Stratosphere Quality has partnered with the Indianapolis Washington Township Schools to offer free English classes to the community. Stratosphere Quality provides space in the Corporate Warehouse for the classes. DeAnna Lackney, Resource Coordinator, promoted the classes to the local community and coordinated kicking off the classes with the school program facilitators. Washington Township Schools receives a government grant which allows them to provide the teachers and teaching material for free.

Biweekly classes commenced on Monday, January 23, 2023, with approximately 12 students. By the 2nd class of the first week, we had a class of 26 students who are wonderfully positive people, anxious to learn the English language. Many of the students have been working as temps for Stratosphere Quality using translating apps to communicate. Others came from other temp agencies in the area. The program is going so well that a second offering of English classes is planned for mid-April.

Our hope is that as the students improve their English, they will be interested in converting to full-time positions with Stratosphere Quality!

A special thank you goes out to Director, Scott Hellman, Operations Manager, Donald Torrence, Project Manager, James Stillson, and Project Supervisor, Tiffany Bryant. Their support has been and still is, instrumental in the success of this new initiative!

Article submitted by DeAnna Lackney, Resource Coordinator for Southern Indiana.

March’s employee spotlight is Blaine Jones, Operations Manager in Georgia.

Prior to coming to Stratosphere Quality Blaine worked in the banking industry.

Blaine began his career with Stratosphere Quality as a DQI in 2012. In early 2013 Blaine was converted as a Team Leader in the Duncan area. Later in 2013, Blaine was promoted to Project Supervisor and then to Site Operations Manager in 2014. Blaine was recently promoted to his current position of Operations Manager in Georgia.

Blaine likes to foster a positive work environment and show his team members he cares. He strives to ensure his team members fully understand the expectations of each of their roles. He makes sure his team has the training and tools they need to succeed. He is always available to help and support his team.

Blaine loves the ever-changing environment at Stratosphere. Following processes makes things simple and easy to learn.

His advice to new employees is to pay attention to detail and they will be successful.

What should you know about Blaine?
He is a twin; he has twin boys, and his nieces are twins.

If he could solve one of the world’s problems, he would make everyone kind. He feels most of today’s problems are caused by people being mean. Just Be Kind!

Some team members enjoyed hitting the links at the SCA Championship Golf Series to be held on the grounds of The Golf Club of Houston.

Congratulations to the below on a great round!

1st         Koichi Yamaguchi- CEO Sojitz

2nd        Koji Horii- Stratosphere Quality

3rd        Kazuyuki Sugaya – Stratosphere Quality