Billy Blurb

Are you an investor? And what does it mean to invest?

To “Invest” means you put something of value into something, and you are looking for a return from what you put in. Investment is not free, it always means you are giving something – like resources, time, finances, or effort, and there is always the hope of an expected return.

 At Tri County Air, I’d like to suggest there are multiple ways people invest in the company, and I want to highlight a few of them, three in this blurb, and the one I think is most important in next month’s newsletter.

A great way to invest is in yourself, growing in your personal development through education, learning new skills, and building onto the knowledge you already possess. The return is that you become more valuable in a greater number of situations, and are able to take more tasks on, solve more problems, and make that much more of a contribution to the company as a whole. Of course, as you do that, we would want to recognize and reward that. By the way, we offer scholarships towards that end, so check with Victoria about what that could look like for you.

Relationships are another key area that demand investment. To develop strong relationships takes time, intentionality, and curiosity. The return is having a greater impact in someone’s life, being able to serve them, and make a contribution into their areas that they need you to show up. And that goes both ways, as they will have more access into your life, and be a game changer for you when you desperately need it.

This is an obvious one, but by investing financially into your 401k, you are putting tax-deferred growth through the stock market. And you get 100% return in one day is an amazing windfall. Since we match your contribution up to 6% of your paycheck, you get a 100% return on day one which is an amazing windfall, but that is our investment into you. The return? A nest egg and retirement plan that is much more rewarding and providing a security to your future hopes and dreams.

By the way, here’s a little something for you to chew on. The 30-year S&P 500 track record is an average10% return, so if you put $20/week aside starting at age 24, with the match of TCA, by age 65 you end up being $1,064,000. The employee contribution over all those years is only $42,000. What a return! (Check with Victoria if you have not set that up yet)

I encourage you to be an investor in the areas I’ve mentioned. The reward is significant when you do, and over time you will discover a great satisfaction when the returns start rolling in. Decide to do at least do something, no matter how small, and find the joy that comes from it. You’ll be glad you did.

Birthdays & Anniversaries

Invest In The Eternal

Local Community

THANK YOU, TRI-COUNTY AIR!

We want to extend our deepest thanks to Tri County Air for sponsoring Shevy’s Hoop Haven. Your support has been a vital part of our growth and impact in the community over the past two years.

In just our second year of hosting basketball leagues in Venice, we’ve had the privilege of serving over 1,500 athletes through our leagues and camps. This summer alone, we hosted 28 teams and welcomed 260 athletes in a single season. But our mission goes beyond basketball. We’re creating a place where kids and families feel safe, encouraged, and supported both on and off the court.

Over the past two years, we’ve begun every game with prayer and a Verse of the Day, helping set the tone for sportsmanship, character, and unity throughout the league. This year, we also launched a weekly Bible study before practices, giving our athletes the opportunity to grow in their faith and build meaningful relationships that continue beyond the basketball court.

We’re incredibly grateful for Tri County Air’s partnership and belief in our vision. Together, we’re continuing to build a basketball community in Venice where kids can have fun, grow in their faith, and develop as both athletes and individuals.

Thank you for being part of the Hoop Haven family. We couldn’t do it without you.

International Community

Our partnership with NeverThirst has enabled us to provide clean and living water to six communities in Chad, Africa. We are presently working on our 7th one, but the video above will help explain the challenges facing these communities, and the comfort we are able to bring to them though wells and tap stands run directly to their village. So click on the picture or click on this link for a short video that tells so much more than our words can. And as a reminder, with every single install or service we do, we make a contribution towards the next well. And to track with our current project, click here.

Anniversary Spotlight

We are going to try to interview someone who is celebrating an anniversary, so Ginger was willing to be our first. Enjoy!

Ginger Stone: Here since September 11, 2023

Family: April & Dwane Redmon

Dogs: Gracie & Hope

Cats: Timon & Arya

Share a few reasons why you love working here at TCA: The vibe is family-oriented. I never feel like “a number”. Work here is laid back and never feels micro-managed. It doesn’t feel like there’s an unapproachable leadership hierarchy with the bosses or owners. I love how Billy knows our names and always makes us feel seen. I love the teasing that goes on with email threads about the coffee machine drama or the recent missing ant gel. There’s a lot of fun and laughing, but we also all respect each other and so there’s a really great work/fun balance.

Congrats on 3 years in! Any surprises about working here? I’m surprised how different the feel is, working for a private company as opposed to corporate. I talk to friends about all the meals and celebrations such as the Thanksgiving lunch and Cinco de Mayo, pancake breakfasts and Christmas parties at the owner’s home!

Any Favorite “Benefits” of working for TCA? It’s the caring people working here. Swanny cares for us and does “check-ins” daily, even about non-work related things. And the Kitchen! All the free snacks are amazing!

What do you do on a daily/weekly basis and how have you grown/developed during your time here? I pull permits for install jobs, schedule inspections, take care of warranties and closeouts. I feel I’ve grown in unhinged myself to learn new things. I’m motivated to learn as much as I can so that I’m able to fill in and help other teams if I’m needed. The more I know, the better I’ll be able to help. I have loved how we are all in close proximity to each other, basically one hallway, where we get an idea of what other teams encounter or deal with. And now I’m learning about Plumbing and pulling permits for that!

What are you looking forward to in the near future? In 5 years? I’m really looking forward to the added plumbing side of the business. I try not to look too far in the future, but I’m excited to see how the owners will continue to grow this company.

Anyone you’d like to give a Shoutout to on your team or other coworkers? To Swanny – He’s a great boss! To Clayton – for first telling me about TCA, and encouraging me to apply! To Susan – who I instantly felt close to and still enjoy her friendship. To Mike Rollins – for being the best teacher and helping train me right away.

Favorite story or fun memory: Swanny does one-on-ones with us, and when it was Anthony’s turn, we teased him that during the meeting we’ll be cleaning off his desk and pack him up, suggesting he’s getting fired. While we are actually packing his things in a box, Jim Entsminger walks by and asks what we’re doing. We tell him, and Jim just immediately started helping us, boxing up Anthony’s computer and jumped in to gather up his stuff!

Pics From Around

Family Night At Wellen Park

Meet DéShawntavious

DéShawntavious won out over the other names of Spike, Pete, Spidey, Jeff, Geoff, Freeloader, Skippy, Rango, Black & Orange Lizard V, Lizzo, Jimmy, Bob, Jimmy IV, Crush (close second), Naruto, Trico The 2nd, Superheat Sam, Charlie, Oza, Sunny, Peanut, Lizardo, Dawg, Ricardo, and U+1F98E. Thanks for all those who participated in our voting survey.

From The Hart

Dolly Parton lived a life as vibrant, expansive, and deeply resonant as the mountain music she first sang as a child. Born in 1946 into a one-room cabin in East Tennessee, she grew up surrounded by the rich traditions of the Great Smoky Mountains and the love of a large, tight-knit family. Armed with a fierce determination and a guitar, she left for Nashville the day after her high school graduation, embarking on a journey that would ultimately crown her the “Queen of Country Music” and cement her status as a global icon. As a brilliant businesswoman, she built an entertainment empire anchored by Dollywood, a theme park that created jobs, celebrated her Appalachian roots, and brought joy to millions of families. My family a few times over.

Yet, for all her glittering accolades and business triumphs, her truest legacy lies in her profound generosity. Dolly used her success as a force for good, funding medical advancements, providing disaster relief, and sending millions of books to young children globally through her Imagination Library. She lived with an open heart, a quick wit, and an unwavering commitment to lifting others up. Dolly’s journey remains a beautiful testament to a life exceptionally well-lived—a colorful tapestry of unmatched talent, visionary leadership, and a boundless love for humanity that will inspire generations to come.

She composed over 3000 songs, and released almost 50 solo albums. And out of all of them, my favorite of hers with her unique voice is one she teamed up with Zach Williams on called There Was Jesus. I love the words that I think must have resonated with her from some of the valleys she experienced in her life, like the chorus says “In the waiting, in the searching, in the healing and the hurting, like a blessing buried in the broken pieces. Every minute, every moment, where I’ve been and where I’m going, even when I didn’t know it or couldn’t see it, there was Jesus.”

I know we all go through different valleys and encounter various hardships. My hope is that we would all find, like Dolly did, that Jesus was there all along to encourage, strengthen, and lift us up, if we’ll let Him. I hope you listen to the song through the link and are reminded of that truth. Thanks, Dolly, for the reminder.

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