DJ Simmons

DJ Simmons attends the Skill Ready Four Corners program

Caleb — Fri, 03 May 2013 18:10:06 +0000

On April 25th John Byrom, President of D.J. Simmons, Inc., Roger Armstrong, General Manger of Twin Stars, Ltd. and Maria Hathcock, HR Manager, attended the kick-off of the Skill Ready Four Corners program hosted by Four Corners Economic Development. This event was held to educate employers in both the public and private sectors about skills-based testing through the use of the WorkKeys assessments tool. Twin Stars (a D.J. Simmons affiliated company) is currently requiring all applicants/prospective new hires for the Field Technician position to take four of the WorkKeys assessments: business writing, reading for information, locating information and workplace observation. The scores the applicants receive on these assessments are considered in the hiring decision. The three spoke at this kick-off event about the benefits we’ve seen in utilizing WorkKeys testing for our Field Technician position.

Why are we using WorkKeys assessments as part of our hiring decision? Skills tests are 5x more predictive of on-the-job performance than education and experience. These tests measure critical thinking, which is a key skill for all jobs. Employers who hire by skill scores (“skills-based hiring”) experience a 25-75% reduction in turnover, 50-70% reduction in time-to-hire, 70% reduction in cost-to-hire, 50% reduction in time to train, and many other benefits. Bloomfield and Aztec schools have recognized the importance of skills-based testing, and are now requiring all high school seniors to take three of the WorkKeys assessments to see if they are “career ready.”

In the future, DJS and TSL will utilize WorkKeys testing to assess all applicants/prospective new hires for every open position, not just the Field Technician position. We believe that this can be another tool to help us to continue to make the best hiring choices for our company.

DJ Simmons Participates in Energy Week

Caleb — Thu, 02 May 2013 19:42:34 +0000

Students from Koogler Middle School in Aztec learn about the oil and gas industry during Energy Week at the Farmington Museum on Wednesday. Energy Week aims to educate students about the oil and gas industry, a central economic driver for the Farmington area.

- Jon Austria, The Daily Times

Sorry that this note is so late. However, on behalf of my students and myself, I would like to say Thanks to you and to all of the Company Participants and Presenters who took the time and money to educate us about gas and oil extraction in the San Juan Basin. The presenters did a great job, and they displayed a great deal of patience with my students. I believe it is really important that my students understand this industry. Many of them have little or no idea of the energy resources in this area and what their parents do for a living. Thanks to this program these mid-schoolers now have a fundamental understanding about how this industry affects their lives. George, I really appreciate your efforts in putting Energy Week together each year. I hope you can continue to do so in the future.

- James Ratliff, Tibbetts Middle School

WEA Releases Study of Public Poll on Fracking

Caleb — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:45:54 +0000

Western Energy Alliance President Tim Wigley talks about results of polling conducted by their organization.

View the video here.

FrackNation is headed to Capitol Hill

Caleb — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 19:44:18 +0000

The documentary that tells the truth about fracking is to be screened at a special event on Capitol Hill later today.

Update: FrackNation can be purchased on DVD here.

Dear friends:

We just wanted to let you know the great news that FrackNation is coming to the heart of Washington. Yes, the documentary that tells the truth about fracking is to be screened at a special event on Capitol Hill later today.

The screening is being organized by the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (subcommittee on Environment), and is a great opportunity to get the truth before lawmakers and their staffs. Phelim is due to meet legislators in advance of the screening and afterwards will take question from those who want to find out more. It is a great chance to dispel many of the myths and misrepresentations about fracking in the US.

You can read more about the event on Politico.

Thanks,

Phelim, Ann & Magdalena

DJS hosts reception for Citizen’s Alliance for Responsible Energy

Caleb — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:41:00 +0000

Marita Noon, Executive Director of the Citizen’s Alliance for Responsible Energy, spoke at an open forum reception hosted by DJ Simmons.

Ribbon Cutting for Open House Remodel

Caleb — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 00:34:32 +0000

D.J. Simmons celebrated the opening of its recently remodeled corporate office in Farmington, NM. The Farmington Chamber of Commerce joined Simmons’ employees and guests for a ribbon cutting ceremony and evening cocktail party. “With the exit of the lower floor tenant, we were able to basically gut the building and start over”, says Simmons President, John Byrom. The project manager, Craig Starkey, reported that the main focus was to create a very modern, open work environment that facilitates team collaboration and nurtures creativity.

D.J. Simmons Loses Long-Time Director

Caleb — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 22:38:26 +0000

It is with great sadness that I relay the passing of Dr. Heard, long-time Director on the D.J. Simmons Board of Directors. Dr. Heard had been battling cancer for a number of months. He passed away September 18th, 2012.

Those of us that had the fortune of working with him over the years had come to love him as a wise man of calm leadership and enduring optimism. Perhaps his life experience as a doctor had brought him a more profound understanding of the fleeting nature of life, and that whatever seemingly urgent issue we might be facing, it wasn’t really that big of a deal in the larger scheme of thing. A man with an exceptional sense of humor, he would always lighten the mood with his quick wit and seemingly endless supply of jokes. But, he was always very serious about his desire for the company to grow and prosper for the benefit of his and future generations of owners as well as for the employees.

We shall miss him dearly, and will always remember him by holding his sense of calm and his perspective on life in our hearts and as part of the soul of the company.

Please join me in keeping Dr. Heard’s wife Anne, his sons and family and friends in your thoughts and prayers. We will pass on information regarding the funeral and memorial as we get it.

Thank You,

John A. Byrom
President
D.J. Simmons and Twin Stars

John Lawrence Heard Jr.

Obituary

John Lawrence Heard, Jr. M.D. died peacefully on September 18th, 2012. He was born on September 8th, 1935 in Macon Mississippi to Lucille Cocke and John Lawrence, Sr.

He attended both Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi and received his Medical Degree from the College of Medicine at the University of Tennessee Memphis. After doing medical residency at Charity Hospital he was a radiologist in private practice with Drs. Schneider & Heard, Ltd. in The Medical Arts Building for 23 years before merging with Diagnostic Imaging Services where he practiced for a further 15 years, at one time serving as President of the New Orleans Radiological Society. He also did locum tenens work, including three years at Thibodeaux Regional Medical Center and served as an adjunct member of the faculty of Tulane University School of Medicine.

In addition to his medical career he served as a Director of the Board of DJ Simmons Co., of Farmington New Mexico for over 20 years.

He was a member of the congregation and served on the Vestry at Trinity Episcopal Church. He will be remembered for his quick wit and his passion for food and family.

He enjoyed spending time on Dauphin Island and in the mountains of North Carolina and sharing stories about his childhood years on the farm in Mississippi with friends and grandchildren. He was a connoisseur of food and wines who could recall full menus from great meals many years past. In addition to participation in the Physicians Wine Appreciation Society, some of his favorite trips included visits to vineyards in France and California.

He also took great pleasure in being a part of the Men’s Opera Guild, New Orleans Lawn & Tennis Club and several clubs and Carnival organizations.

He is survived by Anne Ford, his wife of 51 years, and four sons: John Grayson (Sophie) of Oxford, England; Brent Lawrence of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; Edward Ryan of New Orleans; Dru Patrick (Janig) of Falls Church, Virginia as well as five grandchildren, his sister, Betty Toney of Meridian, Mississippi and several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the funeral service at Trinity Episcopal Church, 1315 Jackson Avenue, New Orleans on Saturday, September 22nd, 2012 at 1:00 PM. Visitation will begin in the church at noon. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Trinity Counseling Center care of Trinity Episcopal Church, The National Alliance on Mental Illness-New Orleans, or the charity of your choice. Arrangements by Jacob Schoen and Son Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at schoencanalstreet.com.

Published in The Times-Picayune from September 19 to September 22, 2012

DJS Anniversary Celebration

Caleb — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 21:34:01 +0000

DJ Simmons celebrates the 90th Birthday of its President, A.B. Geren, Jr. and its 60th anniversary of producing natural gas in the San Juan Basin.

John Byrom at ACI-NM

Caleb — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:57:49 +0000

John Byrom, Simmons’ President, recently spoke at the New Mexico Association of Commerce and Industry conference in Albuquerque, NM. Byrom spoke about the huge potential of domestic energy production from Western states and the poor governmental policies that are impeding that potential.

http://aci-nm.org

Roadrunner Quality Award Recognition

Michele — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:47:44 +0000

DJ Simmons Has Earned the Roadrunner Award

DJ Simmons has been recognized by the Quality New Mexico Organization in earning the organization’s prestigious Roadrunner Award for Quality.

The award, granted in 2011, acknowledges DJ Simmons for having distinguished itself in making substantial progress toward performance excellence by applying the concepts and principles of quality that are modeled on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award.

The journey toward performance excellence is a key strategic aim of DJ Simmons and its team of professionals. The rigorous application of the Baldrige criteria helps the company improve all aspects of its performance through the continuous examination of the effectiveness and replicability of its core systems and processes.

To learn more, click here to read about DJ Simmons’ Commitment to Quality.