Some churches don’t realize the role they can play
in the recovery process. These three workshops can equip churches, ministers and lay to minister to people
with addiction. They are scheduled from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. Those who wish to attend can register online
at http://www.recoverycelebration.com or by phone at (612)238-6800 for a fee of $25.

The organizations involved with this event are working together to bring Christ’s message to those
struggling with addiction. “We want to bring together ministries that are out there helping people in
bondage. We want them to collaborate on being available for churches,” Hirt said. It is his hope that,
through this collaboration, churches will provide the spiritual guidance his own recovery was missing.

IN THE FIELD ROW MAINTENANCE 4x4 JARRAFF

Wolf Tree Experts: Providing Customer Service
and Employee Safety for 81 Years
Wolf Tree Experts, Inc., Knoxville, Tenn., has a deep history in the relocated to clean
tree trimming industry. The company was founded in 1926 by Jacob up after the storm.
L. Wolf. He started with residential jobs, expanding to utility and Hurricanes aren’t
telephone company contracts when his sons joined the business. the only storms Wolf
Now, in its third generation, the company is still growing and setting Tree is prepared to
high standards in the process. Tom Wolf, president of Wolf Tree handle. “In January
said, “Our company works to provide a rewarding, satisfying and and February 2007,
safe working environment for our employees, and to exceed the we transferred
expectations of our customers to help ensure reliable, uninterrupted more than 100 Wolf
electric service over our entire service area.” Tree employees
to Oklahoma and
Territories & Projects Missouri to help
This service area covers 12 states in the southeast corner of the restore power
United States. To do this successfully the company has broken following a major Wolf Tree Experts, Inc. services 12 states utilizing
the territory into four regions. A regional manager is assigned to ice storm,” he said. tree trimmers, lift trucks, brush chippers and other
each one of these sections to oversee the projects. Each regional In these situations pieces of ground clearing equipment.
manager is also responsible for 125 to 175 of Wolf Tree’s 650 crews must be even
employees. “Having a manager in each area helps immensely more dedicated to their work. It is not unusual for crews to work all
in maintaining our production goals and schedules,” said Safety day and night to return power to customers after a storm.
Director Louis Geasland, “It is much easier for each manager to
handle 7 to 10 contracts in his region than for all of them to go Equipment & Maintenance
through the central office.” Reliable equipment plays a big role in returning power after a
storm, as well as maintaining power. “In the event of an ice storm
Covering a large service area also means taking on a variety our Jarraffs [ All Terrain Tree Trimmer (Jarraff Industries, St. Peter,
of jobs. Wolf Tree provides services under time-and-material Minn.)] really help a lot. They keep the guy out of the danger
contracts, lump-sum arrangements or a per-unit basis. Most of Wolf area,” said Wolf. Wolf Tree uses nine Jarraffs, five additional
Tree’s customers consist of municipal electric distributors, electric mechanical trimmers, lift trucks, brush chippers and other pieces
cooperatives and investor owned utilities. These companies have of ground clearing equipment. Each piece of equipment proves
anywhere from 300 miles of line to thousands of miles of line. to be necessary to Wolf Tree’s operations. Bucket trucks are used
Regardless of the size of the project, Wolf Tree keeps these lines in urban areas to keep the power lines clean. The mechanical
clear. “We help keep the lights on, in a nut shell. Trees are the trimmers come into play in rural areas. After the branches in these
leading cause of power outages, and we provide the services to areas are trimmed, mowers come in to clean up the floor of the
utilities to keep the trees out of power lines. In the event of a storm right-of-way.
we clear the way to get the power back on,” Wolf said.
Because Wolf Tree depends heavily on their equipment, it is
Wolf Tree crews are prepared to move in as soon as a storm blows important that each piece is maintained properly. Area Manager
over. “When natural disasters hit, we like to be ready,” said Wolf. Cliff Charrier said, “We keep the mechanical trimmers greased
After Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, 300 Wolf Tree employees daily. Also, we keep debris cleaned off of the equipment, so it

PROJECT PROFILE:
Contractor: Wolf Tree Experts, Inc.,
Location: Knoxville, Tenn
Equipment Used: Jarraff 4 Wheel Drive All-Terrain Tree Trimmer
Specifications: Row Maintenance, 12 State Service Area

in and trim a tree. It
might take you an
hour to two hours to
trim that tree, and
that Jarraff could
have it trimmed in 15
minutes,” Charrier
said. Efficiency plays
a key role in fulfilling
Wolf Tree’s duty of
ensuring reliable
and uninterrupted
electrical service for
their customers.

Wolf Tree owns nine Jarraff All-Terrain Tree Trimmers in addition to five other Safety
mechanical trimmers.
Wolf is adamant
doesn’t sit there and dry. If you don’t, you’re going to have a fire about making safety, After the branches are trimmed, Wolf Tree uses
there.” Charrier’s crew spends one to two hours at the end of every as well as reliable mowers to clean up the floor of the right-of-way.
week cleaning and maintaining their equipment. “This helps control service, a priority.
breakdowns,” he said. The company has eight people working in He said, “The bottom line is, everything we do has to hinge on the
the maintenance department who service the equipment. However, safe work performance of the crews.” With no fatalities for the past
the majority of repairs are outsourced. 25 years, the company has a better than average safety record.
“That is the ultimate failure. If we have a fatality, we let our people
Given the amount of equipment the company uses, maintenance down,” he said. It is Wolf Tree’s emphasis on safety that led them
can prove to be difficult; for this reason manufacturer support is to receive an experience modification rating 14 percent above the
essential. “If we have any problems in the field, we can call Jarraff average tree trimming company. (Insurance companies use this
Industries. Most of the time they can coach us through it right experience modification rating to determine workers compensation
there on the job site, if it’s not anything major. They help us out a premiums.) The company uses both equipment and training to
lot with maintenance,” said Charrier. Many times, communicating maintain their high safety standards.
mechanical problems to a manufacturer can be difficult. Being
able to work with manufacturers is integral to preventing The use of a mechanical trimmer allows crews to stay on the ground,
unnecessary downtime. 75 feet away from the power lines. “With a mechanical trimmer the
man is out of harms way in a protective cab. The guy in a bucket or
Efficiency tied to a tree is, a lot of times, within 10 feet of high-voltage electric
Being able to repair equipment quickly and properly improves the lines,” said Wolf.
company’s efficiency. If equipment is down, crews are unable to
work to their full potential. This is especially true when a mechanical In addition to complying with all local, state and federal safety laws
trimmer needs repair, as it is 3 to 5 times more efficient than an and regulations, Wolf Tree ensures worker safety through regular
aerial lift crew. While these lift crews can clear a mile of line per evaluations. “One thing Louis [Geasland] has put in place that
week, a mechanical trimmer can clear five miles. “There is no does go above and beyond what most companies would do are
match speed wise. For example, you could take a bucket crew to go the safety evaluations,” said Wolf. These evaluations focus on safe
work behavior in an attempt to address issues before they lead to
an accident. “You can have all the safety rules and regulations, but
if you can’t actually see them in application in the field, it doesn’t
really have much of an affect,” Geasland said.

The company further ensures a safe work environment through its
hiring process. Wolf Tree hires only people with professional qualities
and requires that they pass a drug test. Wolf Tree also holds Tree
Care Industry safety meetings every week to discuss safety issues.
The extensive training required by Wolf Tree includes first aid and
CPR as well as equipment training. It is Wolf Tree’s dedication to
safety and service that has kept them in the business for 81 years.

By Eliza Koch
Mechanical tree trimmers keep Wolf Tree’s crews on the ground and out
of harms way.

Phone: 1-507-934-8688 or 1-800-767-7112

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Wright Tree Service: Keeping Its Priorities Straight

By Eliza Koch

John L. Wright started Wright Tree Service, Des Moines, Iowa, in 1933 with nothing more than $20 worth of
tools, a second-hand car and unrelenting determination. The first year’s annual sales totaled a mere $600.
This didn’t discourage Wright. By 1938 the company had turned around; he was able to quit his part-time job
and dedicate himself completely to the business. Now, in its 75th year, Wright Tree Service has grown into a
multi-million dollar company, employing 2,000 employees in 26 states.

Wright Tree’s service area covers 26 states ranging from the
Pacific Ocean to the Great Lakes, from Canada to the tip of
Texas.
Click here to enlarge image

Throughout its history, Wright Tree Service has focused on safety, innovation and technology. “The top priority
for our company has always been safety. It is really the driving force behind our dedication to innovation and
technology,” said Equipment Supervisor Kevin Fitzpatrick of Wright Tree Service. These priorities are

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incorporated into every job, every piece of equipment and every training procedure. “This results in the latest
and most effective equipment and operating procedures for the ultimate benefit of the customer,” said
Fitzpatrick.

Right Technique, Right Place, Right Time
Wright Tree’s service area ranges from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Lakes, from Canada to the tip of Texas.
The company offers services ranging from herbicide application to line clearing to right-of-way mowing. “There
is no project too big or too small that we can’t handle. Everything from one guy with a spray pack to 100 guys
and all kinds of equipment,” said Fitzpatrick. Handling a wide variety of jobs in a sizeable service area can
prove to be challenging.

In any Wright Tree project, safety is paramount. Before any other areas of the project can be addressed, safety
must be considered. Each employee goes through extensive training that covers pertinent procedures allowing
them to handle each job safely.

Innovative procedures and the proper technology play a large role in completing these jobs safely and
efficiently. According to Fitzpatrick, it is integral that each employee works in cooperation with the utility
customers to handle each job with the right technique, in the right place, at the right time. “Pre-job planning
and open communication with the utilities allow us to make sure we can deliver what they need in the time
frame given,” he said.

Because knowledge of the proper equipment needed to handle each project is so important, the equipment
manufacturers are also involved in carrying out each plan. According to Fitzpatrick, “It’s like a three-legged
stool. Wright Tree has a relationship with the utility companies to determine their needs. We also work hand-in-
hand with the equipment manufacturers so they can support our needs as dictated through the utility.”

The Latest and the Greatest
As part of Wright Tree’s commitment to innovation and technology, the company owns and operates the latest
industry equipment. “If [a piece of equipment] is available to the tree industry, we either have it or we’ve tried
it,” said Fitzpatrick. The company uses lift trucks, chip trucks, chippers, grinders, tracked and wheeled brush
mowers. Its fleet includes an extensive number of Geo-Boy Brush Cutters (Geo-Boy, St. Peter, Minn.), and
Jarraff All-Terrain Tree Trimmers (Jarraff Industries, St. Peter, Minn.).

Working with the proper equipment significantly improves the efficiency of Wright Tree’s crews. The company
has found mechanical tree trimmers to be more efficient than bucket trucks when trimming in rural areas. This
is due to the fact that, unlike with the bucket truck, there is no set-up time; crews can continue down right-of-
ways trimming as they go. “A small fleet of lift trucks would not be able to keep up with one Jarraff and an
experienced operator,” said Fitzpatrick.

Growing knowledge of mechanical trimmers has led to the machines being utilized in ways the industry never
imagined. Wright Tree is able to use these trimmers, which were designed to trim transmission lines at great
distances, to trim distribution lines. “It’s a true testament to the flexibility of these trimmers when you can take a
machine that was designed to operate at very far distances, away from transmission lines, and use them in
very close work around the distribution lines,” said Fitzpatrick, “These are truly innovative and productive
machines.”



According to Equipment Supervisor Kevin Fitzpatrick,
innovative procedures and the proper technology play a large
role in completing Wright Tree’s jobs safely and efficiently.

Each piece of Wright Tree’s equipment serves a specific purpose. As mentioned before, the company makes it
a priority to use the right equipment on each of the jobs it handles. Part of knowing what equipment to use
includes how to use each machine in conjunction with another to achieve the best results. “Teaming the
efficiency of a mechanical tree trimmer with a wheeled mower like the Geo-Boy makes it very easy to trim a
greater number of miles per week,” said Fitzpatrick.

This equipment not only improves the company’s efficiency but the safety of the crews as well. The mechanical
trimmers and brush cutters allow them to complete a large amount of work while limiting the physical exposure
of the operator. The mechanical trimmer operators are positioned in a cab 75 feet away from the power line.
“With this minimal exposure your incidence of injury on the job site goes pretty much down to nothing,” said
Fitzpatrick.



The operator of the Jarraff All-Terrain Tree Trimmer remains
safely on the ground while the trimmer’s fiber glass boom
reaches cutting heights up to 75 feet.

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The Maintenance Challenge
Keeping the equipment up and running is also an integral part of maximizing efficiency in each project. One
would think maintaining a fleet as large as Wright Tree’s would be difficult. According to Fitzpatrick, this is not
the case, “Maintenance on the machines themselves is fairly limited. We change the oil in the engines,
periodically change oil in the hydraulic systems, and regularly grease the machines.”

Wright Tree makes sure that the crews are properly trained to maintain the equipment. Oftentimes this is done
with the help of the manufacturer themselves. Wright Tree’s maintenance programs for its mechanical
equipment are taken directly from the equipment manuals. However, they can also rely on the manufacturer for
assistance. In many cases, questions regarding the regular maintenance of the mechanical tree trimmers can
quickly be answered by customer service. “If we have a question about when the hydraulic oil should be
changed, all we have to do is call them up and they will give us the information we need,” said Fitzpatrick.

Ahead of the Training Curve
While training plays a role in maintaining each machine it becomes even more important when fulfilling Wright
Tree’s goal of making safety the top priority. Some manufacturers are willing to help train the company’s crews
to safely use the equipment with safety manuals, in-service training at the manufacturer’s facility and on-the-
job training with manufacturer personnel. “When we start work with a new machine the manufacturers are out
there showing us how to maintain and operate it. Jarraff and Geo-Boy actually allow us to come to their
facilities, use their equipment, and train our safety managers on how to use the equipment safely,” said
Fitzpatrick.

The company has found that ongoing communication along with training is the best way to prevent injuries.



This includes making crews aware of consistent overarching operating procedures. This is done, in part, with
an extensive manual outlining each of the company’s operating procedures. According to Fitzpatrick, “It tells
crews what the company is about and what they are expected to do to complete a job safely.” This manual not
only meets the company’s safety standards, but demonstrates their dedication to innovation as well. “We are
ahead of the industry curve with this manual, in how complete it is,” he said.

When Wright Tree’s crews get out to the job site, safety remains the number one priority. In addition to the
extensive equipment and operating procedure training, each crew holds weekly tailgate safety meetings as
well as pre- and post-job meetings. “We have safety personnel whose only task is to be on the job site with
crews to facilitate education and training,” Fitzpatrick said.

About the Author:
Eliza Koch is a technical writer based out of Mankato, Minn.

To access this Article, go to:
http://www.elp.com/elp/en-us/index/display/article-display.articles.utility-products.volume-
5.issue-11.product-focus.line-construction-maintenance.wright-tree-service-keeping-its-
priorities-straight.htmlhtml


Konsbruck Hotel - St. Peter, Minnesota - Historic Hotel of Southern MN

Konsbruck Hotel
Spend a quiet, calming evening at the historic Konsbruck Hotel. During your stay, soak in a soothing
tub, indulge in a relaxing massage or venture downstairs to enjoy the life-enhancing pleasures of an
elegant meal at Richard's Restaurant & Pub. Take some time to view our lavishly decorated,
individually designed rooms and choose one for your stay.

file:///F|/Job%20Stuff/Writing%20Samples/Marketing%20Pieces/Konsbruck%20Ho...20St.%20Peter,%20Minnesota%20-%20Historic%20Hotel%20of%20Southern%20MN.htm [9/25/2010 4:08:37 PM]

Lime Valley Advertising, Inc.

INSIGHT DECEMBER 2009
Request More Information | Portfolio | Visit Lime Valley's Web Site | Send to a friend Volume 4.1

Customer Contact with Results Making an Impact
You Can Use in a Digital Age
Regular e-newsletters are one of the most
effective and inexpensive ways to remain in
regular contact with current and potential clientele.
The possibilities for themes and topics are
endless. Not only are e-newsletters an
inexpensive way to reach your audience; they are
also one of the most measurable. E-mail software
Lime Valley's staff members specialize in both print
like Campaigner® allows you to monitor open
and multimedia design. As a result, each client's
rates, click-throughs, forward-to-a-friends,
message is delivered consistently and effectively,
bounced e-mails and unsubscribes. You can then
providing the maximum impact on the intended
use this information to keep track of which issues
audience. This has been the model of successful
generate the most interest.
advertising agencies since the advent of the digital
age. Agencies realize that customers benefit most
Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., uses this
from a team of both digital and print designers
strategy to stay in touch with parents of college
overseen by an art director who understands their
freshman with a bi-weekly e-newsletter. Lime
product or service. The result is a range of
Valley developed an attractive template that is
integrated pieces delivered by one firm. When
easy to update and reflects the identity of the
working to develop unified pieces and consistent
file:///F|/Job%20Stuff/Writing%20Samples/Marketing%20Pieces/Lime%20Valley%20Advertising,%20Inc..htm (1 of 3) [9/25/2010 4:08:54 PM]

Lime Valley Advertising, Inc.

organization. For every issue Lime Valley messages, this model is more effective than
incorporates articles provided by MLC into the utilizing separate print and digital design houses.
template and delivers them to MLC's e-mail list.
This has proven to be a timely and economical Learn more about Lime Valley's diverse team here.
way for MLC to maintain contact with and provide
Campaigner® is a trademark of Protus IP Solutions.
pertinent information to the parents of their
students.

Click here to see examples of successful
e-newsletters.

iPod Touch Winner Announced
Congratulations to Mike Burns of Underground Tools, Inc., Lino Lakes, Minn.,
winner of the iPod Touch from the Maximum Impact survey. Thanks to those
of you who took the time to fill out the survey, your responses will help us to
better serve you in the future.

file:///F|/Job%20Stuff/Writing%20Samples/Marketing%20Pieces/Lime%20Valley%20Advertising,%20Inc..htm (2 of 3) [9/25/2010 4:08:54 PM]

©Copyright 2008 Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Articles contributed by Lime Valley staff.

¬ Success Story C ompanies are getting smarter about their marketing
and, in turn, expecting more from it. These
It is this relationship that drives most estimates.
It takes time to develop a creative concept for

PROJECT PLANNING
expectations translate into more strategic planning in each project. It also takes time to take that
the initial stages of a marketing project. Plans must concept and turn it into the final deliverable the
Advertisting be more targeted and estimates more detailed and client has envisioned. Consulting an agency with
¬ E-Newsletter exact. It is no longer acceptable to spend money on years of experience can prevent any problems that
magazine advertising, billboards or brochures before may arise with inaccurate estimates and put your
considering the final product. mind at ease.
¬ Project Planning “Individuals have more responsibility to show a Another relationship that an agency can bring to a
reasonable return on investment. Their plans must project is with outside vendors. Working with a variety

Estimating With Experience
Issue 4.1—What’s Inside:

have the most impact at the least possible cost,” of vendors on numerrous projects gives Lime Valley
said Brian Maciej, president of Lime Valley the understanding needed to find the best pricing,
Advertising, Inc. process, materials, etc. for completing each project.

This growing pressure to accurately plan and estimate As mentioned before, the cost of each project depends
marketing projects has lead companies to turn to on a number of variables, including client involvement.

4.1-April ’081
agencies for help. It is important for the agency to be able to work with
a client’s in-house capabilities. They must be able to
“Clients rely on agencies for project budgets and estimate the cost and time it will take to complete a
planning. We draw on years and years of experience project using a variety of resources, including client
to create accurate estimates for each project,” input. There are instances when a client will only
said Maciej. need production services. Another client may depend
on the agency for complete creative services from
Estimates differ greatly from project to project. There the beginning until the final product is delivered to
are printing costs, creative services and production his or her door.
fees to consider, these costs can vary depending on
Maciej said, “We want clients to feel confident

“Individuals have more utilizing their marketing staff and in turn be able to
rely on us to complete their vision using our
talent and expertise.”
responsibility to show a
reasonable return
on investment. ”
client input, project scale, etc. Lime Valley Advertising
is able to use the knowledge gained from past
projects to create estimates with a high level of detail
that eliminates the possibility of surprise costs and
time restrictions with the final product. “We are able
to understand the relationship between creative and
production services in order to tie hours to a single
final cost for deliverables,” said Maciej.

The spirit of volunteerism can be expressed through serving hot meals to the
Outside Lime Valley Advertising
Thinking the Outbox Receives Five Awards
homeless, spending time mentoring a child or collecting donations for a family
who has fallen on hard times. However, often overlooked are the opportunities
to give back using one’s carefully honed talents. These occasions to give back
can be harder to find but, with a little out of the box thinking, the rewards can
be greater than any other volunteer experience.

Giving Back and Learning More T hink the only way you can reach a
potential customer’s inbox is by launching
your own e-mail campaign? Think again.
e-newsletter campaign, open-rates can
determine the validity of a publisher’s
e-newsletter. A publisher may have a large
Every February, advertising agencies and service institutions across America anticipate
the announcement of the Service Industry Advertising Awards. At Lime Valley Advertising,
Inc., anticipation was soon replaced with celebration. The agency received five awards for
commentary by Eliza Koch There are a multitude of e-newsletters subscriber base but, if only five percent are its work in 2007.
produced by trade publications that contain opened, it might not be a good buy. The
advertising opportunities. Advertising in these same is true of click-through rates. You will The awards included:
e-newsletters allows you to reach your target want to make sure that recipients are not
A year ago I found a way to contribute to a cause I feel strongly about using audience through a medium they trust. only opening the e-newsletter, but that they
skills I spent four years of college perfecting. I began volunteering with Bronze Award Bronze Award
are interested in the ads as well. Minnesota Pork Producers Association Hickory Tech Corporation
Minnesota Teen Challenge, a Christ-centered recovery program for addicts of According to a study done by Forrester Porkcast Newspaper Advertisement
all ages. I was able to help the organization gain publicity through arranging Research, more than 22 percent of Now that you know where to advertise you
media coverage for events they coordinated throughout the year. I wrote press people trust an e-newsletter or other must decide which space to buy. There premium services
releases and articles for them. The experience proved to be just as beneficial e-correspondence to which they have are opportunities to purchase banners, HIGH-SPEED DIGITAL

for me as it was for Teen Challenge. subscribed. In comparison, only sidebar ads and editorial space in many DSL TV
two percent trust unsolicited e-mail e-newsletters. Often, the editorial space is hickorytech.com
I was able to contribute to a program that helps people successfully overcome
www.

marketing. As with any form of marketing, less expensive. It also offers more space for
addiction while gaining experience that would prove to be invaluable in my e-newsletter advertising has guidelines to information and photos.
future career. Volunteering with Teen Challenge also opened doors to work with follow in order to generate the most bang Merit Award
other organizations, like Fishing for Life. for your buck. It might be wise to also consider a package Greater Mankato United Way
deal. For instance, trade publications will Growing Hope
Fishing for Life works to provide fishing poles and educational materials to When starting out it can be difficult to decide often bundle online space with ads in
4.1-April ’082

4.1-April ’083
inner city kids who might not otherwise be able to enjoy a pastime many which e-newsletter to choose. One major the print publication. This may include
of us take for granted. Both of the organizations gave me the opportunity consideration that will help with this decision e-newsletters as well as advertising on the
for personal and professional growth. I was able to see my work published is the audience. Many trade publications offer Web site. This is a great way to
and stories covered, with the understanding that they were contributing to e-newsletters to their subscribers. This is hit your target audience from all
something more than my portfolio. a good place to start. These publications angles, while taking advantage of
already have a specific audience all you reduced rates.
The opportunities to offer your professional skills to a worthy cause are Merit Award Merit Award
have to do is decide which one is right
endless. Many organizations are in need of accounting services, marketing Twin Valley Council Boy Scouts of America Martin Luther College
for your product or service. Oftentimes
expertise, event planning know-how, and more. Chances are the talents you Website Parents Page e-newsletter
e-newsletters prove to be a more cost-effective
use every day in your career can be used to serve others. All it takes is the
way to reach audiences of
drive to support something you believe in and a little imagination.
larger, more expensive
trade publications.

Naturally, you will
Barb Betts want to make sure the recipients
opt-in or subscribe to the newsletter,
Eliza Koch is the Director of Client but other factors to consider are the
services at Lime Valley Advertising, Inc.
metrics. As with your own personal
These awards represent a diverse range of media, including an e-newsletter, a Web
site, and three types of print communications. The SIAA’s purpose is to recognize
creative advertising and communications in the service industry. With nearly 2,000
entries in 2007, the SIAA Awards have become the fastest growing advertising awards in
the nation.
Although LVAI is celebrating the awards and recognition, the agency is not losing sight of its
mission. “We don’t ever enter into client agreements with the intent to win awards. Our main
focus is to provide a significant return to our clients. But when it’s all said and done, these
awards are a nice way to bring further recognition to our clients,” said Brian Maciej, President
of LVAI.

©Copyright 2007 Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. Articles contributed by Lime Valley staff.

¬ Value Proposition

PersonalIze Your Message
¬ Webinar Variable Data Printing (VDP) allows businesses to seasons and geographical areas,” said Brian Maciej,
personalize their printed materials while still benefiting President of Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. This process
from the advantages of mass production. VDP has the makes your materials more likely to get noticed. This is
Learns about VDP capability to change selected text or graphics within an inexpensive method of making a stronger impression
a document without stopping the press. While other on individuals within a large market. VDP can increase
Corporation forms of mass production can produce many copies the ROI for a particular marketing campaign up to 20
Economic Development of one document, VDP produces the same number of times, according to Manthe.
unique documents in the same amount of time.
VDP can be utilized in different areas of a company in
¬ Greater Mankato These documents are produced through digital printing. a variety of ways. “From a creative standpoint, VDP
This process allows both static and variable information opens up a very wide door for creative opportunity,”
to be sent to the press or printer. Variable fields are said Maciej. There are three main commercial uses
Issue 3.6—What’s Inside: indicated with a template. The fields are then filled in for VDP. The first is transactional, which includes bills,
using a database that contains the variable information. statements and invoices. The second is publications

Greater Mankato Economic Development Corporation
Can Use Variable Data Printing
Brady Manthe of J-C Press said, “Depending on the such as, guides, manuals and catalogs. This allows
amount of information in the database, it is possible to companies to eliminate information that does not
print an unlimited number of pieces of variable data on pertain to a particular customer. The third, and most

3.6-June ’071
each document.” useful from a marketing perspective, is promotional.
These items include everything from brochures to
The most basic form of VDP is mail merging. This
direct mail.
allows a different name and address to be printed
on each document. Versioning is a higher form of Companies, however, must not overlook the opportunity
VDP that changes the messages for different groups to improve their internal communications with VDP.
within the target audience. These groups are often In a world where employees are overloaded with
determined by demographic information. The next level information, VDP can make internal communications
of VDP, customization, narrowly tailors the information more efficient. The process could prove to be useful
for specific groups using a database. Customization in this area, whether customizing elements of a
can be used when a company wants to target an memo or articles in a company newsletter, employees
individual based on his or her purchasing interests. and customers alike will appreciate the personalized
The most complex form of VDP is personalization. communications. Regardless of the audience, VDP
These documents are unique to each individual. The can add the individual touch necessary to make a
text and images can be changed on each document lasting impression.
that is printed.
Lime Valley Advertising, Inc. personalized this edition
Mankato, MN 56001
1961 Premier Dr., Ste 100 This mass customization of marketing materials makes of the Storyboard using Variable Data Printing. This
GMEDC it possible for businesses to target individuals or specific billboard illustrates some of VDP's capabilities.
groups within the marketplace. “VDP allows products There are five other examples used throughout this
to be channeled more accurately for certain selling
Jonathan Zierdt
newsletter. Can you find them all?

Imagine the possibilities for
Greater Mankato Economic
Development Corporation

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