At L&P, our employee resource groups (ERGs) are communities where our colleagues can learn and grow together. We recently launched Valor – an ERG dedicated to creating a strong community that fosters belonging, support, and engagement for our employee veterans, military families, and allies.

To celebrate Valor’s launch and growth, we’re sharing members’ stories. This month, we’d like you to meet Jon Gullette, Branch Manager at Leggett & Platt Flooring Products – Tracy, in Tracy, CA! We asked Jon about his military experience and why he joined Valor.

What would you like to share about your military experience?

I was fortunate to see many foreign countries during my period of service. I deployed six times during my career. During my sea tours, I deployed overseas four times with land-based anti-submarine squadrons (VP-46 & VP-9) and twice with a shipborne anti-submarine squadron (VS-38) aboard the USS Constellation (CV-64) during the Persian Gulf War. My other duty stations include NAS Whidbey Island (P-3 Weapons system Instructor) and NAS Lemoore (F-18 I-level maintenance facility). I also had the great honor of advancing to the rank of Chief Petty Officer and working directly with the Commanding Officer of AIMD Lemoore.

What motivated you to join the military and what did you learn from your experience?

I was motivated to join the Navy so I could see the world. My passion was for flying, and the job I took when I joined the Navy allowed me to do that as a Naval Aircrewman in P-3s, which were anti-submarine aircraft. I was able to visit places like Africa, Oman, India, Pakistan, Australia, Japan, Korea, Singapore, and China. One goal was to set foot on every continent, and I was able to accomplish most of that. The only continent that I have not visited is Antarctica.

Why did you join Valor?

I joined Valor to help raise awareness of the struggle that service members face when they exit the service. It is a difficult transition even for people who stay only briefly. So, helping others be successful outside the service is very important to me.

Thank you, Jon, for your service, for sharing your experience, and for helping strengthen Valor’s community!

At L&P, our employee resource groups (ERGs) are communities where our colleagues can learn and grow together. We recently launched Valor – an ERG dedicated to creating a strong community that fosters belonging, support, and engagement for our employee veterans, military families, and allies.

To celebrate Valor’s launch and growth, we’re sharing members’ stories. This month, we’d like you to meet Matt Caldwell, VP of Hospitality Sales for our Flooring Products business! We asked Matt about his military experience and why he joined Valor.

What would you like to share about your military experience?

I served in the U.S. Army between 1984 and1988 as an air defense artillery specialist (16S) with the Stinger – a shoulder-fired missile designed to shoot down enemy aircraft. After basic training, I went to jump school at Fort Benning, Georgia, and served four years in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

What motivated you to join the military and what did you learn from your experience?

My dad served in the U.S. Navy and after hearing his stories and seeing photos, I knew from a young age that I wanted to be in the military. For me, the Army provided a standard that required performance at a higher level. Many of the skills I learned in the Army are ones I still use today.

Why did you join Valor?

I’ve always believed that those who served our country are special and deserve my attention. With Valor’s launch, it was a natural move to become a member and connect with others who have served, as well as their families.

Thank you, Matt, for your service, for sharing your experience, and for helping strengthen Valor’s community!

At L&P, our employee resource groups (ERGs) are communities where our colleagues can learn and grow together. We recently launched Valor – an ERG dedicated to creating a strong community that fosters belonging, support, and engagement for our employee veterans, military families, and allies.

To celebrate Valor’s launch and growth, we’re sharing members’ stories. This month, we’d like you to meet Kenny Gay! We talked to Kenny about his career at L&P, military experience, and why he joined Valor.

Tell us about your career at L&P.

I joined L&P as Receiving/Costing Manager for the Winchester Steel branch in January of 2000. Within a year, I became Compliance Manager for the Winchester Steel and Georgetown branches. The following year, I was promoted to EHS Director and Corporate Loss Control Engineer for our Bedding business. After a leave of absence, I returned to L&P as Corporate Loss Engineer, serving as a liaison for our Hume Furniture business and some of our ECS branches. I was later promoted to my current role, which is Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Manager for Furniture in North America.

During my time with L&P, I’ve visited many international branches – including facilities in South Africa, Uruguay, China, Croatia, Holland, England, Mexico, Canada, and Brazil – to provide EHS assessments and improvements.

What would you like to share about your military experience?

I’m a veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves.

I joined the military on October 10, 1988. After I got out of basic/AIT (Advanced Individual Training), I went to several schools while on active duty until I transitioned to the Reserves in June of 1999. Next, I had a PCS (Permanent Change of Station) to an Army Reserves unit in Lexington, KY. Then, I received a PCS out of the Reserves in June of 2004.

While in the military, I visited many countries and regions such as Korea, Mt. Sinai in Egypt and the Middle East, Panama, Germany, Italy, Israel, Greenland, Switzerland, and Austria.

While serving, I saw some combat. I was very proud and honored to be a part of that experience because I deemed it a service to make the situation better.

What motivated you to join the military and what did you learn from your experience?

I joined the military because I was burned out on sports. I met a recruiter who asked me if I would like to get an education while getting the opportunity to travel the world and I did! The discipline and structure I gained from being in the military prepared me for the civilian world. Military service taught me that nothing is given – you must earn everything you seek to be really good at and with work comes reward!

Why did you join Valor?

I joined Valor because the transition from military to civilian life is hard unless you have someone to help guide you. I joined so our loved ones could have a liaison that they can reach out to when they need help or guidance. I want to help with the transition experience – to make things better for veterans and family members while they’re adjusting to the civilian world.

A military career and civilian life are two different worlds, but there is a common goal to succeed.

Thank you, Kenny, for your service, for sharing your experience, and for helping strengthen Valor’s community!

At L&P, our employee resource groups (ERGs) are communities where our colleagues can learn and grow together. We recently launched Valor – an ERG dedicated to creating a strong community that fosters belonging, support, and engagement for our employee veterans, military families, and allies.

To celebrate Valor’s launch and growth, we’re sharing members’ stories!

This month, we’d like you to meet Will Wright, Environmental Health and Safety Manager – Europe. We asked Will to share about his military experience and why he joined Valor.

Can you tell us about your military experience?

I served in the British Royal Navy for 15 years (2000 to 2015) and was lucky enough to serve all over the world, including in the Gulf, the Indian Ocean, the Mediterranean, and Antarctica where I served on frigates and island patrol vessels. I also served in tri-service units in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as numerous shore establishments.

What motivated you to join the military and what did you learn from your experience?

I joined the military to follow in the footsteps of my father and grandfather who both served in the Army. I was also looking for a career that provided adventure, training, and purpose.

During my time in the military, I learned that anything is possible with a motivated and focused team and that I was much more capable than I ever realised. Serving in the military provided life lessons and gave me a strong work ethic, which I have taken forward into my EHS career. Serving also helped me be thankful for what I have in life.

Why did you join Valor?

I joined Valor to help provide a community for veterans and service affiliates. When I left the military, community is something I missed and it is difficult to replace, so having a community focused on veterans and armed forces affiliates was a driver for me.

Another driver was to be part of a platform to provide reassurance and help family members of military personnel understand service life. I want to provide advice, guidance, and resources to people transitioning to civilian life, as I know that the transition can be difficult, especially when trying to identify transferable skills from service and communicate them in a way that makes sense in the civilian community.

Thank you, Will, for your service, for sharing your experience, and for helping strengthen Valor’s community!

At L&P, we are honored to work alongside many colleagues who have served in the military. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. This month, we are spotlighting some of our amazing colleagues who are military service members and veterans.

We’d like you to meet Mark Taylor! Mark has been with us for a year and is a Senior Global Network Manager. His team is responsible for ensuring that cables, circuits, and permissions allow for secure and reliable network access to the applications that help L&P make products and move them around.

Mark served in the United States Army for 30 years, serving full time for 17 years and 13 years in the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. “My motivation has always been a desire to serve my country, support our constitution, and simply do my best,” said Mark.

Mark enlisted as a private, MOS 92B – medical lab specialist and attended Basic Training at Ft. Bliss in Texas. After deciding he liked the Army, he completed ROTC at Oregon State University and was commissioned in the Infantry in June of 1991. He served in Fort Benning, Georgia, for two years. While working at Hewlett Packard, Mark served as a cavalry officer before moving to Colorado to become a full-time field artillery officer in the Army National Guard. He later transferred to the Idaho Army National Guard and left in 2016 for the reserves. In 2018, Mark retired as a lieutenant colonel.

When asked to reflect on military values that he applies at L&P, Mark shared, “People make the whole thing work. I learned the importance of respecting each person’s knowledge and abilities and having a willingness to listen and adapt. We are better together.”

We are very grateful to Mark and all who have served!

At L&P, we are honored to work alongside many colleagues who have served in the military. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. This month, we want to spotlight some of our amazing colleagues who are military service members and veterans.

We’d like you to meet Chelsey Abbott! Chelsey has worked at Hanes in Conover, NC, for three years and is currently a shipping coordinator. Chelsey provides our customers with the pallet counts and dimensions of their material. In return, they provide L&P with the carrier of their choice.

Chelsey served in the Army for four years. Over that time, she lived in three states – Missouri, Virginia, and Washington. In Washington, Chelsey was stationed at joint base, Lewis-McChord, where she served as a 91S Styker Mechanic for the 4-23 Infantry Battalion.

“I joined the Army because I knew I wanted to do something other than school. I also wanted to explore the world,” said Chelsey. “The Army taught me a lot about myself. Basic training is where I pushed myself mentally and physically to be at the top of my platoon.”

Chelsey’s taken the lessons and values she learned during her service and applied them to her career at L&P.

“I learned the importance of teamwork and the ability to work with all kinds of people. I also learned to prioritize tasks to maximize the team’s efficiency and achieve our goals.”

We are very grateful to Chelsey and all who have served!

At L&P, we are honored to work alongside many colleagues who have served in the military. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. This month, we want to spotlight some of our amazing colleagues who are military service members and veterans.

First up, we’d like you to meet Deran Boman! Deran has been with us for 12 years and is currently a maintenance technician at our corporate headquarters. His main responsibilities include plumbing, electrical work, locksmithing, record keeping, and repairing doors and windows.

Deran is a sergeant and is serving his sixth year in the United States Army National Guard. In 2020, he was part of a Special Enforcement Detail (SED) riot control readiness in response to the wave of civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd. He also served as a security detail at GTMO (Guantanamo Bay).

“I wanted to become a part of something bigger that lets me serve this great country in a way that makes an impact,” said Deran. “The main values I developed in the military and apply to L&P are loyalty, integrity, and leadership.”

We are very grateful to Deran and all who have served!