Don't count chickens before they're hatched, they say

By Giedrė KARSOKIENĖ

New Year celebration in cowboy spirit

Swedspan Girių Bizonas starts its financial year on September 1. Thus, the company's festivity in September is jokingly referred to as the New Year celebration. For the second year in a row, the staff of Swedspan Girių Bizonas is invited to a trip intended to bring everyone together in informal setting to feel the sense of community and foster teamwork.

It was the company's Managing Director Regina Zasienė who came up with the idea to meet the new financial year in a single event for the staff last summer. "Whether you're a worker or a manager, you're part of the same team. It is like in a basketball game – only playing as one leads to a win. So, let's be together – let's have fun, let's do sports, let's dance, let's know each other even better!" Zasienė said, in a comment on the meaning of the event.

Having impersonated cowboys this year, the staff of Swedspan Girių Bizonas met the new financial year as if being in the Wild West. All the participants put on cowboy hats and bandanas which created a bison-like atmosphere which was maintained by the witty names the contenders picked for their teams.

Armoured with humorous names and slogans, the teams fully immersed themselves in tasks and the entertainment programme, such as basketball and football matches, relay race, dances and other leisure activities. The final part of the event started with the award ceremony which named the green team Spygliai as the best. It was followed by a celebratory dinner and a lesson of a line dance to engage everyone in common activities.

Good results

The previous financial year demanded concentration and consistency from Swedspan Girių Bizonas. The ambitious goals set by shareholders needed focus and enormous effort from the whole staff. It is precisely the consistent work that has led to all-time records in sales, production and logistics.

The company showed excellent results in August. Investment into the working environment and optimisation of production processes gave the desired effect. "I'm incredibly thankful to each employee. I am happy that I have managed to form a team that can be surely described as harmonious. Two years ago, it was difficult to imagine such large-scale production of high quality which meets the requirements of low emissions. ," said Zasienė.

Partnership with Kazlų Rūda municipality

The approaching end of the year brings new aims and ambitions. The socially responsible programme of Swedspan Girių Bizonas, thus, focuses on greater cooperation with the Kazlų Rūda municipality and local community.

Since nearly the beginning of this year, the construction of a new biofuel boiler has been under discussion. Having been introduced to the project, the Kazlų Rūda municipality expressed its interest in assessing the possibility of heat supply to its residents. "We are considering this proposal very seriously, because we feel the responsibility and we seek fair partnership with the community. The commitments to the society and the environment which were laid down in our programme, the Green Agenda, only encourages us to make the step," Zasienė noted.

The real opportunity for that would arise with the new biofuel boiler plant of Swedspan Girių Bizonas which would allow abandoning fossil fuels and would guarantee cost-effectiveness. Another project of great importance to the town is the construction of a bypass aimed to facilitate transport flows. Since the Green Agenda's priority is to improve the quality of life, Swedspan Girių Bizonas decided to join the project of the Antanavas-Bliuviškiai bypass. "We have supported the feasibility study and we do not intend to stand on the sidelines when solving this issue of special importance to the Kazlų Rūda community," Zasiene said.

It is no secret that the threshold of the New Year has always been inspiring to pursue the goals even more doggedly. Now, with the completion of a very successful year, Swedspan Girių Bizonas continues in an upbeat mood. This autumn not only allows us to enjoy excellent achievements, but also unites us to deal with new challenges and tasks.

The article was published in "Kazlu Rudos