Category Archives: Culture

A Peek Behind the Scenes: Spotlight on L&P’s Imaging Team

At L&P, we manufacture countless products across several industries – bedding, home and work furniture, aerospace, and automotive to name a few. To help our businesses make their products and stories stand out, our in-house team of dedicated designers, photographers, and videographers work together to bring their creative visions to life.

Meet the L&P Imaging team, the folks behind the lenses (and screens).

Evan Younker, Imaging Director

As part of the Imaging team, my days and tasks can vary wildly from one to the next. Generally, I will be either capturing or directing a photo/video shoot in the studio or on location, editing video or photos, or managing and prepping for future projects.

I’ve always enjoyed making and creating things of all kinds. I started shooting video on my parents’ VHS camcorder when I was young and have enjoyed video production and photography since. Initially, I wanted to do feature film production, but I now enjoy producing content for a variety of products and projects.

What I enjoy most about my role is learning and growing a variety of skillsets. Project management, marketing consultation, art direction, and video production are all elements of what I do at L&P. I enjoy being involved in all aspects of the process.

Tony Monteleone, Video Production Editor

Every day in my role as a Video Production Editor is different, and that really makes my job rewarding. My tasks all fall into the pre-production, production, post-production circle; and often we have multiple projects happening simultaneously. During the day, it’s not uncommon to discuss a storyboard in the morning then spend the afternoon on set capturing images or fine-tuning a video.

My interest in filming probably started somewhere between my grandma giving me film boxes to teeth on and dad buying a VHS camcorder in the early 90’s – I’ve just always enjoyed telling stories through images.

Teamwork is the most valuable aspect of my role. We all bring unique experience and outstanding technical knowledge to the projects. I always look forward to what happens when we combine those talents and deliver content that exceeds client expectations.

Kayley Baumhover, Interior Designer

A typical day as an Interior Designer at L&P is usually spent looking for props, photoshopping sets, tracking budgets, meeting with clients to discuss their vision and ideas, and making revisions so that everyone is on the same page and telling the same story.

I’ve always loved to create – I went to school for theatre and took multiple design classes in college. My dad is also a general contractor, so I’ve learned a lot about design just by being around him!

I really enjoy the sense of pride when finishing a creative project. Seeing ideas come to life is such an amazing and gratifying feeling. I enjoy working in a team environment that’s focused on and working towards a common goal. Seeing that goal completed is one of my favorite feelings!

Levi DeWitt, Editor/Motion Designer II

In my role, I spend most days editing videos in After Effects or Premiere Pro, but on production days, I’m either in the studio or on-site filming.

Graphics and video production have been one of my biggest passions for years. Being a part of a team that works to bring ideas to life is part of what thrills me about creative work. I studied graphic communications at Pittsburg State University hoping that someday I could find a position with a company’s in-house graphics team. I assumed I would have to move to a big city to find that, but little did I know that I’d find exactly what I was looking for right here in Carthage!

I love the variety and challenge of my work – our team receives all sorts of requests from L&P’s variety of businesses. It’s a lot of fun to approach new project as a problem and work together to find the best way to solve it.

Tyler Kosiorek, Photographer

One of my favorite elements of being an L&P photographer is the variety of work I get to do. I might be on set taking photos one day and re-touching images the next. When I think I’ve finally found a typical workday, something new pops up.

About 25 years ago, I picked up a camera and haven’t put it down since. Consequently, I went to school for art and decided to round out my education with an additional degree in commercial photography. I still get to make art with a camera, which is what I really enjoy doing.

I’m so thankful that I’m able to come to work and create something every single day – I wouldn’t want to be doing anything else.

Honoring the Legacy of Harry M. Cornell, Jr.

We are saddened by the recent passing of Harry M. Cornell, Jr., whose legacy of honesty and commitment defines our company culture to this day.

A Lifelong Leader at L&P

Harry had a lifelong commitment to Leggett & Platt. His career with L&P began in 1950 after he graduated with a degree in business administration and marketing from the University of Missouri. From his first position as a sales office assistant and trainee in Louisville, Kentucky, Harry moved into sales, covering several territories and establishing many successful accounts.

In 1953, Harry was asked to manage our plant in Ennis, Texas, and quickly turned around the then-struggling operation. In 1955, He was named a company vice president and was elected to the Board of Directors in 1958.

Harry soon formulated a plan to grow the company, and in 1960, he was elected president and CEO. At that time, L&P was a private spring company with four U.S. factories generating $7 million in annual sales. As the new CEO, Harry envisioned five steps to L&P growth:

  • Build long-term relationships with employees, customers, and potential partners
  • Invest in maintaining and upgrading existing facilities
  • Broaden the product lineup
  • Extend geographically
  • Acquire new businesses

By the end of his tenure as CEO in 1999, L&P’s annual sales had exploded to $3.5 billion from nearly 200 factories in 18 countries manufacturing a diverse group of products found throughout the home, office, and in automobiles. He also oversaw 196 acquisitions, breaking L&P into new markets geographically, across product lines, and through vertical integration. His example endures to this day in L&P’s ongoing focus on continuous improvement. Harry retired from the Leggett Board as Chairman Emeritus in 2008. 

Harry Cornell pictured at work, circa 1970 (left) and 1990.

Harry’s Lasting Legacy

Harry recognized that a company is only as good as its people. His dedication to teambuilding and putting people first set the standard for our ongoing company culture. In 2016, we dedicated our corporate campus as Cornell Campus and unveiled a bronze statue as a tribute to Harry’s impact and lasting contributions.

Harry at the L&P corporate campus in 2017, pictured alongside the bronze statue in his honor.

“L&P was always something more personal to Harry, as evidenced by the way he cared about each of his employees,” said Karl Glassman, Executive Chairman of the Board. “He invested himself in L&P’s people – inspiring us to work that much harder to meet our goals.”

Harry was also an influential and generous community partner. He was very active at the University of Missouri, his alma mater, in conceptualizing the Business School building and funding the Cornell Leadership Scholarship. In 2018, he received the Furniture Today Lifetime in Bedding Achievement Award, and he was also inducted into the Hall of Carthage Heroes, Carthage, MO. In 2014, he was inducted into the American Furniture Hall of Fame as an Industry Fellow.

He committed major gifts to the Harry M. Cornell Arts & Entertainment Complex, the Cornell-Beshore Cancer Institute at Freeman Health System, the Harry M. Cornell Medical Education Center, and the Harry M. Cornell Dental Education Center. This past April, he was named Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce, recognizing him for his business accomplishments and philanthropic efforts.

Thank you, Harry, for everything you did for our company, our community, and as our friend. We are incredibly grateful.

Opening Doors for the Military Community at L&P

Summer Steelman had big dreams for her life: She wanted to become a dancer and was even scheduled for several auditions on Broadway. But after the events of September 11, 2001, her plans changed.

“After 9/11, I decided to join the military. I became a Linguist, or a translator, in the Air Force and served for five years,” she explains. She originally planned on serving in the military for her entire career, but an injury prevented her from doing so.

When she was stationed in Hawaii, she met her now-husband, Matthew, who was also serving in the Air Force. Matt continues to serve today, marking 19 years of active duty.

When Summer decided to go back to school, her grandfather encouraged her to find out what she was most passionate about and pursue it as a career. “My grandfather, a WWII veteran, my hero and mentor, gave me the push I needed to search for my path,” she says.

Summer and her grandparents after her graduation from basic training.

After several different career assessments, she decided to get her degree in psychology. Not only did she enjoy the counseling aspect of her degree, but the career counseling aspect in particular. This led to a job at her university’s career office, where she became interested in participating in career fairs, giving resume advice, and helping students find jobs.

“All this led to my search for a job where I could focus on recruiting full-time,” she explains. “I’m thankful that I found my path and now get to help other veterans and military spouses find their dream jobs.”

As a Talent Advisor at L&P, Summer is passionate about making career resources more accessible to the military community.

“I’m very excited to be part of a team that is open to hearing my perspective as a veteran and military spouse,” she said. “I get to use my personal experience to help improve our recruitment efforts for the military community as well as improve access to resources for them.”

Summer also encourages veterans and military spouses who are looking for career support to reach out to their fellow military community. “It can feel overwhelming to navigate the Transition Assistance Program alone,” she says.

The Transition Assistance Program, or TAP, is a government program that provides those leaving military service with information, tools, and training to prepare them for civilian life.

“My advice would be to talk to other people that have gone through it and take advantage of the resources available to you. You’re not alone – there are people who want to help you take the next step in your career.”

2022 Sustainability Report

We share an aligned vision for the future of Leggett & Platt. Our mission is to build businesses and a culture that are sustainable for generations to come.

We recently published our 2022 Sustainability Report. The report provides information about our approach to and performance on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters that are most important to our business.

As we move through 2022, our key ESG initiatives include:

  • Conducting an ESG materiality assessment to further define the ESG opportunities that provide greatest value to our stakeholders and are the most meaningful to L&P
  • Measuring and reporting our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data
  • Advancing our inclusion, diversity, and equity efforts
  • Evaluating opportunities for establishing key management systems to improve data collection and contribute to broader companywide sustainability advancements
  • Enhancing our supplier assessment process, including a heightened emphasis on labor and social standards and cybersecurity controls

We invite you to read the full report here. Thank you for your support as we continue to build and report on our sustainable practices.

Happy Employee Appreciation Day!

To our employees around the world:

Ayudha Pooja Honors the Tools of Trade

L&P Automotive India recently celebrated Ayudha Pooja, a Hindu festival that is celebrated during the tenth day of the bright half of the moon’s cycle, or Shardiya Navratri. Translated to “worship of instruments,” the event honors the tools and equipment integral to our professions and our daily lives.

The principal goddesses worshiped during the celebration are Saraswati (the Goddess of wisdom, arts and literature), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) and Parvati (the divine mother). Their teams clean, decorate, and worship the branch’s tools to destroy negative energy and to bring wealth and prosperity.

“We spray holy water, decorate, and pray to the Gods to bring good things to our factory,” said Rajeswari Subramani, Manager of Human Resources. “We always ask them for strong profits, good benefits, and for the safety of all our employees and their families.”

The following images show the care and attention they gave to creating a meaningful event for their employees.

Rangoli patterns are created indoors using brightly materials such as colored sand, stones, flower petals, food, and colored rocks. Important Hindu symbols are also displayed, such as the Ganesh which represents the wisdom and understanding that one must possess to attain perfection in life.

Tools and equipment are cleaned and polished with great care. They are then smeared with turmeric and sandalwood paste and are adorned with flowers, fruits and other decorations.

Elaborate displays of fruits, sweets, and fragrant oil lamps are arranged throughout the facility as offerings to the Gods.

Rangoli – colorful artistic patterns created on the floor – decorate the entrances to L&P’s facility. When created outdoors, they are made using colored rice flower, which serves as a humanitarian offering of food to ants and other small insects. The building is also decorated with colorful lights during the festival.

Entrances to the building are decorated and fragrant sticks are burned as they pray for increased wealth and prosperity for L&P employees. A priest also visited the facility to perform a Pooja, or traditional Hindu prayer ceremony.

National Hispanic Heritage Month

Today concludes National Hispanic Heritage Month. It’s been an honor to share the stories of several of our Latinx employees over the past few weeks.
Many have worked alongside us for decades. We can’t thank you enough for your dedication and contributions to L&P.

Happy Pride!

Pride Month commemorates and celebrates LGBTQ+ activism and culture through the years.

We at L&P continue to foster a culture of inclusion, diversity, and equity in which everyone is respected, valued, and has an equal opportunity to contribute, thrive, and advance.

Respect and appreciation for what makes us unique grow out of working together, and we encourage all of our employees to be who they are and celebrate their authentic selves. Today and every day, we’re embracing the spirit of pride.

Mental Health Awareness Month

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, we’re sharing our top tips to help relieve anxiety and overcome stress.

Our 2021 Sustainability Report


L&P recently released our inaugural Sustainability Report. The report provides information about our approach to and performance on the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters that are most important to our business.

Our commitment to enhancing lives includes creating sustainable products: 

  • Over 90% of the steel we use is produced from scrap steel
  • Our specialty foam is CertiPUR-US®-certified
  • Roughly half the wood we use in our U.S. bedding products comes from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)-certified sources
  • Our carpet cushion products are certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) Green Label Plus and help customers achieve LEED green building certification

Our governance structure also supports our goals surrounding sustainability and accountability:

  • Annually elected directors
  • Majority voting and 3/3/20/20 proxy access
  • Diverse board and management team
    • 6 of our 11 directors are diverse by race/ethnicity or gender
    • 4 of our 8 corporate executive officers are diverse by race/ethnicity or gender
  • Policies supporting the integrity of our operations
    • Conflict minerals and human trafficking policies
    • Supplier code of conduct
    • Code of business conduct and ethics and governance guidelines

Our Executive Leadership Team shares an aligned vision for the future of our company. Our mission is to create shareholder value, and the best way to do that is to build businesses and a culture that are sustainable for generations to come.

We invite you to read the full report HERE.