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The March 17th Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Symposium

DE&I - Ken Wiseman - AMS FulfillmentOn Wednesday, March 17th, the LA Business Journal offered three online panel discussions as part of a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Symposium. The Symposium is a prelude to an awards ceremony scheduled for next Wednesday during which one of the finalists will win the ‘Diversity, Inclusion + Equity Award’. The award is to recognize companies and individuals that have shown an exceptional commitment to advancing diversity, inclusion and equity in the workplace.

We are very pleased that AMS is in that group of nominees, as we do believe Ken Wiseman as an individual, and AMS Fulfillment as a company, have both demonstrated an exceptional commitment.

The first panel was titled, “Master Class on Diversity, Inclusion & Equity.” Ken presented along with three more panelists: Kandee Lewis, Positive Results Center; Teresa Maxwell, Skanska USA Inc; and Renee Young, Quigley-Simpson. The panel was moderated by Dr. Lois Shelton. Professor of Management, CSUN David Nazarian College of Business and Economics.

Dr. Shelton opened with a challenge for each panelist to offer their definition of diversity, inclusion and equity. This was followed by several other questions that delved into what the companies were doing, and how they rated their efforts. We were proud to hear Ken talk about the about the learning center, the B Corporation commitment, the best safety record in the industry, our commitments with regard to hiring, the March for Change and the changes we made, the leadership and advanced leadership classes… so many things.

The other panelists, throughout the 1 ½ hr. session, were impressive, and it truly appears that all of these companies and individuals have done a great deal, and their commitment is impressive. They truly are all winners and we congratulate them all.

We would like to offer Ken’s definitions of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity below, and include below that a link to the recorded event for your enjoyment.

_________

Diversity is when by design or good fortune, your mix of employees from underserved communities, in terms of their race, gender, sexual preference, judicial background, presence of disabilities, at least mirrors the community in which you do business or the community for which you serve.

Inclusion is not ever having anyone be the last kid in the gym to be picked for a team. Instead, it is the feeling you get in the morning when you wake up and look forward to going to work because you know that your leadership and associates respect you, value your contributions, and they count on you to be a part of the team.

Equity is when you take pride in perhaps having a low turnover rate, or a survey that tells you that you have exceptional employees engagement, but you don’t stop there, you take a stack of the termination exit interviews and the engagement surveys, and you read the comments.  Who is falling through the cracks in our organization?  Equity is not letting your success stories marginalize the quieter, struggling voices in your organization.

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Congratulations Carmen Kernek – VP of Human Resources

Human Resources VP - AMS FulfillmentCarmen Kernek, Vice President of Human Resources:

Carmen Kernek joined AMS Fulfillment in October of 2017 as Director of Human Resources. During this time she learned about AMS and the B Corporation culture, which was different than other organizations. Additionally, she improved efficiencies within Human Resources to include updating the Employee Handbook, and improving and increasing Paycom usage not only as a database, but as a communication tool for all employees.

Carmen was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources in February of 2021. Her responsibilities include overseeing and managing the HR Departments within all locations, West and East Coast.

Carmen possesses a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Administration and has over 30 years of human resources and organizational development experience in a variety of different industries, including: fulfillment, retail, aerospace, manufacturing and services. Carmen’s expertise includes training, organizational development, talent management, leadership and management coaching, as well as creating and implementing policy and procedures.

As AMS’ function leader for Human Resources on both coasts, Carmen is passionate about helping the company make the most of their resources and talents, as well as helping individuals reach their potential through growth, education and coaching.

In her personal time Carmen enjoys being a mom to three adult children and two fur babies. She enjoys music, dancing and living life, along with all the adventures that life provides.

With regard to her new responsibilities, Carmen said, “This is such a great opportunity and I am grateful for the confidence in my abilities and am sincerely honored to serve in this capacity. My goal in this capacity is to utilize best practices to lead the team through our new HR adventures all while continuing positive harmony between the organization and creating and promoting unity and efficiencies.” 

AMS CFO, Tony Shepherd, had this to say about Carmen: “I am delighted to work directly now with Carmen as she officially leads the Human Resources function nationally for AMS.  Her invaluable expertise, experience and leadership will help ensure that AMS continues becoming “As One” as she drives forward the integration of all HR practices, policies, and procedures across the West and East operations.”

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Remember to Spring Forward on March 14!

Our change to Daylight Saving Time is coming up in March – to be exact, March 14. The code phrase to remind us to change our clocks and sleeping habits is “Spring Forward!” The message is… Spring Forward on March 14.

Sunday, March 14, 2021, 2:00:00 a.m. clocks are turned forward 1 hour to 3:00:00 a.m. local daylight time, so mark it on your calendar as it’s coming right up.

The big question that always comes at this time is… does this mean we’ll get to sleep an extra hour, or will we be getting up an hour earlier? The answer is… we’ll be getting up an hour earlier. The clock will say 7 a.m. and our bodies and brains will say… No!!! Let me sleep!

Sunrise and sunset will be 1 hour later on Mar 14 than the day before, and that’s the good thing about Daylight Saving Time (DST). We’ll have more light in the evening, and those long Spring and Summer evenings are definitely enjoyable. The clocks won’t be turned back an hour until November 7th, and that’s when we’ll get the extra hour of sleep.

There are two states that don’t use DST, and those are Arizona and Hawaii. For international shippers, be aware that Puerto Rico and other Dependencies of the USA do not use DST.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) governs the use of DST, and it does have a history of confusing rules. Historically, there were no uniform rules for DST from 1945 to 1966 and this caused widespread problems in transport and broadcasting. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 aligned the dates across the USA so all states made the change on the same date. There were some changes during the 1976 oil embargo and the current schedule has been in place since 2006.

Remember to Spring Forward on March 14th, and get ready to enjoy long Summer nights until November 7th!

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AMS’ safety record is no accident: Workforce safety during COVID #17

Warehouse safety - AMS FulfillmentThis week we continue our Safety Series with a focus once again on Forklift Safety. At AMS we know that nearly 100,000 workers are injured per year due to improper training or sheer carelessness on the job and that more than 1 in 10 forklifts are involved in an accident. But this is not the case at AMS. Our safety record is more than good – it is outstanding. We do know the importance of training, supervision and respect for safety when operating machinery.

Matthew Warholy, AMS’ Security & Safety Supervisor, recently distributed a reminder to supervisors and associates of AMS’ Forklift Policy:

“Please remember that to operate a forklift or any sit-down machinery here at AMS, there are policies that must be followed:

  1. Operator must be trained and certified by AMS trainers.
  2. Prior forklift certification from another organization or company does not apply.
  3. Temps may never operate a forklift or any other sit-down machinery.
  4. If you see, or are aware of, someone who is on a forklift that is not certified, stop them immediately.
  5. Approved footwear (work boots) and a reflective vest must be worn at all times.
  6. If you need safety vests, contact Alonso Vasquez at HQ.

“These are not only safety policies, but company policy and insurance rules as well. If you need to have a full-time employee certified, contact Human Resources to begin the process.”

With more than 400 employees in six warehouses, AMS’ safety record is only one lost-time injury in more than 2 1/2 years!

The OSHA website cautions: “Employers must ensure that each powered industrial truck operator is competent to operate a powered industrial truck safely, as demonstrated by the successful completion of the training and evaluation.”

We asked Matt what kind of effort and support from management has gone into creating the safe environment we have at AMS, and how do we keep it that way through all changes and peak seasons?

Matt replied, “The effort and support from AMS management is outstanding. From the initial training to the ongoing preventative maintenance of our machinery we keep ahead of the curve. Management makes sure that the machinery is safely functioning at all times.

“Before a participant can take the certification class, they have to take a drug screening. If they pass that, the testing process isn’t easy. The trainers want to make sure that they’re ready for the busy workload ahead in a safe manner. That’s not the end of their training. Each operator has to re-certify their abilities every three years. Accidents can and will happen but minimizing the risks for accidents in an industry like ours ensures everyone’s safety.”

Thank you to the AMS Management Team and all employees for putting safety first!

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Series: What B Corporations do for the world #17

B Corporation - AMS FulfillmentThis week we continue our B corporation series by recognizing two commemorative months… Black History Month in February and B Corporation Month coming up in March. In this blog we are happy to introduce five Black-owned B Corporations. These businesses were featured at the B Corporation website along with a number of other exciting businesses.

AMS is pleased to feature the following:

The first is Sweet Livity. Their website states: “Sweet Livity delivers wellness and business coaching to support individuals and groups serving vulnerable communities to do their jobs to the fullest, with improved well-being, sustainability and results.” Click HERE to visit sweetlivity.com.

The second business is Kinetic Communities Consulting. Their website states: “Kinetic Communities Consulting is your local New York Energy Conservation Specialist.” They work with energy and affordable housing industry partners, to connect, educate, and simplify energy efficiency opportunities for under-represented communities. Click HERE to visit their website.

Next is the Fit4Dance Company. This company offers classes in a Brooklyn studio and online classes too. Their website states: “Fit4Dance is dedicated to bringing quality and affordable dance and fitness instruction to communities that need it the most. We offer a comfortable space where women can have fun, learn to dance, improve their fitness and health, meet new people, explore other cultures, and freely express themselves.” Click HERE to visit their website.

Goodee World comes up next. This company offers unique gifts, furniture and home décor from diverse brands and creators. The website says: “A GOODEE stamp of approval means that every item we offer is transparently sourced, ethically made, and designed to last. Our brand partners report to us on their materials, supply chain, labor standards, ecological footprint, and business practices.” Click HERE to visit their website.

The next business is Velmont & Company with RECIRC Packaging. They are the world’s first Black-owned sustainable packaging B Corporation. Their website states: “RECIRC reduces contaminated recycling, promotes refill and reusability, and for the first time ever gives consumers their monies worth by accessing the “last drop”. The RECIRC team works with Cal Poly Pomona’s Engineering Department for research and development. Click HERE to visit RECIRC.

We hope you enjoy visiting the websites and shopping with these innovative, exciting and fun B Corporations.

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Thank You! AMS Employees of the Month January 2021

Employee appreciation - AMS FulfillmentCongratulations to the AMS Fulfillment Employees of the Month for January 2021! We are proud to honor the following members of our corporate family! Thank you LAYAL K., DUSTIN H., LESLIE D., LINDA E., and ROXANA M.

In the fulfillment industry, employees directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. We know their value, and we respect and invest in our employees.

Each month employees within AMS’ Santa Clarita, CA (Valencia) facilities nominate a co-worker who has provided outstanding service to the team and the clients. The nominations demonstrate that the individual being recognized has gone above and beyond, and deserves Special Thanks!

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of January!

LAYAL K., Account Manager (03/2018)
HQ Administration, 29010 Commerce Center Drive, Valencia, CA 91355

I Nominate Layal for Employee of the Month because she is an amazing person both in an out of the workplace. Layal is the type of employee who clocks in early, stays late, makes sure the job gets done and gives 100% effort into everything she does. She is never afraid to get out of her comfort zone and leads by example. Layal helps our team members every chance she can and has an amazing knack for In order, Excel, Warehouse Services, WAMS, and overall systems. Layal’s writing is top notch and she always works well with our clients keeping them informed and up to date on everything that’s going on. Most of all, she is a sweet heart that has a gentle demeanor and is kind to everyone.

DUSTIN H., Receiving Clerk (07/2020)
HQ Warehouse, 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I Nominate Dustin for January Employee of the Month because he always has a positive attitude. He continues to expand his understanding of systems and process; he offers to help, train and share his knowledge with his fellow coworkers. Dustin often works extended and weekend shifts to help keep the receiving department current and organized. He keeps an open mind and is willing to take on any task asked of him. HQ is very lucky to have an employee like Dustin!

LESLIE D., Returns Clerk (06/2020)
LIV: 28545 Livingston Avenue

I would like to nominate Leslie for Employee of the Month because she is an amazing team player. She goes above and beyond to get her work done and to help those around her. Leslie has set an awesome example for the rest of our team and she is willing to take on any task and new challenges to help get our returns done!

LINDA E., Shipping Clerk (07/2011)
WIL: 28936 Avenue Williams

I would like to nominate Linda for January Employee of the Month because she has a perfect attendance record and is always punctual. She is very responsible with any work assignment. She takes care of multiple shipping stations and can ship for all clients at our Avenue Williams warehouse. She also is a team player and loves to help out in other AMS buildings.

ROXANA M., Data Entry Returns Clerk (05/2011)
WIT: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

I would like to nominate Roxana for January Employee of the Month because she is always ready and willing to help with whatever needs to be done. She stays on task and gets the work done efficiently. She is a pleasure to have as part of the Witherspoon team.

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Our ‘Employee of the Month’ recognition is meant to convey extra appreciation to individuals in the AMS Fulfillment Family! Whatever role they play, our employees are the reason for our success. Congratulations to this month’s honorees and Thank You!

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Congratulations! Operations Director & Software Development Manager

Operations Director - AMS FulfillmentEric Wiseman, Operations Director: Building

Eric Wiseman started his career at AMS Fulfillment on September 2nd, 2003 at an entry level position. Over his almost 18 years with AMS he worked in all departments, learning each part of the business. His new role as Operations Director: Building is a big step in a long career at AMS.

About his new role Eric says, “I am really excited about taking on my own building and the responsibilities that follow. I feel like all my time here learning from many different leaders in our company has prepared me for the next part of my journey here.”

When he’s not working at AMS he enjoys spending time on his ranch with his wife, three daughters and all of his 21 animals including horses, goats, dogs, rabbits and chickens as well as some others.

Software Development - AMS FulfillmentShannon Crader, Software Development Manager

Shannon Crader 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 have come about as a result of my new 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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How We Celebrate Romance in a Diverse World

In a January blog we looked at how people around the world celebrate a new year. Surprisingly, it’s not always January 1st. Now what about the love and romance holiday we just enjoyed – Valentines Day – are there celebrations of this day around the world? It turns out that there are quite a few celebrations, but not always on February 14th as in the US.

The origin of Valentine’s Day is not clear. Most attribute it to the sacrifice of St. Valentine during the third century. The story says that the Emperor Claudius II decided that unmarried men without wives and families made better soldiers, so he outlawed marriage. A Priest named Valentine knew this decree was unjust and he continued to perform marriages in secret. He was put to death for it! There are other stories about the origin of the celebration as well, but this one is mentioned most often.

Where does the child with the arrows – Cupid – come from? That image is from Greek mythology, and he represents Eros, the God of love. According to that story, Eros was an immortal who played with the emotions of Gods and men. He would use golden arrows to incite passion and arrows made of lead for the opposite emotion.

There are quite a few celebrations of romantic love around the world, and we’ll focus on five of the ones we find most interesting.

Wales

Would you like to receive a handcrafted wooden spoon from your love? That’s how the celebration takes place in Wales. Their Valentines Day is on January 25th, and it’s called the “day of San Dwynwen.” The wooden spoon gifts have been given since the 16th century, so it’s well established for them, unique for us.

France

Paris is certainly associated with romance, so it’s no surprise that France stands out when it comes to Valentines Day. There’s a story that the first-ever Valentine’s Day card was originated in France, when Charles, the Duke of Orleans, sent love letters to his wife from the prison in 1415. Also, there is a village in France named “Valentine” (Saint-Valentin) where romance is super celebrated between 12th and 14th of February. In this village the yards, trees, and homes are decorated with love cards and roses.

China

How do the Chinese people celebrate love and marriage? In one area of southwest China there is a celebration called the “Sisters’ Meal,” which takes place on the 15th of March. During this festival women wear silver accessories and beautiful dresses. (See the image above.) These are considered by some to be the most gorgeous Valentine’s Day costumes among the world celebrations. Various dishes are cooked using colored rice that’s offered on silk fabric. Inside the rice dish will be an object – two chopsticks mean love and a clove of garlic means the love is over before it has begun. Kind of like Cupid’s golden or lead arrows!

South Korea

In South Korea, there is a celebration of love on the 14th of every month. The “day of roses” is celebrated in May, the “day of kisses” is celebrated in June, the “day of hugs is in December” and single people celebrate the “black day” in April by eating black noodles. Not a bad idea to celebrate love every month instead of once a year!!

Ghana

What about chocolate? Where can we find a celebration of that? In Ghana, Feb 14 is celebrated as the “National Chocolate Day.” The Ghana government decided to make it a holiday in 2007 in order to increase tourism in the country. Ghana is among the largest cocoa-producing countries in the world. On Feb 14, romance-minded couples can attend performances, music events, and enjoy special menus in the restaurants.

We hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse of how our diverse world celebrates romance.

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AMS’ safety record is no accident: Using UV Light During COVID

Warehouse Safety - AMS FulfillmentIn our previous blogs we have talked about the many ways that AMS is taking the necessary precautions to keep employees safe during the pandemic, In all of those months we have learned what works and how to make things work better; we have dealt with covid fatigue, we have gone through peak season, with temporary workers and lots of pressure. And we’re still learning.

AMS has recently increased their sanitizing process across all buildings. In a past blog we described what AMS was engaged in with regard to sanitizing:

  • We placed additional hand washing/sanitizing stations, pumps and wipes in our buildings for convenient and frequent hand hygiene.
  • We brought in a 3rd Party cleaning agency to first do a deep cleaning in each building, and then provide 2-3 people onsite at each building each day to provide incremental sanitizing and cleaning services.  In addition, after an employee tested positive for COVID-19, we engaged the cleaning agency to deep clean the facility again.
  • We developed a checklist for all high-risk common touch areas that must get sanitized a minimum of 4x per day by our dedicated employees, and we reallocated revenue generating employees to cleaning duties.

Now we can add to that list a recent improvement. AMS has stopped using steam cleaners and switched to spraying guns equipped with UV lights. The UV light is used in conjunction with a special mix that kills all viruses including COVID-19. We are sanitizing all areas three times per day.

AMS is continuously working to make employees safer and our dedication is helping them to not only be safe, but to feel more confident and secure in coming to work.

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Series: What B Corporations do for the world #16

B Corporation - AMS FulfillmentIn our weekly B corps series we check in on what B Corporations are thinking about and talking about in their commitment to ‘B the Change’. This week we found an article entitled “Purposeful Transitions: Careers, Workplace Practices, and More”. The headline recalled to mind a very inspiring and purposeful transition at AMS when our CEO, Ken Wiseman, transitioned to the role of Chief Workforce Development Officer.

Ken played a vital role in AMS becoming a B Corporation. He was the driving force behind AMS’ commitment to hire individuals with disabilities, serving as Chair and Board Member on the SCV Mayor’s Committee for Employment of Individuals with Disabilities. At the same time he worked within the community to hire men and women who had been incarcerated, he worked with organizations supporting the hiring of individuals who are homeless, and single parents. As a result AMS today benefits from a very diverse workforce.

Through Ken’s efforts, AMS developed a relationship with SCV College of the Canyons and began offering free education and training on the AMS campus, so that the workforce could advance their skills and grow within the company. A crowning achievement in workforce development was AMS’ collaboration with the college in developing the first nationally certified Logistics Apprenticeship.

In 2019 Ken retired as CEO and moved to a more purposeful role. At the time he said, “My professional time will be more focused on the myriad of employment hiring and training programs we are doing with the County, State and various agencies to continue to provide employment opportunities to those struggling to enter or re-enter the workforce.”

And that is what he has done. Even in 2020, with the world seemingly turned upside down, Ken’s efforts at maintaining a diverse workforce, and educating and training that workforce, have continued.

This week’s featured article talks about the challenges B Corps have faced for the past year, and covers how to be purposeful and ‘B the Change’ while making the transitions demanded of us.

Purposeful Transitions: Careers, Workplace Practices, and More

“The COVID-19 pandemic has touched each one of us in varying ways — human, economic, social — and to varying degrees. We’re staying distanced from our colleagues, but making virtual visits to their homes and families. We’re avoiding social gatherings, but are always connected by close-at-hand technology. We’re finding it hard to focus amid global turmoil, but still motivated to accomplish the tasks with meaning.

“Even amid divisive events, the past year has reminded us of our common humanity and collective power. As shared in this article by Anthea Kelsick and Ben Anderson of B Lab U.S. & Canada, realizing the global vision of an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system will require Certified B Corporations to work together and demonstrate proof of stakeholder capitalism at scale.”

Read the full article HERE.

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LA Ports Impacted by COVID-Related Labor Shortage

Shipping - AMS FulfillmentIn a previous blog, we spoke about the coronavirus vaccine. We stated that the list for distribution priority is as follows: Healthcare personnel; Workers in essential and critical industries; People at high risk for severe COVID-19 illness due to underlying medical conditions; People 65 years and older.

In a recent article published by KTLA, the question was asked… “Is it time for essential workers to be eligible for the covid vaccine?” The question is being asked due to a Port slowdown, with dockworkers not going to the job site due to infection, or being isolated after contact, or awaiting test results, or simply fear of exposure.

The article states, “According to the International Longshore Workers Union, 694 dockworkers have reported COVID-19 infections as of Jan. 17, a dozen have died and hundreds are taking virus-related leaves.”

A second news report in supplychaindigital.com went into even more detail with regard to the slowdown issues:

“Volume at the Port of Los Angeles is expected to be up an average of 88% YoY in the first two weeks of 2021 — a sign that swelling imports have yet to let up. However, the increase in import volumes has not been met with increased human resources, operating capacity or assets. Labor shortages due to the pandemic, chassis shortages in Southern California caused by increased “street dwell” times, and delayed vessel arrival contribute further to the ongoing congestion. In short, increased volume without increased capacity creates a bottleneck not easily resolved.” Read the full article HERE.

Speeding up the availability of the vaccine to essential workers might help to resolve some of the labor issues, but recent news reports reveal that we are still facing delays. According to a recent KTLA report, “On California’s current vaccine plan, health care workers and residents of long term care facilities are prioritized first, then those 65 and older, along with education and child care staff, emergency crews, and food and agriculture workers. Next up would be people working in transportation and logistics, critical manufacturing, industrial, commercial, residential and sheltering services, followed by the homeless and incarcerated.”

California’s Governor Newsome recently announced a pilot website, called MyTurn, that lets Californians sign up to get notified when they’re eligible for the vaccine. Click HERE for more information on the Governor’s plan.

AMS’ employees are essential workers, and they do face increased risk when coming to work. We have taken every step possible within the warehouse environment to protect our employees and our efforts have increased their confidence and safety.

AMS VP of Logistics, John Bevacqua, offered his viewpoint as follows: “It’s unfortunate that we seems to have delays in getting the COVID vaccine to our most vulnerable including the essential workers that are keeping what’s left of our economy up and running. We continue to see very high numbers of infections and many of those are the essential workers. Those working in the logistics, transportation and manufacturing sector should be coming up sometime this month provided the supply is adequate.

“The transportation industry is struggling as the ocean vessels are delayed getting into the ports. Costs have tripled for Ocean and over the road OTR transportation. Many freight forwarders are taking advantage of the situation by driving their rates above peak. I’m hoping to see some relief in the Port congestion, but probably not until end of first quarter. Meanwhile, while inventories holdings become lower and transportation costs continue to rise, we can expect shortages for certain products and consumers will begin to feel it with their wallets.”

AMS supports all efforts to protect the lives and health of essential workers, and we join with the Longshore Workers Union in urging the availability of vaccines for dockworkers.

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A Proud Moment for Diversity and Inclusion

Young women of today can see a fairly wide-open landscape when looking at the work environment and professional life that awaits them as adults. If they look back as well as forward, they will celebrate the battles their grandmothers faced, fought and won on their behalf.

When today’s grandmothers were in their teens, the education and career choices were limited by a culture that only a few generations earlier had denied women a vote, or the right to own property. Today’s grandmothers didn’t see many women doctors or judges or professors or presidents – they didn’t even see female ministers of churches.

Young women who reached adulthood in the 1960’s and 70’s were encouraged onward by a revolutionary spirit called the ‘women’s movement’ or ‘women’s liberation’. At the same time another revolutionary movement was taking place. These decades saw the rise of ‘Black liberation’ or ‘Black nationalism’ coinciding with the civil rights movement.

Today’s young woman, as she chooses her career or life work, knows that she has the human right to equal opportunity and equal pay. Today’s Black Americans, whose ancestors suffered enslavement across Western world, know that they have the human right to equality in all areas of life. As we look back we see a great deal of progress in overcoming the injustices of the past, but our world today tells us that there is still a distance to go.

For the reason of fairness and human rights, B Corporations put a high priority on diversity and inclusion. At AMS we want a diverse workforce not only because of past injustices, but because we see and we enjoy the many benefits of diversity in our own company culture.

The 2020 election took us to a historical ‘liberation’ achievement that honors the struggle of both women of the past and Black freedom fighters. The achievements of Vice President Kamala Harris are celebrated by all who are committed to diversity and inclusion, no matter which political party we may support.

AMS joins with other B Corps to say… we are proud that the American culture has taken another step forward with regard to eliminating prejudice, discrimination and racism.

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