Safety and service
lead to national
recognition for Borden
Waste-Away Service
Elkhart driver Rogenski receives
award for commitment to excellence
David Rogenski and his co-workers
share strong commitments to safety and
customer satisfaction. Those hallmarks are
critically important, as Borden WasteAway Service trucks have a daily presence
on local roads.
This year, the National Waste & Recycling
Association recognized Rogenski and
Borden, naming him the small company
driver of the year. The group received more
than 900 nominations across all categories,
and chose Rogenski based on safety
excellence, a high level of service, and a
strong display of respect for his employer.
“Our training teaches us to be safe, and
really it’s become second nature,” says
Rogenski, an 18-year Borden employee
who logs an average of 630 miles each
week on his 6,000-pickup route in Elkhart.
“Even when I’m in my personal vehicle,
I’m not doing anything I wouldn’t do in
my truck at work – checking the mirrors,
making sure I have clearance, everything.”
Transportation officials set high standards
and demand strict compliance from
trucking companies. Brian Mallo, Borden’s
operations manager, says maintaining a
positive culture – inclusive of all employees
– is what helps the Elkhart company
achieve safety success.
“Safety is a reflection on all of us. Our
bulletin boards are filled with information
about accidents and problems that have
come up in the news, and we come in each
morning and talk about different points,”
Mallo says. “We ask our drivers if we forget
anything to jump in and participate, and
they do.
“Driving is an attitude, and safety reflects
on all of us.”
Safety manager Mike Diffendal says
community perception is very important,
and Rogenski has succeeded because he
shows his fellow drivers “the way to do it.”
But safe operations only satisfy some of the
customer service responsibilities.
Friendliness does the rest.
“I understand that for some of the people
on my route, it’s a bright spot in their day
to have someone to chat with for a minute
or two,” he says. “We all do what we can
to be as courteous as possible. We realize
we need to give people a reason to be
customers of ours for a long time to come.”
Borden has a fleet of about 50 trucks
providing waste and recycling services,
and maintains the contract with the city
of Elkhart for services to taxpayers. The
company has been family owned for three
generations.
Business Education Partnership Award
Watkins Family Dentistry
205 E. Jackson Blvd., Elkhart
watkinsfamilydentistry.com
Dr. Bruce Watkins and his staff work with student interns from
Elkhart Central High School to educate them on the various
aspects of dentistry and patient care. “(Watkins’) willingness
to partake in our program has always been met with much
enthusiasm,” wrote Trudy Battjes of Elkhart Central High
School in her nomination to the Chamber’s Education Council.
“… The feedback from the students has been nothing less than
positive.” Watkins Family Dentistry has been in practice and a
member of the Greater Elkhart Chamber since 2002.
LEADING BUSINESS
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