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Issue 2 • Volume 3 • April 10 ENVIRONMENT Oldcastle Materials Wildlife Habitat Leadership Team Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher. To forget how to dig the earth and to tend the soil is to forget ourselves.
Establishing wildlife habitat sites on corporate lands offers numerous benefits to a variety of audiences. Potential advantages include improved employee morale, stronger community relations, added cost savings, enhanced regulatory agency relationships, compliance with environmental requirements, increased biodiversity, environmental educational opportunities and increased public recognition. Oldcastle Materials has worked with Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) since 2004 and currently has eight certified wildlife habitat sites. Several others are expected to earn certification this fall, and new sites are being developed. To share and leverage our internal resources, Oldcastle Materials formed a Wildlife Habitat Leadership Team to maximize our in-house experience and talent with others within the Oldcastle Materials Group (OMG) that are just starting to become involved. These individuals have demonstrated their leadership and commitment to this very important environmental Oldcastle initiative. Please feel free to contact them with questions or advice regarding the establishment of wildlife habitat sites or the certification process.
"For an industry that derives a large portion of its revenue from the mining of natural resources, it is important to not only tell the public that we are committed to environmental stewardship, but to show them. Our relationship with WHC and our commitment to support wildlife habitat sites on company-owned property speaks volumes to anyone who might doubt our sincerity," said Bob. Bob's sentiment regarding management support of wildlife habitat sites is shared by the entire Wildlife Habitat Leadership Team. "At a time when all efforts are focused on cost reduction, efficiency enhancement and backlog development, it is rewarding to know that management supports our wildlife habitat site and the positive public sentiment it garners."
Kevin has been involved with the establishment of wildlife habitat sites at The Shelly Company since 2006, and under his leadership, they have received Wildlife at Work certification in 2007, Corporate Lands for Learning (CLL) in 2008 and Wildlife at Work recertification in 2009 at the Dresden, Ohio, site. "Wildlife sites provide an opportunity for local communities and employees to have a hands-on approach with OMG's environmental stewardship responsibilities. This allows the community and employees to better understand how important the environment and community relationship are to OMG," said Kevin. "CLL certification opens doors to innovative teaching and learning techniques and the opportunity to involve your community in your conservation efforts," he added. "Groups that benefit include students who can use it as an outdoor classroom, scout groups that can earn merit badges and assist in habitat establishment, college students and professors that may conduct research, and members of the community including local business owners." At The Shelly Company, being an environmental steward is a priority, and employee involvement is encouraged. The message is communicated from the top down, starting with the Central Division president, and it's clear to all involved that they are doing something very special.
The Tilcon Connecticut Wildlife at Work team has implemented various wildlife enhancement projects at Tilcon's Colchester site. The team has worked on eradicating invasive plant species, conservation mowing, constructing brush piles for habitat and installing nest boxes. "Through the WHC's Wildlife at Work program, we were able to implement wildlife habitat enhancement projects specifically tailored to wildlife in the area. This has improved habitat for local wildlife at the site and the nearby Jeremy River. In addition, local residents and visitors have access to the site through the Airline Rail Hiking Trail, increasing the WHC program's exposure and improving local community relations," Chris said. Management provides financial support, and employee volunteers supply the manpower at Tilcon Connecticut's wildlife habitat site, which recently received its custom-designed WHC site sign. It is a source of pride for all.
Chip developed the Wildlife Management Plan and Trail Maps for the Montpelier North site in Ohio. His background in cartography and land-use planning and development was helpful and distinguished the certification application from the others submitted in 2009. Efforts in 2010 will focus on working with the Wildlife Habitat Leadership Team to increase educational opportunities that will be used for CLL in 2011. A pollinator open house event is planned for June in preparation for additional certification. "I'm looking forward to mentoring other prospective sites and helping employees interested in natural sciences navigate the WHC Certification process. If it was not for the outreach of the other OMG/WHC sites over the past two years – particularly Dresden – and devoted employees like Mark Miller and Derek Talmage who are interested in wildlife enhancement and site development, this project would have not had the success it has achieved," praised Chip. "Working with the WHC provides an excellent educational opportunity to promote environmental stewardship and responsible land management practices throughout the company, while enhancing biodiversity habitats for wildlife and the local communities in which we operate," he said. Chip offers personal thanks to the ongoing commitment and support of land, funding and personnel by senior and regional management at The Shelly Company, which has resulted in a quality site in which all Shelly employees and the local community can truly be proud.
Mark's wildlife habitat work has been focused on the Montpelier North Site, which received certification in 2009 and won the "Rookie of the Year" award. He is currently working toward the 2010 Pollinator Protection Award and CCL. "Establishing WHC sites within our company is a great way to support not only local wildlife, but the communities we work in as well. The success of these sites is only possible with the support of management, which is shown by The Shelly Company's great accomplishments with our sites," said Mark. "I think the establishment of this leadership team will help others at Oldcastle move forward at a faster, more confident pace knowing there are colleagues they can reach out to with questions and for advice. This helps us all to become better environmental stewards."
Joyce leads the wildlife habitat initiative from the corporate level at Oldcastle Materials. She processes the annual membership dues and authorizes WHC biologists to visit sites that are under consideration for the establishment of a wildlife habitat sites. In addition, Joyce oversees and tracks the progress of the sites and is the main point of contact for the wildlife teams' Oldcastle sites and with WHC leadership and staff. "This is an important initiative for Oldcastle Materials," Joyce said. "Our goal is to be a leader in corporate social responsibility. An increasing global demand for resources, rising economies and increasing populations all necessitate the need for us to become more vigilant environmental stewards. Sustainability involves people, the planet and prosperity, and this program helps us to optimize our resources and reduce our footprint. On behalf of Oldcastle, my thanks go out to all of our people involved with this effort to create biodiversity on our properties. I encourage all of our companies to become involved with this effort."
Together with a team of employees, regulatory personnel and local volunteers, Peter designed and established the Cordell Road habitat management site in 2007. Efforts included the creation and enhancement of vernal pools, a nature trail, nest boxes and protection of isolated populations of amphibian species, which won the site the "Rookie of the Year" award and an extended recertification in 2009. The team will be hosting additional community groups in 2010 as part of its CLL initiative. "Gaining recognition for the improvements to the Cordell site was a logical, natural step for a team that had a mutual interest in improving the natural habitat on the property, which is part of a rare inland pine barren. The initial application process was made easier with help from the WHC staff and support from fellow OMG site, Shelly Dresden," said Peter. "Early on, I remember the folks at the WHC reassuring us that it wasn't about the number of acres we were working with, but rather the creativity, effort and commitment of the people working on the project." "The ideas and encouragement available from this new OMG leadership team is a resource everyone at Oldcastle Materials can use to their advantage. Working together and pooling our talent will provide a big boost to the program. The goal is to make creating and maintaining these natural areas both a fun and rewarding experience." "As a construction materials company, we have the added benefit of being stewards of valuable natural resources: the land and the communities in which we operate. The responsibility that comes with that is one our next generation is taking very seriously and something we can all be proud to be a part of." |
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IN THIS ISSUE |
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CORPORATE UPDATES SAFETY LEVERAGING THE PORTFOLIO
AWARDS
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Name: Robert (Bob) Bryant, P.E.
Name: Kevin Cooperrider
Name: Christopher (Chris) Costello
Name: Donald H. (Chip) Holt
Name: Mark Miller
Name: Joyce Watson
Name: Peter Zeh
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