Last Sunday I was outside setting up Christmas decorations when Bradley, my 8-year old neighbor wandered over.

Bradley is a good kid. I couldn’t set up Christmas decorations last year because I was in a wheelchair. It felt good to be back to normal, especially with the pandemic. In addition to lights we usually have three to four blow-ups.

This year I decided to only haul down one blow-up from the attic.

Bradley asked, “Mr. Kozera where is the Minions slide blow up?” (This blow up is a very large slide with three Minions going down it.)

I was surprised he remembered it.

I told Bradley, “I wanted to do something simple this year.”

Bradley’s comment was, “Oh. That was my favorite.”

I noticed that Bradley actually looks like the Minion with glasses. I went back up to the attic and put up the Minions blow up.

2020 has been a year like no other.

We have all been challenged. This year we have faced situations we have never faced. The longest lockdown I had ever been in was three days when we were snowed in.

Many of us in business watched income go away for weeks. The lockdown created different stresses. When in a difficult situation and not sure what to do, I think of three options: 1) Do the next right thing. 2) Look for opportunity. 3) Help someone.

It felt good to make Bradley happy. He has been going to school virtually so he doesn’t get to see his friends and play with them.

His mother is in the military and was deployed until recently. In spite of everything Bradley always has a good attitude. I noticed setting up the Minion blowup for Bradley may have made me happier than it did him even though it wasn’t my plan.

At Shale Crescent USA, this year it has been a struggle to generate new leads since we haven’t had live conferences.

We generated our first lead this year at the socially distant live West Virginia Manufacturers Association meeting last week.

The next right thing for Shale Crescent USA back in March was to continue to work with existing prospects and leads.

This has helped to move projects forward. One out-of-state company has just contracted for a site in the region.

Others have hired local contractors and are moving forward in various stages.

We did a presentation on the economic advantages of locating in Shale Crescent USA to the financial team for one of our prospects before Thanksgiving.

They understood. We could hear their enthusiasm.

Shale Crescent USA needed to find opportunity.

During the pandemic media was looking for articulate guests who had unique perspectives on the pandemic. Shale Crescent discussed how the pandemic showed “Made in the USA” is essential for our economy and our safety.

Being a nonprofit organization makes it easy for Shale Crescent USA to connect people with common goals who can actually help each other.

Having a large network and a team with wide expertise makes it possible to understand how to connect the right people and move projects forward. SCUSA recently connected a company with product to another who needed it. A foreign company that turns waste into product was connected to potential feedstock, a U.S. partner and possible sites.

Using the gift of time and a little effort made Bradley happy. Giving from the heart can make good things happen.

Shale Crescent USA gives its research and expensive studies to industry at no charge to help them make decisions.

If companies can locate or expand in the region good jobs will be created, people’s lives can change in a very positive way and improve their standard of living. People with hope in a brighter future have a reason to stay off drugs.

Like my unexpected joy by making Bradley happy, one of the unexpected benefits of bringing manufacturing back to the USA is the reduction of global carbon dioxide and other emissions.

The USA is continuing to buy a lot of products from places like China.

A basic engineering study shows a significant carbon footprint for China to obtain the energy it needs from places like the Middle East.

After manufacturing in China, (carbon footprint) products are shipped halfway around the globe (12,500 miles) to get to us. Another large carbon footprint.

A product made in SCUSA using U.S. energy and feedstock, which is practically under the plant, eliminates the large carbon footprint that China has to obtain energy.

Products manufactured in SCUSA can reach half of the U.S. and Canadian economy within a day’s drive, eliminating 12,000 miles of shipping (large carbon footprint).

Simply by manufacturing products used in the region or around the country in SCUSA, engineering shows the majority of carbon footprint is eliminated.

The exact amount varies depending on the specific product and distance.

Americans don’t need to suffer under the Green New Deal to do their part in saving the planet. Buying American creates jobs, improves lives of people, helps reduce drug addiction and lowers the cost of products.

Now buying American will also reduce global carbon dioxide. SCUSA has the only solution so far to China’s continuously increasing carbon dioxide emissions.

During this holiday season give your time, talent and treasure with a loving heart without looking for anything in return.

Call a friend. Show someone you care.

I can’t explain why when we give from the heart, we receive unexpected benefits. Thoughts to ponder.

Greg Kozera, gkozera@shalecrescentusa.com is the director of marketing and sales for Shale Crescent USA. He is a professional engineer with a master’s in environmental engineering who has over 40 years’ experience in the energy industry. He is the author of four books and numerous published articles.