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This week our spotlight shines on Maryanne Amalfitano, Director of Client Services, Delaware Division. Maryanne is a uniquely trained individual with over 28 years of 3PL experience. In 1994 she joined the Sheeran Direct Marketing team as an Account Executive. While there she was promoted in 2005 to Assistant Vice President of Sales, and in March of 2008 she was promoted again to Director of Client Services.

In April of 2012 Echodata purchased Sheeran Direct Marketing. Maryanne kept her position as the Director of Client Services where she had first-hand involvement in the training and daily coordination of Account Manager, Customer Service and Telemarketing Representative activities.

In January of 2020, Echodata and AMS merged as one company. Maryanne is currently Director of Client Services for the Delaware Division. She has also served as Ops Director in the absence of hiring a new director for this division several times over the years. 

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Thank you for being in the AMS Women in Leadership spotlight, Maryanne. In reading your bio we see an incredibly broad base of experience in 3^rd Party Fulfillment. Could you give us a brief glimpse into how it was to handle so many roles in companies that are changing and in transition? Did it come easily or was it as challenging as we imagine?

The most challenging aspect was keeping up with my Department and providing better training. The benefit of wearing multiple hats at times is that it gives you a better appreciation for what the other members of the team deal with and it helps you to understand Operations processes on the floor.

What was it like for you when AMS and Echodata merged? Did you know much about AMS? Was there any knowledge of the B Corporation commitment?

I had some experience with merges since I originally came from Sheeran Direct. Echodata and AMS had similar work ethics and culture, so it made the transition easier.  I had some knowledge of B Corporation and did additional research.

Considering all of the roles you played you must have mentored quite a few people. Is there anyone who stands out as having been a mentor to you?

My first mentor was Lori Homsher who was the VP of IT at Sheeran Direct. She explained how EDI, XML, etc. integrations worked with clients and how it affected our day-to-day processes. She also inspired me to set goals and achieve them.

My second mentor is Kim Peszek who expanded my capabilities to lead my team and set expectations with clients and employees. 

These mentors have had a great impact in my personal values and position within the company.

As you know, AMS is unique in that it has so many women in leadership positions, and that’s why we’re shining the spotlight! Over your 28 years did you feel being a woman kept you from progressing within any one of the companies?

I have been very fortunate to have great bosses that valued my leadership and hard work through the years.

It seems that in client services you get to know the clients well. Would you say the clients are appreciative of the B Corp culture – is it a plus for them?

The B Corp culture was new to some of our legacy clients and our newer clients are very excited that AMS is a B Corp company and have even promoted in their marketing ads.

Thank you Maryanne for this excellent, informative interview!

The term ‘Greenwashing’ was coined in 1986 as various companies began to convey the false impression in their advertising of being ‘green’ when in fact they were not. Environmentalists took note and coined the term ‘Greenwashing’. In the years that followed, as consumers became more conscious of environmental damage and chose to support companies that care about the environment, the B Corporation came into existence. Since 2007 B Corps have made a legal commitment to develop a green culture and make efforts to measure and reduce their impact on the environment.

What is Greenwashing and how can companies avoid it?

‘Companies really need to be held accountable when they greenwash,’ expert says

by Alyssa Sporrer        FreightWaves.com

When a company makes a claim about its environmental or social practices that is not true, that’s called greenwashing. Companies that do this are often seeking customer or investor support or approval, especially if they are under pressure to reduce emissions.

One example of greenwashing in the transportation industry is Volkswagen. The company advertised its vehicles as low-emission, eco-friendly vehicles when they were in fact violating Clean Air Act levels of nitrogen oxides, which are air pollutants that harm human health.  

The company sold approximately 590,000 model 2009 to 2016 vehicles equipped with devices designed to help the vehicles’ software “cheat on federal emissions tests,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Some trucking companies may be using electric truck pilots as a way to “display some sort of green credential but not really to lay the foundation for broader scale implementation,” Tharsis Teoh, technical manager at the Smart Freight Centre, told FreightWaves. 

This could be considered greenwashing if the company is drawing a lot of attention to an EV pilot for five-plus years and isn’t doing much to reduce emissions companywide.

“Companies really need to be held accountable when they greenwash,” Maya van Rossum, founder of the Green Amendment For The Generations Movement, told FreightWaves. She said there are sometimes legal ramifications for misleading customers about sustainability claims, but it’s difficult when companies make general claims that are hard to prove false.

Teoh said his opinion is that greenwashing in trucking “isn’t really severe,” but he prefaced the statement by saying it was just based on observations and not on industrywide data.

He said it’s typical that a vehicle may have “zero-emissions vehicle” or “100% electric refrigeration” displayed on the side of a battery electric truck or a truck using a battery instead of a generator tied to a diesel engine for refrigeration. Teoh said, “I doubt they get very far in misleading claims.” 

However, he said using the term “zero-emissions vehicle” for electric or fuel cell vehicles is inaccurate, “unless the upstream emissions to produce the electricity or hydrogen also do not produce emissions.”

Until the electricity grid runs on 100% renewable energy, more correct terms may be “zero tailpipe emissions vehicle” or “almost zero-emissions vehicle.”

Another area that needs greater clarification is biofuels. Teoh said companies need to be transparent about what kind of biofuels they use and what level of biofuel blend it is. The more biofuel there is mixed in with conventional fuel, the greater the emissions benefits. 

The greenhouse gas emissions of biofuel also vary greatly depending on the feedstocks used and where they were sourced from. Teoh said it’s important that trucking companies find out and disclose that specific information to their customers or the public.

Read the full article HERE.

Photo Credit: Brian Yurasits

“Earth is now our only shareholder.” – Yvon Chouinard

All B Corporations are aware of Patagonia – one of the earliest and most admired B Corps. Patagonia is an international company that creates a line of equipment and clothing targeted to serve customers who love the outdoors and participate in outdoor sports. The company has an extensive product line that even includes food and drink as well as used gear for resale.

Over the years Patagonia consistently set a high standard as a ‘green’ corporation – they are true environmentalists. This plus a culture of integrity about the workforce and creators of their products have made it a much-admired example of what can be done to ‘Be the Change’ we would like to see in the world.

The founder and owner of Patagonia, Yvon Chouinard, has recently set an example that is truly inspiring.

He announced that he has given away his company to do even more for the planet.

Patagonia, valued at $3 billion, according to The New York Times could have been sold or taken public. Neither of these options fit with Chouinard’s founding principles. So, once again, he created his own path.

Chouinard transferred 100% of Patagonia’s voting stocks to a trust in charge of ensuring the brand’s environmental values are respected and 100% of the nonvoting stock had been given to the Holdfast Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting the environmental crisis and defending nature. Funding will come from Patagonia.

His decision is a wonderful gift to B Corporations, reminding us that we don’t have to lose our footing in changing times. He wrote a letter and posted it at the Patagonia website in which he explained that he never wanted to be a businessman – he was more of a craftsman. He liked to make climbing gear, so he started his business with gear and apparel. His intention was to do the right thing while making enough to pay the bills. He thought that maybe, by respecting the Earth, Patagonia could be an influence on others and help in changing the system.

Chouinard said, “Despite its immensity, the Earth’s resources are not infinite, and it’s clear we’ve exceeded its limits. But it’s also resilient. We can save our planet if we commit to it.”

Readers can find the full letter HERE.

This week our Women in Leadership spotlight shines on Shannon Crader, AMS’ Software Development Manager. Shannon began working with AMS back in 2000, when she worked at Morse Data Corporation writing the InOrder software. Through the years, she supported AMS as a vendor and as a consultant. She became an employee of AMS in the fall of 2017 working in IT as a software developer. In the summer of 2020 Shannon accepted the position of Software Development Manager.

Shannon spoke about her new position as follows: “I have enjoyed the challenge and personal growth that has come about as a result of my position here at AMS. I am eager to work with the team; developing new tools for AMS and promoting efficiencies to help make everyone’s lives easier.”

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Thank you for being in the AMS Women in Leadership spotlight, Shannon. Your job with AMS is unique. You work remotely, and always have, first as a vendor then as an employee. Your view would be of the people you have dealt with in your specialized work. Is there any way that you, working remotely, can experience any benefit from AMS being a B Corporation?

Yes, I have always worked remotely. It’s an interesting challenge at times. You can learn so much from being out on the floor and seeing processes and applications actively in use. Before the pandemic, I was out once a year just to get that exposure.

I participate when I can in programs, but it can be tough. I focus on the ones that I can do. I recycle at home; I sponsor friends doing walks for great causes; I participate in the adopt a family programs at the holidays.

What I think I like most about AMS though, is the feeling that we are more than just co-workers. People reach out and care how you are; how your day is going. The sense that you are seen as an actual person outside of your role and abilities is the best part of AMS. And I get to experience that every day, even when working remotely.

When we think of the IT field and developing software we usually imagine men in those positions. Did you ever experience any negatives to being a woman in that field?

I know that many women have experienced gate-checking, prejudice and discrimination while working in IT. I have been quite fortunate in my career to have run into very little of it. Most people that I have worked with have considered my ability to solve their issue far more important than my gender. In fact, when I was working at a private university, it was 90% female in my department!

In your years of work and your varied experiences did you have a mentor, or have you been a mentor? Have you had the opportunity to mentor another woman?

I have had a couple of mentors through the years. Both were compassionate leaders that taught me a lot about myself, as well as the job. I am lucky to still be working with one of them today.

Yes, I have been a mentor in a couple of different ways. I have mentored new employees (male and female) throughout my career; helping them learn the ropes and become a successful member of the team.

Also, while I was working at the university, I was asked to mentor a young woman going through her final semester of her graduate degree. I like to think that was a wonderful time for both of us. I think I may have learned just as much as she did!

The field you work in, developing software, is so unfamiliar to most of us that maybe you could answer one more question. What does a typical day look like for you? How do you develop software or manage a team developing software for Fulfillment?

A typical day involves

*identifying the priority items for the day & then ensuring my team and I are doing all we can to complete them

*touching base with the members of my team to ensure they have all the information they need for their tasks

*attending meetings on: new projects, the current week’s deployment, strategy/planning meetings

*working on open issues/quotes/requests for help

When we develop software, we are looking to solve a problem. That doesn’t mean that is has to be a bug or something that isn’t working correctly. The problem could be as simple as: “The current returns process is too cumbersome. We need something better.”

To start working on a solution, we first need to understand the issue. That often involves asking for the existing steps that are being used, or a sample order, so that we can see what the issue is.

Once we can see the issue, we sit down and review the logic and software processes involved. In some cases, there is a lot to go through!

Then, we propose a solution. The solution could have side effects that may would impact the existing processes in use, so we work to minimize those and adjust the solution accordingly.

At that time, the best solution has been identified and a member of the team is assigned the work. They begin making the required changes. Also, they identify the scenarios that a user may be trying to complete and test those. They then go back and test the original scenario to ensure that the solution is doing what was requested/needed.

Once a week, the entire dev team gets together, and we review the solutions that are ready to be released. We share best practices and our insights and experiences with each other. Finally, if everyone agrees, then the solution is rolled out for AMS to use.

When written out, it sounds so complicated!

What an excellent interview!! Thank you Shannon – we’re so glad you’re on our team!

Thank you to Eric Wiseman, Safety and Security Director and Matthew Warholy, Safety and Security Manager, for agreeing to be interviewed for this 30th Safety Report.

Our Safety Series was created by Ken Wiseman. Knowing that AMS is an industry leader with regard to our record, Ken wanted to offer an example of how we accomplish it, and make recommendations for others to benefit from.   

AMS Fulfillment puts a very high value on employee safety! As you will see, Eric and Matt have it down to a science and it shows in the fact that lost-time injuries are a rarity at AMS.

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Since you became Director of Safety and Security in January 2022, what improvements has the company seen as it relates to Safety?

Since January, Matthew and I have brainstormed every morning, first thing, so we can continue to lead with one of the best safety records in the industry. We also added a Spanish version of our Safety Walk to include our employees who do not speak English or have limited English speaking capabilities. In turn, we have added a whole new set of Safety Advocates to our company with the help of our translator, Tanya Crespo.

Matthew and I have brainstormed and have come up with a Safety Dashboard. This lets us track injury trends by different metrics such as time, age, warehouse activity and most common injuries. This way, we know what injuries to try and prevent, before they happen.

What is the purpose and goal of the OSHA Safety Walks? 

When we start our OSHA walks, the first thing that we say is, “If you see something, say something.” The common goal of the OSHA Safety Walks is to make AMS Fulfillment the safest company to work for. As a matter of fact, we already are in the top-tier. We empower employees to speak up when they see something dangerous or harmful. We also encourage them to speak up when they see a theft occurring. Like we say, “At AMS, Our Safety Record is No Accident.”

How do Monthly safety meetings with the warehouse managers improve their teams’ performance?

The reason behind the monthly safety meetings is to make the managers aware of the latest safety and injury trends so they can convey the message to their employee teams. This way, they get the message clearly and so do the employees. The employees then are asked to sign off, stating that they received the message. This way we all understand the safety topic, as a team.

Thank you Eric and Matt for your leadership! As a B Corporation, AMS is committed to the well-being of our employees.

We’ve almost entered the Jetsons world, or at least it looks like we’re heading there. There are two companies working with American Airlines and United Airlines creating short city hops, and their ‘flying machines’ are truly unique. They are small airplanes, electrical, capable of hovering and vertical takeoff and landing. Archer is the maker of one, and Vertical Aerospace has their version.

There is quite a bit of excitement about the possible uses for these vehicles. The Archer website states their mission: as advancing the benefits of sustainable air mobility. “Archer’s goal is to move people throughout the world’s cities in a quick, safe, sustainable, and cost-effective manner. Archer is designing and developing electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft for use in urban air mobility networks.”

The Vertical Aerospace website makes a similar statement: “In heavily populated regions, neither cars nor public transport can cope with demand. The VX4 will transform the way people travel.”

Both companies speak of using the vehicles to move people. Our question is, would these vehicles be of use in the logistics industry? The answer is yes, no and maybe.

For companies in a time crunch this is a great solution so they do not get PO’s or order cancellations when running into an inventory shortage or emergency replenishment situation. But it would be a margin killer to have to use this method, due to expense of CPU for vertical air lift versus the traditional over the road. Also, it’s very limited payload for someone that brings in ocean containers.

As it gets normalized it could get more competitive and become more useful within the supply chain. It’s a sexy looking service, and we predict it will gain traction for some, especially those using JIC (just in case) inventory management. It could add a safety net from time to time, or be used by those who have had delays in getting product on time.

So, at this point in time the new, exciting, quick, safe, sustainable means of transportation within cities is looked upon as a last resort, for emergency use, by most in the Fulfillment industry. But things change quickly in a world where sustainability is becoming more vital. It is a sustainable means of moving product more quickly in urban areas and there will likely be some appropriate uses coming soon.

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About the Freight Freak: John Bevacqua is the author of the “Freight Freak” monthly blog, and former VP of Logistics at AMS Fulfillment. He currently serves, in semi-retirement, as Logistics Advisor.

The problem of plastic waste has been with us since the creation of plastic, and even more so since the creation of single-use plastics. Many consumers consider plastic waste a crisis. We see images of such waste in the oceans, on the beaches, harming wildlife, and we see huge mounds of waste on land that we know will not degrade over time.

Consumers are desperate to find product alternatives that will be better for the environment, and manufacturers are searching for answers as to their best alternatives to plastic. One plant that is standing out as an alternative is hemp.

What are the pros and cons of hemp?

We can start with hemp bio-plastics. According to cannabistech.com “…hemp bio-plastics are made from non-toxic, biodegradable hemp fibers. Commercially produced as composite plastics or pure-hemp fiber plastics, they generally have a tensile strength higher than polypropylene.”

Here is their list of the benefits of using hemp:

• Mass: Hemp is lightweight. The relatively favorable density to weight ratio has gotten several industries, especially the automobile corporations taking advantage of its capacities.
• Recyclable and Biodegradable: Hemp’s potential to grow prolifically, with a short decomposition period, and easy recyclability, makes it an excellent raw industrial material.
• Durability: Despite its fast decomposition, hemp plastics are five times stiffer and 3.5 times more durable than the traditional plastics. They are also stronger than the regular steel, resistant to wear-and-tear, and highly flexible.
• Eco-friendly: Hemp absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, converts it to oxygen, and releases it, thereby reducing greenhouse gases and minimizing global warming. When used in bio-materials manufacture, this CO2 remains in the products and is not expelled, if utilized, and appropriately discarded.

In addition to bio-plastics, hemp is suitable for, clothing, shoes, biofuel, building materials. So, what are the challenges?

• Economic: Concerning the market price, there is a vast difference between hemp plastics and traditional plastics because of the unavailability of bio-plastic processing machinery.
• Agricultural imbalance: Development of the hemp plastic industry might cause a resultant shift in the purpose of agricultural cultivation from food crops production to raw material provision for these bioplastics.
• Recycling facilities: These bioplastics still require facilities and infrastructures to enable their recycling when necessary.
• Legislation against cultivation: Although hemp plastics are beginning to make waves, the legislation against cannabis cultivation in most parts of the world remains a hindrance to its progress.

It appears that hemp could be an excellent alternative to the use of plastics, but there needs to be investment in bio-plastic processing, recycling facilities, changes in law regarding cultivation, and assurances that the production of hemp would not negatively affect food production.

If hemp needs help, what about bamboo?

In addition to hemp, bamboo is another sustainable resource that can grow quickly and has a low carbon footprint. Bamboo can and is being used for food containers, plates, stir sticks, cutting boards, and a number of other products. According to boonboo.com bamboo is considered “…durable, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, naturally anti-bacterial, and highly renewable. It has been shown that it can reduce water use by up to 96%.”

Like hemp, bamboo has many positives. What are the negatives?

While the growing of bamboo is eco-conscious, transformation of the raw material into a functional product creates environmental concerns. Bamboo has to be harvested, manufactured, and transported across the globe to its final destination, and it has to be chemically processed.

Are there other options?

According to sustainablereview.com, stainless steel, platinum silicone, hemp, cork and wheat straw are viable plastic alternatives to consider along with bamboo. Quoting from the article:

“We hope this article shines a light on the ‘best’ plastic alternative. Unfortunately, there’s not one renewable savior that we can turn to fix our problems. We have a few brilliant materials, each with its advantages and uses. Once you know the products you’re looking for, you can use this guide to see which material is best for that particular item.

“While it’s true that there’s no one perfect material, having multiple options allows our workplaces and homes to incorporate plastic-free alternatives that look great and reduce harmful consumption.”

To conclude, we do not have to create and throw away miles of plastic trash, into the oceans and elsewhere. We have other options and the negatives can be overcome with wise action and investment.

AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, committed to consider our impact on the environment in all of our decisions. Click HERE for the AMS Green Team blog!

Photo Credit: Ajin K S

This week the Women in Leadership spotlight shines on Evelyn Ruiz, Director of Client Services, Valencia, CA. Evelyn started her AMS journey in 2002 in the Operations department, where she learned returns, shipping, inventory and receiving procedures. In 2004, she had the opportunity to work in client services, in a temporary position. That same year she was able to stay in the department as an assistant account manager.

In 2007 Evelyn was promoted to Account Manager. She said, “This was a challenging but also a rewarding position. With my Operations background I was able to perform and keep up with the new challenges.” Another promotion came in 2014, when Evelyn became a Senior Account Manager, where she worked with full-service model clients, learning the client’s side of the business.

In 2020 she was promoted to Director of Client Services. Due to the pandemic, she began to work remotely. She said, “This change was totally out of my comfort zone, however, this has been one of my most successful changes.” Evelyn not only had a higher responsibility as Director, but also a higher responsibility in handling the many adjustments that came with the pandemic. “Our main goal was to keep providing a great service to clients and keep the team members operating as smoothly as possible.”

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Thank you for being in the AMS Women in Leadership spotlight Evelyn. We are curious as to was AMS like when the company began. Today we see AMS as an employer that knows the value of women leaders. We also see our other B Corp values, i.e. serving the community, environmental impact, and dedication to the clients. Were you surprised as AMS changed and grew over the years or was the company culture always well suited to be a B Corp?

In my personal relationship with AMS, becoming a B Corp was the last step we needed to close the circle of a great culture we as a company established since day one.

That is great to hear! Your job is to be of service to AMS’ clients and that is such a vital role. How do you look at ‘being the change’ when serving the clients?

With AMS having client services department established since day one and being part of it, it makes it a lot easier to be the change clients are looking for. I like to identify ourselves as partners instead of 3PL or just another vendor. Maintaining a proactive and respectful relationship with our partners and making them feel that we are an extension to their business is what I look as “being the change”.

As a Client Services Director, you mentor others who are learning and growing in their positions. What are your most effective ways of helping others to achieve?

I was lucky enough to have the best mentor ever, and when you have a great person behind you all you can do is replicate the same with the people ahead of you. Provide a healthy personal and work balance, make people feel important, trust them, dedicate time to teach them and show them that you want them to eventually have your position are some of the methods I like to use as those are the ones my mentor Betty-Lou Wisemen (BL) used with me.

In your experience at AMS, have you enjoyed any particular aspects of the B Corp culture? What are your favorite ways to contribute? 

Participating on the Adopt a Family during the holidays was an amazing experience for me, as a mom, teaching my daughter the great culture of the company I work for is priceless.

Thank you for this excellent interview Evelyn!! Stay tuned for #8 next week!!

Each month, in our B Corp series, we write about one or more B Corporations featured at the B Corp website. There are many B Corps doing outstanding work in their communities, there are many creating great products in ways that improve the lives of people, and all are leading their industries by example.

AMS Fulfillment is proud to be a B Corporation, leading by example in our arena as well. Our safety series of blogs provides many examples of our focus on safety, our efforts at diversity, equity and inclusion are proven in our “Women in Leadership” series, the work of our Green Team is featured in a blog series and our outstanding work in supporting charities and hiring from within disadvantaged groups show a true dedication to the community. Finally our free education and training of employees demonstrates that AMS is leading our industry by example.

In this blog series we are featuring B Corps that are Black-owned, creating products and offering shopping opportunities that our readers might enjoy. We will feature Melanin Essentials, GOODEE and Yala and we hope readers will click on the links and check out their products.

Click HERE to read the article at bthechange.com.

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3 Outstanding Black-Owned B Corps Brands That Lead Their Industries by Example

MELANIN ESSENTIALS

The American brand Melanin Essentials is a social impact beauty company dedicated to manufacturing high-quality personal care products that respect the Earth and your melanin. The brand was founded in 2017 by Saba Williams and Olayinka Credle. “Melanin Essentials is a social enterprise that is pioneering how we think about beauty,” Credle says. “We aim to be the first Black-women-owned brand to give voice and visibility to the fight against climate change while addressing the inequities experienced by persons of color within the beauty industry. We manufacture high-quality personal care products responsibly made with your melanin in mind.” Using clean ingredients and sustainable packaging, Melanin Essentials seeks to combat environmental and health hazards.

Click HERE to visit Melanin Essentials.

GOODEE

The Canadian brand GOODEE is a leading curated marketplace offering essential homewares and lifestyle products for better living. In 2017, designers and entrepreneurs Byron and Dexter Peart embarked on a new mission. After founding the acclaimed brand WANT Les Essentiels in 2007, the twin brothers set out on a new venture to launch and develop meaningful brands dedicated to offering sustainable solutions for modern living. This time, however, the pair decided to work exclusively with artisans and products that make a positive social or environmental impact.

Click HERE to visit GOODEE.

YALA

The British brand Yala offers ethical jewellery that is created to last, with collaborators who are paid fairly and materials that are eco-friendly. Yala is the vision of Founder and CEO Audrey Migot-Adholla. “Our brand goal is to improve the lives of the people, particularly women, in rural communities who make our jewellery through financial empowerment and skills training,” she says. Born in Kenya and based in Bristol, UK, with her husband, Migot-Adholla splits her time between the countries.

Click HERE to visit Yala.

This week the Women in Leadership spotlight shines on Zuleika Gonzales, Director of Client Services in Valencia, CA. Zuleika has been with AMS since 2002, since the company began. She started in the warehouse, working in the Shipping Department. In 2004 she was recruited by Betty-Lou Wiseman for the Client Services team, to be an Account Manager. It was there that she got her feet wet in business management.

In 2014 Zuleika was promoted to Senior Account Manager, where she took on more responsibility for client accounts. In 2020 she was promoted to her current position of Client Services Director. It was in the middle of the pandemic and Zuleika adjusted to not only her new position, but also to working remotely. She works directly as the main funnel of communication with AMS clients, and every department at AMS. One of her main goals is to comply with client requests and make sure AMS and the clients enjoy success.

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Thank you for being in the AMS Women in Leadership spotlight Zuleika. You have been working for AMS for 20 years, which means you were with the company at the beginning! Do you feel like the AMS culture has changed a lot over the years with the current focus on B Corp values, or has the company always been upholding diversity, hiring the underserved and supporting the employees and community? 

Being a B Corp was the cherry on top!  AMS is an extended family to me, and the changes that I’ve seen being a B-Corp are positive and exciting, but AMS has always been very caring about their employees, clients, and the environment. 

In your position as a Client Services Director you are able to mentor others who would like to climb the corporate ladder and help their families as well as ‘be the change’. How are you able to make a difference in the lives of the employees you mentor?  

All I can do is share my personal experiences here at AMS, some enjoyable and some challenging for me. I give them my best advice on how I would approach different situations (especially the challenging ones) but also I ask them to give me their ideas, thoughts, input, and opinions.  A lot of what we do in Client Services I apply in my personal life and a lot of my team members find themselves doing the same, like being organized, detailed, on time, and so on. 

The reason we celebrate women in leadership is because women have historically been denied leadership roles. Your work experience has been at AMS for many years. Did you face challenges at AMS, and if so, who helped you to overcome them?  

I was never denied a leadership role due to being a woman. AMS has always been equitable and at the end of the day, hard work is what always pays off! In the early stages I remember being so nervous just getting on a phone call with a client, other times when I needed to lead meetings, just learning curves that have been there along the way. Betty Lou has helped me so much along the way as my mentor, strong woman, and executive who always gave me a chance and never gave up on me. Other execs like Jay and Ken have also been part of my mentoring, and I will be always thankful for the three of them. 

As a Client Services Director, how are you best able to support the clients while also working for the betterment of employee lives, the community and the environment?

There is a balance to it all. Our clients are very important. We seriously go above and beyond for them, and always do our best as a team. We are strong team in Client Services. We go through our busy days, but do not forget that fun, team building, and caring for each other is important, and I think that is what makes us a really strong team. 

Happy Labor Day to all AMS Employees and Congratulations on your excellent safety record!!

What does Labor Day have to do with employee safety? Well, the answer is that Labor Day honors the struggle of workers for safe working conditions! In the late 1800s, American workers had to labor 12-hour days, 7 days a week, in horribly unsafe conditions. Even children worked in factories and through this labor, the people would barely eke out a living.

Labor Day celebrates the strikes and rallies and protests that compelled employers to change the conditions, make the workplace safe, shorten the workday and come up with pay that allowed the workers to rise out of poverty and live well.

From History.com, “Labor Day, Labor Day 2022 will occur on Monday, September 5. Labor Day pays tribute to the contributions and achievements of American workers and is traditionally observed on the first Monday in September. It was created by the labor movement in the late 19th century and became a federal holiday in 1894. Labor Day weekend also symbolizes the end of summer for many Americans, and is celebrated with parties, street parades and athletic events.”

Reading on through the article we find that it was a deadly railroad strike that led to the establishment of Labor Day. Employees at the Pullman Palace went on strike in protest of wage cuts and their union representative being fired. It was May of 1894. The article says, “On June 26, the American Railroad Union, led by Eugene V. Debs, called for a boycott of all Pullman railway cars, crippling railroad traffic nationwide. To break the Pullman strike, the federal government dispatched troops to Chicago, unleashing a wave of riots that resulted in the deaths of more than a dozen workers.”

In response to this tragedy and in an attempt to repair the situation, Congress made Labor Day a legal holiday in the District of Columbia and in 1894 President Grover Cleveland signed it into law nationally. It was considered ‘the Workingman’s Holiday’.

In a recent blog we wrote about Women’s Equality Day, and the fact that women had to fight for the right to vote. The 19^th Amendment changed that, and today we are looking at a changed world. At AMS we are so pleased with the fact that there is a balance of women and men in leadership roles within the company.

Labor had to fight too. When the country moved from agriculture to industry, working conditions were terribly unsafe and workers were injured or died because there was no concern for them as human beings. As with women, we are looking at a changed world today for labor. At AMS we are committed to the safety of our employees, with one of the best records in our field. Employees are highly valued as human beings and that makes Labor Day worth celebrating!

Happy Labor Day to all!! We hope you have some celebrations planned at this ‘End of Summer’ holiday.  

Lost Angels Children’s Project (LACP) is an after school program to engage at-risk youth through mentorship and skills training in classic car restoration. Recently AMS Fulfillment donated a forklift to LACP to be used as a training tool. The youth themselves will make the necessary repairs to make the forklift operable, and once repaired it will be used to train and certify the students. By this donation, AMS is happy and grateful to play a part in breaking the generational poverty and serving disadvantaged students in their development of skills. 

Aaron Valencia, founder and Executive Director of LACP, is a custom classic car builder who creates amazing, award-winning cars. His passion for helping youth, stemming from his own difficulties growing up, led to him creating LACP to help disadvantaged youth by teaching them how to work on classic cars and learn other skills that are transferrable into industry. Aaron’s goal is to provide young people with the tools they need to succeed and help open doors and opportunities that improve their quality of life.

LACP prepares disadvantaged youth for a successful career, working hand in hand with Northrop Grumman to ensure they are well prepared for a successful future in the aerospace field. The program includes both a six-week apprenticeship and six-week on-the-job training. During the apprenticeship the students learn shop skills and get hands-on training. The students also receive forklift training and certification. During on-the-job training, the apprentices can receive 15-16 dollars an hour and apply their skills toward classic car restoration. The skills that the students learn are designed to be transferrable to use on the job in aeronautics, aerospace, automotive and manufacturing.

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2022 Custom Car Giveaway!!!

• Readers are encouraged to participate in a drawing to support LACP and have an opportunity to win a restored classic! This year the winner will receive a 1962 Chevrolet C10 Pickup!
• When you visit the link below and purchase a 2022 Giveaway Poster, you will receive a ticket entering you into the drawing to win.
• 100% of the proceeds from poster sales will be used to employ and empower transition-age youth in their vocational training from Lost Angels Children’s Project in classic car restoration.
• The giveaway is Labor Day Weekend at the 19th Annual Ventura Nationals Custom Car & Motor Cycle Show on Saturday, September 3rd, 2022!

Click this link for details and to enter the drawing. 

Good Luck!!!!