Shout out to Dorian Reed (IS) and his crew—Ontayveon, Eriberto, Andrew, Ontarion, Melvin, and Sam! We received great feedback on your deep clean at Post. The room looks extremely nice, & you performed the task in a safe and timely manner. Thanks Dorian & crew, way to embody what Taplin TEAMWORK is all about!
What it looks like
TEAMWORK
Looking out for others and the greater good, “Seek first to understand”
Teamwork encourages a common goal
Cultivates effective communication & problem solving
Improves efficiency while developing individual strengths
Taplins 6 Principles in action
YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO | WALK THE WA
Shout out to Thomas Pollard (UI), we received positive feedback from a customer regarding your efforts to provide information & answer questions. “Very patient, knowledgeable, & ready to answer any questions I had”. Thanks Thomas, way to embody what Taplin CUSTOMER FOCUS & INTEGRITY is all about!
CUSTOMER
Exceeding expectations, being proactive, problem solving
Why it Matters:
FOCUS INTEGRITY
Customer retention is cheaper than aquisition
Customers will pay more to companies with better customer services
customer service affects our company image & loyalty potential for return customers.
FOCUS
Being honest, true to your work & doing the “right thing: even when no one is looking
Why it Matters:
You can’t fake it. Building integrity takes years but losing it onyly takes seconds The consequences of a lack of integrity are far-reaching
People can visibly see your integrity through your actions, words, decisions, methods, & outcomes
Taplins 6 Principles in action
YOU ARE WHAT YOU DO | WALK THE WA
Shout out to Leroy Mallory (UI), we received positive feedback from a customer & Daniel regarding your hard work & positive attitude on the job. “That guy never stopped and he even tried to wash himself from the truck before he got back in every time”. Thanks Leroy, way to embody what Taplin INTEGRITY is all about!
INTEGRITY
Being honest, true to your work & doing the “right thing: even when no one is looking
Why it Matters:
You can’t fake it. Building integrity takes years but losing it onyly takes seconds The consequences of a lack of integrity are far-reaching
People can visibly see your integrity through your actions, words, decisions, methods, & outcomes
HELP US HELP YOU HELP US HELP YOU
Time to check in and let us know - are you getting what you need to be successful at Taplin?? How can we help? We want you to build a successful CAREER here but we need to hear from you. Employee Check-in & Employee Satisfaction Survey are available to you.
TAKE HERE
CHANGE IS CHANGE & THEN IT’S NORMAL
Snowy conditions in Brevort, MI our beautiful upper peninsula. (Photos Submitted by Steve Minella & Cody Boysen)
Some responses from our team answering “What are you proud of from the last six months?“
If you ’ re at the Kalamazoo office, be sure to take a peek at the board and share your own answers to the current question: “What’s the best piece of advice you ’ ve ever recieved”
Our United States men & womens hockey team bring home gold at the 2026 Olympics
KINDRA TAPLIN
ACCOUNTING
MANAGER
JOHN BRYANT
UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE
FIELD TECH
NIC ROBBINS
SAFETY
SITE SAFETY OFFICER
TIFFANY PRESSLEY
ACCOUNTING
PROJECT CONTROL SPECIALIST
CHRISTIAN BOWEN
INDUSTRIAL SERVICES
OPERATOR
KYLE ZATZKE
REMEDIATION
ESTIMATOR/PROJECT MANAGER
GOLDA GOODRICH
REMEDIATION
REMEDIATION SUPPORT
February Safety Awards
Patrick Denoon & Tyler Roy (IS) - Noticed prior to starting work, the power washer had RV antifreeze left over in the lines. Stopped work & talked with contact to ensure the antifreeze wouldn’t cause a chemical reaction.
Tyler Roy (IS) - Found valve crack on HE unit & changed the valve out.
Brandon Prieur, Delano Jenkins, Tristin Patterson, Shilo Towery (UI) - Crew stopped prior to going into a yard with “Beware of dog” sign Called the homeowner before entering they property and was told they would keep the dog inside the home
TRACY ST JOHN
TRAINING
TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
TRISTIAN PATTERSON
UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE
LOCATOR
ANDREW SMITH IT IT SPECIALIST
Keith Rogers, Octavius Neal, Antonio Lancaster, Carl Rowdy, & Hector Vasquez (UI) - Wrote their first LPOs and are off to a good start stewarding our ELKS program.
Zach Shudark & Andrew Kiser (IS) - LPO’s & stop work, great demonstration of thinking ahead and communicating.
Shilo Towery (Shop) - Found missing pivot pin off dump truck Could of caused thousands in damage if not found or possible injured someone
Matt Rapley (RS) - Called Stop Work and stopped traveling before machine sunk into non supportive soil
FOCUS
James Dixon (IS) - Well written LPO & Stop Work
Coty Fournier Coty Fournier
Therefore....
If you want to sincerely understand the importance of safety in the construction industry, like in your gut, you probably need to get the shit scared out of you.
At least once I know I needed it.
Here’s some free advice to safely make that happen
Go find 3 ghosts. And let them haunt you
How do you do this?
You go to work in the field and you start asking tradespeople and field leaders one very simple question:
“What’s the worst thing you’ve ever seen?”
Then...
Listen to EVERY word they say Picture every detail in your mind
Like a documentary film.
��They may tell you about someone who accidentally tipped a full bucket of fresh roofing tar over their entire body ��Or someone who fell 20 feet from a ladder and impaled their groin on 4 pieces of exposed rebar ��Or someone who was decapitated in a buck hoist accident
And then you let those true stories HAUNT you
Let them haunt you into doing everything you possibly can to prevent anything like that from happening to anyone else
Ever Again.
Not on your watch
Now...
Some of you don’t have to go searching for ghost stories
Because you’ve been around for a while. You already have a ghost.
Odds are you have several You already know what I am talking about.
The absolutely gut-wrenching horrific thing you once witnessed on a jobsite that SCARRED YOUR RETINAS so badly you cannot UNSEE it.
The thing that scared you into preventing whatever set of choices and circumstances that led to the devastating thing you witnessed.
That is the motivation that many of us need
Find 3 ghosts, Let them haunt you. And share their stories
Often
This is how we both HONOR those who have been severely injured or lost in the construction industry and LEARN from them
And so I ask you. What is the WORST thing you have ever seen?
FOCUS
Training Academy Videos
Taplin Social Media
Are you on Facebook LinkedIn? Instagram? Be sure to click/scan the Taplin social media links below and follow us for all the latest company news and project features!
Proper PPE for the job
Proper PPE for the job
PPE is not an optional add on - it’s an essential part of staying safe on the job. Please know what PPE is required before the job & use it on the job
Seasonal Weight Restrictions
Seasonal Weight Restrictions
While visiting North Carolina, Lexi & Mitchell had the opportunity to represent Taplin Group on the Give Us the Dirt Podcast by Hoopaugh Grading Company
Click HERE for link to MI Truck Operators Map
Click HERE for link to app on Michigan Weight Restrictions
TEAM T OTLIGHT
My name is Rhett Engleright. I've been in the environmental field since 1996. I started with Taplin in 2021. I made my move to Taplin, when the previous company I worked for, was starting to fall apart, and I was told that Taplin was a good company to work for
My role at Taplin is a operator/foreman, for enterprises. Most of my time at Taplin has been spent at the Allied project, and the Plainwell River Restoration Project.
I have three great sons, Kyle, Jalen and Kole I also have a beautiful wife Raegan! My son's are all very athletic, and have excelled at sports like track and field, wrestling and football. My family also enjoys traveling when our jobs and school, allow us to.
I really enjoyed my time here at Taplin. I work with a great group of people, and have made some good friendships
