Jacques looks at ease during the race

Kentz Projects Division in South Africa have an accomplished long-distance marathon runner in their midst in the form of Jacques Oelofse, Senior Mechanical Proposals Engineer. Jacques successfully completed his 7th Comrades Marathon in a time of 9 hours 20 minutes and 19 seconds, which earned him 2,988th place in a field of 12,006 starters and 10,045 finishers.

South Africa is host to the world’s largest ultra marathon, the Comrades Marathon, which draws some 10,000 to 13,000 runners from all over the globe. The race is run over a distance of 89.3 kms, between the capital of the Kwazulu-Natal Province of South Africa, Pietermaritzburg, and the coastal city of Durban. The direction of the race alternates each year between the up-run starting from Durban and the down-run starting from Pietermaritzburg. The 2007 event was the 82nd running.

Well done, Jacques!

This year, Kentz sponsored Deirdre O’Kane, one of Ireland’s leading stand-up comics for the Annual Junction Festival, held in Clonmel in mid-July. More than 50 performers, musicians and artists presented 100 shows, workshops and events. The festival has grown in strength and reputation, bringing artists and audiences from as far away as Mali, Cameroon, Slovakia, Korea and the USA, as well as showcasing Irish and local talent. The town turns into a dynamic centre of creative activity for eight days in July every year. Local schools and community organisations are involved from an early stage making the many decorative street and wall designs that are enjoyed by all.

The Clonmel business community is called upon each year to ensure that vital funds are available to make each festival more successful than the previous year, a challenge that has been surpassed since the beginning of Junction 7.07.

Kentz were happy to sponsor Deirdre, who has been entertaining audiences worldwide since 1996 and who performed an extra show due to 3 previous sell-out nights in Clonmel. Her instant charismatic stage presence and her warm, spot-on observations of modern-day Ireland win her applause from start to finish.

That time of year has come again when you are asked to put forward your nominations for the Annual Awards in the areas of Safety Leadership, and Commitment and Dedication.
 
Just a little reminder that the closing date for entry is 16th November 2007.  Please return your nominations to: koshea@kentz.ie or fax + 00 353 52 26175.
 
Please do not hesitate to contact Kelly if you have any queries.

Minette as a Spring Butterfly

Kentz Integrated Solutions, South Africa (formerly Kentz Automation & Drives) have the marvelous knack of celebrating in style and celebrating spring day was no exception.

	Minette & Chantell Kokkinos

On Friday morning, 31st August, it was decided to celebrate the turn of the season and special arrangements were made for this very colourful day by Minette Venter, who surprised everyone by dressing up like a colourful butterfly. Minette presented all the ladies in the office with a small posy of flowers and all the gentlemen with a small card and flower saying “Happy Spring Day”! Naturally, chocolate was given out in abundance!

Minette decorated the reception area with fairy lights, candles and flowers, creating a wonderful and welcoming ambience, with a huge sign written in flowers wishing all a “Happy Spring Day”. Platters of delicious snacks were served for brunch to get everyone in the spirit. The main event of the day was a raffle for everyone with stunning prizes. Everyone had a ball!

Thanks to all who helped and especially to Minette for her hard work.

Donal decided he would part with his beloved moustache, which he has sported for the past 20 years, for this worthy cause. On Thursday 25th everyone was all geared up for the “hair-raising” event. Mick also shaved his head and Graham had one of his legs shaved. Local barbers Willie Walsh’s supplied the manpower to beautify Donal and Mick. Unfortunately for Graham, Kelly O’Shea, Anna Brett and Catriona Nugent got their hands on the razors and shaved one of his legs; the most unfortunate part for him being that they decided it would be more fun if they stopped there and left him with one shaved and one hairy leg!

The People in Need Trust was established in May 1988 with the purpose of raising and distributing money to charitable organisations throughout Ireland. The main source of funds is the highly successful RTÉ People in Need Telethon, supported by Eircom, which has raised €35 million to date.

The event was very successful and managed to raise €? for The People in Need Trust.

L-R: Donal O’Neill (Group HR Manager), Peter Ross, Dr Eric Sandelands (Set Advisor), Joe Cassin, Cyril Leahy, Dr Matthew Hind (IMCA), Madhu Pillai, David Halligan and Hari Govind

September 21st – 24th, 2007 saw the commencement of the second Kentz in-company, action learning MBA set with International Management Centres. The first workshop, held at the Metropolitan Hotel in Dubai, focused on knowledge management, international business and the research process.

A key requirement of the action-learning MBA is that research must focus on issues that bring value to Kentz business. This makes the learning more meaningful and workplace applied. The proposed topics for each associate are:

Joe Cassin – Improving the decision-making processes (from a project controls perspective); Hari Govind – Effective implementation of EPC systems; David Halligan – Generating business in Ireland; Cyril Leahy – Is a safe project a better project in all aspects? Madhu Pillai – Understanding and developing Kentz value chain; and Peter Ross – Handling the start-up of new ventures.

A further support involves a “buddy” system. This involves those who already have MBAs, or are further on in completing their programme, giving advice and support on the mechanics of the programme and how to complete them successfully.

A new MBA community has now been set up online since August 2007 through the launch of the Kentz InTouch system. This will allow in-company action learning sets, together with Kentz managers, who are doing external MBAs collaborating and working towards ensuring good outcomes for all.

We wish the participants every success in their endeavours to complete the MBA.

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