January Newsletter
This Month in Review:
Goodbye, 2020. Our first month of 2021 is officially in the books!
Although January had a bit of a slow start, we smoothly transitioned back from our holiday time away from the office. This month was filled with exciting company updates, new initiatives, accomplishments, and an overall fresh start to the new year!
Below are January’s highlights and announcements.
Announcements:
American Digital Security
As proud business partners of ours, we would like to congratulate the Kansas City Chiefs on heading to their second straight Super Bowl after defeating the Buffalo Bills 38-24 in the AFC Championship on January 24, 2021. We wish them the best of luck as they head to Tampa Bay to take on the Buccaneers and will be cheering them on safely from home- GO CHIEFS!
Also, American Digital Security is now offering fire alarm systems! Fire safety is a fundamental mandate for every enterprise, facility, campus, and municipality. Fire safety begins with fire detection, and as a long time expert in all things safety, ADS will provide service, installation, testing, and inspection of your fire detection system.
Their new Fire Alarm Services include:
DESIGN
An efficient fire detection system begins with a carefully designed system catered towards your specific needs.
INSTALLATION
Installation of fire safety systems using the latest technology developments to set the bar higher with systems that are more configurable, more scalable and more automated to help you protect your people and assets.
INSPECTION
Our NICET certified technicians are here to perform a comprehensive inspection of your fire system to keep up with the current NFPA codes.
FIRE ALARM MONITORING
Detecting a fire early can mean the difference between losing everything and keeping loss and damage to a minimum. That’s why it pays to count on ADS for 24/7 alarm monitoring.
Midwest Bus Sales
As of January 6th, 2021, Midwest Bus Sales is honored to congratulate the following recipients, Sabrina Giese, Sales Coordinator (KS/MO), and Jon Shaw, Bus Sales (CO), for successfully attaining the Eagle’s Nest level award for the “2020 Wings of Eagles Sales Incentive Recognition Program.”
Through the challenges of 2020, these individuals excelled and have achieved a new status level in the Wings of Eagles program based upon meeting all of the necessary criteria for the Eagle’s Nest levels. They will be recognized as having achieved this milestone and will be awarded a diamond to be set into their Gold Wings of Eagles ring, in addition to a $500 Visa gift card.
On behalf of David Nethercut, Manager, Sales Education, the rest of The Kincaid Group and its divisions, we congratulate these employees a part of this wonderful opportunity and are thankful for their sales efforts over the years. Please join us in congratulating the chosen individuals.
Kincaid Information Technology
Kincaid Information Technology (KIT) was awarded the opportunity to deliver IT Deployment services to qualifying organizations and was named a trusted Google for Education partner for 2021. KIT became a Google for Education partner in 2020, providing IT support to educational organizations throughout the region.
Click here to learn more about the partnership: Kincaid IT Named Trusted Google Service Provider for 2021
State Line Nissan
As of December 3, 2020, Consumer Guide named the all-new 2021 Nissan Rogue and 2021 Nissan Versa as winners of its 2021 Automotive Best Buy Awards, with the Nissan Rogue winning in the Compact Crossover category for the seventh consecutive year and the Nissan Versa winning in the Compact Car category for the second consecutive year.
Both vehicles are in stock at our Kansas City, MO location and are ready for immediate delivery!
Reminders:
DS Bus Lines
Know someone who has a passion for school buses or has ever wanted to become a school bus driver? Now is their opportunity. DS Bus Lines is currently hiring for open bus monitor and bus driver positions in their Olathe and Shawnee Mission (Merriam) location.
  • High starting wages
  • Paid training (DS Bus trains drivers from start to finish)
  • Weekly pay with paid holidays and guaranteed 20 hours work per week
  • No CDL required (Anyone with little to no experience bus driving can apply)
DS Bus will guide applicants through the process! Applicants can apply under the “Careers” tab on the company’s website or call either the Olathe or Shawnee Mission location.
It doesn’t stop there…Any employee that refers a new hire, has the opportunity to earn some extra money. To be eligible for the referral bonus, all you have to do is send someone to DS Bus that you feel would be a good fit to join the company. The new hire must be employed with DS Bus for 90 days to be qualified.
Conditions and terms apply. Please contact your Olathe or Shawnee Mission contract manager for details! What are you waiting for? Get referring today!
Always Learning
We have also recently added an ‘Always Learning’ section to the monthly newsletter. This section will be used relay tips related to technology, organization, efficiency, and more. 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 information from National Cyber Awareness System Current Activity for Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. (This idea was presented to Marketing by David Zinser):
On January 26, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released information on scammers attempting to impersonate the FTC. The scammers operate an FTC-spoofed website that claims to provide instant cash payments and tries to trick consumers into disclosing their financial information. The real FTC does not require such information, and scammers can use this information to steal consumers’ money and identities.
CISA encourages consumers to review the FTC blog post and CISA’s Security Tips on Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks and Preventing and Responding to Identity Theft.
“Knowing Yourself at Work”
This month, we also have information from the NPR “Life Kit” Newsletter on ‘The Importance Of Knowing Your Limits’ in the health section of the media organization. (This idea was presented to Marketing by Adam Tubbs):
Have you hit any walls lately? We’re creeping closer to a full year of pandemic life, and ‘burned out’ feels like an understatement. On this weeks Life Kit, NPR focused on setting boundaries and knowing your limits, with your work, with ourselves, and with loved ones.
Article #1- “The Ivy Lee Method: The Daily Routine Experts Recommend for Peak Productivity,” by James Clear
This article explains productivity consultant Ivy Lee and his decision-making methods, minimalism, procrastination, and productivity. Lee was a successful businessman and is widely remembered as a pioneer in the field of public relations.
Ivy Lee explains his simple daily routine for achieving peak productivity is by following these steps:
  1. At the end of the day, write down the six most important things you need to accomplish tomorrow. Do not write down more than six tasks.
  2. Prioritize those six items in order of their true importance.
  3. When you arrive tomorrow, concentrate only on the first task. Work until the first task is finished before moving on to the second task.
  4. Approach the rest of your list in the same fashion. At the end of the day, move any unfinished items to a new list of six tasks for the following day.
  5. Repeat this process every working day.
To learn more about Lee’s productivity methods, click here!
Article #2- “Procrastination Is More Than Putting Things Off. Here’s How To Kick the Habit,” by Audrey Nguyen
This article is about how one way or another, we all wind up falling into the same cycle of delay and avoidance, otherwise known as procrastination, but what we don’t know is there’s more to it than just delaying tasks. Procrastination and perfectionism often go hand in hand.
To combat procrastination – on the big things and the little things – here’s what Therapist Anastasia Locklin recommends:
  1. Identify and set small goals to work on it for a short, fixed amount of time.
  2. Following the Ivy Lee Method and make a list of six things to work on the following day.
  3. Use natural patterns to your advantage.
  4. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
  5. Plan ahead and delegate!
  6. Meet with a therapist.
To learn more about Locklin’s mental narrative on procrastination, click here!
Employee Spotlights
The Kincaid Group
Kirk Reimer – Systems Engineer
Q: How long have you worked for The Kincaid Group?
A: It will be four years on February 6th.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for The Kincaid Group?
A: There’s a lot of them. I would have to say setting up the data center network throughout the new company building.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for The Kincaid Group?
A: The group that I work with in Client Services is my favorite part, simply because we’re a close team.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Golfing and shooting sports.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: TV Shows: Breaking Bad, King of the Hill, and NCIS; Movies: National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and the Star Wars series.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Sushi and Hawaiian Bros.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Kansas City Chiefs, Royals, and K-State sports teams.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: I grew up in Western Kansas on a farm. When I was in 6th grade, I had an accident at school where I almost bled to death. The accident was so bad, it just about cut my arm off. I wound up with over 500 stitches and 36 staples.
Midwest Bus Sales
Jeff Keeley – Assistant Service Manager – Shawnee, KS
Q: How long have you worked for Midwest Bus Sales?
A: This June, it will be sixteen years.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for Midwest Bus Sales?
A: Our state shows that Midwest Bus Sales goes to. It is always fun hanging out with our employees and customers at the state shows.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for Midwest Bus Sales?
A: I like a challenge. So, my favorite part is the challenge of watching the business grow and seeing where we’re at today vs. when we first started.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Hunting, riding dirt bikes with my kids, and riding ATV’s.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: Yellowstone TV series.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Pizza from anywhere.
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: My coworkers probably don’t know that my family and I have cattle and raise them on a farm. We stay very busy.
DS Bus Lines / STS New Mexico
Tassie Ortega – Assistant Manager – STS New Mexico
Q: How long have you worked for DS Bus Lines?
A: I’ve completed thirty-eight years, coming up on my thirty-ninth year.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for DS Bus Lines?
A: The crazy things we’ve done with the drivers. We have a high school rivalry where drivers compete against each school and everybody dresses up.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for DS Bus Lines?
A: The fast pace because I like how your days go by so fast. Sometimes you run out of time.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: No hobbies really. I enjoy spending time with my nieces.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: Favorite movie is Yentl.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Tacos from El Sombrero.
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: People think I’m mad all the time, when it is really just the way I look. When they get to know me, I am a really nice person.
Kincaid Coach Lines
Lauren Piper – Sales Representative – Oklahoma City, OK
Q: How long have you worked for Kincaid Coach Lines?
A: In October, it will be a little over a year.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for Kincaid Coach Lines?
A: A few years ago, we did a potluck for the holidays. It was cool because I was able to meet some of the drivers that I wouldn’t have had a chance to meet otherwise.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for Kincaid Coach Lines?
A: The interaction with the customers.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Pre-COVID-19, going to the movies with my daughter, spending time with her, and collecting pets. I have 4 dogs, 3 cats, and a teenager.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: TV Show: Game of Thrones; Movie: Pride and Prejudice (The one with Keira Knightley)
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Anything Mexican food.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Oklahoma University sports.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: I was in the air force for eight years and was stationed in Maryland and Korea.
American Digital Security
Tyson LaFleur – Purchasing and Logistics Manager
Q: How long have you worked for American Digital Security?
A: Fourteen years.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for American Digital Security?
A: The golf tournament that ADS regularly hosts.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for American Digital Security?
A: The people and the coworkers. We have a lot of people that have been here for a long time. It is nice to get to know them and their families.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: Anything involving sports. Watching my kids play sports, going to sporting events, and watching sports on TV.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: TV Show: The King of Queens; Movie: Major League
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Z-Man sandwich from Joe’s Kansas City Barbeque.
Q: Who is your favorite sports team?
A: Dallas Cowboys and Oklahoma Sooners.
Q: Share something interesting about yourself that will help your co-workers get to know you better:
A: I’ve been married for seventeen years. I have three kids, ages 8 to 18. Half of my life I’ve lived in the Dallas area the other half I’ve lived in Kansas City.
State Line Nissan
Becky Vickers – Title Clerk
Q: How long have you worked for State Line Nissan?
A: One year and four months.
Q: What is your favorite memory since working for State Line Nissan?
A: Recently, I was test driving a car and hit a cayote. I was scared to come back to work after that.
Q: What is your favorite part of working for State Line Nissan?
A: Everyday, everybody is so friendly and so supportive. They’re all a huge family. It is definitely more of a family atmosphere compared to other dealerships.
Q: What are your favorite hobbies outside of work?
A: I like to garden, travel, do pottery, and hang out with my family and dogs.
Q: What is your favorite TV show and/or movie?
A: Favorite TV show is SEAL Team.
Q: What is your favorite meal or restaurant?
A: Lasagna from the restaurant Italian Delight.
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 very good at blocking out noise. So I am a quiet person, which a lot of people find intimidating or think I’m avoiding them on purpose, but I am just hard at work.
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 to stay updated frequently on company news, highlights, and tips.
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 or to caroline.taylor@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.
The Kincaid Group’s Instagram Page
Birthdays and Work Anniversaries
Lastly, click here to view the January birthdays, and click here to view the January work anniversaries. We hope that everyone on these lists had a great birthday or anniversary and we are thankful to have you on our team!
Thank you for your continued support of The Kincaid Group! To submit a story or point of interest for future newsletters, please contact Marketing Specialist, Caroline Taylor, caroline.taylor@thekincaidgroup.com.