Rochester to Sponsor 50’s Gala for the Shepherd Home
2/25/2010
Baker Commodities will sponsor the 2010 "Fabulous 50's" Spring Gala to benefit the Shepherd Home, Saturday, April 10, 2010 at Midvale Country Club in Penfield, NY.
The Shepherd Home is a two-bedroom home that operates under the "Hospice Care" philosophy, providing 24-hour service and care for those with less than three months to live in a home-like setting. More info can be found at www.shepherdhome.org.
Sponsors and organizers of the Shepherd Home Spring Gala kicked off ticket sales by practicing their Doo-wop harmonies in preparation for the festivities.
Front Row: William Schmieder, General Manager, Baker Commodities Inc.; and co-chairs of the Shepherd Home Gala, Gail Van Belzen and Diane Knox.
Back Row: Betsy Inglis, Executive Director of Shepherd Home; Lisa Davies, Director of Social Work, Maplewood Nursing & Rehabilitation; Jennifer Habecker, Membership Development Officer, Family First Federal Credit Union; Mary Lou Lunt, Director of Marketing, Family First Federal Credit Union; Jim Gresens, President, MRB Group Engineering Architecture & Surveying PC; Jim Redmond, Vice President Communications, Excellus Blue Cross/Blue Shield
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Baker Rochester Employees Moving On Up
12/16/2009
Two of Baker's Rochester Division employees, Jason Stewart and Robert Fedele, have successfully completed a 40-hour course and test to become 2nd Degree Stationary Engineers. They will receive their certificates within a few weeks. Rochester congratulates them on their significant achievement!
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Kerman Ribbon-Cutting
11/11/2009
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Last month, Baker Commodities’ Kerman division celebrated the recently completed renovation of its office building with a barbecue and ribbon-cutting. Attending the ribbon-cutting were out-of-town guests, Dennis Luckey, Baker Commodities Vice President and Mitch Ebright, Baker’s in-house attorney; Manuel Ponte, Kerman General Manager; Baker’s Kerman employees: and Kerman Chamber Board Members.
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Kerman Division News
9/17/2009
Kerman Plant APPI Certified
The Baker Commodities Kerman division was recently designated an APPI (Animal Protein Producers Industry) certified plant. The certification means that the plant meets all HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) specifications. HACCP is a management system in which food safety is addressed through the analysis and control of biological, chemical, and physical hazards from raw material production, procurement and handling, to manufacturing, distribution and consumption of the finished product. Kerman’s certification is an achievement the entire company is very proud of, as it represents the next level in Baker Commodities ongoing commitment to feed and public safety.
Employee News
Kerman is also excited to announce that its manager, Manuel Ponte, recently celebrated his 40th anniversary with Baker Commodities. And earlier this year plant manager, Steve Dessauer, was awarded the very exclusive and coveted Special Service Award. Only awarded to one other manager, Jack Bradford, the Special Service Award celebrates employee performance that goes above and beyond the normal scope of work.
Building Makeover
Kerman has also completed a significant renovation of its office building after five months of work. The existing office has been expanded about 25 feet. This expansion allowed for the complete renovation of the interior, which provided space for three additional offices, a larger general work area, an elegant welcome/lobby area, and a spacious conference/lunch room/training room with digital audio/visual equipment. The garden areas around the office were also completely re-landscaped. A new logo will soon be installed on the peak of the office gable, completing the new look.
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Phoenix Division Manager Jack Bradford is Remembered
8/25/2009
Jack D. Bradford, Jr., 56, the Phoenix General Division Manager of Baker Commodities, passed away in his sleep on the morning of Saturday, August 8, 2009. Jack was born and raised in Phoenix, AZ. He is survived by his wife, Vickie, and his beloved children Cassandra Ortiz, Justin Bradford (Elizabeth), Julie Bradford and his four grandchildren, Zoia, Aria, Maelynn and Maxwell, his father, Jack Bradford and stepmother, Nancy, his sisters, Kathy Chapman (John) and Becky Darnell (Brian), and his brother, Virgil Bradford. He is so greatly missed and will be remembered as a loving husband, a very proud and caring father, a good son, a loyal brother and friend, and above all, a very hard worker.
“Jack was an outstanding individual, one of the best managers we’ve ever had,” said Jim Andreoli, Sr. “As of August 22, 2009, Jack would have been with the company for 35 years. Whatever he was asked to do, over the years, he did, working nights and weekends until the job was done. He was one of the first people to get the Special Service Award two years ago for exceptional achievement at Baker. Jack was also very active in the community. He was a black belt in judo and for years, taught martial arts to 6-10 year olds in the Phoenix area. Jack was a wonderful man, and a quality person…I am proud to have known him and have had the opportunity to work with him for so many years.”
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Phoenix Division Controller Graduates With Honors
6/16/2009
The Baker Commodities Phoenix Division is very proud to announce that Division Controller Beverly Norris graduated on June 13, 2009 from American InterContinental University. Beverly received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting and Finance. While working a full-time job, she was able to maintain a 4.0 grade point average and graduated Summa Cum Laude with full honors. Our most heartfelt congratulations go to Beverly for this significant accomplishment.
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Arizona Division News
5/20/2009
Arizona Receives Recognition from City
The Arizona division recently received the good news from the City of Phoenix that its facility has achieved 100% compliance with pretreatment requirements. In recognition of this achievement, the city presented the division with a framed certificate, signed by Cynthia Seelhammer, Deputy City Manager/Acting Water Services Director. In addition, the city recognized Baker Commodities as being one of 56 companies in full compliance for 2008 with a posting on the Phoenix website at www.phoenix.gov/PCD/recognition. The City commended Baker on its efforts to protect the citizens of Phoenix and the environment.
Baker Adds Drain Cleaning and Power Washing to Services Offered
Baker Commodities is proud to announce that in addition to all of its regular services, the Arizona Division is now offering drain cleaning and power washing services. Customers can call 602.254.3971 to book appointments.
Giving Back to the Community
Several of Baker’s top guys are giving back to the Arizona community, volunteering their free time to coach local youth. Jack Bradford, Regional Manager, is Assistant Instructor at Desert Judo (www.desertjudo.com). Sensei Bradford has been with Desert Judo for several years and works extensively training and coaching both juniors and seniors. In addition, Trap Driver Mario Garcia coaches youth soccer in his spare time, mentoring young soccer players on community teams.
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Seattle Division News
5/20/2009
Boiler Conversion To Help Save the Environment
The Seattle Baker commodities plant is in the process of converting its waste boiler so that it can burn hundreds of tons of low value materials found in used cooking oil each year, lessening the impact on the environment. Rather than utilize natural gas, the waste heat boiler will run on the recycled cooking oil, allowing the Baker plant to recycle as much of the material it picks up as possible on-site. Burning this recycled cooking oil will also reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Seattle To Sponsor Local Charity Events and Education
As it does every year, the Seattle Division is sponsoring the Lilac Blind Foundation fundraiser in Spokane. The event, taking place on July 10, benefits the foundation that helps blind and partially sighted people take back control of their lives. For more information on the Lilac Blind Foundation, visit www.lilacblindfoundation.org.
Baker Seattle will also sponsor the Southwest King County Chamber of Commerce golf tournament (www.swkcc.org). The event, which takes place on July 30, benefits local charities and organizations. Baker also believes that education is a fundamental component in maintaining a healthy community and as such, makes regular contributions to the Tukwila School District and Foster High School.
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Rochester Division News
5/20/2009
Rochester Wins Awards!
Baker Commodities Rochester was recently notified that it has won the 2008 New York State Motor Truck Association Fleet Safety Award in the pick-up and delivery, small class division. The award was presented to Division Manager, Bill Schmieder by the New York State Motor Truck Association. In order to qualify for the award, a fleet must have an accident rate of less than one half the national average.
Rochester also received the Great West Safety Award in April, 2009, for outstanding achievement in highway safety. The award was presented by Great West Casualty Company in cooperation with American Trucking Associates.
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Baker Commodities' "Green Team"
1/23/2009
Baker Commodities has formed a Corporate “Green Team” which is exploring ways to minimize the impact of Baker’s business on the environment The team is creating programs which are designed to minimize waste streams, utility usage and the carbon footprint. More details about the Green Team's projects will be posted soon...check back often.
Baker Commodities is committed to making a positive difference and to living the slogan, “Recycling for Life!”
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