L&P recently sponsored the International Society of Furniture Designers (ISFD) 26th Annual Pinnacle Awards.
The ISFD supports furniture designers—professionals and students—by providing opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and networking. Each year, the ISFD Pinnacle Awards Celebration honors these designers by recognizing their work in different categories, such as Accessories, Bedroom, Dining, Home Office, and Outdoor.
Chad Gore, Vice President of Sales-Eastern Region, shares why L&P supports the ISFD and what he enjoyed during this year’s event:
“We support ISFD because they offer multiple resources to the design industry and encourage the development of design students through many different programs.
I really enjoyed the social part of the evening. It provided a really good atmosphere to meet some of the people that drive design in the furniture industry. The designers in each category are so talented. Their designs were functional but art at the same time.”
Leggett & Platt fosters a culture of giving, encouraging our employees to Do Some Good. Throughout the course of our local United Way campaign, we will shine a spotlight on several of the incredible agencies that United Way serves in our community. Times may be difficult, but we have witnessed communities rising to meet these hard moments. If in a position to give this year, we encourage you to support your local agency, too.
In September 1984, local churches formed Carthage Crosslines Ministry to create a central distribution point where neighbors in need could receive food and clothing.
“The mission of Crosslines is: where lines of compassion and concern cross lines of denominations with the community to meet lines of human need,” said Toni Smith, Executive Director.
In the 38 years since its inception, Crosslines has expanded its ministry. In addition to its appointment-only food pantry, it provides household items and financial assistance for rent and utilities to those experiencing hardship.
“Crosslines makes every effort to assist with all basic needs,” said Smith. “We provide food, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, diapers, small household items, linens, and even birthday and Christmas gifts.”
Crosslines relies heavily on the community’s support for its success – from food and clothing drives to volunteer support and monetary donations.
“Quite frankly, Crosslines could not continue to operate without the funding we receive from Carthage Area United Way (CAUW),” said Smith. “This helps pay our utilities, provides gasoline for our volunteer’s vehicles so they can pick up food donations – so many incidentals. It helps to know that we can count on CAUW.”
Tomorrow is World Kindness Day—a day for promoting and spreading kindness throughout the world.
At L&P, we value putting people first, which includes being kind to one another. Kindness allows us to connect above our differences and create a place of mutual respect, empathy, and belonging.
Wherever you are in the world, you can spread some kindness:
Send an uplifting message to someone.
Give a compliment.
Check in on friends or family you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Donate to your favorite charity or organization.
Volunteer in your local community.
If you eat at a restaurant, pay for a stranger’s meal.
Hold a door open for someone.
Connect with someone who is new at work.
Cook a meal for someone.
Show appreciation for others’ kindness by giving thanks.
Leggett & Platt fosters a culture of giving, encouraging our employees to Do Some Good. Throughout the course of our local United Way campaign, we will shine a spotlight on several of the incredible agencies that United Way serves in our community. Times may be difficult, but we have witnessed communities rising to meet these hard moments. If in a position to give this year, we encourage you to support your local agency, too.
Jasper County CASA’s mission is to change a child’s story, and its volunteers are doing just that. CASA stands for court-appointed special advocates, a group of citizens who ensure regular contact, support, and advocacy for children in our community who have experienced abuse and neglect.
“The most critical work of CASA is to show up and speak up for the child,” said Kelly Hartley, Development Coordinator for Jasper County CASA. “The greatest factor for children who overcome serious hardship is the presence of at least one stable and committed adult. CASAs provide consistent, loving support and may be the only responsible adult presence in the child’s life.”
Swearing in ceremony of advocates.
Jasper County CASA currently has over 90 volunteers serving approximately 200 children. Their vision is for each of the more than 400 children in foster care in Jasper County to have a court-appointed special advocate by 2024.
“When people support United Way, the funding helps provide recruitment, training, and retention of volunteer advocates,” said Hartley. “The trained advocates then show up for kids in foster care. For the first time in a child’s life, a responsible adult shows up at school, the foster home, supervised parent visits, football games, or birthday parties.”
CASA aims to ensure each child receives the best possible chance at a safe, permanent home and spends less time in the foster care system.
“Our advocates give each child a voice by making recommendations to the court based on the child’s best interest,” said Hartley. “The advocates give information gathered from those involved, especially the child. CASAs are positively impacting the lives of these children by showing up and speaking on their behalf. And we couldn’t do it without the support of United Way.”
November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States, which honors all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Our military veterans have served everywhere—on land, air, sea, and even space. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. For Veterans Day, we want to spotlight some of our amazing employees who are U.S. veterans.
Josh Horton
Meet Josh Horton
Josh has been with L&P for nine years and is currently our Company Credit Card and Expense Administrator.
Serving in the U.S. Army
Josh served in the 1011th Quartermaster Company for eight years. While in the Army, he was involved in many missions, including Operation Nuevos Horizontes in Flores, Guatemala, and supporting military operations against hostile forces during Operation Iraqi Freedom at the LSA Anaconda (support base) in Balad, Iraq:
“Our core mission was to support and serve the combat units that we were stationed with. I enjoyed helping others—from the Marines who built schools in impoverished countries to providing logistics to our forces stateside.
Serving others while far away from your loved ones is tough, but I am proud of the military and their ability to step up and make that sacrifice.”
Josh in Balad, Iraq
U.S. Army and L&P Values
Values help shape who we are and how we treat one another, and Josh thinks that many Army values can be found at L&P:
“I feel that many of the core values of the Army directly transfer over to our Leggett & Platt values—values such as respect, integrity, and loyalty, to name a few. I like to think that those who served honorably for the military wouldfind this to be an easy transition.”
Thank You, Veterans!
We are very grateful to Josh and all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Your service and dedication are inspiring!
November 11 is Veterans Day in the United States, which honors all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Our military veterans have served everywhere—on land, air, sea, and even space. Their dedication and service ensure we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. For Veterans Day, we want to spotlight some of our amazing employees who are U.S. veterans.
Robert McKinzie
Meet Robert McKinzie
Robert began working as a contractor for Leggett in 1995, providing training to supervisors and managers at U.S. Spring locations. In May of 1996, he accepted a full-time position at L&P. He is currently the Vice President of EHS, Quality, and Continuous Improvement for Domestic Bedding.
Serving in the U.S. Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves
Robert served in the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves for 23 years, spending six years in active duty and 17 years in the Guard and Reserve. His active duty service took place in Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort Eustis, Virginia; and in Operation Iraqi Freedom from September of 2003 to November of 2004. Robert recalls his favorite time while serving:
“By far, the most gratifying time serving was running a base camp on the border of Iraq and Kuwait during Operation Iraqi Freedom. To me, serving God and our country are two of the most important things we can do.”
Robert in a dining facility at Camp Buehring in Kuwait during Easter of 2004
Leadership Training
For most of Robert’s military career, he held a leadership position. He credits the military with helping him develop the skills to be a leader at Leggett:
“The military provided me with invaluable training to work with and lead others—from platoon leader in basic training and AIT (Advanced Individual Training) to Officer Candidate School, Company Commander, Brigade Primary Staff Officer, and Battalion Executive Officer—during both peace time and deployment.”
Thank You, Veterans!
We are very grateful to Robert and all who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Your service and dedication are inspiring!
L&P Automotive employees Mario Lorenzon, Becky Ferguson, Joe Lang, and Milosz Niec recently participated in Habitat for Humanity’s Rock the Block in Oakland County, Michigan.
Rock the Block is part of Habitat for Humanity’s Neighborhood Revitalization effort, which offers minor exterior home repairs to homeowners in need. L&P made a corporate donation to the event and has been a long-standing supporter of Habitat for Humanity.
“Habitat for Humanity does important work in revitalizing neighborhoods and providing housing for those who otherwise may not be able to afford it,” said Milosz Niec, Chief Engineer of Electrical and Electronics for the Automotive Group. “They also bring the community together – people of all backgrounds and skill levels.”
Top Left: Milosz Niec, Mario Lorenzon, Becky Ferguson, and Joe Lang.
Our team and other volunteers from the community lent their skills to revitalize an older Southfield neighborhood.
“In the morning, the team and I worked to clear a lot for development, and in the afternoon, we helped to build some landscaping,” said Milosz. “A few of us were able to do some great team building. It was my first time to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, and I will do it again!”
Thanks to the team for exemplifying our L&P value of doing great work together!
The Herbert J. Davenport Society, which is a part of the University of Missouri’s (MU) Trulaske College of Business, recently hosted a banquet that honored Harry M. Cornell, Jr.
Harry was a lifelong leader at L&P, serving as our CEO from 1960 to 1999, and a very generous community partner.
Harry supported and contributed to the University of Missouri. In 1950, he earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration and received an honorary doctorate of law in 2003 from MU. In 2002, Cornell Hall, which is named after Harry, was completed and became the home for MU’s College of Business. He helped found the Strategic Development Board for the Trulaske College of Business and gave a financial gift that established the Cornell Leadership Program at MU.
Pictured from left to right, Chuck Hutchins (L&P VP-Chief Tax Officer), Sharon Beshore (Harry’s daughter), and Lance Beshore (Harry’s son-in-law) stand behind a Partners in Progress award.
Mary Beth Marrs, Director of the Cornell Leadership Program at MU, speaks at the banquet. Mary worked with Harry on the Cornell Leadership Program.
Bruce Walker, former dean of MU’s business school, speaks at the banquet. Bruce worked with Harry during the construction of Cornell Hall.
Each month, the L&P Marketing & Creative (M+C) teams get together—online and offline—to foster connection and friendship. M+C recently came together to carve pumpkins and collect non-perishable food for the Sunshine Children’s Home in Carthage, Missouri!
Virtual activities throughout the month provide a chance to connect beyond work-related meetings. The department also offers a monthly in-person activity aimed at bringing more people together. Physical gatherings usually revolve around a planning meeting or service project and include lunch or snacks.
Check out photos from M+C’s pumpkin social below!
About L&P Marketing + Creative
Leggett & Platt Marketing + Creative is an internal creative agency for Leggett & Platt. We offer design, writing, internet, and tradeshow services to L&P’s business units. We also perform creative work for a number of outside companies at a standard rate per hour.
