December 7, 2020

Remember the days when travel seemed intuitive? Not these days, especially with the added hustle and bustle of holiday travel. This year, there are a lot of new factors to consider on how to keep you and your family safe while traveling during Covid-19. No matter the method – car, plane, or overnight hotel stay, I have compiled some tips to help you and your families stay safe this year. Be Transparent. Start by asking questions and setting the framework for what you and your family are comfortable with. There is no right or wrong answer, as every family is different. Is it better for your situation to stay home this holiday season? If you do plan to visit relatives, what precautions will help you and your family stay safe during the visit? Talk about these expectations –including number of guests, social distancing logistics, mask wearing, food setup and more. These details may seem like a lot to gather in advance, but having a plan and setting boundaries will allow you to minimize stress and maximize a joyful experience if you choose to venture out. Only you know the best route for your family. Be Knowledgeable. While many airlines, hotels, and travel facilities are taking additional precautions to keep customers safe, it is also each family’s responsibility to invest time beforehand researching the best practices within each industry and the safety measures to expect along the way. I have seen fantastic procedures by American Airlines during my own travel experiences in recent months. When you board the plane, there are ‘We just cleaned your plane’ messages to help travelers feel assured and safe. They also use an incredible, new chemical called Z-71, which protects against Covid-19 for seven days! It’s great to see this proactive approach to safe, sanitary travel from airlines, with routine cleaning and disinfection, as well as exceptional air filtration. In addition, you will want to call ahead to any rental car facilities you may be using, or hotels you may be staying in. Ask about their measures to mitigate the spread of Covid-19. Understand their policies toward social distancing, maximum capacities, dining and mask wearing. Gathering this knowledge in advance will keep travel smoother for everyone involved. Be Prepared. We know that mask wearing, hand washing, sanitizing and social distancing are essential practices to protect against Covid-19. There will be some creative thinking required to travel while keeping these steps in place. For car travel – plan out your stops ahead of time, minimizing potential exposures as much as possible. Can you pack snacks or meals in advance to reduce stops? Are there opportunities to eat outdoors rather than inside restaurants? Bring along extra masks in case a few get lost along the way. Make sure you have enough FDA-approved hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes to clean hands and surfaces like phones, tablets and seatbelts along the way. I am known for wiping down my seat, seatbelt, tray table and screen each time I hop on a plane – even before Covid-19! Be sure if you are boarding a plane, that your hand sanitizer fits within liquid limits. Be Adaptable. We are all learning as we go, even eight months into this pandemic. Remember to give yourself extra time and extra grace if you and your family decide to do traveling this holiday season. There will be extra stops, starts and hurdles, but remembering that we are ‘all in this together’ will help keep perspective in the right place. I urge you to continue taking this virus and the necessary precautions very seriously, but also take time to enjoy this season of gratitude, love and reflection. We have overcome so much this year and I know brighter days are just around the corner! Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

Resilience: It’s known as an individual’s “ability to withstand or recover from difficult situations – how you’re able to restore equilibrium in your life during or following upheaval,” according to Psychology Today. If resilience was important at the beginning of 2020, it is no doubt an essential tool for navigating everyday life today. I have talked before about the importance of resilient business relationships. Expanding that concept at a more personal level, we can only be resilient in our workplace relationships when we are resilient as individuals. So, how do you stay resilient when it feels like the only thing we can be certain of is new challenges coming from all directions? Rest assured, you CAN do this! I have compiled a few tips to consider moving forward. Focus on your ‘Why’ Think back to the day you started working toward your current goal. What was your ‘why’? Chances are, that ‘why’ still remains, even if the once smooth circumstances have become a bit rocky. I rely on check-ins with myself to remember my ‘why’. At Cummins, my ‘why’ always has been, and always will be my employees. They are the reason I do what I do, because I thrive on helping them grow as individuals and throughout their careers while providing the best possible work environment I can. Even in the midst of COVID-19, and any other challenge throughout my leadership career, I always keep my ‘why’ at top of mind to fuel my resilience despite any uncontrollable circumstances. What is your ‘why’? Is it your children? Your spouse? Your community? Your commitment to helping others? Whatever your why(s), I encourage you to set routine reflections with yourself. Are the actions and attitudes you are carrying that day helping support your ‘why’? If not, it’s time to refocus on the bigger picture. Focus on what you CAN Control While it is easy to feel out of control with so many unique variables impacting the workplace, schools and social life, a key to staying grounded is focusing on what you CAN control. I like to release stress and gain inspiration through running. Each and every time I head out, I have control of the pace, the frequency and the distance. I also control my mindset, my willpower and my drive on each and every run. If running isn’t your thing, the concept is still the same. Factors like what we consume for news information, food and drink, and energy impact our resilience. We can control how we interact with others, how we handle conflict and how we respond to challenging situations. Connection is Key I have said it before – never ever underestimate the importance of BEING THERE. Being there may look different now, but we can still stay connected with technology or safe, socially distant settings. Mail a card, make a phone call, send a text, or set up a virtual face-to-face meeting. Make it a habit to reach out to a handful of friends or family members each day to check in on them. You will feel a sigh of relief due to the communication, and you’ll brighten their day with just a few moments! Now, more than ever, monitoring, expanding and growing our personal resilience will impact how we navigate the current challenges for a better future. I hope these tips bring you a sense of peace and possibility as we work together to overcome and achieve. Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC

This year has been FULL of challenges. From minor inconveniences in our daily routines, to life-changing adjustments, sometimes it can feel like there is no clear end in sight. To get through this, we all deserve time to pause and acknowledge the unprecedented challenges we have experienced as individuals, families, business leaders and a nation. At the same time, the best way I have found to move forward is to reflect on all that we have to be grateful for. Even in times when things feel out of our control, taking a moment for gratitude can help us muster the courage and inspiration to keep going – it has certainly helped me! In the spirit of gratitude, I would like to share my reflections with you as we embrace this Thanksgiving season. CFS employees: Your resilience continues to amaze me! You are superheroes, bravely facing any challenge we have been presented this year. Through your dedication and commitment, we’ve had the honor of being the behind-the-scenes crew, helping our clients resume or continue business as safely as possible. It is a blessing that there have been many new technologies and strategies within our company and industry throughout 2020, but none of that could make the impact it has for our clients without your willingness to learn and adapt. I am so proud to have you as part of our team, carrying out our mission each day. You save the day, every day! CFS clients: Thank you for placing your trust in our team to keep your facility clean and safe for your employees, visitors and customers, at a time when it is more important than ever. We are so grateful to provide our services so that you can do what you do best for your customers and community. This year has been challenging for leaders in every industry, as we have been faced with many difficult decisions, uncertainty and ever-changing business practices. Even when we’ve been distanced, I have been grateful to navigate these obstacles together. We know that brighter days are ahead and we can’t wait to continue to work alongside each of you! CFS community: I am so grateful that through the amazing work of our team members, and both new and old relationships with our fantastic clients, Cummins Facility Services has been able to give back to causes that we hold near and dear in our communities. We realize that many people are facing greater needs than ever before, and woven in the fabric of our company is a desire to give back when we can. We promise to continue being good stewards of these values. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this fantastic network of individuals, families and businesses. While this year has been bursting with challenges, obstacles and lessons, it has become so apparent how much we have to be grateful for. My wish is that everyone is able to reflect on their blessings and continue moving forward, together, toward a new year. Happy Thanksgiving! Jill Frey, President & CEO Cummins Facility Services, LLC