July

Spokane Blood Drive

The Blood Drive for the Spokane Facility was a success!  Vitalant was able to register 16 donors who were all able to donate blood.  Out of the 16, two were first time donors with Vitalant.  And, Vitalant was able to collect 20 units of blood, which was a +6 units above the projected goal.  Way to go donors!  Thank you!

Health Challenge

The Duel is over!  The results are in.  We have our winner's of the May's Duel for Dollars Challenge.  Our participants spent the month of May doing a series of workouts which included running, crunches, squats and planks and collectively achieved an impressive 13,123 minutes of activity and 34,995 reps.  Each team of 2 went head to head against another team and competed for 50 Nectar points.  There was also one grand prize of 500 Nectar points for the top performing team.

                                     The winning teams and recipients of the 50 Nectar points were:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     Madison Seiple and Janet Underwood                                                                                                                  Kevin Dickson and Jaime Santana                                                                                                                Machelle Johnson and Rachel Graham                                                                                                                     Mike Oien and Griffin Walker                                                                                                                     Ryan Hammond and Michael Williams                                                                                                              Heidi Hasapopoulos and Wayne Price                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           And the Top Performing Team and the Grand Prize Winners were.......                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Tim Edwards and Kurt Alsperger                   

Congratulations to all that competed in this challenge!  Great job everyone!

Special Dates in July

4th - Independence Day

7th - World Chocolate Day

11th - Marine Corps Creation Day

15th - National Give Something Away Day

17th - National Ice Cream Day

24th - National Parent's Day

29th - System Administrator Appreciation Day

Employee Spotlight

Employee: Ross Carr 

Position: Design Engineer 

Hi, I’m Ross Carr and I’m a mechanical design engineer with Syntakt/Pearson. I’ve been working for Pearson for a little over a year now. I grew up in Kansas City and graduated from Kansas State in 2013. I moved and worked in Amarillo, TX for 4 years before moving to San Diego, CA where I reside currently.

When I was around 3 years old, my grandparents moved from Kansas City to Hawaii. They got a great place on Waikiki Beach where they could grow old, retire, and become beach bums. So, it became family tradition every few years to go visit them in Hawaii. It was always my favorite place to visit, between the weather, beaches, and all the scenic nature views. Usually, we would plan the trips around special occasions such as special anniversaries or birthdays. And we have been doing that for the last 20+ years now. The last trip was a month ago, as my brother decided to get married down there on Kauai, and then took his honeymoon on Maui. It’s a special place for me and my family, and we have made a lot of memories there. If you haven’t been, I would recommend it!

The thing I really enjoy about working for Pearson is the people I get to work with. I always have great experiences working with everyone on our team and have always thought that, even before joining Pearson I worked with the company as a customer.

Thank you for sharing, Ross!

What Not Do During A Thunderstorm

     Although the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are slim, less than one in a million to be precise, there are still many factors that can put you at a greater risk.  Plus, as the number and magnitude of severe thunderstorms seems to be increasing with the rise of extreme climate change, it's better to be safe than sorry.                                                                                                                                                                           There are some basic rules we all learn about when it comes to lightning and heavy rain, but there are also many surprising things that are endangering you both outdoors and inside.                                                     The consequences of lightning strikes are serious, and lightning is reportedly one of the leading causes of weather-related fatalities.                                                                                                                                            Here is a gallery of the things you definitely shouldn't do when a storm is raging.

• • Do Not take cover under a tree.  While taking cover seems like a logical thing to do, standing under a tree is not a good idea.  They're likely the tallest object around you and are therefore more likely to be hit by lightning, the charge of which can jump onto you as humans and conduct electricity better than trees.
  • Do Not ignore the 30-30 rule.  After you see lightning, start counting to 30.  If you hear thunder before you reach 30, you should go indoors.
  • Do Not stay on the porch to watch.  Stay off balconies, porches, and out of open garages, dugouts, or sheds.
  • Do Not stay in a huddled group.  No one wants to endure a storm alone, but it's actually dangerous to stay in a group.  By separating you can actually lower the amount of people who are at risk of being hurt by ground currents and side flashes between people.
  • Do Not take a shower.  If your house gets hit by lightning, the bolt can travel through water pipes and electrify you in the shower.
  • Do Not underestimate flooding.  Just six inches of fast-moving water can reportedly knock you down, and one foot of moving water can sweep your vehicle away.  Don't underestimate the power of a seemingly shallow pool.
  •  Do Not use a corded phone.  If you still have a corded landline in your home, you shouldn't use it during a thunderstorm because an electric current could pass through it and hurt you.  Cordless and mobile phones are okay to use.
  • Do Not touch concrete structures.  Concrete walls, floors, and buildings tend to have metal wires or bars through them, so don't stand near or lean on concrete structures when lightning is near.
  • Do Not stand in the open.  So, you shouldn't take cover under a tree, but you should also refrain from standing in the open.  Dancing in the rain is nice, but staying outside in a storm could put your life at risk. 
  • Do Not take cover under an umbrella.  The CDC reports that the chances of being directly hit by lightning if you carry a conductor (something made of metal, like an umbrella) above shoulder level.
  • Do Not stand near a window. Thunderstorms are an epic scene to watch. But watching even from indoors can be dangerous. Windows and doors may contain metal parts which can conduct electricity, putting you at risk of being electrocuted if you stand too close to them or touch them.
  • Do Not use electrical appliances. It’s also recommended that you don’t use your computer, TV, washer or dryer, or other plugged-in electrical appliances, as lightning can travel through electrical systems and zap anything connected to an outlet.
  • Do Not unplug your devices. If the storm is already raging, unplugging devices increases your risk of electrocution. 
  • Do Not leave your pets outside. Having your dog chained to a tree is just as dangerous as if you were taking cover under a tree. Doghouses aren’t safe for your pooch either, so be a good owner and keep them inside.
  • Do Not go for a swim.  Water, like metal, conducts electricity.  So, if you are in a pool, lake, or any body of water in a thunderstorm, you put yourself at a high risk of being shocked.
  • Do Not lie down.  Since lightning strikes the tallest object first, it makes sense to get low, but you should never lie down on the ground in a thunderstorm.  Even at 100 feet away, the electric current from lightning that runs along the top of the ground can still be deadly.  Instead, if no shelter is available, crouch low, with as little of your body touching the ground as possible and tuck your head down and place your hands over your ears.
  • Do Not waste time removing metal.  Metal conducts lightning but won't necessarily attract it.  Instead of removing belts and watches in a storm, focus on getting inside to safety.
  • Do Not forget to find a flashlight.  If the power goes out, you don't want to be stuck without a light source.  Make sure you always have a flashlight or battery-powered lantern nearby before a storm begins.
  • Do Not wash your hands or dishes.  Sorry germaphobes, but both metal pipes and water can conduct electricity, so running the tap runs the risk of being electrocuted.
  • Do Not hesitate to help someone who was struck by lightning.  One myth that the NWS debunked is that a lightning stuck victim can shock others.  Human bodies can't store electricity, so if you come in contact with someone who was hit by lightning, you won't be electrocuted.  Make sure they're breathing, elevate their legs slightly, and call for help.
  • Do Not ride your bike.  Even if you're almost home, protect yourself when on a bicycle or motorcycle by pulling over and waiting 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before resuming your ride.
  • Do Not finish the game.  According to the CDC, about two-thirds of the deaths in storms are associated with outdoor recreational activities like sports games.  Seeing lightning, hearing thunder, or viewing a potential threat in the sky are all signs to pause the game and take cover.
  • Do Not continue driving.  If you're in a car during a severe lightning storm, pull over, put your flashers on, and refrain from touching anything metal in the car, including the steering wheel, the gear shift, and the seat buckle.
  • Do Not ignore the hair standing on end.  The bottom of the storm is negatively charged, and it looks for positively charged things to transfer the energy to (through a flash of lightning).  If your hair begins to stand on end, it's a good sign that your body's positive charge is at risk of receiving that negative charge.  Get down immediately!
  •  Do Not drive in a convertible.  While it is safe to be in most cars during a thunderstorm, as lightning will only traverse the outside surface, a convertible is not entirely made of metal, so it's not nearly as safe.
  • Do Not be caught off-guard.  Keep tabs on the weather forecasts so you know when a storm is coming.  Then you can unplug all your appliances and arrange to have a well-equipped shelter ready for the worst.
  • Do Not go outside immediately after a storm.  Keeping with the 30-30 rule, the CDC recommends waiting at least 30 minutes after the last crack of thunder before heading outside again.
  • Do Not forget to report fallen power lines.  These are a continued source of danger and could lead to a fire.
    
    By:  MSN, Stars Insider

 Stay Safe and Have Fun this Summer!

                                                    Where in the World is Pearson?

Hauppauge, NY. 

Contract Pharmacal Corp. (CPC) develops, manufactures and packages premium pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter drugs and dietary supplements. Owned and operated by the same family that founded the company in 1971, CPC today employs 1000 of the most highly skilled, experienced professionals in the industry and to date has commercialized over 4,500 products. Pearson recently shipped a line to Contract Pharmacal including a CE25-G, RTL-MX, CS25-42G, RPC-DF with conveying, sheet inserter, checkweigher, labeler, and barcode verification. Contract Pharmacal is a pharmaceutical manufacturer on Long Island, based in Hauppauge NY.

                                      Robotic Palletizer with Shelf Gripper Tooling 

Birthdays

1st - Peter Donaldson 
2nd - Michael Wood
4th - Tristan Erdman and Matt Tjards
6th - Jaime Santana
7th - Kody Prather
9th - Thomas Halish
10th - Ryan Hammond and Tim Neton
11th - Aaron Anderson
14th - Shawn Smith
17th - Matt Day and Miguel Ramos
20th - AZ Zaman
21st - Tim Rineman
30th - Nicholas Trettel

Anniversaries

1 Year: Lee Short
2 Years: Ken Atwood and Isaac Lamb
3 Years: Dexter Easley
7 Years: Anthony Accardo
8 Years: Louise McAllister
11 Years: Tim Edwards
17 Years: Lee Musgrave
20 Years: Ronnie Wright
21 Years: Kurt Larson
29 Years: Michael Vogt

Wedding

Scott and Rachel Burgard

Scott and Rachel Burgard were married on June 18th in Naches Washington.  Looks like a beautiful day and a gorgeous backdrop for a wedding day!  Congratulations!

New Employees

Daniel Perry - Field Service Technician  

Ashley Soennichsen - Senior Accountant

Joe Johnson - Director of Engineering

William Ozbat - Desktop Support Analyst

Tyler Sandeen - Applications Engineer

Tim Smith - Inventory Specialist

Jae Mullen - Electrical-Mechanical Technician

Joe Cannon - Electrical-Mechanical Technician

William Kercher - Electrical-Mechanical Technician

Dan Baines - Applications Engineer

                                                               Welcome To You All!

Brain Game

The first five people to solve this riddle will receive a $5.00 Starbucks gift card! Email your response to: zhutson@pearsonpkg.com 

What occurs once in every minute, twice in every moment, yet never in a thousand years?

June Blog Brain Game Answer: Take me out and scratch my head.  I am now black, but once was red.  What am I?            Answer:  A match

Winners:  David Bowen, Michael Jaynes, LuWanna Morris, Michael Norton and Justin Vaughan

Did You Know?

One of the largest pyramids in the world is a Bass Pro Shop Megastore in Memphis, Tennessee, with a 535.000-square foot interior and it is 321 feet tall.  It features 2 floors of immersive retail space, a hotel, an indoor swamp, an aquarium, a bowling alley, 100-foot tall cypress trees, 600,000 gallons of water, 36 varieties of fish native to the Mississippi, and the world's tallest freestanding elevator, which can take you to an observation deck.

Quote Of The Month

"I can't give you a recipe for success, but I can give you a recipe for failure: Try to please everyone."

--Frank Langella

Learn A New Word

Fastidious - very attentive to and concerned about accuracy and detail.

Recipe                                      

                                                               Grilled Chicken Kabobs

10 minutes prep time

20 minutes cook time

Serves 4

 Ingredients

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 large breasts)

3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

2 tsp honey

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 Tbsp dried oregano

2 tsp dried thyme or dried rosemary

1 tsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 red onion - quartered into 1-inch pieces

1 small zucchini - slice into 1/2-inch coins

1 red bell pepper - seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces

Canola oil for grilling

1 large lemon - cut into wedges (optional but way better if it's included)

 For serving:

 Chopped fresh herbs of choice (parsley and dill are two of our favorites)
 Crumbled feta cheese

Instructions

• Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch pieces and place in a large zip top bag, shallow baking dish, or bowl.
• In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, honey, garlic, oregano,  thyme, salt, and pepper.
• Pour over the chicken and stir to coat (or seal the bag, removing as much air as possible, and “squish” to coat). Place in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours (do not let the chicken sit for longer or the vinegar will cause it to break down). If using wooden skewers, place the skewers in water to soak for at least 20 minutes.
• When ready to grill, preheat the grill to medium-high heat (about 375 degrees F). Brush the grill grates with canola oil or coat with nonstick grill spray.
• Thread the kabobs: Thread a piece of chicken onto the skewer (shake off the excess marinade when removing it from the bag. Add alternating pieces of the red onion, zucchini, yellow squash, and red bell pepper until you've reached the end of the skewer, ending with chicken. Repeat with the remaining skewers, then discard the excess chicken marinade.
• Grill the chicken until fully cooked through and the juices run clear, about 10 to 15 minutes, turning the skewers every few minutes so that each side has grill marks. Transfer to a serving plate and squeeze the lemon over the top. Sprinkle with fresh herbs and feta. Serve warm.

Enjoy! If you decide to make this delicious recipe, make sure to snap a photo and email it to zhutson@pearsonpkg.com to be featured in next month's blog.