A native Spanish speaker, Elsa has been a valued sidekick to Sammy Almaguer, our U.S. and International Account Executive. Together, Sammy and Elsa have served Safety Vision long and well as we’ve broadened our international footprint and brought lifesaving mobile surveillance solutions to foreign shores.

In the accompanying photo, Elsa poses with the governor of Veracruz at the XXVII Convencion Internacional de Mineria (International Mining Convention) in Mexico, October 2009. The governor stopped by our booth at the show and is shown wielding our SV-1500–a personal mobile DVR, still camera, and flashlight in one. At the show, Elsa and Sammy also demo’d our full suite of collision avoidance and onboard surveillance recording solutions. Our heavy duty camera, monitor, and mobile DVR systems are equipped to handle the environmental and operating rigors of mining and other heavy equipment industries, around the world.

Visit our Flickr photostream to see Elsa’s farewell “happy hour” at Houston HQ. We’ll miss that smiling face, but she’s only a phone call away! Elsa’s customers can still reach her through Safety Vision’s main line (713.896.6600) or toll-free number (800.880.8855). Meanwhile, we wish Elsa and our extended Safety Vision family & friends salud, suerte y fortuna.

• Pitching in, pitching out: We’re keen on green and do what we can to promote the paperless office. To that end, we had our first site-wide “shred day” early in the month. Employees were encouraged to collect unnecessary paperwork and other outdated materials (account executive Jeff Taylor displays dated labeling, above), which we then helped feed into the document destruction machinery aboard two Cintas haulage trucks. We had fun pitching in on this all hands effort, as is clear from the pictures!
• Trying to help in trying times: We reached out to targeted industry segments with specials aimed at stretching their dollar. Collision avoidance users were presented with a wish list from which they could pick the three cost-saving items that would most benefit their budgets. And schools considering the SV-4CSD onboard surveillance video system were offered a complimentary camera, after the purchase of the first. (Interested? Offers end 12.31.09!)
• Gathering of the clans: Our annual get-together gets us all on the same page. December is traditionally the month when all sales staff and installation technicians convene to discuss progress during the previous year and plans for the coming year. It makes for a full-house here at HQ, but it’s always good to put our heads together and share lessons learned.
• Giving back to the community: Here’s where the elf part kicks in! Safety Vision again participated in the Elves & More corporate bike-build, a charitable cause that benefits at-risk children. Safe transportation and children’s well-being are two of our drivers, so this is a fitting cause for us to embrace.
• Sharing our vision: We speak out as mobile video surveillance subject matter experts. As in years past, Mass Transit magazine approached us for our take on where the industry is headed. In the December 2009/January 2010 issue (pg 55), CTO Chris Fritz chimes in with his look-ahead on trends and technologies to come.
• Celebrating the season and the standouts: Safety Vision hosts a meal and toasts a winner. Every year since 2002, the company has recognized one employee as Visionary of the Year, selected from a pool of nominees proposed by their coworkers as going above and beyond. At yesterday’s holiday luncheon, Bruce announced Technical Support Manager Aaron Alvarado as VOY 2009. Aaron will be treated to a 3-day trip to beautiful Telluride, CO!  We all appreciate your hard work, Aaron: You make Safety Vision look good! Congrats…
• Saying adieu (but not goodbye): Vicki Hammett, our first human resources director, has retired and is being feted at a surprise farewell lunch, today. Vicki lent many years of service to the company and tendered much care to its employees, and she will be sorely missed. Wishing you all the best, Vicki. It’s hard to imagine a Safety Vision without you; but you set a gold standard for future comers … and we know you’ll be back to visit. Right?!

Whew, and that’s a wrap: I told you it was a busy December! Maybe now we can sit back, relax, and enjoy the holidays with family and friends. We hope you’re able to do the same, and we wish you a safe, happy, and prosperous 2010.

So to give my personal chef his props, I thought it would be fun to share his unusual Thanksgiving stuffing recipe. Actually, the proper props go to the Junior League of Albuquerque and their Simply Simpatico cookbook, from whence the recipe sprang. I received the book (1990 printing) as a fitting going away gift from Junior Leaguer and Page One Bookstore & Newsstand owner Yvette Stout when my family left the Land of Enchantment for LaLa Land in 1991.

Since then, my husband Raoul has been fine tuning Simply Simpatico‘s unique but ab fab turkey stuffing, to unanimously rave reviews. The stuffing incorporates chicken tamales and mild enchilada sauce for a distinctly New Mexican and non-traditional but immensely tasty dish. Raoul’s stained and dog-eared guidebook (pictured here) is now a family heirloom! The family photos in the picture capture not only our first Thanksgiving in our new home served on fine china and graced by a bearded Uncle Gabo but also the trial run of the tamale stuffing. And it was “a triumph, my dear: a triumph!” (as Bob Cratchit tenderly applauds his wife’s presentation of the Christmas goose in the fam fave George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol).

To join in the seasonal, salivating fun, a few Visionaries enter the ring with some of their “family favorite” Thanksgiving recipes. We have Jason weighing in with his wife Brandy’s “The Best Thanksgiving Pumpkin Pie EV-arr!” You know it’s gotta be good: Brandy is a pastry chef at Houston’s own Strip House restaurant. Melissa lands a right hook with her mom’s “Mean Green Bean Casserole” (should we offer Mean Joe Green a nibble?!). And Jacki provides a knockout sweet potato dish.

Rounding out the recipes, I’ve supplied a few surprises like leftover turkey enchiladas and Mama Stamberg’s cranberry relish. If you’ve listened to NPR over the years, you’ve heard the recipe. But have you tried it? I did! Like the tamale turkey stuffing, this cranberry dish has some unexpected ingredients. And while the relish is delish, its hue is rather jarring amidst the typically muted Thanksgiving color palette. We’ll call it “bubblegum pink,” which you might find a bit more appetizing than “Pepto Bismol pink.” Try it. You’ll like it.

Happy Thanksgiving, all: We have so much to be thankful for–including you! Wishing you the warmest good cheer…

• The tots enjoyed a moonwalk, hayride, obstacle course, pumpkin decorating, face painting, and fishing with the Junior Anglers in our pond, out back.
• The “big kids” enjoyed music, food, and fellowship–a welcome chance to relax and visit with their families and friends on a beautiful afternoon.

There was a little something for everyone: Said Safety Vision Intern Ellis Smith, “I was there for the fajitas and the four wheelers!” And as you can see, kids big and small discover that everything’s more fun when you’re wearing a balloon hat. View the fall festival photo album on our Flickr page and join in on the fun.

(*Stuart Ringwald, husband of Safety Visionary and Supply Chain Manager Doris Ringwald: That’s who!)

Amidst frothy confections (some edible, some wearable, mostly pink!), Mom Lety and Dad Jose  enjoyed the  pleasant company of their Safety Vision family. Take a look at our baby shower photo album to join the fun and experience the fellowship.

Safety Vision has a tradition of taking care of its own, as you can see from the pictures. And that’s in good times and in bad: In two recent instances, one Safety Vision employee’s family lost a home to fire, while two others sustained extensive residential damage from flooding. In both cases, their fellow Visionaries banded together and pitched in funds for recovery and repair. And once individual contributions were collected, those funds were matched by the company–doubling the relief effort and raising tens of thousands of dollars!

We’ve got a good thing going, here: We’re family.

Chris escorted Safety Vision President Bruce Smith into NASA Mission Control on Monday (Smitty said, “If anything happens to the shuttle, I didn’t push that button!”), and Sunday took a few family members. Mom Rose said, “It’s awesome to watch the Mission Control people actually talking to the astronauts in space. They were discussing which types of equipment they were bringing back and what was staying on the space station. When they were through packing up the space suits, they went to work out before they went to sleep. Chris’s team will be analyzing the exercise equipment they used.” Fun stuff!

Funner still: Early this morning Christopher escorted the Rex Colorado (nee Mark Sahinen) family to the Mission Control screening auditorium, where they watched the shuttle Atlantis make its safe return to Earth. And a local news team interviewed Rex and his family of past, present, and future Visionaries (wife Kay met Rex working at Safety Vision and, says Rex, kids Kalysta and Lucas are Visionaries in the making!). Check out the newscast, here: http://www.click2houston.com/video/9900719/index.html.

Rex mused, “I thought life brought everyone 15 minutes of fame? We got shorted about 14 minutes and 45 seconds. And unfortunately, they cut my plug for the new RoadRecorder 6000 PRO mobile DVR and its suitability for both low orbit and deep space digital video recording. But it was worth it: A proud moment entering NASA with the credentialed Chris Wheeler!”

You think Rex was kidding about plugging the RoadRecorder PRO for the intergalactic mobile environment? If you knew Rex like I know Rex, you’d wonder. I can just see him at the Mos Eisley Cantina from Star Wars, selling warp-speed-rated cameras and the AstralRecorder 9000 PRO to the aliens.

Space: the final frontier….

- Chris Portillo

The noontime repast was sponsored by VP of Sales Rex Colorado, who had this to say: “To celebrate your efforts, I’ll spring for a hot dog lunch catered by Yours Truly consisting of the best dogs I can purchase, chili, and all the fixins’–even the stuff to build a Chicago dog in honor of the ongoing work by John, Amber, Archie, Becky, Jeff, Petrina, Joe, James, Engineering, and the entire company’s efforts supporting mass transit surveillance and other mobile video projects in the Windy City. (It’s a little known fact that the nickname ‘Windy City’ came from the city’s trend of producing blow-hard politicians; it has nothing to do with wind coming in off the lake!)” He added, “You might be asking, ‘Why hot dogs?’ Because I think Y’ALL are hot dogs: the best of the best in the industry.”

OK, so Rex tends to the windy, himself (wonder if he’s considered a career in politics?). But he was genuinely enthusiastic in his praise of the ever-escalating sales and customer service efforts by Team Visionary:

Still hungry? Rex has dangled a spicier carrot, vowing to spring for a catered fajita fiesta when we achieve our next record sales month. Should be any time, now.

Hasta fiesta!

-chris p

First off, I’d like to say “Hello, and welcome” to a standout crew of new employees. (You may have seen the press release about these key personnel cross the wire, recently.) Along with several additions to our sales and customer support staff, we welcome new Warehouse Manager, Mike Russell.

In the short time Mike’s been with us, I’ve seen significant improvements in our shipping & receiving operations. He’s dealing with a big shop out there–a two-story, four-tier warehouse that’s packed to the rafters with product. Day by day, we’re receiving an expanding inventory, and we’re shipping orders in larger quantities to broader geographies. It’s tough to keep up with the pace. But Mike is supported by a top-notch shipping & receiving staff, and I’m confident they’re up to the task. What especially pleases me about ongoing warehouse improvements is that the enhanced efficiencies result in streamlined turnaround times and lower costs–benefits that we’re able to pass on to our clients.

And I’m always excited about adding new sales support staff. Think about it: The addition of every new Account Executive means that we need to grow our ranks just to keep up with customer demand. Each one of these new professionals brings a unique perspective on the mobile video industry: I’m constantly amazed at how a “fresh set of eyes” sees new and better ways to support our existing customers. The newcomers also envision different applications and clientele for our products, and they help us dream up creative solutions to our clients’ ever-evolving needs.

So, please join me in extending a warm welcome to these and all new hands on deck!

I’d also like to extend a “Goodbye, and good luck” to a special group of temporary help. Safety Vision has a longstanding policy of nurturing energetic, ambitious youngsters who aren’t afraid of hard (and often hot!) work. Typically, these young people are friends and family of Safety Vision employees. We’ve had some real up-and-comers, lately. The last of the summer warehouse crew to head back to college were Blake McCarver, a UT San Antonio electrical engineering student whose dad Monty is an old college buddy of mine; and Collin Brown, an honors business student at UT Austin whose girlfriend happens to be our Marketing Director’s daughter.

These are just a few of the great kids who’ve joined us for a time. Some may return, in future; some have already moved on. But I hope they all take away valuable lessons about personal accountability, workplace responsibility, and the inherent satisfaction in a hard day’s work.

Whoa: Didn’t mean to get longwinded! That’s not my style. But since this is my first time writing in this medium, I wanted to address the part of my business that is closest to my heart–and that’s the people behind this company’s success. I count myself lucky to be surrounded by so many hardworking, motivated, and loyal professionals. We may operate at the global level, but we conduct business at the personal level. And we wouldn’t have attained the success we enjoy today without the right people. Some may come and some may go: But all the good ones leave their mark.

-Bruce Smith, President & CEO

Attended only by those account executives who achieve a pre-ordained sales quota, the most recent retreat was held February in Rio amid the crush and craziness of Carnival. The celebrants (not all are pictured) had much to be thankful for and plenty of reason to party: primarily, the company’s continued and accelerating success, marked by $30 million in sales in 2005. (The partying included a romp aboard Carnival floats for Safety Visionaries decked out in outlandish carnival costumes that make Mardi Gras look tame: Now THOSE are the pictures you want to see…!)

And ’06 is turning out to be an inspired year, as well. We are well on track to meet our short-term target of $40 million in ’06 sales, with a longer term sales goal of $100 million by 2013. The early months of the year have witnessed some notably healthy sales activity: e.g., the award of a $1 million-plus purchase order for a major transit authority was soon followed by a $3 million-plus sales month. This week alone, we are looking at closing several additional multimillion-dollars’-worth of business providing transit video cameras and mobile DVRs for other major transit authorities. And continuing the ever-upward trend started with our founding in 1993, we are booking steadily increasing millions with our original mobile video product line: collision avoidance camera systems.

All in all, things are looking up! We are inspired to achieve ever greater results–for the mobile safety and financial benefit of our clients, for the health and wellbeing of our employees, and for the continued vigorous growth of our company. We love what we’re doing–can you tell?!

- Christine Portillo, Marketing Director