August 15 is India’s Independence Day!
To celebrate, our L&P Automotive India team hosted a flag-raising ceremony. We wish all who are celebrating a happy holiday!
L&P Automotive India Celebrates Independence Day
August 15 is India’s Independence Day!
To celebrate, our L&P Automotive India team hosted a flag-raising ceremony. We wish all who are celebrating a happy holiday!
Giving back starts at home with We Rise—an employee and company-funded program that has helped satisfy the emergency needs of L&P employees in the aftermath of catastrophic events and natural disasters since 2011.
We Rise exists due to the generosity of our people. In 2022, our employees donated more than $50,000 to aid 13 employees in rebuilding from flooding, hurricanes, and other disasters. L&P further supported those employees with donations of mattresses for impacted family members. This year, We Rise supported several employees after a tornado went through Tupelo, Mississippi.
We are inspired by and grateful to our employees for putting people first and doing great work together through We Rise!
Are you a leftie, or do you know a leftie? August 13 is International Left-Handers Day!
Here are a few facts on left-handedness:
If you’re reading this and you’re left-handed, go do something fun today!
Blackmore, Susan. “Why Are Some People Left-handed?” BBC Science Focus Magazine, www.sciencefocus.com/the-human-body/why-are-some-people-left-handed.
“Left-Handers Day: Amazing Facts About Lefties.” BBC Newsround, 13 Aug. 2022, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/53739189.
Our Precision Hydraulic Cylinders (PHC) team in India had a great time celebrating their team and July birthdays. Look at all those smiles and cake!
We admire their commitment to bring everyone together and strengthen relationships at work. Thank you to the PHC India team for putting people first!
Our tenth summer of the Doors Internship Program just wrapped up! Through virtual workshops, our interns worked on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields.
We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer. Meet Sohaib Syed from Houston, Texas. Sohaib is beginning his Master of Science in Supply Chain Management at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida.
What did your internship with Leggett entail?
During my internship, I learned how procurement processes fit into the company’s supply chain. I better understood how raw materials and component sources are managed and distributed to support production. I worked closely with suppliers and learned how to manage relationships with them. In addition, I gained familiarity with procurement software tools such as Microsoft Dynamics D365. This software helps streamline the procurement process and manage inventory.
What was the most valuable thing you learned during your time at Leggett?
The most valuable things I learned during my internship were project and time management. I learned how to handle and manage multiple projects simultaneously, setting priorities and meeting deadlines along with school.
What were your goals through your internship?
One of my main goals in my internship was to excel in procurement, sourcing, Concur, or any projects. I wanted to gain hands-on experience, combine it with my theoretical knowledge, and produce results. Another goal of mine was to perform better every single day and become a resource for the company.
What was your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?
I had two favorites throughout my internship. First was my exposure to supply chain processes when I visited the Carthage branches and saw all the work. Second was the network-building opportunities. Through the Doors program, I got a chance to meet many new interns, some of whom became my friends. I have also built my network with experienced professionals in my field.
How will you apply your experience?
I will apply all the knowledge and hands-on experience I’ve gained to help the company with procurement projects. In addition, I plan to take on some supply chain management certifications to help the company continue to achieve its objectives.
Please join us in wishing Sohaib well!
At L&P, we foster a culture of giving and are committed to investing in the communities where we live and work.
Since 2001, L&P has donated more than 10 million dollars to our communities and supported more than 350 organizations. With a core value of putting people first, we prioritize giving with three main goals:
We also see our employees frequently giving their own time and resources to address local needs and build a brighter future for neighborhoods around the world.
Throughout August, we’ll continue to highlight how we give back to our communities. Stay tuned!
Internships can be a great way to gain hands-on experience in your field of interest and make industry connections. They can also help you apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to a real-world setting and stand out to potential employers. Here are a few more of the benefits of a Leggett internship:
Exposure to L&P – Leggett is a global manufacturing company with 135 facilities in 18 countries. When you intern at Leggett, you gain insights into different areas of the organization. This exposure helps interns understand the company’s operations and potentially explore future career paths within Leggett.
Hands-on Experience – Doors offer students hands-on opportunities to work in their desired field. You learn how your studies apply to the real world and gain experience that sets you up for future success.
Professional Development – During your internship, you’ll learn how to engage in a professional environment. You’ll hear presentations on networking, goal-setting, how to create compelling presentations, and more.
Mentorship – Throughout your internship, you’ll work with a Leggett mentor who will guide you and help you develop professional skills through hands-on knowledge they’ve developed over years of experience.
Building Career Goals – Through your L&P internship, you learn valuable insight into your career, which helps you refine your interests and make informed decisions to progress toward your goals.
July 30 is International Day of Friendship—a day to recognize the bonds that support and uplift us. To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of the great friendships at L&P.
Meet Alexa Driskill, Strategy & Business Intelligence Analyst, and Kaycia Frieden, Internal Audit Project Supervisor! Alexa has been with L&P for 12 years, and Kaycia has been with L&P for eight years.
“You could say it was ‘friendship at first sight,’ but in reality, Alexa only liked me because, at the time, I had red hair and she thought that was cool,” joked Kaycia.
Alexa continued, “I remember going home and telling my husband that we had a new girl in the department with red hair and the longest eyelashes I’d ever seen!”
“We have to credit our other great friend, Cheryl Jones, for putting us together, because we all bonded once I started opening up at work more,” said Kaycia. “We traveled together for Kaycia’s first audits — Seattle, San Luis Potosi, Atlanta, Jacksonville — and it wasn’t long before we were constantly laughing, sharing everything, and I no longer had to describe her to my husband as ‘the new redhead,'” added Alexa.
“I have always looked up to Alexa as a bonus older sister, because, well, she is the old one in this friendship, and I love and respect her for so many things,” said Kaycia. “She is intelligent, kind, sassy, and brave—she isn’t afraid to tell me what’s on her mind.”
“She is also a fantastic mother, solid friend, and giver of time and energy. In the last six months, I’ve watched her navigate life in a new way since losing the love of her life, so I would also add ‘strong’ to the list. I wouldn’t be where I am in my career or life without her help, and I am so thankful for a best friend like her.”
Alexa continued, “It’s true—I am the old one in this relationship, but what Kaycia lacks in years, she makes up for in emotional maturity and endless selflessness. She is the friend everyone deserves. She will go out of her way to do anything for anyone, never says no, volunteers her time and money, loves fiercely, and is a wonderful wife and mother.”
“She’s helped me navigate so many obstacles over the years—from job changes to parenting struggles. She always has my back, and it’s become so obvious over the last six months since my husband passed. She lifts me up in my darkest moments and has become so much more than just a work friend.”
“Everyone needs someone at work they can trust and who will cheer them on rather than see them as competition,” said Alexa. “Anytime I’m having a bad day, I know Kaycia will listen without judgement and will offer encouragement. Anytime I’m having a good day, she will celebrate with me.”
Kaycia added, “Without work friends, I don’t know where I would be professionally or personally. It’s heartwarming to know I have someone who shares the same core values and lends an ear to chat about work-life balance. If I am feeling overwhelmed, I have her to reach out to, and I know there will be no judgment. I am just so grateful!”
July 30 is International Day of Friendship—a day to recognize the bonds that support and uplift us. To celebrate, we’re spotlighting some of the great friendships at L&P.
Meet Tonya Cornell and Vanessa Stafford! Tonya has been with L&P for three years and is an Accounts Payable Technician. Vanessa is a Treasury Analyst and has been with L&P for seven and a half years.
“When I joined L&P, I first worked with Vanessa in Accounts Payable,” said Tonya. “We hit it off immediately, as we were training during March 2020 and the only two people in our department working in the office. Vanessa eventually got a position within Finance and our friendship remained the same. We were even bridesmaids in each other’s weddings in 2021 and 2022!”
“I admire a lot of things about Tonya!” said Vanessa. “She is not afraid to fail and jumps in 100% when trying new things (like learning the ukulele and growing a small garden on her front porch). She is loyal to her friends and family, even when she is going through tough times herself. She supports them no matter what!”
Tonya added, “Vanessa is a loyal friend who would do absolutely anything to help you out. She is a realist and gives the best advice. I admire her for the mother she is and how she has built a beautiful life for herself. Some of my favorite times with Vanessa are our adventures to Target and to get coffee. I am so thankful for our friendship.”
“We think having a good friend at work is vital to having a good work life,” they said. “Having friendships at work keeps you more engaged, gives you a greater sense of wellbeing, helps you produce higher quality work, and allows you to have more fun. We agree with a quote that work friendships ‘have the potential to improve our daily experiences immediately, no matter what we do for a living.'”
Our tenth summer of the Doors Internship Program is underway! Through virtual workshops, our interns work on goal-setting, networking, personal branding, and communication within their fields.
We invited our interns to share their experiences this summer.
Meet Dawson Jeffers from Troy, Missouri. Dawson is a Junior at Missouri University of Science and Technology (S&T), majoring in Mechanical Engineering.
What does your internship with Leggett entail?
My internship at Leggett involves a lot of flexibility and problem-solving. I am in the Bedding division at the Idea Center, and I have been fortunate enough to be involved in a wide variety of projects, from product design to industrial engineering. Every day has been different and challenging.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned so far during your time at Leggett?
The most important thing I’ve learned is to communicate effectively with different people. You must communicate differently between Engineers, Project Managers, and Shop Technicians based on their technical understanding and communication styles. I’ve also gained a clearer understanding of what engineering looks like in the professional world. I’ve been tinkering for my entire life but understanding the documentation and workflow of a company like Leggett has helped me see what it takes for a large group of engineers and other professionals to come together and create a quality product.
What are your goals through your internship?
My primary goal this summer is to soak up as much knowledge as possible, while also developing relationships to open doors in the future. I have so much to learn, and many skilled people are here to help me hone my craft.
What has been your favorite part of your internship at Leggett?
The open-minded attitude. If I have an idea, I will not be met with a “this is just the way we do it” mentality. Everyone is open to change and ready to innovate and progress. And if my idea differs from the right one, my team tells me why and the communication channel is very open.
How will you apply your experience this summer as you return for the Fall semester?
I look forward to hitting it hard with new skills, like Excel calculations and Solidworks added to the toolbox. In terms of my career, there have been a lot of skills that I have learned this summer that would usually be in my first three months of full-time work. Having some of that learning curve out of the way will boost my career and allow me to jump right in.
Please join us in wishing Dawson well!