Midland Operations Manager effects cultural change with proactive and safety-first approach
Chat with Cesar Soto for a few minutes and you’ll quickly realize he’s a passionate person.
Sometimes too passionate, as he admits.
But it’s that passion which has driven him over the past 10 years to go from a shop hand, to our Stream-Flo USA Midland Operations Manager.
“I’m just passionate about my job and being here at Stream-Flo,” said Soto in conversation recently. “It’s just been a great journey.”
Safety, and ensuring all his staff return home every day the same way they came in, is arguably Soto’s main passion.
It’s something he takes so seriously that he isn’t afraid of calling anyone out for not having the proper PPE when they enter our Midland, TX shop. Even if the offender just so happens to be the CEO.
“I had to call out Mr. (Mark) McNeill one time that he didn’t bring his steel toes,” recalls Soto. “I didn’t think he’d like it but he went and bought himself some steel toes and came back with steel toes.”
While he’s able to laugh about the story now, Soto says it was an interaction that perfectly represents what he’s been able to accomplish during his decade at Stream-Flo.
“He (Mark) came in and I was like ‘You’re not coming in the shop, sir. Safety first’,” recounted Soto. “Practically that’s been my biggest journey here, changing the culture and safety, having everyone buy-in.”
Moving forward
Like any journey, Soto’s has had its ups and downs, with challenges throughout.
Promoted to shop foreman after two years as a shop hand, he says that’s when he was able to begin making incremental changes.
But things really took off three years ago, when Stream-Flo USA VP and GM Sean Wilcock elevated Soto to operations manager.
“When Sean came about, I was like wow, I think we’re moving in the right direction,” said Soto. “And then (Stream-Flo USA Operations Manager) Quanah (Gilmore) comes about and we just keep moving forward.”
While instituting a cultural change in Midland required some drastic action in the form of releasing those who didn’t buy-in to his safety-first philosophy, Soto says it was after taking that step that people really began to resonate with his message of accountability.
“I’m very proud of the guys,” said Soto, referring to his team of shop hands. “The guys are the ones that actually do all this.”
What Soto’s team has done is shifted from a reactive to a proactive group, says the man in charge of overseeing our whole Midland facility.
Cesar Soto keeps a bird’s-eye view on everything going on in our Midland shop from his office.
“We’ve changed the culture to being if the customer calls, I tell you what, we have it built,” said Soto. “And again, it ties into safety, we’re not running around like chickens with our heads cut off.”
Reaching this proactive point has meant realizing one of the main goals Soto had his sights set on since starting his Stream-Flo journey, in contrast to how things had been before.
“I would just see stuff where the customer would call and it’s like, why don’t we have it ready? If we have the equipment, let’s get it ready,” explained Soto. “We’re being efficient, we’re being safe, and we have enough time to build it, why not go ahead and build it right now. That’s practically what we have right now as a facility.”
One of the big things that has allowed this proactive approach to be successful is how the Midland shop is laid out.
It’s an efficient configuration that has Soto’s fingerprints all over it.
“Mark McNeill backed me up,” said Soto. “He’s (Mark) like ‘This is what he wants, this is what he gets’.”
From where the test bays and paint booths are to utilizing digital testing, along with strategically placing the cranes so no forklifts are ever used, the Midland shop is set up for ATP success thanks to Soto’s vision. But he still has a hard time believing that what he pictured and put forth received such strong support from the very top.
“I was like what the hell…it’s crazy right? You’re making decisions of how the building looks and they back you up? That speaks for a lot.”
This photo taken from one of the monitors in Soto’s office provides a great look at the efficient layout of our Midland ATP area.
A special surprise
Recently Soto celebrated his 10-year anniversary with Stream-Flo, and another surprising moment awaited him when it came time for his award ceremony.
Unbeknownst to Soto, the travelling board members he had just walked through the facility that day took him aside after the tour was done and presented him his ring.
“It was crazy,” said Soto. “I was like wait, what’s happening right now? The board presenting the ring, I was like wow, this is great.”
For someone who has dedicated himself for the past 10 years to the family-owned company primarily due to the family atmosphere it provides, it was a special moment getting to meet another McNeill — Doug — for the first time.
“The McNeills have been taking care of me for a long time,” said Soto. “I can’t express how much I’ve bought into them. When I saw the video where Duncan McNeill says ‘If you take care of the employee, the employee will take care of the company’, it’s true.”
When given the option between receiving a ring or cash for his 10-year anniversary award, the operations manager was quick to make his decision.
“The ring’s more of what represents me as a passion,” said Soto fittingly. “It’s an inspiration.”
Soto shakes hands with Stream-Flo USA VP and GM Sean Wilcock as the visiting board members and Stream-Flo USA Operations Manager Quanah Gilmore and Stream-Flo CFO Dave Randhawa join the pair for a group photo.
As Soto looks to the future, he’s excited about what it holds for him given how much his growth at Stream-Flo has been encouraged over the past decade, and how much has been invested in him over that time too.
Giving full credit to his fellow Midland teammates who have fully had his back these past few years as they’ve changed the culture together, the passionate operations manager is proud of the atmosphere they’ve created along the way.
“Everybody’s like a family here,” said Soto. “It’s just incredible to not be in your house and feel at home here at work.”
‘Just one stone you have to step on’
That may explain why, as Soto celebrates his 10-year anniversary with Stream-Flo, he’s looking well down the road.
“It’s just a milestone, but really it’s just one stone you have to step on,” concluded Soto. “I still got a lot of time here.”
How much time?
“You’re going to have to take me out in a body bag,” joked Soto to Mark McNeill when he asked him the same question.
Due to natural causes, we must clarify.
Because as we know, Soto is passionate about safety.
“You can come to Midland, and they’ll tell you right away, you better have your steel toes, and your glasses. Because if not, don’t even show up.”
Yes, sir.