Bringing experience to a young company
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Kevin Murray Operations Manager Clapper & Company Minverva, OH |
Ron Clapper, owner of Clapper & Company, got off to a hot start in the snow & ice industry in 2004. In 2008, after a bit of a peak, he stepped back and took stock of his business. Along came Kevin Murray, who now serves as Clapper’s operations manager. With approximately 30 years of experience in sales and management, Murray helped Clapper regroup and look at his company from a different perspective.
“I have known Kevin for many years, way before I could drive. He was actually one of my first snow clients,” Clapper says. “Before I brought Kevin in we did a lot by the seat of our pants. Now we have a better accounting system, we track everything a lot better and the operations side has improved.”
Clapper says Murray works constantly to improve efficiencies through planning and dense routing and has become a tremendous asset on the sales side. With Murray’s help, Clapper has been able to expand into new markets where he had previously encountered resistance.
“I’m a country boy from a small town where everyone knows me. Kevin helped me realize that in a bigger market, they don’t care who you are—they want to see what you have to offer,” Clapper says. “Kevin grew up in a different era. He’s bringing that experience and an added level of professionalism to our company.”
Clapper admits it was hard to cede some of that control to Murray, but in the end he knows he and his company are better off for it. “I grew this company and it was tough to listen to him, but sometimes you have to listen to that outside voice,” Clapper says. “We butted heads at first, but he knew what we were capable of doing and he has helped us achieve it. I’m grateful to have him as part of my company.”
Newcomer takes lead on safety program
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Tony Zwicker |
Tony Zwicker has only been with Kingdom Services for two years, but he has made quite an impact in such a short time. Hired as a part-time employee to help with fall cleanups, Zwicker’s value became quickly apparent to Kingdom’s owner Michael Baker, who promoted him to operations manager.
Baker says Zwicker has excelled at every task that has been given to him, whether it’s working on a sidewalk crew, plowing, managing routes, training employees or taking the initiative to suggest ways to improve the business. For example, he streamlined routes and improved the company’s documentation processes by requiring crews to take photos on site after each storm.
One area in which Zwicker has made a tremendous impact, Baker says, is in safety. He took it upon himself to upgrade and refine the company’s safety policies. He has held safety meetings and trainings, implemented new safety methods, procured safety equipment for team members and will be creating a full safety program with SIMA resources. His efforts will allow the company to protect its employees and equipment while delivering the best service to Kingdom’s 100 residential and 45 commercial sites.
“Tony amazes me every week with his dedication and drive to make our company the best service in town,” Baker says. “It’s not about the reward for him, it’s the pride in doing things well. He honors our company by giving his best. We are grateful and incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful person working with us.”
Sidewalk manager shines in difficult snow & ice role
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Joe McLean Sidewalk Manager MPS Property Services Markham, Ontario |
Anyone in the snow industry knows sidewalk work is a tough sell. But MPS Property Services in Markham, Ontario, has benefited from having Joe McLean as its sidewalk manager for the past seven years.
According to owner Jim Monk, CSP, McLean maintains complete control of the company’s 25 sidewalk crews—including hiring, training and supervision. He readies material and equipment before an event, and alerts crews when the storm is approaching. He troubleshoots sites, making sure all the details are covered. After the event, he debriefs crews, gathers and collates time sheets, and analyzes areas of weakness. He then begins preparing for the next event.
McLean is also involved in the equipment purchasing process. MPS recently purchased new sidewalk equipment and McLean did much of the legwork in researching the different brands, styles, etc. to find the best fit. “Sidewalks are the toughest part of our business. It’s physically demanding with tough hours,” Monk says. “But Joe is tenacious. He is always watching, troubleshooting and making sure our sidewalk teams are at the top of their game. It’s a tough job and he has become invaluable to our company. He is worth every penny!”
