A•C•T News

Brad Bruce, of Bartow-based A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, was recognized as the firm’s 2011 Employee of the Year. Bruce was one of 10 employees eligible to receive the award – each of whom had previously been recognized as winners in the company’s 10 customer service core values areas.

A-C-T’s 10 customer service core values and the 2011 winners in each area are:
• Delivering Great Customer Service – Hannah Thrasher
• Demonstrating Extraordinary Effort – Jason Huffman
• Demonstrating Competence/Accountability – Joe Whittington
• Providing Valuable Counsel – Butch Patterson
• Offering Sustainable Solutions – Clay Dessler
• Communicating Effectively – John Russell (from A-C-T’s Jacksonville Office)
• Ensuring Safest Operations – Jeremy Horsley (from A-C-T’s Gainesville Office)
• Demonstrating Fiscal Stewardship – Lisa Sowinski
• Being Consistently Flexible – Brad Bruce
• Delivering Desired Results – Gary Weiss

According to A-C-T President, Rob Kincart, “Brad was honored because he has excelled in every one of the 10 core value areas, but especially because he has cheerfully done absolutely everything we’ve asked him to do, including taking both short- and long-term assignments in the panhandle and locally.” Kincart said, “No matter how small or how large the project, Brad tackles it with the same gusto and never complains. His positive can-do attitude and commitment to overall excellence are what earned him this recognition.”

Bruce, who joined the firm in 2008 and serves as an Engineering Project Specialist, agrees that attitude is the key, saying that “a positive attitude is every bit as contagious as a negative one and a whole lot less stressful for both the individual and their supporting team.” According to his managing supervisor, Ben Hilton, Bruce has an attitude that’s a lot like that of football great Tim Tebow in a couple of important ways -- he doesn’t do a lot of talking about himself, preferring to give credit to the team and he has the competence and confidence to ignore any distractions and simply get the job done. Hilton said, “That’s how winners operate and by naming Brad Bruce as our 2011 Employee of the Year, we’ve recognized and honored a true winner”!

A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure held their second annual Chili Cook Off to raise both money and awareness for United Way of Central Florida. The flavorful event saw a record number of both entries and attendees and raised $1,011 in 90 minutes.

A-C-T’s Human Resources Director, Jennifer Jonsson, who also serves as the firm’s United Way Coordinator, had a vision for making the Chili Cook Off a signature event for the company’s annual fundraising campaign – one that would have broad appeal to help grow it to involve as many community members as possible.”

Based on the numbers, it appears to be well on its way. Last year, there were seven chili entries and approximately 30 attendees. The company’s President, Rob Kincart, walked away with the championship which, according to Jonsson, “included a certificate, bragging rights for a year, but more importantly, the reward that comes with contributing to a great organization that does so much to help folks in our community.”

This year, the event has basically tripled in size – boasting 19 chili entries (all donated) in three categories – mild, weird and hot and drawing over 100 attendees. Jonsson said, “We attribute the increased numbers to better planning and better advertisement, which included using social media and e-mail invitations to spread the word.” Judges were County Commissioner Todd Dantzler, United Way’s Debbie Burdett and Clark Environmental’s Jim Clark – each of whom made their way through the various chilis and collectively selected the winners. First Place went to Jeri Cartwright who entered her Ohio Sausage Chili in the Weird category. Doug Coleman took the second place honors for his Inferno Chili in the Hot category, and third place was secured by another Hot category favorite, Seven Generations’ Heirloom Chili, entered by Cindy Rodriguez.

Chili Judge Dantzler had this to say, “A-C-T has come up with a great event and I overheard several folks saying that our job as judges was definitely difficult because the chili was so good that, really, all the entries could have been winners. From my perspective though, as tough as the judging may have been, I’d gladly do it again just to be able to sample every entry like I did today!”

The event will be held annually in November. For more information about entering your own winning chili or attending in 2012, just contact A-C-T at 863-533-2000.

About A-C-T: A-C-T is an established multi-disciplined professional environmental, engineering and field services firm with expertise in a range of areas, including environmental sciences, engineering, industrial hygiene, industrial services, infrastructure, waste management and emergency response. A-C-T employs nearly 100 full-time, part-time and contract professionals from its offices in Bartow, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Naples and Ft. Lauderdale. The firm has also been recognized as Bartow’s 2010 Business of the Year and Keep Polk County Beautiful’s 2010 Environmental Champion. For more information about A-C-T, visit www.A-C-T.com.

Bartow based A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure, Inc. (A-C-T) was recognized as the top midsized environmental firm to work for in the nation by ZweigWhite, publisher of CE News. The award was announced at ZweigWhite’s Best Firms To Work For Summit, an annual event held this year in San Diego. A-C-T joined other top firms at the summit to share strategies, success stories and industry news.

According to Christina Zweig, Public Relations Manager at ZweigWhite, the prestigious award and ranking is based on comprehensive evaluations of firm culture, workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, professional development, and more – both from the management and staff’s perspectives. Firms are also objectively ranked in size categories based on a numerical system and survey results. Winners are selected in the disciplines of architecture, civil Engineering, structural engineering, environmental and multidiscipline. A-C-T applied for consideration, and ultimately received top ranking, in the midsized environmental category and ranked fifth among firms in all size categories.

Already this year, A-C-T has been designated one of Polk Works’ Best Places to Work and is among Florida Trend’s 100 Best Companies to Work. The ZweigWhite recognition completes what company officials refer to as the perfect trifecta (local, state and national) of distinguished employer recognitions for the firm in 2011.

“It’s really a pretty simple concept,” said A-C-T President, Rob Kincart. “We hire and retain the best team possible so that our customers consistently receive the best service possible. Our employees make the difference in a highly competitive business arena. We value each and every one of them and, based on their response to the ZweigWhite survey, they also value working at A-C-T – a desirable situation that enhances our ability to achieve shared company goals.”

One other Florida firm, Bracken Engineering, Inc. of Tampa was the top-ranked small structural engineering firm.

Other ZweigWhite categories and rankings (winners):

Architecture
Top small: Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture (Denver, Colorado)
Top medium: BLRB Architects (Tacoma, Washington)
Top large: Corgan Associates, Inc. (Dallas, Texas)

Civil Engineering
Top small: J.L. Patterson and Associates, Inc. (Orange, California)
Top medium: Tighe and Bond, Inc. (Westfield, Massachusetts)
Top large: Freese and Nichols (Fort Worth, Texas)

Environmental
Top small: All4 Inc. (Kimberton, Pennsylvania)
Top medium: A-C-T Environmental and Infrastructure (Bartow, Florida)
Top large: Barr Engineering Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota)

Multidiscipline
Top small: GATE, LLC (Houston, Texas)
Top medium: MBP, Inc (Fairfax, Virginia)
Top large: Smith Seckman Reid, Inc (Nashville, Tennessee)

Structural Engineering
Top small: Bracken Engineering, Inc. (Tampa, Florida)
Top medium: Degenkolb Engineers (San Francisco, California)
Top large: Simpson Gumpertz and Heger (Waltham, Massachusetts)

About ZweigWhite: Twice named to the Inc. 500 list of best firms, ZweigWhite is the nation’s leader in enhancing business performance for architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms. The ZweigWhite team consists of experts in business planning, mergers and acquisitions, business valuation, ownership transition, human resources management, finance, marketing, market research, project management and project delivery methods who collectively produce a comprehensive suite of products and services, including investment banking, consulting, newsletters, controlled-circulation magazines, industry reports, executive training, business conferences and more covering virtually every aspect of firm management. The firm has offices in Chicago, Ill., Durham, N.C., Fayetteville, Ark., and Natick, Mass. ZweigWhite is owned by investors Eli Global, BIA Digital Partners and MZ Ventures, with management including Mark Zweig and Ed Friedrichs. For more information, visit www.zweigwhite.com or call (479) 582-5700.

About A-C-T: A-C-T is an established multi-disciplined professional environmental, engineering and field services firm with expertise in a range of areas, including environmental sciences, engineering, industrial hygiene, industrial services, infrastructure, waste management and emergency response. A-C-T employs nearly 100 full-time, part-time and contract professionals from its offices in Bartow, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Naples and Ft. Lauderdale. The firm has also been recognized as Bartow’s 2010 Business of the Year and Keep Polk County Beautiful’s 2010 Environmental Champion. For more information about A-C-T, visit www.a-c-t.com.

A•C•T Environmental and Infrastructure (A•C•T) recognized employees for outstanding contribution(s) at their annual awards celebration held August 23 in Bartow. Individual awards were given in several categories, including length of service, A•C•T’s 10 core values, “unsung hero,” safety, and “above and beyond.” Additionally, employees selected, by vote, two of their colleagues as recipients of the inaugural “Most Valuable Peer (MVP)” award (see complete list – attached).

A•C•T’s core values were developed around the concept that to be successful, each member of the company’s team would focus on Attitude, Contribution and Teamwork – a philosophy that helps sustain the firm’s viability regardless of unpredictable conditions in the economy.

The company also celebrated several accomplishments during their year in review, including, including landing contracts with new and existing customers; the groundbreaking for the A•C•T and Polk State Corporate College’s Corporate Center for Innovation; Providing consulting services to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) after the Deepwater Horizon Gulf oil spill to minimize damage to Florida’s pristine panhandle beaches and surrounding environment; Selection as Business of the Year by Bartow Chamber’s Committee of 100 and Environmental Champion of the Year by Keep Polk County Beautiful and finally; a 25 percent increase in annual giving as part of the company’s United Way campaign; and significantly increased community involvement.

One of the highlights of the evening was celebrating the company’s recognition on three levels -- local, state and national – as an employer of excellence. On the local level, Polk Works awarded A•C•T the “Best Places to Work” distinction for the third consecutive year. At the state level, Florida Trend magazine also named the company as one of Florida’s “100 Best Companies to Work For,” a distinction A•C•T also earned in 2010. The company recently received notice of a national level employer of excellence award but cannot publicly provide details until the awarding organization issues its own press release toward the end of September. Calling the multi-level recognitions the perfect trifecta, A•C•T President, Rob Kincart, said, “all of our recognitions are important, but especially these three, because they send a message to our customers that A•C•T cares about hiring and retaining the best talent in the industry and that we’re doing so to provide the best possible service at a fair price to meet our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations..” According to Kincart, “Happy employees create happy customers.”

Based in Bartow, A•C•T is an established multi-disciplined professional environmental, engineering and field services firm with expertise in a range of areas, including environmental sciences, engineering, industrial hygiene, industrial services, infrastructure, waste management and emergency response.

A•C•T employs nearly 100 professionals from its offices in Bartow, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Naples and Ft. Lauderdale. For more information on A•C•T, call 800-226-0911 day or night. Information is also available on the internet at www.a-c-t.com.

A•C•T Employee Recognitions – 2011

Service Awards

Five years:
Nick Castelli (Orlando Office)
Anthony Hernandez
John Russell (Jacksonville Office)
Colby Upthegrove
Gary Weiss
10 years:
Buck Buchanan
Joel Butler
20 years:
Jeff Kincart

Safety Awards
Mike Team
Roy Rodriguez

Unsung Hero Awards (acts of unsolicited and outstanding kindness)
Joe Bennett
Jason Huffman
Oliver Strawbridge
Cindy Rodriguez

Core Value Awards**
Hannah Thrasher (Great Customer Service)
Jason Huffman (Extraordinary Effort)
Joe Whittington (Competence and Accountability)
Butch Patterson (Valuable Counsel)
John Russell (Consistent Communication)
Jeremy Horsely (Safest Operations)
Brad Bruce (Maximum Flexibility)
Clay Dessler (Sustainable Solutions)
Lisa Sowinski (Fiscal Stewardship)
Gary Weiss (Desired Results)

Most Valuable Peer (MVP) Awards (selected by colleagues)
Michael Mathis
Ann Wortman

Above and Beyond Award
Paul McGoldrick

**Eligible to win A-C-T’s Employee of the Year award (to be announced December 2011)

A•C•T Environmental and Infrastructure was recently named one of Florida’s Best Companies To Work For. The firm also won the designation in 2010, making this its second consecutive award.

One-hundred companies were recognized in small, medium and large company categories. The rankings – the third annual statewide Best Companies list – appear in the August issue of Florida Trend and on FloridaTrend.com.

The Best Companies To Work For in Florida program was created by Florida Trend and Best Companies Group and endorsed by the HR Florida State Council.

“Companies that retain the best employees with strong workplace programs typically stand out from the crowd by offering exceptional customer focus from a friendly, upbeat staff," says Florida Trend Publisher Andrew Corty. "It's our pleasure to recognize these great organizations and encourage others to join them in building Florida's competitive advantage."

A•C•T is a multi-disciplined engineering and environmental firm headquartered in Bartow, Florida. The company employs personnel across a wide range of disciplines and serves clients nationwide. Since its inception, in 1987, the firm has never had a lay-off. According to Rob Kincart, President of A•C•T, “Our fiscally conservative business model allows us to support and sustain current jobs and employees while also growing the company in a strategic, methodical way. Both are equally important – sustainability and growth. We recognize that our employees have made us what we are today and it’s for that reason we remain committed to creating a positive and nurturing work environment where they can continue to excel.”

To be considered for participation, companies or government entities had to employ at least 15 workers in Florida and be at least a year old.

Companies that chose to participate in the Best Companies To Work For in Florida process underwent a two-part survey process. The first part consisted of evaluating each company's workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure employee satisfaction. The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking. Best Companies Group managed the overall registration, survey and analysis process and determined the final rankings. Companies were not required to pay a participation fee to go through the online assessment process.

"One strong theme in this month's Best Companies coverage is how companies keep good employees. We highlight companies that take sophisticated, enlightened approaches to training, communicate the company's values clearly, and listen to employees as they try to improve the workplace and make the company more productive." says Mark Howard, executive editor.

For a complete list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in Florida, go to www.FloridaTrend.com/BestCompanies.

Florida Trend magazine provides excellent, forward-looking, and in-depth reporting on business, finance and public policy in Florida. Florida Trend reaches more than 250,000 business executives, government officials and civic leaders. In addition, the magazine's website reaches approximately 80,000 unique visitors monthly. For more information, please visit FloridaTrend.com.

Best Companies Group works with national and local partners around the country and in Canada to establish and manage “Best Places to Work,” “Best Companies,” and “Best Employers” programs on a national, statewide and regional basis. Through its thorough workplace assessment, utilizing employer questionnaires and employee-satisfaction surveys, BCG identifies and recognizes companies that have been successful in creating and maintaining workplace excellence. For more information, please visit www.BestCompaniesGroup.com.

Gary L. Weiss, FPEM, of Bartow-based A•C•T Environmental and Infrastructure (A•C•T), has earned certification as a Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) from the Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA).

FPEM certification is the highest honor of professional achievement awarded by FEPA, who rigorously evaluates applicants’ experience and competencies in the field of emergency management. Only those candidates that meet all of the stringent requirements are awarded certification. In fact, Weiss is now one of only 246 FPEM’s in the State of Florida.

Weiss, a recent recipient of the Thomas Yatabe Award for achievements and superior participation in hazardous materials planning and response, is a former Fire Chief with many years of experience overseeing emergency administration and first response operations of a City Fire Department.

In addition, Weiss has experience conducting risk assessments, master planning and training courses, as well as managing customer service centers for emergency services. He has also developed hurricane plans and various preparation, mitigation, response and recovery plans for disaster operations. Most recently, Weiss assisted the State of Florida during the Deepwater Horizon / Gulf oil spill response – working for 4 months out of the State’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to coordinate the booming and skimming operations that helped minimize damage to Florida’s pristine panhandle beaches.

Weiss now serves as A•C•T’s nationwide emergency response project manager – scheduling manpower and equipment throughout the assessment, mitigation and remediation phases of various emergency incidents throughout North America.

Robert O. Kincart, President of American Compliance Technologies, Inc. (A•C•T), has accepted an appointment to the inaugural leadership board at the University of Florida’s (UF) chemistry department. Kincart joins, among others, UF board of trustees member Dr. Steven Scott and department alumnus, Professor Robert Grubbs, recipient of the 2005 Nobel Prize in chemistry, as charter members of the board.

Recognizing that Florida’s future lies in innovation and technology, and that UF’s Department of Chemistry touches virtually every aspect of Florida’s high tech economy, department chair and professor Daniel R. Talham said, “To achieve (our goals) to the fullest, we need the support and vision of leaders from both inside and outside our campus. It’s for that reason we are looking to constitute the inaugural board with successful individuals who maintain allegiance to the department.” The Board’s role will include activities to increase public awareness and support for the department and its goals as well as serving as ambassadors for the department’s programs. Additionally, board members will work to identify and secure private sources of funding and take leadership roles in various outreach efforts.

For Kincart, his role on the board aligns with his firm’s established culture of innovation and offers yet another opportunity to form a beneficial public-private partnership similar to the one recently announced where A•C•T joined with Polk State College’s Corporate College to co-locate PSC’s Agri-Business Technology Institute and Design and Construction Sustainability Institute at A•C•T’s corporate headquarters. Kincart said, “I love the University of Florida and am both pleased and honored to serve on the inaugural chemistry department board that will play a role in ensuring environmental and economic sustainability for the entire state.” Kincart received his own degree in chemistry from UF in 1972 and has remained actively engaged with the school ever since.

The Kincart Group is pleased to establish the Kincart Scholarship in Chemistry at the University of Florida. Robert O. Kincart, founder and president of American Compliance Technologies, Inc. (A•C•T), earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry from the University of Florida (UF) in 1972 and the family has a strong history of UF graduates in other disciplines as well.

The annual scholarship will be awarded to a Polk County student studying chemistry at UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. According to Paul D’Anieri, Dean of the College, the Kincart Scholarship in Chemistry “allows us to continue our mission of empowerment through education, research and outreach.” D’Anieri added that the College “changes our students and our students change the world.”

For the Kincart family, the scholarship fits nicely with A•C•T’s focus on environmental and community sustainability. “Helping educate the scientists of tomorrow goes a long way to ensuring a brighter future for all of us, and we are honored to play a part in that endeavor,” said Kincart. For more information about this and other scholarship offerings at UF, go to www.uff.ufl.edu/scholarships.

Gary L. Weiss, of Bartow-based A•C•T Environmental and Infrastructure, received the prestigious Thomas Yatabe Award today in Ft. Myers. The award is given each year to an individual who has made outstanding contributions in the implementation and support of the federal Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA).

The annual award is presented to a single individual, agency and/or organization in each of the 11 Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) districts around the state, and is earned through achievements, accomplishments or superior participation in hazardous materials planning or response.

Weiss, who served as the LEPC chairman for the past two years, played an important role in updating the district’s Hazardous Material Response Plan and conducted multiple training classes and exercises for area first responders, including Hazardous Material Week outreach training. Additionally, Weiss was selected to assist the State of Florida during the Deepwater Horizon / Gulf oil spill response. For 4 months, Weiss worked out of the State’ of Florida’s Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to coordinate all the booming and skimming operations that helped minimize damage to Florida’s pristine panhandle beaches.

The Yatabe award is not new to A•C•T as the 2006 winner was Rob Kincart, president of the firm. Rob was selected because of his lifelong commitment to the hazardous material community and A•C•T’s support and assistance during the hurricane season of 2004. Weiss’ selection this year demonstrates A•C•T’s continued commitment to providing sustainable environmental solutions to partners across the nation – but especially in the State of Florida.

The LEPC program and its parent program, the State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) were established in 1986 when, in response to a growing concern for safety around chemical facilities, Congress approved EPCRA. The Act requires each state to develop commissions responsible for implementing EPCRA provisions and serving as a technical advisors and information clearinghouses for state and federal hazardous materials programs.

Florida’s SERC is comprised of 23 governor-appointed individuals, including Weiss, representing the interests of state and local government, emergency services, industry and the environment. SERC conducts quarterly public meetings in varying locations throughout the state. For more information about SERC, see www.hazmat.floridadisaster.org.

American Compliance Technologies (A•C•T), Inc., is pleased to announce that Cindy C. Rodriguez has joined the firm and will serve as Director of Communications.

Rodriguez, who served for nine years as the Communications and Legislative Affairs Director for the Polk County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), holds a B.A. from the University of South Florida in Mass Communications, Public Relations and brings over 25 years of professional experience to her new post.

Based in Bartow, A•C•T is an established multi-disciplined professional environmental, engineering and field services firm with expertise in a range of areas, including environmental sciences, engineering, industrial hygiene, industrial services, infrastructure, waste management and emergency response.

Rodriguez, a highly respected professional, has proven expertise and knowledge in the areas of public relations, crisis communications, legislative affairs, marketing, training and community outreach.

Rodriguez’ professional affiliations include current service as a member of the Central Florida Development Council Board of Directors; Community Southern Bank Advisory Council; Polk Arts Alliance Board of Directors; Executive Committee Board of Directors of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), Immediate Past President FPRA Polk County Chapter and Immediate Past President of Florida Government Communicators Association.

Rodriguez is also a Certified Public Manager and member of the Public Relations Society of America and a registered lobbyist in the State of Florida. During her tenure with the Polk County BoCC, her division consistently reduced their budget through innovation and efficiencies and won over 100 local, state, national and international awards for excellence in public and community relations. Rodriguez is also a recipient of Polk County FPRA’s Public Relations Professional of the Year award.

According to A•C•T President, Rob Kincart, “Cindy’s addition to A-C-T’s professional team strengthens the firms’ ability to expand services and raise awareness of the company’s competencies, while ensuring continued excellent customer service for our valued clients throughout the nation. We are thrilled to have her as part of our team”!

Michael A. Graves has joined A•C•T, as a senior professional geologist. Currently a doctoral candidate in Geochemistry at the University of South Florida, Graves has a B.S. in Geology and M.S. in Geochemistry from the University of Florida and brings more than 30 years of professional experience to the post, and is a certified geologist registered in five Southeastern states. He is a member of the UF Department of Geologic Sciences Advisory Committee and was a member of the State of Florida Board of Professional Geologists where he served as chairman from 1996-1997.

Based in Bartow, A•C•T is a multi-disciplined professional environmental, engineering and field services firm with expertise in a range of areas, including environmental sciences, engineering, industrial hygiene, industrial services, infrastructure, waste management and emergency response. A•C•T employs nearly 100 professionals from its offices in Bartow, Jacksonville, Gainesville, Orlando, Naples and Fort Lauderdale.

The Corporate College at Polk State College (PSC Corporate College) and American Compliance Technologies (A•C•T) have teamed up to form what officials of both organizations view as a “mutually beneficial synergistic partnership” designed to take maximum advantage of their respective expertise and interest in the emerging field of “green” technology.

Under this unique public/private partnership, A•C•T, one of the nation’s leading environmental services firms, will provide office and classroom space for PSC Corporate College’s Design and Construction Sustainability Institute (DCSI) in a new 10,000-square-foot structure being erected on A•C•T’s corporate campus at 1875 West Main Street (State Road 60) west of downtown Bartow. The building will be known as the PSC/A•C•T Corporate Center for Innovation.

DCSI will provide solar energy expertise and outfit the building with state-of-the-art solar equipment that will significantly reduce A•C•T’s energy costs and also enhance its already strong reputation as a leader in safeguarding the natural environment.

The partnership will officially launch on October 26 with groundbreaking for the two-story building that will also house PSC Corporate College’s newly-established Agri-Business Technology Institute (AGTI) with a focus on agriculture safety, water management, food grade homeland security and more.

“This is a classic example of a synergistic partnership. In this case, we have two organizations with similar objectives joining forces on a venture that will yield short and long term benefits to both entities. It gives the PSC Corporate College much needed space for these two initiatives, while providing A•C•T with the latest ‘green’ technology for heating and cooling its new building,” said Rob Clancey, director of the PSC Corporate College.

Clancey noted that moving DCSI to A•C•T’s complex in Bartow frees up space for other initiatives at Airside Center. DCSI will remain in the PSC/A•C•T Corporate Center for Innovation until the PSC Corporate College’s permanent Clear Springs campus east of Bartow opens in about two or three years.

“We are excited to be working with PSC’s Corporate College on this venture. We expect this to be the first of many partnerships between our two organizations,” A•C•T President Robert Kincart said.

“The synergy on the project is fantastic,” Kincart continued. “It allows people to receive valuable training in the emerging ‘green’ technology field while the equipment being installed in the new building under the direction of DCSI meets A•C•T’s energy needs in a highly efficient and environmental friendly fashion.”

Established two years ago, the DCSI offers traditional construction and green technology/environmental sustainability course work for companies and interested individuals. Specific courses of study that will be offered in the new center in Bartow include “Solar Domestic Hot Water Installation,” “Solar Photo-Voltaic System Installation,” LEED Green AP – Existing Building: O and M Exam Preparation,” “It’s Easy Being Green-Kermit the Frog May Disagree” and “Hazardous Waste ID and Generator Requirements”.

Courses available online at http://www.coursecatalog.com/dbpages/courses.asp?SchoolID=6576 include “Home Energy Fundamentals,” “Choosing a Renewable Energy Installer,” “Achieving Solar – An Introductory Guide,” “Certified Compliance Inspector of Stormwater,” “Certified Preparer of SWPPP” and “Stormwater Subcontractor Short Course.” For more information on DCSI, including a schedule of upcoming courses, contact Jackson at 863-297-1010.

American Compliance Technologies, Inc. has now been recognized by the Central Florida Development Council of Polk County and Polk Works as one of Polk County’s Best Places to Work for both 2008 and 2009. This annual award is bestowed upon companies that excel at employee retention and motivation, including opportunities for further training and education, promotion of a healthy work/life balance, and various employee benefits. A•C•T is recognized for solid growth and overall employee satisfaction, as well as educational opportunities, no-cost medical insurance, and a strong sense of teamwork. Congratulations A•C•T!

American Compliance Technologies, Inc. was requested to assist the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to deal with the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill incident. A•C•T personnel were assigned to operate as the Booming Technical Specialists for the State of Florida. Operating at the Florida Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee, FL, A•C•T personnel provided expertise in boom deployment, assisted counties with boom issues and provided daily briefing regarding boom operations to the EOC Staff, Secretary of DEP, Coast Guard and various elected officials around the state.

As an integral part of the command team at the State EOC, A•C•T managed over 400,000 feet of boom deployment and removal plus provided personnel to monitor the contractor deploying the boom to be assured that the boom was placed per specification.

A•C•T’s operational footprint lasted 95 days protecting the shores of Florida.

A•C•T offers many different courses for FL Firefighter Skills Retention and Out of State Equivalency. Courses are taught by a certified instructor, and are given multiple times throughout the year. Testing dates can be found on the FL Fire College website. Please call us for more information.

Our Total Response Action Communication Center is now available to our valuable clients. A-C-T understands that our clients are in need of immediate, up to date information in the handling of their incidents. From the initial notification to the final resolution, information will be posted and accessible to you at any time. Our clients can interface with A-C-T project managers in real-time via phone, internet or e-mail. Once the project has been completed all documentation, photographs and regulatory reports can be accessed by our clients via their confidential login to our secure digital drop box. Feeling helpless to control your emergency incidents is a thing of the past for our valuable customers. A-C-T Spill TRACC keeps you in the driver’s seat!