Fa la la la la! Our team in Georgetown, Kentucky, recently decked the halls for the holidays.
Fa la la la la! Our team in Georgetown, Kentucky, recently decked the halls for the holidays.
At Leggett & Platt, we are committed to building a culture of belonging and workplaces where everyone feels accepted for who they are and what they bring to L&P.
To help us accomplish this, we launched our People First learning series, designed to enhance our leadership skills and strengthen inclusion by putting people first—our first company value.
At the beginning of the year, we launched People First Local Conversations within our branches. The conversations are hosted by People First Champions — L&P leaders — and discuss how we can improve our workplaces by being a better team.
Participating in the local conversations was optional for each branch and initially started as six conversations over four months. The feedback was so positive that over half of the branches asked to continue.
Winchester Spring in Winchester, Kentucky, was one of the branches that participated in each local conversation. They finished the series this month, hosting eleven conversations on topics like belonging, community involvement, and gratitude. We spoke with Stephen Day, Richard Trent, and James Wells — the People First Champions at Winchester, about their experience.
Stephen Day, Human Resources Manager
“What initially struck my interest was the People First courses we took before the conversations started. The facilitator was very engaging, and the content intrigued me. I was determined to make a difference at our branch. Working with Richard, James, and Billy Wiggins (Branch Manager), I knew that we were all like-minded regarding our people. Our past successes were because of the great people we have on our team. Once we got started, we received feedback from our people, and there were some great ideas on how to be more inclusive. We have implemented many of those ideas and hope to receive more.”
Richard Trent, Operations Manager
“I’ve learned a lot about our team here at Branch 2. One of the most positive changes is that people are more open with each other and management. We have a lot of different departments, and having people willing to talk to each other is a huge plus. They all started hesitant, but after we had a few conversations, they began to open up and talk with each other. The local conversations have been an excellent experience for all of us.”
James Wells, Plant Superintendent
“I learned so much about the people I work with. I have led very few groups in meetings. So, coming out of my shell, getting to know people, and finding new ways to connect were great experiences. I found things in common with people I have worked with for years. After all our conversations, people are starting to interact more with management and each other. Overall, it was a great experience, and we all benefited from these conversations.”
Thank you to everyone at Winchester Spring for your commitment to inclusion and putting people first!
At L&P, we are honored to work alongside many colleagues who have served in the military. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. This month, we are spotlighting some of our amazing colleagues who are military service members and veterans.
We’d like you to meet Mark Taylor! Mark has been with us for a year and is a Senior Global Network Manager. His team is responsible for ensuring that cables, circuits, and permissions allow for secure and reliable network access to the applications that help L&P make products and move them around.
Mark served in the United States Army for 30 years, serving full time for 17 years and 13 years in the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. “My motivation has always been a desire to serve my country, support our constitution, and simply do my best,” said Mark.
Mark enlisted as a private, MOS 92B – medical lab specialist and attended Basic Training at Ft. Bliss in Texas. After deciding he liked the Army, he completed ROTC at Oregon State University and was commissioned in the Infantry in June of 1991. He served in Fort Benning, Georgia, for two years. While working at Hewlett Packard, Mark served as a cavalry officer before moving to Colorado to become a full-time field artillery officer in the Army National Guard. He later transferred to the Idaho Army National Guard and left in 2016 for the reserves. In 2018, Mark retired as a lieutenant colonel.
When asked to reflect on military values that he applies at L&P, Mark shared, “People make the whole thing work. I learned the importance of respecting each person’s knowledge and abilities and having a willingness to listen and adapt. We are better together.”
We are very grateful to Mark and all who have served!
We’re proud to announce that L&P Transportation is one of the newest partners of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay program!
EPA’s SmartWay program helps companies advance supply chain sustainability by measuring, benchmarking, and improving freight transportation efficiency.
Participating in the program is the gold standard in the trucking industry. “We’re very proud of this achievement, which highlights our commitment to creating a supply chain that is built on sustainability,” says Jay Witherspoon, VP of Supply Chain. “At L&P Transportation, we care about doing what we can to reduce our environmental footprint.”
If you’re interested in more information about the SmartWay program, you can watch this short video.
We are so thankful for our amazing employees who have shown incredible dedication this year. We appreciate everything you do. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
At L&P, we are honored to work alongside many colleagues who have served in the military. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. This month, we want to spotlight some of our amazing colleagues who are military service members and veterans.
We’d like you to meet Chelsey Abbott! Chelsey has worked at Hanes in Conover, NC, for three years and is currently a shipping coordinator. Chelsey provides our customers with the pallet counts and dimensions of their material. In return, they provide L&P with the carrier of their choice.
Chelsey served in the Army for four years. Over that time, she lived in three states – Missouri, Virginia, and Washington. In Washington, Chelsey was stationed at joint base, Lewis-McChord, where she served as a 91S Styker Mechanic for the 4-23 Infantry Battalion.
“I joined the Army because I knew I wanted to do something other than school. I also wanted to explore the world,” said Chelsey. “The Army taught me a lot about myself. Basic training is where I pushed myself mentally and physically to be at the top of my platoon.”
Chelsey’s taken the lessons and values she learned during her service and applied them to her career at L&P.
“I learned the importance of teamwork and the ability to work with all kinds of people. I also learned to prioritize tasks to maximize the team’s efficiency and achieve our goals.”
We are very grateful to Chelsey and all who have served!
L&P Automotive employees Milosz Niec, Ethan Park, Stepan Tuzlov, Mario Lorenzon, Becky Ferguson, and Kartik Soni recently participated in Habitat for Humanity’s Rock the Block in Oakland County, Michigan.
Rock the Block is part of Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization effort, which offers minor exterior home repairs to homeowners in need. L&P made a corporate donation to the event and has been a long-standing supporter of Habitat for Humanity.
“The key to thriving communities is to lift our neighbors,” says Milosz. “Organizations like Habitat for Humanity do this for families and entire neighborhoods. We are thrilled to work with Habitat for a second year and already looking forward to the third!”
Thank you to our LPA team for doing great work in the community!
At L&P, we are honored to work alongside many colleagues who have served in the military. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. This month, we want to spotlight some of our amazing colleagues who are military service members and veterans.
First up, we’d like you to meet Deran Boman! Deran has been with us for 12 years and is currently a maintenance technician at our corporate headquarters. His main responsibilities include plumbing, electrical work, locksmithing, record keeping, and repairing doors and windows.
Deran is a sergeant and is serving his sixth year in the United States Army National Guard. In 2020, he was part of a Special Enforcement Detail (SED) riot control readiness in response to the wave of civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. He also served as a security detail at GTMO (Guantanamo Bay).
“I wanted to become a part of something bigger that lets me serve this great country in a way that makes an impact,” said Deran. “The main values I developed in the military and apply to L&P are loyalty, integrity, and leadership.”
We are very grateful to Deran and all who have served!
In October, L&P teams in North and South America came together to support an important cause – the fight to end breast cancer. The event was promoted and organized by the Women’s ERG to raise awareness for self-care. In total, our teams raised over $23,000 for life-saving breast cancer research. Here are just some of the pictures and branches that supported the event.
The Carthage team hosted the Susan G. Komen Walk Where You Are Event at the Corporate Headquarters in Carthage, MO. The event encourages groups to walk where they are to raise awareness and support for breast cancer research. Over 50 employees from three branches participated in the walk.
The Hanes & Flooring team in Conover, NC, held their Walk Where You Are Event. Lauren McMahan, Human Resources Director at Hanes, said, “It was a beautiful day and a great opportunity to come together.” Employees who couldn’t walk with the group walked along with their families to support the cause.
ECS Conover in Conover, NC, also held a Walk Where You Are Event and raffled prizes to the 40 team members who participated.
Megan Lowry, Human Resources Coordinator, said, “When we began the fundraising campaign, it became apparent that so many of our teammates have been affected or know someone who’s been affected by breast cancer. The event provided our team, Together We Can, the opportunity to celebrate survivors and raise money for future research.”
LPFP – Fort Worth Prime in Fort Worth, TX, held a bake sale to raise money for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. “Many of the partners in our branch have been impacted by breast cancer,” said Aaron Fields, Branch Manager. “We asked if there would be interest in adding a bake sale to our annual chili cook-off in October, with the funds benefiting breast cancer research. The response was a resounding yes.”
Winchester Spring in Winchester, KY, held a walk at a local park and hosted a cornhole tournament after the event. The team raised $7,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Cathy Spencer, Office Manager, said, “Our team was made up of management and partners from the floor. We had a great time and a great turnout. Everyone agreed to make it an annual event.”
The West Michigan Work Furniture Branches — Moiron, Davidson Plyforms, and Genesis Seating — came together to support breast cancer awareness. The branches held various events including penny wars, candy bar fundraisers, and a Wall of Hope. The Moiron team participated in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk in Grand Rapids, MI. Shari German, Human Resources Manager at Moiron said, “The day started with a pink sky and a rainbow before the rain started.”
The Leggett & Platt Brazil team, along with the help of the local health department and volunteers, hosted a walk and community event with the theme: “Alone we are petals, together we are roses.” Over 230 women participated in the event. They also held group exercises, and medical professionals helped women book mammograms and offered advice on self-care.
Terrafix Geosynthetics had four Canada branches participate in the Walk Where You Are Event – Toronto, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta; Calgary, Alberta; and Surrey, British Columbia.
Sarah Peterson, leader of the External Partnerships Committee for the Women’s ERG, who organized the event, said, “I am humbled and floored by the support and success of L&P partners throughout North and South America. Seeing so many come together, taking pride in the event, which seemed to have a personal component for all, and raising awareness for breast cancer is something that will hold a special place in my heart. I am proud and honored to have witnessed our teams do great work together!”
Thank you to our Women’s ERG for organizing and promoting such an important event and for your commitment to our Leggett communities.
At L&P, we are powered by kindness—we prioritize safety and care for each other and create an inclusive environment of mutual respect, empathy, and belonging.
November 13 is World Kindness Day, and we’d like to reshare some inspiring stories from this year about how our employees show kindness by putting people first:
