Like Great Merlot, Redwine Gets Better With Time
Armed with an environmental science degree from West Texas A&M in Canyon, Texas, Jarrod Redwine set out with one goal in mind: find a job—ANY job—in the environmental science field. He knew he wanted to use his degree, but wasn’t exactly clear how or where. With the world as his oyster, a friend recommended a visit to V-tech Environmental Services.
Jarrod readily admits that on first entering V-tech’s doors he was a sponge. “I couldn’t wait to figure out what was going on and why you did things a certain way.” Every task, every report, every project was a puzzle. “There was definitely a learning curve,” he recalled, but he loved it.
Given the proper time and support, he was soon able to take on greater responsibilities. Redwine recounted one of his biggest contributions to date has been launching storm water construction services for the company. He remembers there was not much on-the-job training to start with. “It was more like, ‘Here’s the permit. Learn it!’” After that came the challenges of finding customers and creative ways to connect with them, and following through with bids and services. Redwine humbly acknowledged the program has gone from ground zero to what it is today because of his hard work and the mentoring leadership of Polly Vann, General Manager. Lorene Cole, Office Manager, is also quick to acknowledge Redwine’s personal growth and contribution to the company. “Jarrod has grown more than anyone else in the company in the way he meets people, takes on responsibility, and adjusts to working both inside and outside of the office.” She added that Jarrod’s skills in client acquisition and developing client rapport has helped to create the company’s bread and butter--satisfied, repeat customers.
City of Lubbock Ordinance: Enforcing Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) Submission and Review
Lubbock City Council gave final approval to Ordinance 2008-00095 on November 20, 2008, which requires a Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) to be submitted for City of Lubbock review in conjunction with requesting a building permit. While this ordinance is not new, enforcement has now been stepped up in order to prevent sediment and erosion from getting into Lubbock’s municipally separate storm sewer system (MS4). Enforcement authority gives the City of Lubbock the ability to assess penalties associated with non-compliance with the Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) general permit.
V-tech Environmental Services Chosen as Blue Ribbon Winner by U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Staff members of V-tech Environmental Services were notified on Monday, March 2, 2009, that their company had been chosen as a Blue Ribbon winner and one of the top 56 companies in the nation in the running to be chosen as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year. Blue Ribbon winners will be honored during the U.S. Chamber’s Small Business Summit in Washington, DC, May 11-13, 2009. “I can’t believe it!” said Polly Vann, General Manager. “I am truly humbled by this honor. Much of the credit for our success goes to my capable staff for the extraordinary effort and teamwork they exhibit every day, and for the professional level of service they provide to our customers. Our clients keep calling because they know they can depend on us, and that’s what makes us a successful small business.”
V-tech Invests In North and East Lubbock Growth
In the spirit of being good stewards of people and earth, it is V-tech’s desire to protect and enhance the environment through our service, specialized knowledge, stewardship and community involvement. Our community’s vibrancy is directly related not only to our ability to safeguard our environment, but also to our willingness as a corporate community to recognize opportunities in our midst to band together and take corrective action. In doing so we recognize the value we hold as individuals and the strength we possess as a society.
In 2002, former mayor Marc McDougal recognized that while continued growth in the southwest portion of town was beneficial, significant resources and community development had been lacking in the northern and eastern portions of Lubbock for many years. He pledged to be dynamic in his approach to the problem if he won his mayoral bid. Now we are beginning to see the fruit of his labor after his victory. Due to his vision and willingness to seize an opportunity for growth, northern and eastern portions of Lubbock are beginning to see more economic activity than in the past 30 years. V-tech is proud to be part of this progress. (Read more about the history and development of the North and East Lubbock Community Development Corporation and details about their services and projects.)