nov-dec-2019

ANNE: On the night of the fire there were 115 firefighters on C street between 18th and 19th Avenues. Because of multiple visits, we were able to set up incident command a few feet from the fire commander and share information with them that helped them to strategize and keep their team safe, while minimizing the damage to our building. MARK: After confirming that people were safe and the fire was out, my thoughts turned to the 115 firefighters with hoses and axes in our building. Tell us about the recovery. ANNE: During the following weeks, Song and I, as members of the leadership team, had weeks of long days. I had the honor of providing incident command leadership with the plant team. Once we heard the contractors’ estimate that it was going to take us six weeks to get back up and running, we knew we had to find a way for our own team members to safely participate. The Sacramento Leadership Team made a plan to quickly get the site operational. MARK: The hard work during clean-up was incredible! SONG: With help of disaster recovery specialists, we supported three shifts of team members who stepped outside their comfort zones to clean and rehabilitate our remaining work areas. They wore heavy personal protective equipment which required around-the-clock training sessions to use properly. They cleaned in hot, steamy conditions, and took apart all our equipment and work areas, and then cleaned and reassembled them. MARK: Thank you. Where do we stand today ? ANNE: Shortly before Memorial Day, less than two weeks since the incident, we were able to start our first processes back up. In the last week of May, the plant was fully operational, except for the Dryer floor, where the fire took place. On September 5th, we officially began running good product on the rehabilitated Dryer 5. On November 11th, the rehabilitated Dryer 7 started up. MARK: Congratulations! As we are fully recovered, we have so much appreciation for Anne, Song, then Plant Director Jeff Hatfield, and the entire Sacramento team for their heroic efforts! Business is run by everyday heroes who do everything required of them plus 10 percent. It becomes second nature so that when an emergency or disaster occurs, they just respond and they do not ever know they are heroic. This is the caliber of people that we are so proud of at Blue Diamond ! All the accomplishments we’ve celebrated. It all culminates when there is a true disaster that is unplanned, unpredictable, and terrifying. And this is what happened. It is only appropriate that we also recognize the outpouring of support from members, community and even competitors. On the Friday after the fire, I got a desperate call from our Fire Recovery Director Anthony Melo. He said “Mark, we have crews that must work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and because it is almost the weekend, the city does not want to issue the needed permit.” I said, “Let me call in a few favors.” I speed dialed Mayor Steinberg and said, “Wouldn’t it be great if we could get 800 people back to work as soon as possible.” He said, “Mark, let me get on it.” Within 20 minutes, the city manager and then the city engineer called saying “Whatever you need, we will take care of it.” The permit was issued that afternoon and as Song and Anne said, we quickly got people back to work. Doing business in the future requires strong community relationships (as exemplified by both the fire department and the mayor), ambitious young team members who see the opportunity for growth (like Bobby and Rebecca), a strong culture that is passed down from one generation to the next (with great mentors like John Wagaman and Mary Ann), playing to win with a vision for growth (including successful investments in infrastructure, new products, and brands) and also celebrating our heritage and new successes (as we are doing today). Thank you to the five panelists and everyday heroes for taking the time to sit down with me. They represent our 1,800 everyday heroes, and that is why we can be confident that at Blue Diamond the best is yet to come! Mark Jansen President & CEO 11 N O V E M B E R – D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9