Members of the Procurement Engineering Group (left to right) James Hyde, Carissa Goulbourne, Thomas Hunt, K.J. Trosper, Wes Townsend, Chris Jamison, Antonio Jimenez, Andrew Zielinski, Sam Nazworth, David Kraman, and Kevin Henry recently volunteered to clean up a two-mile stretch of highway, where they collected nearly 40 large bags of trash. Also volunteering but not pictured were Alex Tow, Cynthia Tivis, and Johan Gonzales.
A two-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 60 is a little cleaner today thanks to the Procurement Engineering Group. The tight-knit organization’s recent volunteer activity put Pantexans on a pollution-prevention mission.
“We had been brainstorming for a volunteer effort that we could do as a group since we enjoy hanging out outside of work,” said Procurement Engineering Group Manager K.J. Trosper. “This was something my entire team came up with as a teambuilding and volunteer opportunity.”
Procurement Engineer Wes Townsend said the team split into groups of three or four and sectioned off responsibility for their designated two miles of Highway 60, east of Farm-to-Market 2373 near the grain elevators.
“We collected nearly 40 large trash bags as well as larger items like tires and lumber,” Townsend said.
Of course, the day was not without its share of surprises.
“We also came across several rattlesnakes while we were cleaning up,” Trosper said. “We pulled together and decided to steer clear of thick brush for safety’s sake.”
Texas Department of Transportation Maintenance Support Technician Christy Plagge shared her appreciation for the Pantexans’ efforts.
“Driving by and seeing the results was amazing,” she said. “We are so grateful for the effort and dedication that went into making this happen.”
Procurement Engineer Antonio Jimenez noted the day’s impact.
“We all have something to contribute, and sometimes even a small effort can mean a lot to someone else,” he said.
Trosper echoed the sentiment.
“We have fostered a culture within the group that I am extremely proud of,” he said. The fact that we had the opportunity to go out and have some fun together and provide a service that was impactful to others was a win-win in my book. I can’t wait until next time!”