As we approach the end of another remarkable year, it’s time to take a moment and bask in the glow of our collective achievements. This year has been a testament to the power of community and the incredible impact we can have when we come together.

Let’s kick things off by crunching some numbers! From volunteer hours to funds raised for charitable causes, our community has consistently exceeded expectations. Our EOH family supported 18 different charities throughout our local communities, including:

• Jude’s
• Houston Food Bank
• Backpacks for Kids
• Make-A-Wish
• Volunteers of America
• Combat Marine Outdoors
• Toys for Tots – over 300 toys were donated from our EOH family this year!

As we close out the year, we are also proud to host our 3^rd annual EOH Elf Campaign. In addition to our local Toys for Tots toy drives, we asked employees to nominate children in their lives who may not have many resources to receive gifts this Christmas. Our employees selected 18 children to participate in this initiative, with over 50 gifts being donated to help bring Christmas joy this year!

Behind every achievement, there’s a team of dedicated individuals ready to roll up their sleeves and make a difference. All of these community involvement initiatives were led by our dedicated FUEL leaders at each branch location. These individuals took on an extra workload to encourage and motivate their employees to participate in something greater. We are thankful for their leadership and to all our employees who came together to give back this year.

Here’s to a future filled with even more remarkable achievements and from a community that continues to make a positive mark on the world!

October has arrived, and with it comes the celebration of Employee Ownership awareness month! As a proud ESOP company, we at EOH take great pleasure in expanding our knowledge and understanding of the invaluable benefits an ESOP can bring. This is also the perfect time to express our gratitude to our incredible employees, whose unwavering commitment and hard work contribute to the continued success of our business.

Are you familiar with the term “ESOP”? ESOP stands for “Employee Stock Ownership Plan” which is a qualified retirement plan that enables employees to be considered partial owners of the company they work for by receiving and growing beneficial shares of company stock. ESOPs are a form of employee benefit plan designed to provide employees with an additional layer of financial security and promote a sense of ownership in the company’s success. Here are some key points to understand about ESOPs:

• Ownership Structure: In an ESOP, the company sets up a trust, known as the ESOP trust, which holds and manages the shares of company stock on behalf of employees. These shares are typically allocated within the trust to benefit employees based on factors like their salary or years of service.
• Employee Participation: Employees do not purchase the shares allocated to them; they receive the benefit as part of their compensation package. Over time, as employees accumulate beneficial shares in the ESOP trust, they become beneficial owners of the company.
• Financial Benefits: ESOP participants benefit in several ways:
  • As the company’s value grows, the value of the shares in the ESOP increases, potentially providing a source of wealth and financial security.
  • ESOP accounts can serve as a retirement savings vehicle, and employees can access their ESOP funds when they retire or meet specific criteria.
  • Depending on the structure and tax regulations, employees may enjoy certain tax advantages related to their ESOP participation.
• Voting Rights: While employees have beneficial ownership of the company through the ESOP, the ESOP trust typically holds the voting rights associated with the shares. However, the trustee of the ESOP trust may vote the shares in alignment with the interests and preferences of the employees.
• Exit Strategy: ESOPs are often used as a succession planning tool. Business owners can use ESOPs to gradually sell their shares to employees over time, facilitating a smooth transition of ownership while ensuring the company’s continuity.
• Alignment of Interests: ESOPs are seen as a way to align the interests of employees and the company. By making employees partial owners, companies aim to foster a sense of ownership, accountability, and commitment among their workforce.
• Management and Governance: In ESOP companies, the management team and board of directors typically work closely with the ESOP trustee to ensure that the interests of employee-owners are represented, and the company operates in a manner that generally benefits both employees and shareholders.
• Regulations and Reporting: ESOPs are subject to various regulations and reporting requirements, including those outlined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code. Compliance with these regulations is essential for ESOP companies.

Being a part of an ESOP company promotes employee retention, engagement, and financial well-being. Check out this video to hear personal testimonies from our employees for an inside look at what it means to work for an ESOP.

A special congratulations to the following employees at our company for being recognized as this years’ EOH Values Award Winners:

• Robert Rasmusson (SIT): Acts with Integrity
• David Gwartney (SIT): Always Seek Improvement
• Amanda Simmons (SIT): Work Smart
• Daniel Uribe: (SIT): Laser Customer Focus
• Kevin Bonvillain (SIT): Produce Results
• Wilfredo Gallardo (SIT): Work Smart
• Katie Ferris (HYD): Work Smart
• Bill Kadlec (HYD): Laser Customer Focus
• Rodney Sexton: (HYD): Acts with Integrity
• Russ Bailey: (HYD): Produce Results
• Treg Murphy: (HYD): Laser Customer Focus
• Adam Rowe (GCC): Produce Results
• Donald Steinhart (GCC): Acts with Integrity
• Erwin Stewart (GCC): Laser Customer Focus
• Ken Davis (GCC): Work Smart
• Kyle Lemieux (GCC): Produce Results
• Evan Trapp (EOH): Always Seek Improvement
• Jamie Chilcoat (EOH): Produce Results

Meet our August 2023 Employee Spotlight, Nicole Urzendowski! Nicole has only been with our EOH company for a few short months but has fully embraced our company culture. Let’s get to know her better:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“I’m in Inside Sales at the Hydraquip Houston office. I started in June this year and have learned so much already! My responsibilities include answering sales inquiries to assist customers in finding what they are looking for, communicating with our vendors, producing quotes, and processing orders.”

Who/what inspires you?

“My mom will always be my number one role model. She grew up in Venezuela and studied electrical engineering then came to the United States to work in the oil field. At the time you didn’t see a lot of women in that industry, so that always impressed me. She is who inspired me to study engineering in college and has been there for me the whole way.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“The strength I bring to the team is my attitude and positivity. I always strive to be a positive person and bring good energy into the office every day I walk through the doors. You will rarely see me in a bad mood or being negative, because life is too short for that!”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“In my free time I enjoy being active and outdoors (When it’s not 100 degrees outside). I like going to the gym, hiking, fishing, surfing, and always being on the beach!”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“I have always wanted to learn how to fly a plane. It seems like such an incredible feeling to just go fly around on your own and explore the world from up high.”

Where were you born?

“I was born in Katy Texas. Then I moved up to Seattle for a couple years and spent the rest of my time growing up in San Antonio.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“My favorite part about my job is working with the people around me. Since I came here everyone has been incredibly helpful and so welcoming. I can ask any single person a question and they would drop what they are doing to help me.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“I’ve only been working for almost 3 months now, but my proudest moment here has to be right after Dylan Butler trained me and trusted me to start doing quotes and orders on my own. Thats when it really hit me that I graduated college, and I made it in the real world. I was trusted to set prices, sell these parts and be able to make an impact on this company’s profit. I can’t wait to see what I accomplish here in the future.”

How do you define success?

“For my first internship, I walked into that company feeling underqualified. All the other interns had experience before me and walked in so confidently ready to start. I even spent my whole first week trying to figure out what my project scope was while everyone else seemed to have theirs down. I wanted to quit so badly, but then it hit me that I must have something going for me if I was the only one hired with zero experience. I knew just sitting there complaining wouldn’t do anything. I may not be the smartest person in the room, but I will always be the hardest working. I walked into the office that second week with a new mindset and a desire for success. With determination, a goal, and a good work ethic I successfully finished my project that summer. Success can’t be accomplished without determination!”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled to?

“My favorite place I’ve traveled to would have to be the Bahamas. They have the clearest water I’ve ever seen and the snorkeling there was unreal.”

Meet our June 2023 Employee Spotlight! Michael is a part of our EOH team in Houston, TX. Let’s get to know him better:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“As the attorney for the company I try to address any and all legal issues. So I am involved with compliance, with contracts, and with over a hundred other things (HR, acquisitions, Intellectual Property efforts, litigation, etc.)”

Who/what inspires you?

“I would say my family and my faith inspire me. My favorite novel is Les Miserables – it inspires me with Victor Hugo’s themes of redemption, charity, and love.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“I have so many to choose from this is hard decision [sarcasm]… maybe my speed reading skills.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“Family trips – especially to Disney properties for some reason…”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“Telekinesis I guess – it be pretty useful…”

Where were you born?

“In a hospital  –  and it was located in Murray, UT.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“The great people I work with! And a great sense of accomplishment when I see where much effort is fully realized in something positive for the company.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“I really enjoy the “Bring your kids to work day” – and getting to impress them with the great works this company does!”

How do you define success?

“Usually I would default to using the Webster’s dictionary definition – but here I say: ‘positive achievement.’”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled?

“There are several places in the Caribbean that are fantastic – but my island will always be Jamaica.”

Meet our 2023 May Employee Spotlight, Brent Bromley! He is a part of our Hydraquip, Electric Systems team in Houston, TX. Let’s get to know him better:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“I am a Drafter at Hydraquip, Electric Systems. I create and update the drawings used for production.”

Who/what inspires you?

“I’m mostly inspired by my coworkers. We all try to meet deadlines and provide quality work.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“I guess my greatest strength is my many years of experience.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I enjoy fishing and golfing.”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“I think it would awesome to learn to fly a plane.”

Where were you born?

“Don’t hold it against me, Whittier, CA, but I got here as fast as I could.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“I truly like the atmosphere here; the people are great.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“That would be the day I became a full time employee and no longer a contract employee.”

How do you define success?

“I feel successful when another employee comes to me for help. Not to get something done for them, but when they ask me how to do something, and of course when I can show them something.”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled?

“I truly enjoyed Destin, FL. The water and the beach look so clean there.”

Meet our 2023 February Employee Spotlight – Jack Hano! Jack is a key player at our SIT Harahan division. Let’s get to know him:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“I am the Field Service and Logistics Manager. I oversee field service personnel in support of commissioning/startups/field service. I also oversee the logistics department for all 3 SIT locations.”

Who/what inspires you?

“When everyone comes together to work towards a common goal without bringing personal agendas into play.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“Having a level head and ability to approach issues logically.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“Watching football and playing with my sons.”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“Play an Instrument.”

Where were you born?

Baton Rouge, LA

What’s the best thing about your job?

“There is always something that will come up and keep life interesting.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“I am proud of all my moments at EOHI because I know I give my full effort to any task given or required.”

How do you define success?

“Being proud of the work you provide and having the trust and respect of coworkers.”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled?

Langley, WA

Meet our January 2023 Employee Spotlight, Alfonso “Fonzi” Mendoza! Fonzi is a Client Service Representative in our Hydraquip Houston office. Let’s get to know him:

What is your role? Briefly describe what you do.

“Inside Technical sales – Assist customers with their requests and assist account managers with their key accounts.”

Who/what inspires you?

“Simple Answer – God, friends and family.

Complex Answer – Knowing I will never be completely satisfied with who I currently am. There is no finish line to growth, in any sense. I will always chase to be better me. If I do not strive to be better than who I am in the present, it is an injustice to friends, family, God and myself.”

If you had to pick one strength you bring the to team, what would it be?

“I would like to think that my work ethic is a strength that I contribute to the team. I do not like to be outworked.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I like to work out, fish, hike, surf, grill, and play my instruments (guitar mostly).”

If I could learn how to do one thing, what would it be?

“I would like to learn another language – French, Italian, Japanese, Nahuatl.”

Where were you born?

“I was born in Baytown, TX.”

What’s the best thing about your job?

“The amount of knowledge there is to consume. It is a never-ending pool of learning.”

What’s been one of your proudest moments at EOHI?

“My performance in the EOHI football game. In celebration of ESOP awareness month, I had the pleasure to participate in a friendly game of flag football alongside co-workers and take home a win!”

How do you define success?

“I define success as a never-ending journey, not defined by any destination but the by amount of work put into traveling along its path.”

Where is your favorite place that you’ve traveled?

“My favorite place that I have traveled to is the Yucatan, Mexico. I had the opportunity to see Chichen Itza, one of the 7 wonders of the world.”

The month of October is identified as a time to celebrate the incredible spirit of employee ownership, recognize those who have gone above and beyond in the contributions to this company, and educate our fantastic employees about the future of our employee owned company.

At EOHI we strive to live by our company values – Acts with Integrity, Laser Customer Focus, Work Smart, Always Seeking Improvement, and Produce Results. This month, we honored several different employee owners who exhibit these values throughout our business.  We use these values to focus on how we work together as employee owners for our company’s growth and sustainability.

For example, Amy Vick, Accounting Associate at EOHI, was recognized at EOHI for her  laser customer focus. We asked Amy why she loves working at an ESOP company where she responded, “I appreciate working for such a great company where my input is valued and respected. I have vested interest in the success of our company and work hard to ensure I am doing my part to help the company prosper.”

It all begins with our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). It is a unique retirement program where the employees receive stock in the company over time. As the company grows, so does the retirement accounts of our great employees.

Our employees take pride in the ESOP program for many reasons. Here are just a few benefits for being an ESOP company:

• ESOP companies pay wages that are 5-12% higher than non-ESOP companies in the same industry.
• Retirement account balances are 2.5 times higher.
• ESOP companies grow 2.5 times faster than those companies without employee ownership.
• Employee-owned companies are superior in performance, employee benefits and employee motivation.

As an ESOP company, the employees “own” the business. Each person has a stake in the outcome of “our” company. We move together as a team, so we all have a vested interest in the growth and success of our customers and our company.