Life at Leggett | A glimpse inside the culture of Leggett & Platt

Meet Our IT Professionals: Bilal and Mark

At L&P, our Information Technology (IT) professionals often work behind the scenes, enhancing our business systems and processes and providing around-the-clock support to keep us connected.

IT Professionals Day is September 19, and we want you to meet some of our amazing colleagues in IT!

Bilal Bhatti, IT Project Manager

Bilal has been with us for two months, so his journey at L&P is just beginning.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

“I enjoy collaboration and continuous learning. Collaboration is important because a project’s success depends on effective teamwork and communication. I also enjoy the continuous learning opportunities, as many projects involve cutting-edge technologies and methodologies. We have the opportunity to stay up to date with the latest trends and technologies, which can be intellectually stimulating.”

What inspired you to start a career in IT?

“Being a problem solver was my inspiration. I love being around technologies and finding creative solutions to use and improve them. This eventually led me to obtain my Bachelor of Science Degree in IT – Networking & Telecommunications 12 years ago from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.”

Mark Taylor, Sr. Global Network Manager

Mark has been with us for a year and served in the U.S. Army and National Guard for 30 years. His team is responsible for “keeping the lights on,” which means 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.

What do you enjoy most about your role?

“The best thing at L&P is the people. I really like driving down our time to repair with a team of dedicated engineers and working with many of our vendors to implement best practices, monitor, and troubleshoot. Every day, there’s a new problem, challenge, or project, and that’s why I love IT.”

What inspired you to start a career in IT?

“The constant change and improvement in IT capabilities keeps me excited about work each day.

Fresh out of college, I had two careers — one as a civilian and one as an officer in the National Guard. As a civilian, I started working at Hewlett Packard as an Environmental Health and Safety professional and quickly realized I was actually good at this Unix (an operating system) stuff. I was always writing programs and creating web forms for safety issue reporting. Then, I got a chance to be full-time with the Army and chose IT management as my secondary skill.

One of my favorite times was when I served as a Brigade S-6 (a Signal Officer). I was responsible for the communications systems across a Heavy Armored Cavalry Brigade and was given an opportunity to run the base’s data center. The IT knowledge I gained helped me remain employed as I transitioned back to being a civilian.”

Sep 13 2023

By Life@Leggett

We Remember

Sep 11 2023

By Life@Leggett

Leading at L&P and Beyond: Terry Sylvester

At L&P, our employees inspire us every day with their leadership and initiative — both at work and beyond.

Today, we’d like to recognize Terry Sylvester! Terry has been with L&P for four years and works in Product Development at our branch in Sparta, Michigan. As a People First Champion for his branch, a successful business owner at Sylvester’s Luxurious Mobile Detailing, and a podcast host for Surviving StartUp, Terry talked to us about leadership, being open to change, and creating opportunities for others:

“Being a leader at L&P opened doors to things I didn’t know or wouldn’t have known in other positions. I’ve learned many things about inclusion from our People First local conversations, and learning about different perspectives has also helped me at my detailing business.”

Terry continued, “Being a leader is everything. If there’s an issue and we can figure it out, let’s do it instead of complaining. People talk about change, but what matters is the effort behind that talk. I also believe that change starts with our kids. There’s a saying that kids are the future, and if that’s the case, why not create great opportunities for them now rather than making them wait?”

With this idea, Terry and a local friend took responsibility and recently hosted a Young Entrepreneurs Expo in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for people ages 17 and under. The event gave area youth an opportunity to build connections, get career advice, and showcase their entrepreneurship.

“The event was amazing, and the turnout was awesome. I never knew how many kids are actually interested in entrepreneurship and already have so much going on,” reflected Terry.

We are proud of and grateful to our employees like Terry who live our L&P values at work and beyond!

Sep 07 2023

By Life@Leggett

Have a Safe and Happy Labor Day!

Sep 04 2023

By Life@Leggett

L&P Employees Give Back: Watered Gardens

Last year, Tammy Trent, our Chief Accounting Officer, asked the Corporate Accounting and Accounts Payable teams to select local charities to join their quarterly meetings to share their missions and how they support the local community. One organization the team heard from was Watered Gardens — a nonprofit located in Joplin, Missouri, that serves the needs of individuals and families by providing shelter, food, and other services.

After learning about Watered Gardens, a group of our employees quickly formed to donate to and serve the nonprofit each month. Kim Hickey, Senior Business Analyst, volunteered to coordinate and create a sign-up schedule for preparing and serving dinner at the outreach center and donating food supplies or money for food.

“I enjoy being part of the volunteer team because serving dinner is a simple way to make an impact on the lives of people struggling in our community,” said Kim Hickey. “We are bringing them a tangible form of comfort and an encouraging smile. It’s also a great way to get to know the other volunteers.”

The group tends to look different each month, but there are many L&P employees who frequently sign up, including members from the Internal Audit and Accounts Payable teams. When it’s their time to volunteer, some employees bring family members with them.

We are grateful to our employees for giving back to their communities and doing great work together!

Our employees who regularly volunteer for Watered Gardens

Aug 31 2023

By Life@Leggett

Back-to-School: L&P Supports Bright Futures and Organizes Supply Drive

As August rolls around, so does the start of a new school year for many students. In order to give back to the communities where we live and work, L&P recently made a contribution to Bright Futures Carthage’s back-to-school program.

Bright Futures is a non-profit organization that brings together community resources to meet children’s basic needs so they can succeed in school and beyond. Our donation helped purchase backpacks for nearly 1,700 students!

In addition, corporate team members organized a school supply drive, collecting donations in one of our L&P trucks, which made its way to our Carthage, Missouri, facilities and our corporate office. A team sorted through nearly 2,000 contributions, many of which were packaged items like crayons and markers, and divided the supplies which were donated to five area schools: Diamond, Neosho, Carterville, Carthage, and East Newton.

Thank you to our teams for working together to put people first!

Aug 29 2023

By Life@Leggett

L&P Celebrates Women’s Equality Day

August 26 is Women’s Equality Day. This day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution in 1920, which allowed women the right to vote.

Women’s Equality Day celebrates the achievements of women’s rights activists and reminds us of the unique daily struggles that women face in their fight for equality. Here are a few notable milestones and influential advocates for the women’s movement:

July 19-20, 1848 | The First Women’s Rights Convention was held in Seneca Falls, New York. Sixty-eight women and 32 men signed the Declaration of Sentiments, which sparked decades of activism and led to the passage of the 19th Amendment.
May 15, 1869 | Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton established the National Woman Suffrage Association, which coordinated the national suffrage movement.
April 2, 1917 | Jeannette Rankin of Montana is the first woman elected to Congress as a member of the House of Representatives.
June 30, 1966 | Betty Friedan helps found the National Organization for Women (NOW).
July 7, 1981 | Sandra Day O’Connor was sworn in as the first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
January 20, 2021 | Kamala Harris became the first woman and woman of color Vice President of the United States.

Aug 25 2023

By Life@Leggett

How Giving Helps You

You know that giving benefits others, but did you know it’s also good for you?

When we donate, volunteer, or give gifts, we’re doing some good for others and ourselves. Here are three things we learned about the personal benefits of giving:

Giving helps your health. When we give, our brains release feel-good hormones, which make us feel happier. Giving can also lower blood pressure and cortisol levels, which are responsible for making us feel anxious or stressed.
Giving enhances positivity. When we are generous, our perception of others becomes more positive, causing us to feel closer and more connected to others. Giving can also increase gratitude and help us feel connected to a bigger picture beyond ourselves, which can help cultivate meaning in life.
Giving strengthens your circles. Generosity is contagious. When we give, we also inspire others — both near and far to us — to give. Since we’re all parts of multiple circles or communities, it’s no surprise that, when we invest in the places where we live, work, and play, we’re also investing in ourselves.

References

Brower, Tracy, PhD. “Giving Is Good—For Others, but Also for You.” Forbes, 28 Nov. 2021, www.forbes.com/sites/tracybrower/2021/11/28/giving-is-good-for-others-but-also-for-you/?sh=7aa5caf623a1. Accessed 6 July 2023.

“Five Reasons to Give to Charity.” Charities Aid Foundation, www.cafonline.org/my-personal-giving/long-term-giving/resource-centre/five-reasons-to-give-to-charity. Accessed 6 July 2023.

Suttie, Jill, and Jason Marsh. “5 Ways Giving Is Good for You.” The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley, 13 Dec. 2010, greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/5_ways_giving_is_good_for_you. Accessed 7 July 2023.

“Why Giving Is Good for Your Health.” Cleveland Clinic, 7 Dec. 2022, health.clevelandclinic.org/why-giving-is-good-for-your-health. Accessed 6 July 2023.

Aug 22 2023

By Life@Leggett

Honoring World Humanitarian Day

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

Aug 18 2023

By Life@Leggett

Champion and Mentor: Brad Gordon

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.

We wish you all the best, Brad!

Aug 16 2023

By Life@Leggett