Kelsey Maxfield Receives Dale Carnegie Award!
Kelsey Maxfield, CAS, recently received the Breakthrough Award in the Dale Carnegie Course! Great Job Kelsey!
R5 Installation Class!
On October 22nd, we had our Grand Prairie Customer Service Writer, Shaniah Jones, attend the R5 Technical Hardware Installation class. Although Shaniah had no prior experience with Nurse Call, she did great in the class. She asked the most questions and took the most notes. She could not attend the 2nd day due to a family emergency but I'm sure she would've been great.
Also in attendance, we had two Engineers from Texas Health Harris (THR) Harris Ft. Worth. Harris is one of our biggest DFW hospitals. Darryl Harris and Joey Phelps will be working directly with the Responder 5 system and Roy Coffman. They have the talent, tools, and now they have the knowledge to keep their hospital going!
-Chris Coleman, Customer Service & R5 System Instructor
Pflugerville ISD Telecenter U Training!
Brian Banks, from the Grand Prairie office, traveled to Pflugerville ISD for the first time to meet with Dustin Reed, Sales, to train school district security technicians on the Telecenter U operations, maintenance and future integration possibilities. Technicians were Billy Hartzell, John Paul Dela Rosa, Paul Mancha and Security Director, Ryan Ricke. The training was a success and the district representatives were overly thankful and pleased.
Billy Hartzell, John Paul Dela Rosa, Paul Mancha and Security Director, Ryan Ricke.
-Brian Banks, Internal Information Security Officer
IN LITTLE ROCK, SPRINGDALE &
GRAND PRAIRIE ON THE SAME DAY!!!
This was such a fun event, with so many wonderful flavors. We had 6 entries in total at our cookoff on Friday, October 30th.
Thank you to all of the participants for sharing their amazing chili recipes. And thank you tasters for coming out to enjoy. Wasn’t that a treat to the taste buds?
Our LSGP 1st annual chili cook-off winner is….. Josh Murphree with his “Good-bye, where’s my 2-ply” submission.
I’m sure he will not mind sharing with you SOME of his secret ingredients. Congratulations Josh!!!
2nd place was…. (a tie) between:
- Hannah Cooper’s “Slow Cooker Turkey & white bean” chili
- Cindy Burt’s “Simply Chili”
3rd place was….Cindy Murphy (Dan Murphy’s wife) “Mexican Chili”.
Our chefs included: Hannah Cooper, Eric Gillespie, Cindy Burt, Justin Bailey, Josh Murphree and Cindy Murphy.
Great job guys!!! 😊
-Lasonia Reed, CAD Operator
Winning Chili Recipe:
“Good-bye, where’s my 2-ply”
1 lb – Ground Mild Sausage
1lb – Smoked Brisket
1 – Large Red Pepper
1 – Large Onion
1 - Jalapeno
1 – Handful of Home Smoked Shishito Peppers
4 – Garlic Cloves
14 oz – Black Beans, Kidney Beans and Pinto Beans
1 – Can Refried Beans to Add Texture and Thickness
20 oz – Diced Tomatoes
20 oz – Red Enchilada Sauce
2 tsp – Smoked Paprika
2 tsp – Chili Powder to Taste
2 tsp – Cumin
1 tsp – Cayenne or to Taste
Salt and Pepper to Taste
(click to enlarge photos)
RESPONDER ENTERPRISE MEETING!
Michael Lee, Sales, recently hosted a Responder Enterprise Meeting for Baylor Hospital. Chris Andrus, VP of Sales & Business Development (Central Texas Office) and Justin Bailey, Project Manager for Baylor Scott & White, were also in attendance.
LONG TIME EMPLOYEE KATHY SWITZER PASSES AWAY!
Sadly, we received news that one of our retirees, Kathy Switzer, passed away October 16th after bravely facing multiple medical battles with her ever-present smile and a kindness and grace towards others that was simply overwhelming.
Kathy was a long-time employee of Lone Star Communications Houston / Halco and was a cornerstone as the Administrative Assistant until her retirement. She was always ready to be of help with what anyone needed or asked of her and did all things extraordinarily well.
Kathy was the sister-in-law of former Halco owner Marjorie Adams and was Cliff Switzer’s Aunt. Kathy will truly be missed as she was loved by all who knew her.
-Patt Bowles, CCEO | Executive Senior Vice President
VICTORS AT IT AGAIN: FOLLOW HIS
EXPLORATIONS OF CENTRAL TEXAS!
Take a peek at the excitement in Central Texas Offices through the eyes of Chief Operating Officer, Victor Gonzalez, below.
Missed Birthday photos from last month's celebration in San Antonio. Look's like it was an enjoyable pizza party!
Missed Birthday photos from last month's celebration in San Antonio.
Here are pictures of Georgetown, Texas's two Birthday celebrants for October. Jeff Banks, who does all our CAD drawings for engineering in Georgetown, and Cassie Thompson, Senior Payroll Accountant, celebrated October Birthdays with Georgetown office on Tuesday, October 13th in our kitchen. It was an open-house event with people coming and going all afternoon. (click to enlarge photos)
(L) Steven Spangler, Director of Operations, was visiting the Corpus Christi office this week. (R) This is from Corpus Christi. I caught the guys, Joel Trevino & Roel Hernandez, about to leave for the day.
(L) Responder 5 Install new facility San Antonio (R) Jose Mendez and Austin Garcia on site
Jakob Garcia, in San Antonio, running diagnostics at a site
IN LITTLE ROCK, SPRINGDALE &
GRAND PRAIRIE ON THE SAME DAY!!!
On October 30th, 2020 the North Little Rock office hosted its infamous annual Chili Cookoff. This year it was outdoors, so staff could enjoy the amazing weather and games that entailed bean bag toss and giant jinga! Nine participants came forward to contest for the heavyweight title! Contestants included:
Kevin Henderson (last year's winner with turkey chili)
Jay Bradley
Heiko Smith
Paul Suddeth
Jeffery Primm
Ray Bailey
Ron Kruse
Patt Bowles
Rich Orvis
Staff enjoyed tasting the chili with sides and toppings including sour cream, onions, shredded cheese, Fritos and Doritos, cheese dip and washed it down with assorted beverages as well as desserts. After enjoying the taste-testing and submitting their votes, it was concluded that Jeffery Primm, the newest addition to the team as of September 29th, 2020 (a Systems Inspection Technician in North Little Rock) was the winner with his "Cowboy Chili!" Jeffery took home a lovely $25 Amazon gift card! Congratulations Jeffery. Keep serving up delicious Chili! May the force be with you.
The two guys, laying on the concrete, in the front should consider a career change to modeling! Great poses! 👍
Some of the Arkansas ladies having a good ol' time! With great weather and chili, who wouldn't?
FUN & GAMES
(click to enlarge photos)
CHILI TASTING
(click to enlarge photos)
MICHAEL SAVILLE OBTAINS NICET LEVEL IV LICENSE!
Michael Saville, Project Engineer at North Little Rock, obtained his NICET Level IV in Fire Alarm Systems. Way to go Michael! You're awesome!
- Melinda Gibbs, Office Manager, North Little Rock
DAVID MCDANIEL!
Please join me in welcoming David McDaniel to Lone Star Communications as Sprinkler Project Superintendent in the Springdale office. David began his employment on October 22nd and reports to David Nabors. He brings more than 26 years of fire sprinkler installation experience and has expertise in many different fire sprinkler leadership and installation applications.
In his spare time, David enjoys dirt track racing and he recently bought his 1st race car!
His favorite all time NASCAR driver is Jeff Gordan (don’t hold that against him) and he is currently rooting for Chase Elliott. When he’s not tinkering with his race car, he enjoys hanging out with his family and gardening with the misses. David has (3) children and (1) grandchild: Kristal Lynn (26), Jake Ryan (17), & Nevaeh (Heaven spelled backwards, 11). His granddaughter’s name Kenzie and she is 2 years old.
Welcome to the Lone Star Team! He can be reached at the LSAR Springdale office, on his cell at 479-409-1024, or email david.mcdaniel@lonestarcom.com .
-Ramona Rook, Senior Human Resources Director
BOSSES DAY RECOGNITION!
I just wanted to say how much we appreciate our Bosses in Arkansas and Louisiana! This group works hard and cares about their staff. Happy Bosses Day (October 16th)! Bosses like you hold the pieces together. 😊
- Melinda Gibbs, Office Manager, North Little Rock
Kevin Henderson, Chief Operating Officer, Arkansas/Louisiana
Jay Bradley, Service Manager - Little Rock
Rich Orvis, Director of Engineering, Arkansas/Louisiana
Jennifer Mahan, Director of Financial Planning & Analysis, Arkansas/Louisiana
David Nabors, VP of Sprinkler, Arkansas & Doug Crowder, Service Manager, Arkansas
OCTOBER B-DAYS POPCORN PARTY!
Little Rock knows how to have a lot of fun and throw a good creative party. Last time it was a watermelon party, this time (for October B-Days) it happened to be a tasty, buttery Popcorn Party!
Birthdays: David Nabors, Melissa Terrell and Jay Bradley
DAVID WATSON'S FIRST GRANDDAUGHTER!
Maeve Amelia Clark was born October 22nd, 2020 8:00 a.m. at home before the midwife arrived. Way to go Michael! 20”. 7 lbs. 12 oz.
David Watson is an Account Executive for the Little Rock office.
-Melinda Gibbs, Office Manager, North Little Rock
