L-K Log September

 L-K Log: September 2017 

#HoustonStrong

Texans are tough. Without question, though, Houston Texans are the toughest of the lot. In an epic event, Hurricane Harvey made landfall near the Texas Gulf Coast on August 25th as a Category 4 hurricane. And with it came punishing winds, pounding waves, and a reported storm surge (according to the National Weather Service’s NOAA) ranging from three to 12 feet. But the biggest threat to Houston residents was that the storm Just. Would. Not. Budge. 51.88 inches of rain later, Harvey slunk off like the Houston Oilers when they betrayed their hometown, left the state, and reinvented themselves as the Tennessee Titans.

Houstonians endured horrific conditions. Many braved muddy flood waters, some of it churning with bacteria, toxins, alligators, and fire ants. Streets and homes submerged, electricity failed, and hazardous power lines sparked and crackled. More than 35,000 sought safety at shelters; others were stranded for many days. Some died.

Overall, L-K was incredibly fortunate. With the exception of a leak in one office ceiling, the building and equipment escaped unscathed, although incoming and outgoing shipments were delayed during the city and region-wide shutdown. Most importantly, all staff are alive and well. But that doesn’t mean we didn’t experience turmoil. Homes flooded for approximately 25% of L-K’s employees. Of those displaced, some are settled in rentals, some are staying with family, and some are searching for new permanent housing. Those of us affected will have to rebuild or find new homes and replace many lost possessions. The recovery process will be long and arduous.

The L-K family is truly a resilient lot; we’ve got grit. By the 31st of August, just days after the storm subsided, L-K Industries was fully functional and employees churned out work: catching up while catching our breath. #HoustonStrong.

Past – PRESENT – Future
Calderon Joins YES Prep Board!

On September 12th of 2017, Eric Calderon, L-K owner, became a member of the YES Prep Public Schools Board of Directors. Congratulations, Eric! YES Prep’s mission includes “increasing the number of students from under-served communities who graduate college prepared to lead.” Last April, L-K Industries hosted a dozen junior and senior students from the YES Prep Public Charter School System in Houston for a Career Immersion Day. We looked forward to a long alliance with YES Prep, and we got our wish!

YES Prep Students Visit L-K

Customer Education and Orientation Program: L-K Hits the Road

As we noted in August’s L-K Log, focusing on WHY in addition to WHAT helps establish educational partnerships between L-K and our customers. We’re committed to inviting our patrons to visit L-K and to conducting training webinars so that customers recognize how our products best meet their needs. But a partnership connotes the dyad, and that includes understanding their facilities and operations.

So L-K has taken to the road to ensure we understand our clients as completely as possible. Visiting customers on location allows L-K to understand their businesses and ultimately develop better solutions for their needs. Receiving real-time feedback on our equipment helps us develop unique solutions for customers. In one recent instance, a visit resulted in ongoing R&D for a new product! According to owner Eric Calderon, “I’ve learned so much while visiting face-to-face with L-K’s customers. After each visit, I bring back to the office valuable and unique knowledge about each of our customers.”

It’s even becoming the best kind of self-perpetuating cycle: customers visit us, we go to see them, and an iterative process develops yielding the best products, services, and relationships.  That’s the WHY L-K!

Past – Present – FUTURE

The ferocious hurricane season resulted in many challenges this year, among them conference rescheduling. Hurricanes Harvey and Irma prompted the GCC to postpone their annual October meeting “in the best interest of the Exhibitors as well as the Attendees. The Gulf Coast Conference will be rescheduled for January 17-18, 2018. The host hotel, The Four Seasons will move all reservations for GCC over to the January date.” Contact the GCC office at 281-256-8807 with any questions; we’ll see you there!