Visit the Official Walter Energy Web Site: www.walterenergy.com

 Search Form JWR Faces Core Values Miner's Memorial Classified Ads Email Sign Up Links WLT Current Stock Price Trivia Contest Winners/Answers Super Trivia Questions Contact WORKINGS Veterans

Click here to read past articles



Inside Walter Energy
For Employees Only
Must Connect Through JWR Server


JWR 401(k) Link

ESPP INFO
Employee Stock
Purchase Plan

1-800-621-3777

● HealthCare Bulletin
(All Issues)



SAFE OPERATING SUGGESTIONS

 

SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH SIX SIGMA

TRIVIA CONTEST WINNERS
 

TODAY IN HISTORY



 


Tony Key
First Place
21st Annual JWR Photo
Contest Winner
Click Here to See the Winners

 

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE
PROGRAM

24 Hour Hotline
Free for JWR Employees
 & Their Dependents

GOT PROBLEMS?
·Marital & Family
·Job Stress
·Alcohol or Drugs
·Financial Difficulties
·Mental or Emotional

1-800-925-5327


www.slossfurnaces.com
 

George R. Richmond Retires
For over 32 years, George Richmond has been a driving force behind the success of Jim Walter Resources. His wit and knowledge of not only how to mine the Blue Creek Seam but his keen business sense will surely be missed. On July 30 he spoke to fellow employees in the CMO cafeteria about the many changes over the last three decades at JWR. He assured everyone you would still be seeing him around Tuscaloosa. "I will still be around as much as my wife will let me," George says. "We will be splitting our time between Tuscaloosa and on the Gulf coast."

Above right: George shows a hard hat filled with
messages from JWR employees. Below and right: George tells a few tales of the last 32 years.

Click photos for larger view




A Brief Bio
George R. Richmond served as the Chief Operating Officer and President at Walter Energy Inc. from September 2009 to July 31, 2010. Mr. Richmond served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Jim Walter Resources Inc., a subsidiary of Walter Industries Inc. since June 1, 1997 until June 2010. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Jim Walter Resources since March 2006. Mr. Richmond joined JWR as a longwall mechanical engineer at its Blue Creek No. 3 Mine in 1978 and rose through the ranks - serving as master mechanic, longwall manager, deputy mine manager and No. 3 Mine manager - before being promoted to vice president of operations in 1992. One year later, he was promoted again to senior vice president of operations. Throughout his career with JWR, Mr. Richmond has been instrumental in refining innovative longwall mining technologies, offering JWR a competitive advantage while assuring peak output from the Blue Creek seam reserves. He has been a Director of Walter Industries Inc. and Walter Energy, Inc. since December 2006. He is the past chairman of the Alabama Coal Association and is on the board of directors of the National Mining Association, National Coal Council and Business Council of Alabama. Mr. Richmond served in various apprentice and engineering capacities for Great Britain's National Coal Board (now British Coal) for some 13 years. He served as an apprentice mechanic at the Markham Main Colliery. Mr. Richmond holds a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Bradford, in the United Kingdom and a government certificate in safety and law. He holds Diploma in Mining Engineering from Doncaster College.

Alabama Governor Proclaims
"Pipeline Safety Day"

Alabama Governor Bob Riley proclaimed June 10 as “Pipeline Safety Day” in Alabama. Gerald Allen (left), Alabama House of Representatives District 62, presented the signed proclamation to Black Warrior Methane.

Black Warrior Methane (BWM) employee Dottie Hargrove was instrumental in bringing Pipeline Safety Day to Alabama. "We had members of the Alabama Public Service Commission come to BWM to conduct some training earlier this year and I asked for details about the national Pipeline Safety Day," says Dottie.  "I started thinking about why we didn't do the same for our State. I drafted some language for the proclamation and Rep. Allen helped get it to the Governor’s office. My first goal was to educate our employees and contract workers how important their work is. I wanted them to know they are not just working on one gas well, but what they do transmits along the entire pipeline."

"Most pipelines are in rural areas," continues Dottie. "The lines have been buried for decades and people forget they are there.
I hope Pipeline Safety Day in Alabama brings greater awareness of pipelines and improve public safety."

Others on hand for the proclamation were members of the Coalbed Methane Association of Alabama, Alabama One Call, the Public Service Commission Gas Pipeline Safety Staff, Alabama State Oil and Gas Board, members of the area fire and police departments and other industry representatives.

Jonathan Beams, Chief Master Electrician at No. 4 Mine, took top honors at the Mine Foreman's Exam. The exam is given twice a year by the State of Alabama Department of Industrial Relations. The three-day test covers state mining laws, ventilation and mine gases.
Jonathan said the most challenging part of the test was the essay. His overall score was 96.3. Jonathan began work at JWR in 1998.
Walter Energy Shirts for Sale
Get your embroidered Walter Energy-Jim Walter Resources shirt in your choice of four colors.  These Port Authority soft pique shirts are shrink resistant and made from 100% cotton. Colors available are: white, red, navy and faded blue.  Sizes available (men's) are: small, medium, large, X-large and XX-large. These shirts are $28.00 each, checks can be made payable to JWR/BHS Adopt-A-School.  Send your order with payment (cash or check) with your JWR location, size and color to Dennis Hall at the Training Center.

TRIVIA CONTEST
Win A Pair of Movie Certificates
for Cobb or Regal Cinemas

Winner picked from all correct
entries submitted.

- JWR Employees & Retirees Only -
QUESTION:
What company's logo started in the late 1800s with four legs, changed to three legs in the early 1900s, back to four legs in the 1930s and in the 1960s to two legs? The company is still in business today with the same name and the same basic logo. What is their name?

Name
JWR Location
Regal Tickets  Cobb Hollywood 16
Rave Motion Pictures
Answer

Click Here to See the Answer to the
Last Trivia Question and Its Winner

SUPER TRIVIA
Click here!
Tougher Questions - BIGGER Prizes
Click here to read the 2008 Pension Plan for
Salaried Employees of Walter Energy and its Subsidiaries.

Click here to read the 2008 Pension Plan for
Salaried Employees of Black Warrior Transmission.
21st Annual JWR Employee Photo Contest Winners
First Place - Tony Key
Tony's winning photo was taken last spring on a trip to Arizona. "We had just stopped at a red light and I took three photos out the car window," Tony explains. "I used a Nikon D300 and Photoshop to put the photos together." Tony started his career with JWR in 1986 and is Shop Foreman at Central Shop.
Second Place - John Fillebaum
John and his wife were staying at a friend's log cabin at Camp ToknowHim in Pisgah, Alabama when he took the waterfall picture. "I loved the look of the moss and water running over the rocks beside the main waterfall," says John. He is Senior Project Manager at the CMO and joined JWR in 1977.
Third Place - Ed Grygiel - CMO
Ed shot this photo just off Interstate 90 in western Montana. This stream is located near Superior in the Lolo National Forest.  Ed is a Six Sigma Master Black Belt and began work with JWR in 1979.

What every parent should know about vaccinations
August Newsletter - Click here

Coping with the Oil Spill Disaster -
July Newsletter
Click here

June is National Safety Month -
June Newsletter Click here

How to Apply for a New Miner Underground
Position with Jim Walter Resources

1.    Applicants must setup a Job Seeker PLUS account
online with the Alabama Career Center at https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada. You may register on your home computer or use a computer at any Alabama Career Center - click the link below for a complete list of centers https://joblink.alabama.gov/ada/works/contactus.cfm. The Tuscaloosa Career Center is located at 202 Skyland Drive (just off Skyland Blvd. East) Tuscaloosa, AL 35405.

2.   After you have registered, you MUST call the Tuscaloosa Career Center at 205-758-7591 and request your name be put on a Consideration List for the JWR New Miner Underground position.  

3.   The Consideration List is reviewed daily by the Tuscaloosa Alabama Career Center and you may be contacted by the Career Center if there are questions about your work history. If you meet the JWR underground profile, The Career Center will mail
you an application with instructions to return the completed application back to them.  

4.   The Career Center will review the application to ensure it is completed thoroughly and then mail the application to JWR Human Resources.  

5.    JWR will review the application further and decide if your background merits an interview. If so, you will be contacted to discuss the interview and hiring process.

Meet Walt Scheller
Walt Scheller became President and Chief Operating Officer of Jim
Walter Resources in June 2010, replacing George Richmond. He is directly responsible for the day-to-day operations at Jim Walter Resources' underground mines and has general responsibility of the Company's surface mining, natural gas and metallurgical coke operations.


Walt Scheller
U.S. Highway 119 runs right through the middle of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, hometown of Walt Scheller. Drive north fifty miles and you’re in Pittsburgh, known for its once booming steel mills. If you head south down U.S. 119 about forty miles you’re in Morgantown, West Virginia, the heart of the coal industry. Connellsville, Pennsylvania and Brookwood, Alabama have similar histories; both owe their existence to coal mining and beehive coke ovens. You may think it would only be natural for a young Walt to plan a career in the steel or coal industry but you would be wrong.

Walt grew up in a middle class 1960s family with an older sister and a younger brother in southwestern Pennsylvania. His father was an engineer at a plant that made transformers and his mother was the secretary at the local Baptist Church. Walt played basketball and football in high school and instead of dreaming of becoming a pro sports figure he had dreams of becoming a lawyer.

“My dad gave me some good advice before I left for college,” says Walt.  “He said go ahead and choose a career you can make a good living with and enjoy. Get your degree then start law school, and if you don’t like it you will have something to fall back on.”

Walt decided he wanted to be an engineer and chose the University of West Virginia in Morgantown. He could earn his engineering degree and still be close to home. “I didn’t know what type of engineer I wanted to be until I got to college,” recalls Walt. “There was a list posted with all the types of engineering available. I chose mining engineering even though I had never even met one coal miner in my life.”

As Walt progressed through college, he spent three summers working as an intern for CONSOL Energy at various locations. In his junior and senior years he also worked at a grocery store bagging groceries. “My dad had a strong work ethic,” Walt says. “All three of us kids knew when we turned sixteen we were expected to be involved in sports or working. We were taught you need to be able to take care of yourself.”

A major change happened during Walt’s sophomore year in college and her name was Gina from Churchill, Pennsylvania. “I met her in physics class. I don’t know if I was just looking for someone to help get me through physics but we’ve been happily together ever since,” Walt adds with a chuckle. (Gina went on to earn a degree in Petroleum Engineering.)

After graduating with a Mining Engineering Degree, Walt started his coal mining career in 1984 with CONSOL Energy. At the same time he also began raising a family and attending law school at Duquesne University and fulfilled his dream of becoming a lawyer. Later he would earn a Master's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh - Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business. While at CONSOL, he held operational roles from Frontline Supervisor to Vice President, Operations. Walt also served as Corporate Counsel, General Manager of Corporate Safety and Vice President of Strategy.

Before joining Jim Walter Resources, Walt was Sr. Vice President of Operations Improvement at Peabody Energy from 2006 – 2010 and most recently as Group Executive, Colorado Operations.  Prior to Peabody Walt was Vice President of Operations with CNX Gas Corporation from 2005 – 2006.

So what makes someone who worked for two of the largest U.S. coal companies come to Jim Walter Resources? “When I looked at the markets and where Jim Walter Resources was headed I knew I wanted to be part of the company,” explains Walt. “I wanted to be in a position where my actions and decisions will make a difference. I want this company and each employee to be extremely successful and that takes a collaborative effort. We all share the common goal of a safe and productive company that will provide for our families.”

Walt had never been to Birmingham, Alabama and envisioned the terrain would be flat and covered with heavy industry. “I was quite surprised by the beautiful hills, trees and green landscapes,” Walt says. “Everyone is so welcoming and friendly here.” One thing Walt knew no matter where he has traveled is coal miners are the same everywhere. “I love working with coal miners,” continues Walt. “They are hard-working, bright and innovative. I have nothing but respect for them and the work they perform.”

Walt and his wife Gina have three sons, Erich 25, Sam 22, Brett 21 and a daughter, Madyson 16. “When someone asks me what my hobbies are I always tell them it’s whatever my children want to do,” Walt says proudly. “I don’t know if being a coal miner has made me a better dad or being a dad has made me a better coal miner. I had to learn how to be driven but not overbearing. One way I found to spend more time with my kids was to start coaching the sports they were participating in.”

“About five or six years ago I started a tradition with each of my kids that we continue today,” explains Walt. “During the year each of my kids will choose how they want to spend a long weekend with me. Erich, my oldest son is doing medical research and getting ready to work on his PhD. He and I love fly-fishing and that’s how we spend our time together. Sam is a senior at the University of Tennessee studying Industrial Engineering and we will be playing golf on our weekend together. My youngest son, Brett is studying Mechanical Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis and we have our snow skiing time together. My daughter Madyson is a junior in high school and is quite sports minded. She plays tennis and has been trying to teach me how to surf without too much success. We also have learned to scuba dive as well. But we won’t be spending Madyson’s weekend doing water sports, we will be going to Disney World…again.” 

Salaried Employees
2010 Holiday Schedule


Friday, January 1..................New Year’s Day
Thursday, April 1....................April 1 Holiday
Monday, May 31.........................Memorial Day
Monday, July 5....Independence Day Observed
Monday, September 6.......................Labor Day
Thursday, November 11...........Veterans’ Day
Thursday, November 25..........Thanksgiving Day
Friday, November 26.......Day after Thanksgiving
Friday, December 24..............Christmas Eve
To be mutually decided by employee and
department head.......One (1) Floating Holiday *

This holiday schedule may be modified for those units that have a business necessity to be open on certain of the scheduled holidays.  The floating holiday is intended to provide an option that may be used by employees for any reason, i.e. Good Friday, President’s Day, Martin Luther King Day, Yom Kippur, birthday, personal business, etc.

*Please note there will be one (1) floating holiday for 2010, this being due to Christmas Day (December 25) falling on Saturday.  Department Heads should ensure that the days immediately prior to or immediately after this holiday are covered as the mines will be in full production and an adequately staffed workforce will be required.


Hit Counter
WORKINGS
Editor - Dennis Hall