To kick off 2025, we’re introducing you to several of our newest colleagues. We’d like you to meet Megan Frank! Megan joined L&P in January 2024 as an HR/Office Manager at Leggett & Platt Flooring Products in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
What brought you to L&P?
I was looking for a change from my role as a consultant. As soon as I started meeting the people through the recruitment process, I knew I wanted to be part of the company.
What are you enjoying about your role so far?
The people and the support! Everyone I have met through L&P has been friendly and helpful!
What’s something unique about you?
I enjoy the mountains and being outdoors, hiking, kayaking, or riding our side-by-side UTV.
Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?
My professional goals are to continue to grow in my position at L&P and serve on a non-profit board locally.
Our four company values are Put People First, Do the Right Thing,Do Great Work Together, and Take Ownership and Raise the Bar. What does it mean to you to Put People First?
To me, Put People First means keeping the people of L&P at the forefront of everything we do. This includes considering their personalities, values, backgrounds, strengths, and weaknesses. The people of L&P make the company exceptional – they are our greatest asset. So, it means keeping that asset at the forefront of all decisions.
To kick off 2025, we’re introducing you to several of our newest colleagues. We’d like you to meet Atoosa Maleki! Atoosa joined L&P in October as a Batch Chemist at Leggett & Platt Flooring Products in Tracy, California.
What brought you to L&P?
I worked in a startup for several years. While I enjoyed the project and the challenges, the financial instabilities of startups led me to seek opportunities in a well-established and stable company like L&P. Its commitment to making life more comfortable for people with impactful products and the chance to work on a new project made it an ideal place for me to grow both personally and professionally.
What are you enjoying about your role so far?
I am on the project team at the Tracy branch. I thoroughly enjoy the collaborative environment and the opportunity to take on a project that challenges me to apply my expertise in new ways. The team has been incredibly supportive, and it’s exciting to be part of a manufacturing process that is coming to life.
What’s something unique about you?
I have a background in art and love painting in my free time. It’s a creative outlet that allows me to approach problems from a different perspective – helping me think outside the box in my personal and professional life.
Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?
Professionally, I am focused on successfully building and launching a project for the company. My goal is to ensure the project runs smoothly, efficiently, and with high quality so it becomes a success for both the team and the company.
Personally, I aim to maintain a healthy work-life balance and explore more of California’s beautiful nature. Being in nature is a great source of inspiration for both my personal and professional growth.
Our four company values are Put People First, Do the Right Thing,Do Great Work Together, and Take Ownership and Raise the Bar. What does it mean to you to Put People First?
Putting people first means fostering an environment of trust, respect, and collaboration. It’s about valuing each team member’s contributions, recognizing their unique strengths, and ensuring they feel supported and empowered to succeed. At the same time, it means delivering products that improve the lives of our customers by meeting their needs and enhancing their comfort. By prioritizing people within the company and beyond, we build a stronger team, encourage innovation, and create an environment where everyone can thrive and achieve success together.
As we wrap up this year, we invited colleagues around the world to reflect on and share their achievements, challenges, and goals.
Denise
Denise Johnson, Branch Manager
As I reflect on 2024, it hit me how difficult this year was for me. My family faced unimaginable grief after the death of my 4-month-old grandson. My work team had to make extremely difficult personnel decisions to right-size the business. These were painful moments.
As a mother and leader, I tried to stay strong and continue to do what needed to be done. Women are conditioned to carry the heavy burdens of balancing work and home life, but we must lean on others, ask for help, and show our vulnerability. I was constantly impressed with how my family and coworkers pulled together to support each other. When someone was struggling, someone else stepped up to carry the heavy load. We learned, we grew, we adapted, and we are more resilient because of it.
This year, I learned to ask for help, to delegate more, and to let go of the things that can wait. More importantly, I also learned to accept support from my family, friends, and coworkers. Putting people first, and allowing yourself to be put first, is the most important thing we can do in our personal and professional life. Sometimes it is hard, but it is always worth it!
Travis
Travis Brown, Purchasing Manager
This year, I learned not to underestimate the value of a strong network. Over the years, I’ve strived to maintain healthy relationships with suppliers, regardless of business conditions. This proved beneficial while navigating volatile markets and challenging dynamics throughout the year.
I’ve tried to help others as much as I can, as the cries for help have been loud this year. Whether it be hurricane relief efforts for communities devastated by storms or giving an elderly neighbor a ride somewhere, we all have opportunities to help others. I’m both humbled and challenged to do more.
When it comes to recharging for the coming year, spending quality time with my family is always a blessing. I plan to do whatever allows me the most time with each of them. Bowling is a favorite for our group, but a weekend trip to the beach refreshes like no other.
As we wrap up this year, we invited colleagues around the world to reflect on and share their achievements, challenges, and goals.
Adony
Adony Huang, Director of Operations, Motor & Actuator LPA
This year, I was promoted from a branch manager to an operation director for motors and actuators in our Automotive business.
We strengthened and optimized our management team, added two new automatic production lines, and improved overall equipment effectiveness for existing lines. We also significantly reduced total scrap rate, lowered costs across the business with a ‘do-more-with-less’ spirit, and increased profit growth for three Automotive branches in Asia.
Facing challenges in the current market, I will continue to challenge the status quo within our Automotive branches in Asia, as well as build and implement an automation roadmap to improve our manufacturing cost competitiveness.
Chelsea
Chelsea Thomas, Shift Manager
I began my career on the shop floor as a production operative and have been with L&P for nine years. I’ve had many opportunities to grow, and most recently, I was delighted to be promoted to a shift manager!
I’ve had a lot of support through the years, and now, I am committed to supporting others and helping them achieve great results for the business and their career aspirations as well.
I hope 2025 is a successful year for everyone at L&P, and I am excited to see what the future holds.
As we wrap up this year, we invited colleagues around the world to reflect on and share their achievements, challenges, and goals.
Christalena
Christalena Peña, Global Learning & Development Specialist
Personal and Professional Growth
This year has been a journey of significant growth for me. Professionally, I’ve expanded my skills in questioning techniques. Honing this skill has deepened my understanding of diverse learning needs and preferences, resulting in enhanced learning experiences. By staying curious and committed to growth, we can navigate change with confidence and resilience.
On a personal level, I’ve focused on building resilience. Navigating this year’s challenges reminded me how important it is to maintain a positive mindset and be agile. This resilience helps me stay grounded and motivated.
Additionally, I’ve made a conscious effort to prioritize work-life balance. By setting clear boundaries and making time for self-care, I’ve maintained my well-being and brought my best self to both my professional and personal life.
Lessons Learned
One key lesson I’ve learned this year is the importance of embracing adaptability. Facing various challenges, I realized that adaptability isn’t just about reacting to change but also about being proactive and open to new ideas.
In our learning and development efforts at L&P, this meant shifting to a more flexible and personalized leadership development program. This approach helps us better meet the diverse needs of our partners, fostering a more inclusive learning environment. This is just the beginning of the work my team is doing.
Preparing for Next Year
Recharging and preparing for the coming year means spending quality time with those who energize me and engaging in activities that bring joy and relaxation. For me, this looks like doing all things that are festive, revisiting a few of my favorite books, spending time outdoors, and reflecting on the past year. Additionally, I’ll ensure that self-care remains a priority by incorporating regular exercise, mindfulness practices, and healthy habits into my routine.
To prepare for the upcoming year, I will focus on revisiting my personal and professional brand and setting goals that align with that. I like to start by asking myself, ‘what do I want to be known for and where am I in relation to achieving that?‘ I also like to break my goals down into manageable time frames, like quarterly.
By balancing rest and reflection with proactive planning, I aim to enter the new year with renewed energy and a clear sense of direction. I will be writing more about this in my LinkedIn newsletter: Conquer Your Career. I’m excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to continuing our journey of growth and learning together.
As we wrap up this year, we invited colleagues around the world to reflect on and share their achievements, challenges, and goals.
Jerrick
Jerrick Williams, Director of Sales
Personal and Professional Growth
This year has been a time of significant personal and professional growth, as I got married and became a dad. These new roles have given me a fresh perspective on what truly matters—valuing time, living in the moment, and focusing on what’s important.
Every morning, I remind my daughter to be kind, confident, and be you. In today’s world, kindness can often be lost in the chaos, and it’s easy to compare ourselves to others or change who we are to fit in. This simple mantra has become a guiding principle in both my personal and professional life.
Professionally, these changes have shaped how I approach my career. As I’ve stepped into my new role as Director of Sales, managing my time effectively and balancing the demands of my team, our customers, and my family have been key priorities.
Ultimately, this year has taught me the importance of balance and flexibility. I’ve learned that growth comes from embracing new responsibilities with an open mind and that being truly present—whether at home or at work—requires continuous adjustment and mindfulness. I feel better prepared to tackle new challenges, both personally and professionally, as I continue to evolve in these new roles.
Lessons Learned
One lesson I learned this year is the importance of embracing uncertainty and flexibility.
At the start of this year, I had a very clear picture of what I wanted to accomplish and how things should unfold. But as the months went by, I realized that life doesn’t always follow a predictable path. Whether it was changes at work, unexpected personal events, or simply plans falling through, I had to learn to adapt and stay open to new possibilities.
I learned that resilience isn’t just about pushing through difficulties—it’s about being willing to pivot, adjust expectations, and find opportunities. I’ve become more comfortable with the unknown and less afraid of things not going as planned.
So, my takeaway this year is this: life is unpredictable and embracing unpredictability can open new paths you never imagined.
Preparing for Next Year
On a personal level, I’m looking forward to spending quality time with my family and friends, cherishing the simple moments that make life so special.
Professionally, I’m optimistic about what 2025 will bring—new opportunities for growth and success, both for our customers and L&P. I plan to take some time over the holidays to step back, relax, and reflect on the past year—what worked well, what didn’t, and what lessons I carry into 2025. I plan to review my personal and professional goals, reassess my priorities, and set clear attainable goals for 2025.
As we wrap up this year, we invited colleagues around the world to reflect on and share their achievements, challenges, and goals.
Jennifer
Jennifer Birch, Service Desk Analyst II
An important lesson I learned this year is that working remotely requires resilience and intentional communication!
I appreciate my network because it provides support to grow and adapt while working remotely. My role in the Service Desk gives me a unique opportunity to connect with most branches and departments, and our Women’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) utilizes a virtual platform to reinforce the value of community and open dialogue. These relationships have helped me connect to the L&P community and do my job even better.
T Raja
T Raja Chidambaram, Assistant Manager
This year, I began working with a global team on machine building and improvement projects. We plan to manufacture machines for our global plant, and my goal is to install five machines worldwide next year.
This coming year, I aim to advance to the next level in my career and visit the United States for the first time!
A lesson I want to share is that success takes time, but with hard work and patience, we’ll always succeed!
Jodie
Jodie Rudd, Project Group Manager
In 2024, I learned to lean into hard challenges and am encouraging others to do the same.
It’s hard to “grow” if we’re not challenging ourselves.
As we wrap up this year, we invited colleagues around the world to reflect on and share their achievements, challenges, and goals.
Sarah
Sarah Hodges, Customer Service Representative
One of the biggest lessons I learned this year is the importance of connecting with people.
This year, I ran my first full marathon, which is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done! With the help of friends training with me, encouraging me, and supporting me, I crossed the finish line of the Charlotte Marathon on November 16. It was challenging, but by connecting with friends and family, I did it!
The importance of connection applies in the office as well. There isn’t a day that I can be successful at my job without the help of my co-workers. I may be the person working with the sales reps and the customers, but everyone in the plant is just as important. Building these relationships between the various departments makes us that much more successful for our customers.
This coming year, my goal is to continue to learn and work with other departments. I believe learning other areas of the job creates a better understanding of how other departments operate and helps build professional relationships. At the end of the day, it takes a team to get the job done, and I’m very grateful for the connections I have made. I look forward to growing those connections throughout 2025!
July 30 is International Day of Friendship – a day to recognize the bonds that support and uplift us!
To celebrate, we’re spotlighting a great friendship at L&P: Alex Lazarchik, Social Media Strategist, and Mollie Deskin, Marketing Project Manager!
Mollie and Alex
“Having a good friend at work makes life so much better,” shared Alex. “Not only is Mollie an amazing friend – she’s fantastic at her job. It’s really cool to see your friend succeed and grow in their role. Mollie is someone I can lean on and count on to do a job well and with a positive attitude. The people you work with play such a huge role in your life, and Mollie makes work a place where I’m happy to be.”
“Having a good friend at work has a huge positive affect on me!” shared Mollie. “We spend so much of our life at work and working remotely can feel isolating at times, which makes having a work bestie even more important. It’s also enjoyable to celebrate your friends’ wins at work because you already have so much context into the work that went into their accomplishments.”
Becoming friends at work
Alex: “When I joined L&P, Mollie trained me on all things social media. We quickly became close, and after a few weeks, our professional relationship blossomed into a friendship. Now, we talk outside of work and still partner together on certain projects.
Mollie is so good at what she does, extremely smart, incredibly kind, and has a heart of gold. I feel lucky to not only work with her but to call her a friend. Over the last year and a half, I watched Mollie blossom into an amazing person and talented project manager. I’m looking forward to watching her continued success in her career and personal life.”
Mollie: “We initially bonded over our love of reading. She often jokes about being someone who talks a lot. And while I admit, her words per minute can be quite high at times (*lol*), she’s also a very gifted active listener. I’ve lost count of the number of times my long rants were met with her genuine curiosity and non-judgment. These are qualities I’ve always admired and appreciated about her, and the decision to be her friend was a quick and easy one.”
Navigating a long-distance friendship
Alex: “I often forget that we don’t see each other in person. At work, Mollie and I have at least one meeting together every week. Outside of work, we FaceTime and text quite a bit. As grateful as I am to work remotely, I wish we could work together in person a few days a week and grab dinner after work. However, it still feels like we get to talk and hang out every day.”
Mollie: “It’s been a really interesting experience. There have been many instances where I’ve wanted to go to lunch, take a walk, or have a happy hour after work with her! Since that’s not an option, we’ve found other ways to cultivate a friendship through FaceTime, sharing weekly “recaps” on Sundays (she’s way better at this), sending each other very niche-humored memes on social media, and sharing book and music recommendations. Although our friendship formed through digital means (thank you, modern technology), it feels no different than friendships I’ve developed in person. Alex is a forever friend, and I’m grateful that L&P allowed our paths to cross.”
At L&P, we’re on a journey to make meaningful change in our company through inclusion, diversity, and equity (ID&E), and we’re excited for you to meet our ID&E Director – James Millsap (Millsap)!
Millsap
What brought you to L&P?
I’ve been an ID&E practitioner for many years, and I was in the manufacturing space before my time with Leggett & Platt. However, a desire to grow my career brought me to L&P, and I have received a very warm welcome.
Tell us about your role as ID&E Director. What are you looking forward to, and why is ID&E important to you?
Overall, I look at ID&E as a pretty big contributing factor to employee engagement and the employee experience. I want to work with everyone at L&P to create a company where we can all thrive, and I’m looking forward to helping our company continue this journey and decide what’s the next right move for us.
I am relentlessly optimistic about aiming for a top-tier employee experience for all. I believe we can do this when we live out our values – when we work together to take ownership and raise the bar for what’s possible.
What’s something interesting about you?
I can quote Disney’s Aladdin almost word for word.
