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Text Box: Leading by Example We recently received the following letter from a former employee, complimenting Don Dippold, Supervisor at the Caterpillar East Peoria facility: Don makes sure that all his employees have everything they need to do their job and do it well. He answers any questions they might have to the best of his knowledge and is willing to check with other VSI employees to better his answer. During my interview, he asked me what I thought a good supervisor was. I told him someone that is respected by his employees because he is willing to get dirty right next to them. A supervisor should be easy going and understandable. After that, Don informed me that he would be my supervisor. At first I thought, “Great, he already hates me.” But on the contrary, he turned out to be the very supervisor I described. Whether or not he reads this, I don’t know, but either way give him and the VSI staff at Building LL in East Peoria Cat my best of wishes. What a great compliment, Don! Keep up the good work! Customer Service Special recognition goes to Mike Abry and his staff at the Caterpillar Pontiac facility for their attention to customer needs. We recently received a note from a Caterpillar 6 Sigma Black Belt thanking Mike for helping out several times on the L-1 Lobby Project by lending his staff and equipment. The customer especially appreciates Mike’s willingness to help on short notice and asks that we extend his sincere appreciation and thanks to Mike for “exemplifying the highest level of professional courtesy and team work.” Way to go, Mike! Outstanding Teamwork Dan Snell, Facility Manager for the Mapleton Caterpillar facility, wishes to thank all of the VSI employees at the Mapleton facility for their outstanding efforts the past few months. Special thanks to Stephanie Kearney, Shelly Hamilton, Jim Woollums, and Jim Mingus for extra efforts in helping when the facility has been short of people. What a great team!

Let’s Get to Know...

Johnny Draper is a Facility Manager at the Caterpillar Facility in Aurora, IL. He has been with VSI since September 16, 2002. He was born and raised in Chicago and was drafted into the US Army. He served in Viet Nam from 1968 to 1969, and was honorably discharged in 1971. He has 1 son and 6 grandchildren. His best memory was being drafted to play baseball in the major leagues for the LA Dodgers, although that dream was ended when he was drafted into the Army.

The VSI Voice

Text Box: VSI Values Focus on customer needs.

Text Box: VSI Advancement Training Program Learn how you can increase your skills and advance.

Text Box: QA Achievers Find out which facilities achieved QA levels of 98% or higher last month.

Text Box: In a hot work area, 4 factors affect the stress on a worker: 1) temperature; 2) humidity; 3) radiant heat (such as from a furnace), and 4) air velocity. The body reacts to high external temperature by circulating blood to the skin, raising skin temperature, and giving off excess heat. However, less blood is available to release heat in this way if the muscles are being used for physical labor. Sweating is another way the body maintains a stable internal temperature in the heat, but sweating works only if the humidity level is low enough to permit evaporation and if fluids and salts that are lost through sweat are replaced. To stay safe at work, be sure to drink as much fluid (water preferred) as often as you can or want. If you’ve been off work for more than 3 days, you need to get acclimated to high temperatures before returning to maximum physical exertion, so don’t push yourself to an extreme.

Text Box: One Year of Service Joshua Appel, Darlean Brown, Velva Hamilton, Sarah Heitz, Michael Krominga, Emir Mujagic, Dottie Mynhier, Rosa

Text Box: VSI has recently implemented an Advancement Training Program for its employees. This training program is a tool for employees to increase their skills and grow with the company. The program includes the following training “tracks:” General Housekeeping to Project Person Training Track. This training program is designed to take some with general housekeeping skills and train them in the additional skills they will need to become a project person (someone who is knowledgeable on floor and carpet care). Project to Lead Person Training Track. This training program builds upon the first program and is designed to take someone with project person skills and train them in the additional skills they will need to become a lead person (someone who helps his or her supervisor direct the actions of other hourly employees). Lead Person to Supervisor Training Track. Building upon the Project to Lead training, this track is designed to take someone with lead person skills and train them in the additional

Text Box: 2401 W. Park 74 Drive Peoria, IL 61615 888.798.6202 · Fax 309.691.0628 www.vonachenservices.com Copyright © 2005 Vonachen Services Inc.

Text Box: Congratulations to Elaine Stafford in our Corinth, MS, Caterpillar plant on her recent marriage on June 24th! We wish you many happy years together!

Text Box: No Guests at Work. Just a reminder: you are not allowed to bring guests to work. This includes your spouse, kids, boyfriend, girlfriend, best friend, etc. Basically, if they’re not also employed by VSI at your same facility, you shouldn’t let them onto the property with you. If you have any questions about this rule, talk to your supervisor or call the Human Resources Department. Thanks for your cooperation!

Text Box: Anniversaries Joe Babbs (3), Joy Butler (2), Almadelia Castillo (2), Joseph Combs (6), Jeff Harder (3), Marsha Harms (2), Barbara Hershey (7), Mary King (2),

Text Box: Janie Lambert (4), Cynthia Livengood (4), Raymond Milleville (8), Alma Mitchell (7), Tammy Morris (2), Charles Mundy (2), Wayne Muzzarelli (2),

Text Box: Sharon Olds (2), Robbie Rafferty (4), Dawn Rowe-Lafary (3), Katie Sanders (3), Donald Tangman (3), Alan Vinson (2), Jared Ward (7), Gary Wishtart (7)

Text Box: Lexus Account—Thanks to Beverly Parrot, Brenda Mohn, and Dwight Sykes for achieving 99.08%! Kudos as well to manager Pam Robertson. Toyota Account—Thanks to Beverly Parrot, Brenda Mohn,

Text Box: Five Years of Service Joe Bolen, Cindy Morgan, Linda Parker

skills they will need to become a supervisor.

Hourly Skilled to Lead Skilled Person Training Track. This training is the first step for a skilled employee to learn the skills needed to become a lead skilled person.

Lead Skilled to Skilled Supervisor Training Track. This training program builds upon the hourly skilled to lead skilled training track and is designed to take someone with lead skilled skills and train them in the additional skills they will need to become a skilled supervisor.

These programs are available to all VSI employees and support our mission of “Creating Opportunity and Growth for our People.” As you can see, much of this training builds upon itself. So, if you are currently an hourly cleaner but you would like to become a supervisor, you would take the first three training tracks to acquire the skills necessary to reach that goal.

If you are interested in pursuing any of this training, talk to your supervisor or

Text Box: contact Mike Harris at mike.harris@vonachenservices.com.

Text Box: and Anthony Maclin for achieving 98.28%! Kudos as well to manager Pam Robertson. Dr. Singer’s Office—Thanks to Marie Thompson and Tieneshia Bailey for achieving

Text Box: 99%! Kudos as well to manager Dan Pierson.

Text Box: “Listen and be attentive to the needs of our customer” is a VSI Value. Are you living this value everyday? Are your co-workers? Try to set an example for others to follow and recognize those who display this value.