October Newsletter
BOO! Happy (almost) Halloween!
Today’s newsletter includes multiple donation stories, helpful tips, employee spotlights, and more.
TKG Gives Back
With ‘Service’ being one of our Four Core Values, we encourage our divisions and employees to donate their time, talents, and treasures to their communities when possible. As a way to recognize these acts of service and share uplifting stories, we have begun highlighting them in our monthly newsletter. When a you complete an act of service – either through work or outside of work – we ask that you please share it with the Marketing team by emailing them at marketing@thekincaidgroup.com. If you have pictures or videos relating to your service, please feel free to include those as well.
This month, our divisions and individual employees have participated in multiple acts of service.
First, the Kincaid Ready Mix team was able to make a unique donation to St. Andrew Apostle Parish School. For the past few years, Kincaid Ready Mix has used Tab E Tablets for GPS tracking of their fleet. They recently switched to a new tracking software, leaving them with 72 tablets ranging from one to three years old. Knowing that St. Andrew Apostle Parish School would make good use of these tablets, Kincaid Ready Mix donated all 72 to the school. The KRM team is hopeful this can make a positive impact on the learning environment for students and teachers at the school.
Also, this month, The Kincaid Group and Midwest Bus Sales donated a Thomas Built school bus to the Wonderscope Children’s Museum, located in Kansas City, MO. This beautifully designed museum is a one-of-a-kind educational resource that provides all children the opportunity to build a solid foundation for success in school and beyond. Our bus exhibit is just one of many unique areas for children to play and learn. We have already heard great feedback from the Wonderscope staff, saying the bus is one of the most popular attractions and that random drivers pull over to take pictures of it.
Last, but not least, The Kincaid Group donated land to a small Kansas community for Parks and Recreation use.
Red Bags KC Update
Kansas City area employees have been hard at work gathering donations for Red Bags KC over the past few weeks. Red Bags KC is a local not for profit organization focused on providing Christmas gifts for foster children and families. Since they started keeping total in 2001, Red Bags KC and its sponsors have been able to fill ‘Red Bags’ for over 26,000 children. This is the third year The Kincaid Group has participated as a sponsor.
So far this year, Kansas City area employees have teamed up to gather over 100 blankets, over 100 duffel bags/backpacks, stuffed animals, sports balls, and more. We have also had $250 in cash donations that will go towards more blankets. Currently, all gifts are accounted for aside from roughly 80 blankets for children ranging from 5-11 years old. If you are in the Kansas City area and would like to donate blankets or cash, please drop them off at The Kincaid Group’s headquarters in Bonner Springs on or before Wednesday, November 4th. All donations will be delivered to Red Bags KC on Friday, November 6th.
Business Development 360 Workshop
At the beginning of the month, The Kincaid Group held its first ever Business Development 360 Workshop. Division leads and team members from various divisions attended the workshop, which was hosted by Ron Cox, President & CEO of The Kincaid Group, as well as the Client Services Division. The workshop provided attendees the opportunity to learn more about our various divisions and how The Kincaid Group can be a one-stop-shop for many clients.
Always Learning
We will be adding an ‘Always Leaning’ section to the monthly newsletter. This section will be used relay a few tips per month on how to be better with technology, security, safety, organization, efficiency, etc. If you or your team has a tip that you think would benefit other employees, please submit it to our Marketing Team at marketing@thekincaidgroup.com.
For this first month, we have a few tips from Adam Tubbs, Senior Process Architect at Midwest Bus Sales, and David Zinser, Executive Director of Technology at The Kincaid Group. Their tips are related to Microsoft Teams, a platform many of us have become more familiar with during the pandemic. Please see the details below:
  • Chat Moderation of Meetings – Microsoft is updating the meeting options to allow an organizer to manage participants’ ability to chat prior to, during and after a meeting. This update will begin in mid-November and should be completed by the end of November.
  • File Sharing Permissions – Microsoft is working on an update to allow users to have a file sharing and access control experience in Teams that is similar to their experience with other Microsoft 365 apps. This rollout started in mid-October and will be completed by the end of November.
  • Virtual In-Meeting Breakout Rooms – Microsoft is working on an update that will feature breakout rooms. Breakout rooms allow meeting organizers to split main meetings into smaller sessions for focused discussions. This update will start in mid-November and should be completed by the end of November.
  • iOS Compatibility – Microsoft is improving the Teams experience on iOS devices with a new presentation mode, the ability to see more participants, and the ability to see shared content and a spotlighted participant concurrently. This will all be on the updated version of the app, which will be available at the end of October.
Employee Spotlights
Beginning in July, monthly newsletters began including an ‘Employee Spotlight’ section. This initiative is a way for The Kincaid Group to not only recognize employees, but also to help everyone get to know their co-workers better. Below are this month’s spotlights:
American Digital Security
Sandy Barney – Accounting Assistant
Q: How long have you worked for American Digital Security?
A: 10 and a half years.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for American Digital Security?
A: Seeing people advance within the company. I’ve been here for a while and many people’s roles have changed since I got here, including my own. It’s also been fun watching co-workers’ families change and their kids grow up.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for American Digital Security?
A: I enjoy coming to work because of the people. We work well together and get along professionally and socially.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: DIY projects, going to the lake, family vacations, going to my kids’ sporting events.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: Friends and Christmas Vacation.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Any type of Mexican food – anytime, anywhere.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Kansas City Chiefs and Nebraska Huskers (my husband made me say that).
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: My husband and I got married in Cabo San Lucas and 15 of our family members and friends went with us. For our 10-year anniversary, we went back to Cabo with 23 people. We’ve been there 10 times and hope to go again as soon as it’s safe to travel.
DS Bus Lines
For this month, instead of highlighting one individual employee, DS Bus Lines would like to highlight the entire Olathe and Shawnee Mission staff for their hard work and great results.
Kincaid Coach Lines
Melissa Lancaster – Operations Manager, Tulsa Terminal
Q: How long have you worked for Kincaid Coach Lines?
A: Three years.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for Kincaid Coach Lines?
A: Working with different drivers and getting to know them personally.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for Kincaid Coach Lines?
A: Getting to work with a variety of people. I also love the scheduling aspect of the job.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Gardening, working in flower beds, riding our side-by-side.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: Chicago PD and Chicago Fire. I also like sappy Hallmark movies.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Mexican food.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Dallas Cowboys.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: I like to think I’m a hard worker. I give my 100% everywhere I go, and I’ve worked from the time I was 11 years old.
Kincaid Ready Mix
Emily Zart – Administrative Assistant
Q: How long have you worked for Kincaid Ready Mix?
A: Since April of 2017.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for Kincaid Ready Mix?
A: The two Christmas parties that we had at the Casino’s. It was always a good time, there was great comradery, and all of the KRM employees and their families were together enjoying each other’s company.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for Kincaid Ready Mix?
A: We have a very good team – the Management Team and down all have great comradery and are pieces of a puzzle. Our strengths fit together very well.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Shopping online and spending time with my family, in particular my son and dogs.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: True crime shows.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Cheese in general – cheese dip, mac and cheese, etc.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Kansas City Chiefs.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: I’m straight forward, which can be taken in good way or bad way. As my manager, Mike Hayward puts it, he loves that I, “tell it how it is.”
Midwest Bus Sales
Adam Tubbs – Senior Process Architect
Q: How long have you worked for Midwest Bus Sales?
A: I have been working with the MWBS team for almost two years, since January 2020. However, I began working with the Kincaid Group family nine years ago, this November, as part of the Kincaid IT team.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for Midwest Bus Sales?
A: The acquisition of the Litchfield location. Just after the acquisition, as part of the IT team, I traveled to Litchfield to setup the IT equipment necessary in that office. Meeting the new team members, making new friends, and enjoying their company, was the best part of that trip. That great staff, many of whom are still with the company today, were especially nice to a new stranger from the “new corporate headquarters”.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for Midwest Bus Sales?
A: Helping people and solving problems. Those were the reasons I chose to get into the IT career field, and they are still the biggest reasons I love my job today.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: When the weather is nice, I enjoy bicycling outdoors and organized soft ball leagues. I am also a big fan of movies and video games.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: This is an oldie, but as a child, I remember watching Nick-at-Nite reruns of a TV show from the 60’s named “Get Smart” with Don Adams. I know it’s an odd choice, but the comedic lovable-loser “James Bond” gimmick was so funny. As for the movies, my all-time favorite is “The Princess Bride”; it’s got a little bit of every genre mixed in. And who doesn’t love Andre the Giant!
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: A very expensive steak, from a very nice steakhouse. There’s something about a $100 steak that just tastes better.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Missouri (Columbia) Tigers.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: My guilty pleasure is watching professional wrestling; I’ve been a fan since I was a young kid. I don’t watch every week anymore, but I know WAY TOO MUCH about the history of “sports entertainment”.
The Kincaid Group
Megan Morford – Corporate Controller
Q: How long have you worked for The Kincaid Group?
A: Almost three years.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for The Kincaid Group?
A: After an all-hands meeting here in our Kansas location, we had an employee activity, where we played team games, and for the championship, we played giant Jenga. It went on for over an hour and was very competitive and everyone had such a great time playing and watching.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for The Kincaid Group?
A: How everyone works together and knows each other and takes Core Values to heart.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Watching my kids’ activities and taking care of my animals. I have three cats, one dog, and two turtles.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: The Office.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Spaghetti.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Kansas Jayhawks.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: I used to be involved in theatre and really enjoy acting.
State Line Nissan
Ed Hammouri – Sales Manager
Q: How long have you worked for State Line Nissan?
A: Since November 2016.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for State Line Nissan?
A: The teamwork we’ve had over the years.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for State Line Nissan?
A: It feels like home. Everyone is close and there for one common goal.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Soccer and football.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: Friends.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Italian food.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Kansas City Chiefs.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: Family means a lot to me, which is one of the things I love about State Line Nissan.
Social Media Reminder
Below are links to various social media pages of our divisions. Please feel free to like/follow as many as you would like. Additionally, the Marketing and Communications team is always looking for ideas on social media posts. If you ever have a work-related story, picture, video, etc. that may be worth sharing, please send it to marketing@thekincaidgroup.com. Social media is free publicity and a great way for the community to stay up-to-date with the work and accomplishments of our outstanding employees.
Thank you for your continued support of The Kincaid Group! To submit a story or point of interest for future newsletters, please contact Communications Specialist, Blake Hosley, at blake.hosley@thekincaidgroup.com.