At L&P, we’re inspired by our colleagues who go above and beyond to enhance our businesses. In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re sharing stories of women at L&P who have improved our products and processes with their creativity and leadership.
We’d like to recognize Roseann Chester, Production Manager for L&P Flooring Products – Sponge Cushion in Morris, Illinois!
Early Determination and Career Growth
Roseann began her career with Leggett & Platt 36 years ago. Prior to joining Leggett, she was a single teenage mom working three jobs trying to provide for her children. Her mother, an employee at Sponge Cushion, encouraged her to apply for a position. Despite not having any job experience, Roseann was persistent and called Human Resources every day for two months, requesting an interview. Her persistence paid off.
“I am a very determined individual and when I put my mind to something – I’m going to make it happen.”
Over the years, Roseann has worked every position on the production line and was promoted to Production Manager last month, overseeing all three shifts of employees at Sponge Cushion. She takes great pride in her role, always prioritizing customer satisfaction.
“I am old school and appreciate my job every day. I wouldn’t be here if we didn’t have our customers, so making them happy is my priority.”
Leadership and Teamwork
In her new leadership role, Roseann has already demonstrated her problem-solving skills. When faced with recent machine issues, she and her team successfully manufactured 14 different products that previously couldn’t run on the line. She credits her management team for fostering an environment where she can be creative and experiment without fear of failure.
“With the support of my current management team, I feel confident in my abilities and know that I can tackle any challenge and figure it out.”
Roseann has always faced challenges head-on. During the pandemic, the branch was facing staffing issues. Roseann spearheaded a cross-training initiative to ensure the production line could continue running. Her ability to adapt has also helped the business meet tight deadlines. Faced with a surge in orders and tight deadlines, Roseann sped up the machine, enabling the team to output more rubber pad and complete the orders on time.
“I love a challenge. When things get tricky, we just roll up our sleeves and find a way to get it done for our customers.”
Beyond production goals, Roseann fosters a culture of teamwork and mutual respect.
“I never ask my team to do anything I wouldn’t do myself. By working alongside them, I’ve shown that we’re all in this together, and they’ve shown me the same commitment in return.”
Thank you, Roseann, for your commitment to your team and Leggett & Platt. We are better because of you!