Page 15 - Strategic_Plan_finanal_jlw_PDF_NeatFlip

• Moving equipment across state lines right now is a major hassle. For some reason
we've been acquiring all the trucking permits, which is generally a responsibility for
the trucking company (I think). Often, we rely on others to measure and weigh the
equipment that's being transported, and errors can happen, and worst-case
scenario, a truck can take a route that contains a bridge or a small road or
something and crash and cause a lot of damage. The equipment is insured, but it can
really screw up schedule and the customer becomes less trusting of us.
• While our wells help, the drought is definitely a danger to a company so dependent
on a constant supply of water.
• I honestly think my biggest headache from day to day is employees not getting
along...ever. Mediation between employees is one of those things I don't know if we
have a plan for, but there would definitely be prime candidates for it.
• Loss of talent.
• We hire talented people but fail to retain them. We lose them as this is a fairly dirty
job and requires a good amount of grit. The craftsmen and talented people move on
for more money and better positions in their respective fields and it can be
demoralizing. This applies to all departments.

Other:

• I can’t stress enough how we need to figure out how to keep the best and the
brightest. Growers Ice, Central Coast, all the Merrill properties have some of the best
employees in the valley, our potential is enormous.

• I feel some members of management are either under-utilized or spread too thin. It
could be that they don’t want to delegate responsibility (that ego/old school
mentality).

Prepared for Growers Ice Company, Inc.
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Jim White, PhD --- JL White International