Exceptional Workplace
Bill Conway Founders Award
The annual Bill Conway Founders Award is granted to the Fairmount family member who best exemplifies the principles and values of community service through a personal contribution of time, talent and treasure. In 2009, this highest honor went to Jim Lanz from our Maiden Rock facility in Wisconsin. In addition to his work and family commitments, Jim is an active member of the local ambulance service and serves as the Maiden Rock Village fire chief. Early last year, he was selected to become an American Red Cross first aid and CPR instructor to further his commitment to educating people and saving lives. One of his most significant volunteer activities is the “Flood Run,” a biannual motorcycle race that raises money for the Gillette Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. Last year, the “Flood Run” raised more than $53,000. With this award, we acknowledge Jim Lanz’s great dedication to championing sustainable development both personally and professionally.
We compensate our employee family with wages and benefits to support their personal prosperity and that of their families.
Benefits offered to full-time employees include medical coverage, education assistance and options in retirement plans. We believe that our efforts to make Fairmount Minerals a satisfying and supportive work environment contributes to our high employee retention rate of 73.4 percent, which includes retirement data.
Training and Development
Fairmount Minerals supports the diverse interests and skills of our employee family by investing in training and development. All full-time employees have the opportunity to take advantage of tuition reimbursement and continuing education programs that help build technical competence and knowledge. In 2009, Fairmount Minerals invested more than $180,000 in education and training for our employee family.
As part of our commitment to education and growth, Fairmount Minerals created Fairmount Minerals University, a talent management and development initiative. Over the past year, Fairmount Minerals University formalized its mission, which is “to enhance Fairmount Minerals’ organizational sustainability by designing and providing talent management solutions that empower and inspire Fairmount family members.” In 2010, Fairmount Minerals University will launch a pilot program focused on leadership development and communication. The objective is to empower our employee family while promoting a culture of dignity and respect.
Employee Awards and Recognition
Year after year, the Fairmount Minerals employee family delivers exceptional performance that deserves special recognition. Our Sustainable Development Employee of the Year award program accepts open nominations for excellence in sustainable development throughout the year. Our 2009 winners include:
- Best Sand: Peggy Havlicek
- Bridgman: Wilma Crowder
- CACM: Mike Olechnowicz
- Corporate/Administration Group/Accounting: Ellen Anderson and Linda Staton
- Lakeshore Sand: Mirsada Suljic
- Mineral Visions: Luke Woodin
- Roff: Cynthia Kile
- Sales/Customer Service Group: Karen Weich
- Technology Group: Steve Schilling
- Troy Grove: Richard Peradotti
- Wedron Silica: Ed Moriarity
- Wedron Technisand: Mary Kibilka
- Wexford Sand: Randall Myers
- WISC Bay City: Scott Passe
- WISC Hager City: Todd Schilling
- WISC Maiden Rock: Jim Lanz
- WISC Menomonie: Jeff Kistner