For Immediate Service
800-864-7717
For Immediate Service
800-864-7717Live By Faith and Not By Fear.
Apr
27
2020
As we head into week 7 of shelter in place, I find my spirits stronger from a weekend of sunshine and opportunities to get outside and enjoy some great spring weather. This is of course relative to those in Arizona who saw enough sunshine to get near 100 degrees--summer is coming. Either way, I hope you had a good weekend and were able to recharge for the marathon that we find ourselves in.
I work hard to start each day with gratitude and give thanks for all God’s gifts that we have received. And I am grateful that TD is blessed with a clear Mission. We are Committed to providing outstanding Career opportunities by exceeding our Customers expectations through Continuous aggressive improvement. These 4 C’s are underpinned by our Core Values that we use to guide our expectations, behavior and decisions for all of us.
Each day I continue to be inspired by calls to our front-line Partners and Supervisors, and the stories that they share of Partners helping Partners through this stressful time. Your pictures and videos on our Facebook group are very uplifting. Encouraging and supporting each other enables all of us to better handle our long list of worries. We can boost this support even more by replacing worry with prayer.
Additionally, I am starting to feel a renewed sense of hope when looking at national trends as well as seeing many states begin to loosen restrictions. I understand that these trends can change from day to day and adhering to the preventative protocol is still critical, but it feels like we are starting hear as much good news as bad news which is a welcome relief.
A quick update on the hard data: we have only 3 confirmed positive cases and none have been severe. The number of Partners in self-quarantine is declining now due to new CDC guidelines and mandatory face covers at all our work sites and offices. I know this is a hassle and distracting, but it is our new normal for the foreseeable future. Thank you for continuing to adapt to keep us working safely.
We have begun the analysis of when we can begin to return to our office environments. This includes what needs to be done to each office to prepare, and what new protocols are needed for working safely in a dense office environment. We have proven our ability to work remotely, so we will be very deliberate in how we approach reentry. This will take some time to do it well without increased risk of infection.
I regret that we cannot gather for our Quarterly All Partner meetings this month to celebrate, learn from each other and have fellowship. We will be sharing lots of info by email and video, and some smaller groups will be experimenting with virtual All Partner meetings. Please continue to check the Pipeline daily for the latest news and updates, so you can be knowledgeable and able to share with your Partners.
The work that we do is important. Our work underpins and enables the restart of the U.S. economy. We have the honor of protecting our nation’s water supply and health in the built environment. We engineer, construct, operate and maintain the hospitals that save lives, as well as the data centers that provide infrastructure for the cloud. We help build the schools that educate our youth, the labs that will find a vaccine, as well as the office environments that enable great work! We are vital and essential.
All of you are in my daily prayers for safety and good health. We will get through this test---by the strength of our collective Partnership and support of each other. Please continue to "Live by Faith and n Not by Fear." Thank you for all that you do to support each other and our Mission. Let’s all make it a great day for someone else!
Sincerely,
Harold
Apr
18
2020
Apr
11
2020
We are wrapping up week 4 of shelter in place and supporting our field through endless calls and video conference meetings. Every day presents highs and lows, and from my calls to frontline supervisors I know that the stress, uncertainty and new work requirements is weighing on everyone. What has been inspiring to me through these calls is that I consistently hear stories and examples of optimism, care for others and perseverance. Proof that our Core Values and TD Spirit are as strong as ever.
I am thankful that PPE availability is starting to catchup and we are all adhering to the new safety protocols in order to be able to work safely. Masks or neck buffs are highly encouraged for everyone working in proximity to others. We expect to receive more of both this week to better supplement your home versions, which are welcomed and needed.
TD closed the first quarter of 2020 right below our revenue goal, and operating income was OK but below plan. The second and third quarters of 2020 will be much harder as we feel the secondary effects of the pandemic, which will take time to recover from the hard stop to our national economy. Very few businesses will be exempt, but our diversity of offerings and geographies will help us through. Our business development and sales teams are aggressively chasing every opportunity to keep our backlog up to hold our teams together.
It was a weird week to announce such a strong improvement in our ESOP valuation, but we need good news wherever we can get it! The new valuation of $409.99 was earned through the hard work of every TDPartner. It is based on our 2019 results and the market comparisons known at 12-31-19. What has not changed for the longer term is the overall strength of our company, our consistent financial performance, and a strong fiscal position that is not burdened by debt. We are also blessed to have strong leadership at every level, and TD works in growing markets with strong long-term prospects. We also got an additional 3% lift from fewer shares outstanding due to more sellers than buyers last year.
A quick update on the hard data: we had our first positive case in our workforce today. Our safety protocols served us well and this Partner is self-quarantined at home. That brings our total to 90 who have had to self-quarantine, with only 30 still out and 60 Partners who have been cleared to return to work.
I am encouraged by the generally flattening infection curve in our cities where we live and work, but it is not clear when we can begin to migrate back together. I am thankful that we work in an industry that is vital and essential, and that our Partners understand the need to Fiercely Protect each other from the virus. We will keep doing our part to support this economy and get it going again.
Good things can and will come from bad things. Some good things are already apparent and more will be visible with time. The bad things should peak soon and begin to fade. Your prayers for strength and wisdom are felt and continue to be needed. This will be an Easter weekend to remember. I leave you with a thought for the day: For Christians and Jews, this is among the holiest weeks of the year, when, in a word, all PREPARE spiritually for Easter and Passover. Both events are about passing into and out of a crucible. Inside these faiths, loss becomes endurable through the promise of deliverance. It is worth remembering for at least one week. Happy Easter! Happy Passover!
Sincerely, Harold
Apr
02
2020
April is here, and that means Partner Appreciation Month!
We are always thankful for our Partners and everything they do. This year is obviously unique, and we need to find new ways to appreciate and encourage each other.
Watch the video blog below to hear more about the importance of Partner Appreciation Month. We Appreciate You, Partners.
Mar
28
2020
As we complete another week in the land of COVID-19, I can say that it was a roller coaster ride of highs and lows coming daily and many times hourly from peak to trough. The days are very long and working from home is no fun. I miss seeing everyone. I am inspired daily by our front-line Partners who soldier on each day to safely keep our customer commitments and enable TD to keep billing for our work. I have started to end each day by calling two front-line Partners to listen deeply, so keep an eye out for Harold on your caller ID if your cell phone is current in Ultipro or on the TDPipeline. 😊
Our #1 focus is Partner safety and keeping all our Partners working safely. Thank you for following all the safe working guidelines for personal hygiene and a safe social distance of 6 feet. You have the power to use Stop Work Authority if this is not being followed. Do not lose our discipline and take chances with your health and the health of others.
I can report that as of Friday we had no confirmed COVID-19 Partner cases. We are up to 44 in self-quarantine due to symptoms or possible exposure. Some of these Partners will be back to work soon after meeting the CDC requirements. It is very important that no one goes to work with symptoms or after a known exposure.
TDCares was formed many years ago by Partners wanting to help Partners in times of need. Its source of funding is payroll deductions and elected donations of unused PPT hours. Your top 30 Senior Leaders have all elected to take salary reductions of 10-20% for the foreseeable future to increase the funding of TDCares. This will enable us to better help our Partners of greatest need during this pandemic or fall in a crack in our benefit plans due to being new at TD. It has helped past Partners through hurricanes, fires, death of a family member, and much more. If you feel that you can donate time or money to help your Partners, every dollar or PPT hour will help. Thank you for your support.
Our #2 focus is finding the replacement projects that we need in construction and maintaining demand to grow our non-construction businesses for the future. Our entire business development team is hyper focused and feels the weight of this responsibility. We are still seeing good prospects in all markets. All of us can help ensure great sales results by exceeding our customers’ expectations at every opportunity. We can break every tie-on price when we are their first choice based on your great performance. I want to highlight one significant new contract---20 TDPartners will be providing facility services and maintenance for the next 5 years at CPS Energy in San Antonio! It is a big win!
We also continue to work behind the scenes with city, county, and state government via our trade associations to keep commercial construction and service classified as vital and essential so that we can keep doing our part – continuing to work and support the fight. The work that we do is important, and it simply must continue as long as we can do it safely.
Stay informed, but please try not to watch the news too much. Remember to “Live by Faith and Not by Fear” and look for ways to help others wherever and whenever you can. I start each day and replace worry with prayer. I also list the top 3 things that I am grateful for each morning to center myself with a grateful heart.
I know that we will come through this pandemic test even stronger as a company.
Thank you for your trust, your commitment, your hard work, and your support. Hang in there!
Sincerely, Harold
Mar
20
2020
What a strange couple of weeks it has been. Life has changed. But this storm too shall pass. It feels like a slow-moving hurricane that is sitting outside our door. It has increased anxiety for everyone. We all have more to be worried about—from personal health to family and friend’s health, and from our ability to earn a living to the strength of each neighborhood and community in which we live and work. It is a lot to think about and the overhyped news is not helping.
We were monitoring the storm for months, but several weeks ago it got very real and very serious. TD formed a COVID Crisis Management Team (CCMT) to guide and adapt our preparations and decisions to protect our Partners and the company. We meet every day at 8 a.m. and 80-140% of our normal week is being spent on this. Our task is an ever-evolving Pandemic Response Plan based on what we learned from past threats and the deluge of data that comes in daily. Like all of you—we are layering these demands on top of our day jobs.
Every decision that we make is guided by our Mission and Core Values. Our #1 goal is to enable our front-line Partners to keep working safely and serving our customers. Without our front-line Partners, there is no office.
We are blessed that our immediate population of TDPartners has no confirmed cases of the virus. In accordance with CDC guidelines, to date there are 27 Partners who are staying in isolation due to their symptoms or exposure to others who are confirmed to have the virus. It is very important that no one goes to work with symptoms or after a known exposure.
Our first line of defense is personal hygiene and 6 feet social distancing. Please, just do it.
Remember, TD has several resources available to help you and family:
• Our medical benefits are ready should you need them.
• Teledoc is easily accessible.
• We have a great sick pay policy.
• TDCares exists to help Partners in a crisis like a pandemic.
Please see the Partner manual or the TDPipeline for more details. CrisisHotline@tdindustries.com is set up to answer your questions and concerns. Your questions and feedback will be helpful for our future communications.
And there is good news – No confirmed Partner infections to date. Our service and facilities business is vital for healthy buildings and customer demand continues. Our project backlog is diverse, solid, and moving forward. Healthcare clients are asking for our solutions to help. Strong sales efforts are underway to help our clients better prepare and improve their buildings. Our industry associations have reason to believe that the Governor of Texas will not shut down construction sites! And we are working on the same in Arizona.
With our news cycle I find it is easy to be drawn into fearful place. I fight it with the mantra of “Live by Faith and Not by Fear.” Then Look for ways to help others wherever I can—by giving of my time and treasure. I replace worry with prayer every day. And ask that we all let our TD light shine bright as an example of hope for others!!
I know that we will come through this pandemic test even stronger as a company.
Thank you for your trust, commitment, hard work, and support. Hang in there!
Sincerely, Harold
PS. My first attempt at a selfie video update did not go well. I am getting some help. 😊
I miss "Between two plants with Dennis."
Mar
21
2017
Dear Clients and Community Friends:
As we celebrate our 20th year on Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of you. We could not sustain a great workplace culture without great customers and strong communities in which we live and work.
Since 1997, it has been a hard-earned privilege to be honored on this prestigious list. Every year, we work to maintain aspects of our culture that are successful. By that same token, we examine and improve the areas where we might have fallen short. Our culture is focused on people – our TDPartners – who are the employee-owners of TDIndustries and ambassadors of our servant leadership culture.
When I first came to TD in 1985, the first Fortune list was still years away from being published. I have been fortunate to see TD make the list for the past two decades. And for 20 years, our TDPartners have never been complacent. We have self-imposed high standards to live and breathe our Core Values, and we have pursued company and personal excellence with unrelenting stamina. Our commitment to having a great company culture has helped many organizations in the industry and our communities.
We’ve experienced tremendous growth in the past several years, and TDPartners have expanded our service offerings, utilized new technology, and implemented better processes for our customers. In the community, we have achieved record donations for the United Way, and our community outreach groups (TDServes) are setting strong examples of good citizenry in their local neighborhoods.
TDIndustries is many things to many people. But our Core Values are reflected in all that we are.
TD pushes our skilled trades’ education with free training programs, as well as a robust TDUniversity program, making sure that each TDPartner is given the knowledge to pursue their aspirations. Investing in our people is who we are.
TD supports STEM education in high school and college, proving that construction and service are great career paths with endless opportunities for growth. Supporting the future of our industry is who we are.
TD pledges to bring gender parity, diversity, and a global perspective to our company through programs and policies that are fair and unbiased. Celebrating each other’s individual differences is who we are.
TD innovates safety policies, procedures, training, and equipment, pursuing our goal of zero incidents or injuries for anyone – TDPartner or not. Fiercely protecting the safety of all is who we are.
TD creates an atmosphere of transparency, trust, and collaboration with our clients and TDPartners. Building trust and leading with a servant’s heart is who we are.
And so, for our 20th year on the Fortune List, we have a great deal to be thankful for. I extend my sincerest gratitude for allowing us to serve you, and enabling us to give back and be a good organizational example to others.
Sincerely,
Harold
Harold MacDowell is the CEO of TDIndustries and a TDPartner for more than 30 years. He took the reins as TD’s third CEO in 2005—but during his tenure, he’s has worked in almost every role in the company in Dallas and other cities. He is a Southern Methodist University alumnus who spends his free time with family, playing golf, fishing, or enjoying the lake. Follow him on Twitter.
TDIndustries is a premier facilities services and mechanical construction company. Founded in 1946, we are well-positioned to exceed customers’ expectations on any project regardless of size, complexity, within budget and on time.