To kick off 2024, we’re introducing you to several of our newest employees. Meet Max Thorpe, Human Resources Generalist for our Work Furniture business!

What brought you to L&P?

I had a major injury at the beginning of the year, which landed me at the foot of L&P. I was not knowledgeable about the global brand, but on a local level, I understood how significant the business was to the area, and I knew how many opportunities L&P could provide for me.

What are you enjoying about your role so far?

I love interacting with my team. I am all about the people, and I love my daily PPE (personal protective equipment) walks. They allow me to spend time talking to the team, learning about them, and building relationships. I also really enjoy the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) aspect of my role and being able to learn the standards of the manufacturing industry.

What’s something unique about you?

Even though I currently live in Michigan, I am a HUGE Philadelphia Eagles fan, and I lived in Pennsylvania for the last six years.

Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?

My professional goals are to complete my master’s program at Eastern Michigan University and complete my SHRM-CP (Society for Human Resource Management—Certified Professional) and OSHA certifications. My personal goals are to buy a home and travel to another country!

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 Take Ownership and Raise the Bar?

To me, taking ownership is another way of taking accountability—being handed an issue or a project and developing it from beginning to end. Raising the bar means not settling—keep innovating or problem solving. I truly feel that the team we have in West Michigan lives up to these standards daily.

To kick off 2024, we’re introducing you to several of our newest colleagues, and we’d like you to meet Justine Kimbel! Justine is a Sustainability Coordinator.

What brought you to L&P?

I was instantly drawn to L&P when I saw that a company with such a significant global presence in design and manufacturing was looking to get ahead in sustainability. After three years of research and advising small-scale start-ups on sustainable business practices, impacts of environmental policy, circularity of production, and sourcing of responsible materials, I knew I wanted to expand my knowledge and experience by applying it to a global scale. I have a deep curiosity for understanding how business operations reflect society’s relationship with the environment, and L&P stood as an incredible opportunity to build, grow, and enhance that relationship. As a leader in innovation, quality, and comfort, L&P’s ambition to raise the bar and create lasting positive impact is something I knew I wanted to be a part of.

What are you enjoying about your role so far?

The highlight of my role has been the people I have worked with thus far. There is a strong sense of community throughout Leggett, and it has made me feel incredibly welcome. Adjusting to a new role can be challenging and confusing, but thanks to the generous help and guidance from everyone I have worked with, I’ve been able to jump in with ease.

What’s something unique about you?

When I’m not spending my free time exploring coastlines or mountains, I am playing acoustic guitar and writing music. I’ve performed as a singer-songwriter in Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, Scotland, and England. I love hosting music get-togethers with family and friends and enjoy sharing the universally understood language of music.

Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?

A personal goal I have set for myself is to be a go-to resource for sustainable business practices. Through professional experience on L&P’s Sustainability Team to industry conferences and opportunities for specialized education, I hope to build a personal network that allows for sharing ideas, innovations, and communities that all work to create a better, more sustainable future.

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 Do Great Work Together?

To Do Great Work Together is to create a strong network of knowledge and resources that champions each person’s skills. The mindset of working as a team, knowing who to ask for help, feeling confident in your voice, and knowing that everyone has each other’s back creates a positive, productive, and closely-knit environment.

To kick off 2024, we’ve been introducing you to several of our newest employees, and we’d like you to meet Sadier Hena! Sadier is a program manager for our Automotive business.

What brought you to L&P?

I have a great interest in being part of L&P as the world’s leading designer and manufacturer of seating support and comfort systems. When I initially read the description for my current role, I saw a strong correlation between L&P’s needs and my skills. Additionally, my experience during the interview process showed me that the company values putting employees first and promoting cooperation between cross-functional teams.

What are you enjoying about your role so far?

I enjoy collaborating with our global cross-functional teams. My role allows me to learn about all aspects of each project from commercial and technical points of view. Furthermore, I am very blessed to have an amazing team, and I am truly grateful for their expertise, creativity, and support.

What’s something unique about you?

I am a passionate salsa and bachata dancer. I spend most of my free time practicing and attending dance festivals across Europe.

Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?

As a program manager, I would like to take on new challenges, work with different teams and customers, and have a portfolio of successful projects. I also want to continue to grow professionally and contribute to L&P’s growth.

As for my personal goals, I would like to spend more time with my family, pursue my hobbies, and have a healthy work-life balance.

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?

When it comes to company success and growth, it’s all about people. If the company takes care of its employees, the employees will take care of their customers, which will lead to satisfied customers and business growth. Putting people first will not only drive business growth but also increase job satisfaction, work quality, and productivity.

To kick off 2024, we’re introducing you to several of our newest employees, and we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Hawkins! Andrew is a financial analyst for our Flooring Products business.

What brought you to L&P?

I was interested in joining a company with a lot of growth potential. When I saw the ad for a financial analyst at a such a large company, I knew that I would be able to learn a lot and strengthen my skills. After doing the in-person interview, I immediately felt that L&P was the right place.

What are you enjoying about your role so far?

I am really enjoying getting to know the business and working with people in different departments. Since I’ve been here, I’ve had the opportunity to tour a few locations and work with people in finance, sales, and operations management.

What’s something unique about you?

I can quote just about any Will Ferrell movie. My favorite movies of his are Step Brothers, The Other Guys, and Talladega Nights.

Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?

A personal and professional goal that I’ve always had is to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. I am excited to say that I am in the middle of my MBA program and expected to graduate in 2024. 

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 Do Great Work Together?

It means collaboration. This is part of the reason why I love my role here—I am able to collaborate with many different people in many different departments.

To kick off 2024, we want to introduce you to several of our newest employees. First up, meet April Lowe-Royster, Director of Global Talent Acquisition!

What brought you to L&P?

What initially excited me about my role is different than what excites me today. At first, L&P’s story was most compelling to me—I loved the history of the company and seeing how it’s evolved over the decades. I thought a company with this kind of staying power is attractive and somewhere that I can call my professional home. Once I began to understand the current day in and day out of the company, I became excited by the endless possibilities of helping build something meaningful and impactful within our Human Resources, by way of Talent Acquisition, space. I love that I have an opportunity to be part of a team with plans and initiatives that are continuously developing.

What are you enjoying about your role so far?

By far, I am enjoying the people! Everyone at L&P has been so incredibly welcoming. The people that I’ve met are smart, capable, and have good intentions. They care about L&P as a whole and about their teams. Everyone I’ve met during the past three months has been receptive to my thoughts and big ideas, and I am excited to jump in, dig deep, and add value.

What’s something unique about you?

I was born and raised in Orlando, Florida, and trust me—being from Orlando, you understand how rare that is! Everyone in Florida is from somewhere else and often just visiting.

Have you set any personal or professional goals for yourself?

Professionally, I’m striving to establish and grow a strong professional network and to build meaningful connections with my colleagues and other industry professionals. The world of talent is always evolving, and it’s important to stay ahead of the curve. I’ve found that fostering relationships with those who walk alongside me goes a long way in staying abreast of what’s coming and relevant so I can ensure we are operating best in class.

Personally, I have set a goal to train for and complete a 10K run. I start training this month!

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 Do the Right Thing?

To me, Doing the Right Thing means making decisions that are morally and ethically just and doing so with integrity and honesty. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. so famously said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of convenience and comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy”, and so it is with doing the right thing. It’s easy to do when everyone is watching, but what you choose to do when no one is watching is what defines your character.

To kick off 2023, we’ve been introducing you to several of our newest employees and sharing their thoughts on the year ahead.

Last but not least, meet Victoria Campagna! Victoria is a Technical Writer for our Corporate Information Technology (IT) Department.

What brought you to L&P?

L&P is an amazing company with a wonderful culture, and I really feel like I found a great opportunity. I’m looking forward to working and growing with my new team.

What’s something unique about you?

I have visited 10 different countries and hope to add more to that list!

What’s your biggest goal for 2023?

My biggest goal for 2023 is to be the best person I can be in my new role.

To kick off 2023, we’ve been introducing you to several of our newest employees and sharing their thoughts on the year ahead.

Next, we want you to meet Elaine Chen! Elaine is an Information Technology (IT) Systems Technician based in Shanghai, China.

What brought you to L&P?

I was drawn to L&P’s culture of mutual respect, friendliness, inclusivity, cooperation, and innovation. 

What I enjoy most about my job is that I keep learning. While it is easy for me to do most of my work, I run into complex issues sometimes. My job can be both rigorous and challenging.

What’s something unique about you?

I can play badminton with my left hand!

What’s your biggest goal for 2023?

My biggest goal for 2023 is to continue working at L&P.

To kick off 2023, we’ve been introducing you to several of our newest employees and sharing their thoughts on the year ahead.

Next, we want to introduce you to Danilo Tolentino! Danilo is a Strategy and Marketing Analyst for our Kintec-Reitberg branch in Germany.

What brought you to L&P?

I have a background in architecture education and three years of professional experience developing new business models and business-to-business partnerships for a Brazilian retail company that specializes in home furniture and accessories. For the past few months, I searched for an opportunity to work in an international environment within the furniture industry. While searching, I found the Strategy and Marketing Analyst position at L&P and applied.

I am thrilled about the challenges and opportunities ahead of me as a Strategy and Marketing Analyst. This role is a part of Leggett & Platt’s Home Furniture team and involves working alongside experienced colleagues in Europe and the U.S. and developing projects related to market research, brand strategy, and product innovation. That is exciting!

What’s something unique about you?

I love traveling! I have always dreamed about traveling the world and having the opportunity to experience different cultures and get to know people. I’m glad I have already started my chase! Let’s see how it goes in the years ahead. 

What’s your biggest goal for 2023?

My biggest goal for this year is to learn German. I moved from Sao Paulo to Berlin six months ago, so this is a challenge I am eager to take on.

To kick off 2023, we’re introducing you to several of our newest employees and sharing their thoughts on the year ahead.

Meet Renata Mattos! Renata is a Human Resources (HR) Generalist for our branch in London, Ontario, Canada.

What brought you to L&P?

During the recruitment process and when I met my manager, I felt that this is my place. The way my manager conducted the interview, the questions she asked, and how she introduced me to the company and challenges made me feel like we share the same values.

I enjoy the diversity—not only about subjects and responsibilities but also the diversity of people. The opportunity to be in touch with people from different countries and cultures has been an amazing experience, and I’ve learned a lot.

What’s something unique about you?

When I arrived in Canada five years ago, I started to reinvent and challenge myself. Now, I am learning how to ride a bicycle.

Since childhood, I have never been able to properly ride one. I had some accidents with my cousins and friends, and I was the worst driver! I believe there’s still time to learn.

What’s your biggest goal for 2023?

This year, I want to be a strong business partner by helping my branch develop HR initiatives.

My branch manager is an incredible person. We are learning a lot together, and I am sure we will go above and beyond together!

To kick off 2023, we want to introduce you to several of our newest employees and share their goals for this year.

First up, meet Melissa Shaddix! Melissa is a Technical Writer for our Corporate Information Technology (IT) Department.

What brought you to L&P?

I’m excited to be a part of the long history of L&P’s leadership in many industries and the new initiatives underway in the IT Department.

My new colleagues have been so welcoming and helpful! I joined L&P during a very busy time, yet so many people have taken time to get to know me and help me feel welcome. I think the collaboration and culture I’ve seen bode very well for my future here.

What’s something unique about you?

I went to a university with a prominent horticulture research department, and I had a part-time job grading the pecans harvested from research orchards throughout my state. The results of my grading were used in several multi-year research projects that impacted U.S. pecan growers. I never got to eat a single test pecan.

What’s your biggest goal for 2023?

I’ve seen a trend where some social media influencers set “yearly themes” as a baseline ideal to guide their intentions and decisions. I’d like to try it this year with the theme of “balance.” To me, practicing balance—both physically and mentally—can improve coordination during challenging tasks and help prevent falls and failure. In 2023, I’ll try to approach all of my goals with a focus on balance to ensure that I won’t just excel at one while neglecting the rest.