At L&P, we have always believed in doing the right thing. Our corporate giving promotes goals that support our company values, one of which is helping communities in crisis. We seek to assist in disaster relief and humanitarian work around the world with financial or in-kind contributions to those in need. In 2022, we contributed to more than 125 agencies working to provide vital resources and programs worldwide. The need is greater than ever.
*Here are a few facts about the humanitarian crisis and those who risk their lives to help others:
339 million people will need humanitarian assistance in 2023. This equals 1 in every 23 people on the planet.
Over 122 million more people are facing hunger in the world since 2019.
More than 1 percent of the world’s population, 103 million, are displaced. About two-thirds of those who are displaced, originate from countries with food crises.
In 2022, 116 aid workers were killed while saving others.
8 months into 2023, at least 149 aid workers have been attacked while carrying out their life-saving work.
We honor the humanitarians who work tirelessly to save lives and bring hope to people in need, no matter who, no matter where, no matter what. To learn more, visit The United Nations – World Humanitarian Day.
*Sources: World Vision and The United Nations – World Humanitarian Day
After 15 years of dedicated service to L&P, Brad Gordon is preparing for his retirement by partnering for the good of his branch and creating a succession plan.
Brad’s L&P Career
Brad joined L&P in 2008, working at Genesis Seating in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as a Computer-Aided Design (CAD) Drafter. He continued in that role until 2017, when he transitioned into New Product Development and became a CAD Pattern Specialist, focusing on designing and manufacturing fabric and leather patterns. Most recently, Brad joined the ID&E strategy team and became a People First Champion at Genesis. He and colleague Americo Moto lead People First local conversations at Genesis. In addition, Brad has been training another colleague, Rosa Villagomez, to take over his role when he retires in early 2024.
We spoke with Brad about his time at Leggett and what he looks forward to in retirement.
What have you enjoyed most about your time at Leggett?
In all my years of employment, I have never worked in a role (CAD Pattern Specialist) that so perfectly aligns with my talents and abilities. It’s a role where my creativity can be fully expressed. Even joining People First has led to discovering gifts and talents I didn’t even know I possessed! I’ve also enjoyed the relationships with my colleagues. There is something mystical about working together in the trenches. That added element makes relationships uniquely strong. It has been a rich & rewarding 15 years!
Brad (center) with Americo and Rosa at Genesis Seating.
You have strong relationships with Americo, your People First partner, and Rosa, your apprentice. Can you tell us about those relationships?
Fully expecting to be Genesis Seating’s sole People First Champion, I was delighted to learn that Americo Mota, our 2nd Shift Plant Supervisor, wanted to serve as well. In the process, Americo and I have become brothers. The key takeaway from this experience is if something unexpectedly great comes your way and seems to be drawing you in, go for it! None of this would have happened if I hadn’t joined the ID&E strategy team.
I worked with my apprentice, Rosa Villagomez, for five years. Her primary role is Fabric Specialist. After speaking with her, my supervisor, and HR, we embarked on a succession plan to train Rosa to take over my role upon retirement. We are on target for her to become the primary CAD Pattern Specialist in early 2024. Over the years, we have become great friends, and along our journey, I have learned as much from Rosa about life as she has learned about CAD from me.
What are you looking forward to most in retirement?
I’ve always liked volunteering, traveling, and playing golf, so I will step that up. And I hope to read all the books people have either recommended or lent me over the years. I’m also married to Laurie, an off-the-charts Disney fanatic, so a reasonable amount of Disney Cruises will happen. And then, my secret retirement desire is to learn how to play the bass! I’ve always appreciated a good bass player and wondered what it would be like to play one. Now I will finally have the time to find out!
What will you miss about your job?
The relationships. I will miss the connections with friends the most.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would you say?
There is only one thing you can take with you, your name. Work with all your heart to establish and retain a good name, and everything else will follow.
Giving back starts at home with We Rise—an employee and company-funded program that has helped satisfy the emergency needs of L&P employees in the aftermath of catastrophic events and natural disasters since 2011.
We Rise exists due to the generosity of our people. In 2022, our employees donated more than $50,000 to aid 13 employees in rebuilding from flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters. L&P further supported those employees with donations of mattresses for impacted family members. This year, We Rise supported several employees after a tornado went through Tupelo, Mississippi.
We are inspired by and grateful to our employees for putting people first and doing great work together through We Rise!
At L&P, we foster a culture of giving and are committed to investing in the communities where we live and work.
Since 2001, L&P has donated more than 10 million dollars to our communities and supported more than 350 organizations. With a core value of putting people first, we prioritize giving with three main goals:
Inspiring Our Future. We support programs that are inclusive and create pathways to a better future through education, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs; scholarship programs; technical vocational; college access and career-readiness programs; and community-based arts and music programming.
Elevating Our Communities. We give to organizations that strengthen the fabric of our communities, preserve and protect resources, and aid those facing financial hardship and instability, including programs that address homelessness and hunger, support economic mobility, and protect victims of violence.
Helping Communities in Crisis. We seek to assist in disaster relief and humanitarian work around the world with financial or in-kind contributions to those in need.
We also see our employees frequently giving their own time and resources to address local needs and build a brighter future for neighborhoods around the world.
Throughout August, we’ll continue to highlight how we give back to our communities. Stay tuned!
Internships can be a great way to gain hands-on experience in your field of interest and make industry connections. They can also help you apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world setting and stand out to potential employers. Here are a few more of the benefits of a Leggett internship:
Exposure to L&P – Leggett is a global manufacturing company with 135 facilities in 18 countries. When you intern at Leggett, you gain insights into different areas of the organization. This exposure helps interns understand the company’s operations and potentially explore future career paths within Leggett.
Hands-on Experience – Doors offer students hands-on opportunities to work in their desired field. You learn how your studies apply to the real world and gain experience that sets you up for future success.
Professional Development – During your internship, you’ll learn how to engage in a professional environment. You’ll hear presentations on networking, goal-setting, how to create compelling presentations, and more.
Mentorship – Throughout your internship, you’ll work with a Leggett mentor who will guide you and help you develop professional skills through hands-on knowledge they’ve developed over years of experience.
Building Career Goals – Through your L&P internship, you learn valuable insight into your career, which helps you refine your interests and make informed decisions to progress toward your goals.
July 30 is International Day of Friendship—a day to recognize the bonds that support and uplift us. To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of the great friendships at L&P.
Meet Alexa Driskill, Strategy & Business Intelligence Analyst, and Kaycia Frieden, Internal Audit Project Supervisor! Alexa has been with L&P for 12 years, and Kaycia has been with L&P for eight years.
Alexa and Kaycia
Kaycia and Alexa’s friendship started at L&P:
“You could say it was ‘friendship at first sight,’ but in reality, Alexa only liked me because, at the time, I had red hair and she thought that was cool,” joked Kaycia.
Alexa continued, “I remember going home and telling my husband that we had a new girl in the department with red hair and the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen!”
“We have to credit our other great friend, Cheryl Jones, for putting us together, because we all bonded once I started opening up at work more,” said Kaycia. “We traveled together for Kaycia’s first audits — Seattle, San Luis Potosi, Atlanta, Jacksonville — and it wasn’t long before we were constantly laughing, sharing everything, and I no longer had to describe her to my husband as ‘the new redhead,'” added Alexa.
Alexa and Kaycia shared what they’ve come to admire about each other:
“I have always looked up to Alexa as a bonus older sister, because, well, she is the old one in this friendship, and I love and respect her for so many things,” said Kaycia. “She is intelligent, kind, sassy, and brave—she isn’t afraid to tell me what’s on her mind.”
“She is also a fantastic mother, solid friend, and giver of time and energy. In the last six months, I’ve watched her navigate life in a new way since losing the love of her life, so I would also add ‘strong’ to the list. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career or life without her help, and I am so thankful for a best friend like her.”
Alexa continued, “It’s true—I am the old one in this relationship, but what Kaycia lacks in years, she makes up for in emotional maturity and endless selflessness. She is the friend everyone deserves. She will go out of her way to do anything for anyone, never says no, volunteers her time and money, loves fiercely, and is a wonderful wife and mother.”
“She’s helped me navigate so many obstacles over the years—from job changes to parenting struggles. She always has my back, and it’s become so obvious over the last six months since my husband passed. She lifts me up in my darkest moments and has become so much more than just a work friend.”
We asked Alexa and Kaycia to share how having a good friend at work impacts their jobs:
“Everyone needs someone at work they can trust and who will cheer them on rather than see them as competition,” said Alexa. “Anytime I’m having a bad day, I know Kaycia will listen without judgement and will offer encouragement. Anytime I’m having a good day, she will celebrate with me.”
Kaycia added, “Without work friends, I don’t know where I would be professionally or personally. It’s heartwarming to know I have someone who shares the same core values and lends an ear to chat about work-life balance. If I am feeling overwhelmed, I have her to reach out to, and I know there will be no judgment. I am just so grateful!”
July 30 is International Day of Friendship—a day to recognize the bonds that support and uplift us. To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of the great friendships at L&P.
Meet Tonya Cornell and Vanessa Stafford! Tonya has been with L&P for three years and is an Accounts Payable Technician. Vanessa is a Treasury Analyst and has been with L&P for seven and a half years.
Vanessa and Tonya
Tonya and Vanessa became friends at L&P three years ago:
“When I joined L&P, I first worked with Vanessa in Accounts Payable,” said Tonya. “We hit it off immediately, as we were training during March 2020 and the only two people in our department working in the office. Vanessa eventually got a position within Finance and our friendship remained the same. We were even bridesmaids in each other’s weddings in 2021 and 2022!”
When asked what they admire about one another, Vanessa and Tonya shared how they’re always there for each other:
“I admire a lot of things about Tonya!” said Vanessa. “She is not afraid to fail and jumps in 100% when trying new things (like learning the ukulele and growing a small garden on her front porch). She is loyal to her friends and family, even when she is going through tough times herself. She supports them no matter what!”
Tonya added, “Vanessa is a loyal friend who would do absolutely anything to help you out. She is a realist and gives the best advice. I admire her for the mother she is and how she has built a beautiful life for herself. Some of my favorite times with Vanessa are our adventures to Target and to get coffee. I am so thankful for our friendship.”
We asked Tonya and Vanessa to share how having a good friend at work impacts their jobs:
“We think having a good friend at work is vital to having a good work life,” they said. “Having friendships at work keeps you more engaged, gives you a greater sense of wellbeing, helps you produce higher quality work, and allows you to have more fun. We agree with a quote that work friendships ‘have the potential to improve our daily experiences immediately, no matter what we do for a living.'”
Our tenth summer of the Doors Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields.
We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.
Meet Dawson Jeffers from Troy, Missouri. Dawson is a Junior at Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T), majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
What does your internship with Leggett entail?
My internship at Leggett involves a lot of flexibility and problem-solving. I am in the Bedding division at the Idea Center, and I have been fortunate enough to be involved in a wide variety of projects, from product design to industrial engineering. Every day has been different and challenging.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?
The most important thing I’ve learned is to communicate effectively with different people. You must communicate differently between Engineers, Project Managers, and Shop Technicians based on their technical understanding and communication styles. I’ve also gained a clearer understanding of what engineering looks like in the professional world. I’ve been tinkering for my entire life but understanding the documentation and workflow of a company like Leggett has helped me see what it takes for a large group of engineers and other professionals to come together and create a quality product.
What are your goals through your internship?
My primary goal this summer is to soak up as much knowledge as possible, while also developing relationships to open doors in the future. I have so much to learn, and many skilled people are here to help me hone my craft.
What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?
The open-minded attitude. If I have an idea, I will not be met with a “this is just the way we do it” mentality. Everyone is open to change and ready to innovate and progress. And if my idea differs from the right one, my team tells me why and the communication channel is very open.
How will you apply your experience this summer as you return for the Fall semester?
I look forward to hitting it hard with new skills, like Excel calculations and Solidworks added to the toolbox. In terms of my career, there have been a lot of skills that I have learned this summer that would usually be in my first three months of full-time work. Having some of that learning curve out of the way will boost my career and allow me to jump right in.
Nine L&P employees, representing four of our business units in North Carolina, met in Hickory, NC, to learn about Safe Harbor—a nonprofit organization that provides programs and services to help meet the needs of women and their children.
During a lunch-and-learn session, they learned how Safe Harbor helps women who are struggling with homelessness and substance use disorder.
“We visited several facilities and listened to a young woman share her current journey in recovery from abuse and addiction—it was powerful,” says Samantha Howell, Vice President of Human Resources. “We discovered there are many ways we can support Safe Harbor, and we are looking forward to gathering together to plan our next steps.”
Thank you to our employees for doing great work together and for looking for ways to give back to our communities!
L&P employees pose for a photo in front of Safe Harbor’s Community Center
