SSE Attends MRWA Annual Technical Conference

SSE Attends MRWA Annual Technical Conference

^{SSE’s Mike DeLong with Laclede City Operator Rodger Pergande, winner of the Bass Pro gift certificate.}

Branson, MO. – Schultz Surveying and Engineering was delighted to attend the 47th Annual Technical Conference which was held on March 12th, 13th and 14th at the Branson Convention Center. More than 150 vendors and over 300 water and sewer operators attended the three day training conference.

Attendees were able to gain valuable insight and education from nationally recognized speakers like keynote speaker Michael Johnson, Robert Spon of Spon Water Consulting, and Bob Blume of Industrial Electrical Trainers and Consulting. MRWA Executive Director John Hoagland said, “Having the Annual Technical Conference is invaluable to our members. Having companies like SSE participate allow operators, districts, and office staff to learn about new technologies, new services, and new funding opportunities that companies like SSE can provide. This knowledge and insight gives the districts their best options when providing for their communities.”

^{Attendees enjoy the Backhoe Rodeo at the}

^{MRWA Annual Technical Conference}

As is the case every year  one of the most popular events at this year’s conference was the MRWA Backhoe Rodeo.  Once attempted by SSE’s Debby Norris, the rodeo attracts all the operators and staff to test their skills. SSE showed their proud support for the hard work done by our state’s water and wastewater operators by giving away a gift certificate from Bass Pro Shops. Lucky winner Rodger Pergande took a moment to pose with SSE’s Operations Manager Mike DeLong, P.E. Delong said, “Being able to attend these events is a great thing. Operators and those in the industry like myself can  not only gain our required continuing educational hours, but get a chance to learn new techniques and visit with others who face the same issues. The resources and knowledge we get through the MRWA and the Annual Technical Conference are resources we  use to better our services, which we  then pass on to our customers.”

MACADOODLES MAKES ITS MARK ON BRANSON

Macadoodles Grand Opening

Branson is now home to one of the most premiere specialty shops in the southern mid-west.  Macadoodles Fine Wine, Beer, and Spirits opened up one of their highly acclaimed shops in Branson in August of 2012.  Schultz Surveying & Engineering was selected to do the site development plan, construction staking and surveying for this project which will be another business added downtown by the Branson Landing.  SSE Owner Stan Schultz said, “I am very proud of Brad Allbritton and our Branson team.  Developing a site plan that accounted for the small space and traffic patterns down by the landing was a huge challenge.  I didn’t know if it could be done but by working with the developer, city planners and the contractor they pulled it off!”

Branson Mayor Raeanne Presley helping
 Macadoodles Owners cut the ribbon!

Brad Allbritton has been running the Branson office since 2010 and has been involved in numerous commercial and public projects in the region.  He added, “It was a simple but tricky project.  Working with a limited amount of space so close to the creek made it a challenge to design a plan that met their building size requirements and still have adequate room for parking, but the City of Branson was very helpful and the folks at Macadoodles were a pleasure to work for.” 

SSE's Brad Allbritton with
Branson Alderwoman Cris Bohinc

Schultz Engineering sent Chief Surveyor, Wendell Beard, to head up the beginning stages of the project and up until its completion in August 2012.  Wendell said, “This project was a lot of hard work, but it was a lot of fun, too.  Brad did a great job on the design and we worked well with the rest of the team to do the surveying and construction staking.  It’s always nice to be a part of bringing another business to our area.” 

Superior customer service is one of Macadoodles top priorities and their President, Roger Gildehaus said, “Our promise is providing the friendliest service guaranteed!  If you’re not 100% satisfied, we’ll double your money back.” 

They do that by meeting the following goals:

• Clean and friendly shopping experiences for the whole family
• Customer service beyond expectations
•  Make you feel appreciated and that you are an important person to us
•  A variety of products, many that can only be found at Macadoodles
• Competitive pricing
• Always in stock on the products you want
• The extra amenities that make the store a complete and outstanding shopping experience
• Strive everyday to develop your loyalty

You can visit Macadoodles online at www.Branson.Macadoodles.com or visit their new location in Branson located at 438 Branson Landing Boulevard.  

Southwest Airlines Lands in Branson

www.FlyBranson.com

 Southwest Airlines recently announced their intention to begin flying into and out of the new Branson National Airport beginning in May of 2013.  This marks the 79^th city to be added to the Southwest Airlines team roster.  Folks will be able to travel nonstop to Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby, Chicago Midway, and Orlando.

Schultz Surveying & Engineering was honored to be involved with the Branson Airport initial construction by doing the construction staking and land surveying for the $113 million dollar project.  Currently the Branson Airport has six nonstop destinations and one stop connecting service to more than 100 major cities in the United State.  Nonstop destinations include: Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago, Houston and Orlando on AirTran Airways; and Denver on Frontier Airlines. 

SSE's Lucas Case & Missouri Governor Jay Nixon
 pose for a photo after discussing the economic impact
of Southwest Airlines 'landing' in Branson

Known for the unique airport experience and superb customer service, Branson Airport LLC is the first privately developed and operated commercial service airport in the United States.  It is currently serviced by AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines, Branson AirExpress, and most currently Southwest Airlines and this allows passengers the ability to access over 100 destinations all on low cost carriers. 

To welcome Southwest Airlines to the Branson area, the Branson Airport and Southwest Airlines threw a public-wide ‘pep rally.’  This rally included special appearances from Missouri Governor Jay Nixon, Johnny Morris, Jack and Peter Herschend, Tony Orlando, Neil Smith, and many others.  It also included performances by The Blues Brothers, SIX, and Legend of Kung Fu.

Branson Airport Exec. Dir. Jeff Bourk

Governor Nixon commented, “When it comes to our state’s economy—specifically the tourism industry—Branson is a pillar of our strength, and a leader in our continued growth.  Already this year, Branson has welcomed nearly 3 million travelers.  That’s enough folks to fill 22,000 of Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737’s.” 

Branson Airport Executive Director, Jeff Bourk, said, "With this announcement comes great opportunity for this region to continue its growth and become a hub for business and leisure travel. With the help of Schultz Engineering in the early process of the Branson Airport's conception, our community and our state have prospered these last few years and will continue to do so."

 

SSE Owner, Stan Schultz

Stan Schultz, owner of SSE, concluded, “We were honored to be selected out of the many firms who placed bids to work on the Branson Airport.  SSE strives to save our customers money and providing the quality service they want and need.  My family utilizes the Branson Airport on numerous occasions and we are thrilled that Southwest Airlines has added their stamp of approval.”

HCW Picks SSE for two Branson Projects

 This year, Branson has seen many ups and downs in its economy and within the community. With the February 29th Leap Day tornado hurting many businesses, the community has persevered and is now back on track to do huge things for its community. HCW is a major development and construction company headquartered in Branson, Missouri. HCW has been heavily involved in many Branson-area projects such as the Branson Landing, Payne Stewart Golf Club, Dixie Station Shopping Center, Thousand Hills Golf Resort, Fall Creek Resort, Cedar Ridge at the Woods Resort, Grandvista at Emerald Pointe Resort, Branson Yacht Club, the Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum and Theatre, as well as adjoining Celebration Plaza, and Vista Plaza shopping centers. SSE Business Development director Rodney Jetton stated, “We are very proud to be working with such a well known and respected company like HCW.  Their outstanding track record in Branson and the Midwest is well documented and to be associated with Rick Huffman and their company is something we are very proud of.  We look forward to working with them more in the future on projects that will improve the economy and quality of life for communities in this region.”

SSE Marketing Director
Rod Jetton

This year, HCW has contracted Schultz Surveying and Engineering (SSE) to do two projects in the Branson community.  One is a site design located at the roundabout by Skaggs Hospital.  This project consisted of topographic surveying, architectural layout of the building and parking lot, a grading plan design, erosion and sediment control plans, and a water and sewer service plan that included a bore under business 65.  This piece of land is approximately 1.25 acres and will be a sales office for HCW.

The character of the area is always taken into account in HCW developments.  New construction blends harmoniously with existing structures, and rehabilitation projects bring freshness and up-to-date convenience to established structures.  HCW projects can bring innovation, excitement and a new outlook to communities as they move into the future.

SSE Owner, Stan Schultz

SSE Owner, Stan Schultz stated, “I appreciate HCW and the work they are doing within the Branson community.  When I bring my family to Branson we always have a great time enjoying what Branson has to offer and HCW played a huge role in that.”   

HCW’s vision provides for specific needs within the community.  New development often brings new jobs, and housing the workers is an accompanying need.  HCW has brought numerous housing projects into communities in several states.  Affordable multi-family and single housing developments are built with the same attention to quality and environment as HCW’s largest commercial projects. 

HCW Dir. of Development
Gary Fultz

Gary Fultz, HCW’s Director of Development said, “The team, led by Bradley Allbritton, was always responsive to our needs during the civil engineering process, and they produced quality plans.  They are an extremely professional firm and I would recommend them to any company seeking quality engineering services.”

SSE Branson Operations Mgr.
 Bradley Allbritton

SSE’s Bradley Allbritton said, “HCW is so great to work with.  They are extremely smart and savvy when it comes to what it is they need and want in a project design.  Our team enjoyed working with HCW on these projects and we look forward to our future with HCW Development.”

SSE's Lucas Case to Serve the Branson Community

Lucas Case
SSE Public Relations

Schultz & Summers Engineering would like to congratulate Lucas Case on being elected to serve the downtown Branson community on the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA) Board of Directors. SSE hired Lucas Case to handle Public Relations and Social Media for the firm earlier this year with the goal of enhancing communications with existing and future clients. “Being involved in our local communities is important to our company and we plan on continuing to play a crucial role in improving the lives of people in the Branson/Tri-Lakes area,” said SSE Owner, Stan Schultz.

Stan Schultz, SSE Owner

“I am honored to be elected by downtown Branson business leaders to serve on this board,” said Case. “The DBMA promotes the downtown area from the top of Hwy 76 all the way down to the Branson Landing and areas in between. The DBMA brings the community some of the most sacred and popular events such as the annual Fiddle Festival, Plumb Nellie Days, Autumn Daze and so much more,” stated Case.

Historic Downtown Branson is considered the “Heart of Branson” to most people who hear of or visit the Branson Tri-Lakes area. Downtown Branson is home to more than 250 small and large businesses that offer anything from attractions and lodging to professional services, restaurants, shopping and more. The DBMA provides the Free Trolley Service to and from one destination to the next with more than seven trolley stops in the downtown area.

Cris Bohinc
DBMA Exec. Director

DBMA Executive Director Cris Bohinc stated, “I am pleased to have Lucas on our board to help bring new creative ideas to better serve our downtown community, while preserving the heritage that downtown Branson offers to our patrons and businesses. Welcome aboard, Lucas.”

Tammy Thurman
Owner, Lock Smith Salon

Owner of downtown business Lock Smith Salon, Tammy Thurman, also stated, “It’s a pleasure to have Lucas on our Board of Directors. We have enjoyed getting to know him over these last few years and I am looking forward to seeing him more here in historic downtown Branson.”

For more information about Downtown Branson please visit www.DowntownBranson.org.

Lucas Case Joins Schultz & Summers Engineering

LUCAS CASE JOINS SCHULTZ & SUMMERS ENGINEERING

CASE JOINS ESTEEMED MARKETING & PUBLIC RELATIONS DIVISION

Lucas Case
Public Relations

Schultz & Summers Engineering is pleased to welcome Lucas Case to the Marketing and Public Relations Department at SSE.  Case hails from the mid-Missouri town of Richland but has lived and worked in Southwest Missouri for the last six years.  In 2012 SSE added a PR and Marketing division that will cater to professional services companies.  To better serve those clients they brought on Lucas Case, a social media guru and former Political Advisor to numerous Missouri candidates.  SSE Marketing Director, Rodney Jetton had this to say, “Lucas’ background in Public Relations, Social Media Management and Marketing were exactly what we were looking for to help us communicate our message with our customers.  He will also help the SSE’s marketing division provide, bankers, realtors, and other professional businesses build stronger relationships with their clients.”

Rodney Jetton,
Marketing Director

Case recently served as the Political Director for State Treasurer Sarah Steelman’s United States Senate campaign, and before that he served as an advisor on multiple state house and state senate races across Missouri.  In 2010 Case was a consultant for Majority Fund, Inc. (MFI) with the Missouri State Senate Campaign Committee and helped usher in wins for Senator Jay Wasson, Senator Bob Dixon and former House Speaker Ron Richard.  He was also involved in multiple races in the Springfield area as well as an advisor to Senator Jack Goodman’s Congressional race.  Earlier in 2008 Lucas was the Statewide Field Director for the Sarah Steelman for Governor Campaign. 

Soon after the elections were over Case moved into the private sector and managed a multi-million dollar venue in Branson on the World Famous Highway 76 Country Boulevard.  Along with managing the property he also founded the Sunday Night Gospel Concert Series at the Music City Centre Theatre.  Case was also a co-founder of the Branson-based Downing Street Boys Quartet.  In 2010 and 2011, Lucas also worked for Barbara Fairchild in her Marketing & Sales Department, which also allowed him to stay active in the Branson League of Theatre Owners & Show Producers.  Former CFO and Theater owner Debbie Caffrey said, “Lucas’s ability to use social media and oversee our operations greatly improved our attendance and profitability.  His expertise really helped our business thrive in a tough economy.”  Besides working in Branson’s entertainment industry Case also served as a Board Member on the Downtown Branson Main Street Association (DBMA), where his organizational and marketing skills helped to promote downtown Branson and the Tri-Lakes area. 

Stan Schultz, Principal/Owner

Case added, “It’s exciting to join a growing engineering company like SSE and also having the opportunity to use my social media skills to help their marketing division get going is something I am looking forward to.   Companies providing professional services can greatly benefit from using the social media techniques that the internet provides and working at SSE will allow me to help others grow their business. 

SSE has been recognized as one of the fastest growing companies by both Inc. 500|5000 and ZwiegWhite.  Founded in 1997, many consider them to be the premier rural engineering company in Missouri.   Owner Stan Schultz concluded, “Having someone with Lucas’s background will be a huge boost to our marketing efforts both here in Missouri and the federal marketplace.  His political background will be a benefit to our clients and his marketing skills will continue to help us communicate our desire to help communities all across Missouri build the infrastructure they need to improve lives.”          

Stay Connected:

www.Facebook.com/SchultzAndSummers

www.Twitter.com/SSEEngineering

TEXAS COUNTY MISSOURI TURNS INTO CAJUN COUNTRY

Now this is REAL Cajun food!

Things were hot and spicy at the Texas County fairgrounds with Schultz and Summers Engineering hosting a Cajun Shrimp Boil Tuesday night.  Over 75 business and community leaders from the region attended the festivities.  Velena Ingram, Executive Director of the Houston Chamber of Commerce said, “What a fun party!  SSE knows how to have a good time.  Everyone had a great time and the Cajun food was unbelievable.  I am already looking forward to next year.”   

Cajun Chef Ronnie!

Owner Stan Schultz said, “Business is continuing to grow in our mid-Missouri offices.  We love working in rural Missouri and to have so many community leaders show up and help us celebrate another great year of business was exciting.”

The festivities started at 5:00 pm with several people already waiting for the first batch of shrimp to finish cooking.  “The Schultz and Summers folks sure know how to cook Cajun style.  They put on a great party with some outstanding food,” added T.J. Lewis, Ozark County Commissioner.

While the slow economy has negatively affected many Missouri businesses, SSE was just recognized as one of the fastest growing companies by Inc. 500|5000.  Marketing Director Rodney Jetton says they are bucking that trend, “Because our company listens to the needs and concerns of community leaders, we don’t try to tell them what to do.  Our engineers know the rules and are used to working with USDA and DNR officials.  They are experts at finding funding and designing projects that meet the community’s needs at the lowest possible price. Our projects consistently meet the short and long range government requirements while saving taxpayers money.”    

Tracy Guffey of West Plains
won the Fishing Pole

Shannon County Commissioner,
Dale Counts won the shotgun

The night’s activities also included several door nice prizes including a Remington 870 shotgun, a bionic fishing pole and an Android Tablet.  Robert Ross of Houston won the I-Pad while Tracy Guffrey of West Plains walked away with the fishing pole and Dale Counts, Shannon County Northern Commissioner took home the shotgun.  SSE Engineer Jim Fisher commented, “Seeing folks enjoy the food, and having fun made the whole party a success!  2012 is shaping up to be our biggest year ever and getting to say thanks to all our customers and visiting with our elected officials was very enjoyable.”

Robert Ross of Houston won the
Android Tablet

For the full photo album, click the link below:  http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.429887287034270.93346.229182513771416&type=3