Category Archives: Employee Spotlight

IT Professionals Day: Meet Dasin Peng

At L&P, our Information Technology (IT) professionals often work behind the scenes, providing around-the-clock support to keep us connected and protected against the latest cybersecurity threats. They also enhance our business systems and processes, making others’ jobs easier and our processes more efficient. On this IT Professionals Day, we want to spotlight some of our amazing colleagues in IT.

Meet Dasin Peng, Senior IT Manager.

Dasin Peng

Dasin has been with L&P for 21 years and currently leads our Global IT Support – China Team. While working, he aims to maintain “silence” while being “dynamic”:

‘Silence’ means the IT infrastructure is well maintained with less disruption to business, and ‘Dynamic’ means we, the IT team, always manage to improve the business processes. I manage to keep the IT infrastructure running silently (smoothly) without users noticing and interact with the business teams on optimizing and improving their business processes through the iScala system.

Dasin’s advice for IT professionals is to keep a service mindset and aim to deliver a more holistic solution:

A service attitude means we not only serve the business but also “take the ownership”—we don’t simply do what the operations ask for, but instead, we try to understand it, think about it from more of an angle, and deliver a solution to fully address the demand and better integrate with other processes.

L&P has many open IT positions! Join our dynamic and driven team of IT professionals today: Find Your Career at Leggett & Platt

Meet Mario Alvarado

During Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re inviting L&P employees to share about themselves and their Hispanic heritage.

Meet Mario Alvarado, a Machine Operator at our Fort Worth Rebond location in Fort Worth, Texas. Mario has worked for Leggett & Platt for almost seven years.

“The thing I enjoy most about my job is the importance of my role. My work is necessary to produce our product, and my managers trust me. I am proud of the life I can provide for my children through my work at Leggett & Platt.

I am proud that my people, culture, and heritage are recognized and celebrated this month.”

To learn more about the rich history, culture, and present-day stories of those that celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, check out the National Park Service for a comprehensive list of resources.

A Successful School Supply Giveaway

Tracy and Mark Phillips are living out our L&P values by putting people first and doing great work together.

Tracy is an Accounts Payable Coordinator at our corporate headquarters and Mark works in the Quality Department at our Flex-O-Lators location. They were married two years ago and felt a strong desire to help and give back within their local community during the pandemic. Together, they started Pressing Toward the Goal Ministries in the Southwest Missouri area.

“At the time we started this effort, it seemed like our country, and even our community, was going through so much division,” said Tracy. “Our main goal is to promote unity and help others in need.”

Pressing Toward the Goal recently hosted its second annual school supply giveaway. Through donations by L&P and other organizations, churches, and individuals, the team got backpacks and essential school supplies ready to donate. Nearly 200 families attended the giveaway and received supplies for the upcoming school year.

“The list of those who donated is quite long,” said Tracy. “When I mention ‘unity,’ that’s what I’m talking about. We are called to come together and lift each other up in times of need, and that’s what we try to do each day.”

Going Above and Beyond for Others: Meet Mario Martinez

Mario Martinez is a Machine Operator for our Sponge Cushion facility in Morris, Illinois. He will have worked for L&P for 22 years this October. And he knows just what it means to give back to those in need.

Mario started volunteering when he was young, as he watched his mother generously give to other people. As Mario grew with that same spirit of giving, in 1992, he came across his first opportunity to give back. He was made aware of an elderly woman in Cuba who needed extensive home repairs. Mario was able to help her bring indoor plumbing into her home.

Later, Mario noticed a story while browsing on Facebook about a Colombian woman who needed help for her grandson. After learning more, Mario chose to help her grandson go to college by paying for his tuition. He has since graduated and now works in nutrition.

And when Mario’s cousin mentioned a family in need in the Dominican Republic, Mario jumped at the opportunity to help. He learned of a single mother with health challenges and paid for the remodel of her family home. He even took two weeks of vacation from his job at L&P to travel to the Dominican Republic and make sure the remodel was progressing.

The house before and after Mario helped with remodeling.

“I’m grateful for Leggett & Platt,” Mario says. “When I started working here, I could only help others little by little. Now, I can help even more because I’m afforded more time off and the means to financially contribute to others. It means so much to me to be able to help others.”

Intern Spotlight – Carson McGill

The Doors internship program brings students from across the country to L&P to learn and grow as leaders.

Carson McGill is a Chemical Engineering major at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and has been working with Peterson Chemicals. Through his internship, Carson had the opportunity to take his knowledge, formulate theories, and watch those theories become a reality.

Intern Spotlight – Eriel Morey

The Doors internship program brings students from across the country to L&P to learn and grow as leaders.

Eriel Morey is an Accounting major at the University of Missouri. Eriel heard about the Doors program through a panel event held at Mizzou in the fall and was encouraged by an L&P team member to apply.

Meet a Hardware Engineer at L&P

“As part of the electronics hardware team, I help design and develop electronic control modules for some of our seat comfort products. My favorite part of my job is when I’m faced with a complex hardware problem to solve.

I enjoy investigating the issue and analyzing the data to figure out what happened and how. It’s satisfying when I can help find an optimal solution!”

Caitlin Vicary
Hardware Engineer for Automotive Electronics
Lakeshore, Ontario, Canada

Happy Retirement, Marty!

Congratulations to Marty Carpino for retiring after 36 years of service to our L&P Carthage Wire Mill!

In Marty’s words:

“I’ve spent the last 36 years working at the L&P Wire Mill. I started in 1986, when Ronald Reagan was the U.S. President. The Kansas City Royals won the World Series the year before I started, and I had to wait until 2015 for them to win another.

Thanks to L&P, I traveled to Washington, D.C.; Kouts, Indiana; Jacksonville, Florida; Worcester, Massachusetts; and many other places. On the trip to D.C., I had the opportunity to be at a meeting with Vice President Al Gore on safety in the workplace.

Today I look forward to my new beginnings in retirement. To all of my coworkers, thanks for all the memories. That is what I will miss most!”

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.

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.”