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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!!!!

This week the Women in Leadership spotlight shines on Dori Bornstein, Human Resources Manager for AMS East. Dori joined AMS Fulfillment in March of 2022, coming to us with 15+ years of Human Resources experience. Her focus has been on performance management, coaching, and training. She spent majority of her career in the nonprofit arena with a focus on HR and community impact. 

Dori is credited with developing the ‘Women of the Y’ program to provide experiences for the women and children of diverse backgrounds that were residents of the YMCA. She has a Business Management degree from Reading Area Community College and Springfield College with a focus on Human Resources. 

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Thank you for being in the AMS Women in Leadership spotlight Dori. Our first question is about what motivated you to join AMS. You came to us fairly recently, in March of this year. Were you inspired by our B Corporation commitment when you considered being our HR Manager? Did you take note of the number of women in management at AMS? 

I was absolutely inspired by the B Corp certification! As a nonprofit professional and someone who is heavily involved in my community, it is imperative to both my professional and personal goals that I work for an organization that shares my values. When I was first approached by the recruiter, I told her it would take a special company for me to leave the YMCA. After four interviews with some of the most interesting and dynamic women and men, I knew AMS Fulfillment was that company. In addition, when I had my in-person interview and got to see the New Holland facility, I was impressed by the number of women in leadership positions in operations as well as corporate and executive positions.  

What do you see as the difference between working in the nonprofit arena, and working for a B Corp in the for profit world? Are you able to enjoy the same satisfaction in being of service? 

I was unfamiliar with B-Corp certification but have since gotten my hands on everything B-Corp that I can. I have read the updated certification handbook, joined two online communities, and now I shop at B-Corp companies intentionally. To be honest, in the almost six months that I have been with AMS Fulfillment, I have the best of both. I am part of an organization (with for profit resources) that is committed to its people, its community, its clients and the environment, and our work in those areas is not limited by grant funding streams.

We’re sure you have mentored many young women who have wanted to not only work a job but work for the betterment of people as well. As Manager of Human Resources, how are you able to make a difference in the lives of employees?   

Training and performance management are two areas of HR that are passion projects for me. It is important to me that I am able to encourage and excite our employees about their career path options within AMS and support them in developing those plans. In our recruiting open house events and new hire orientations I let candidates and new hires know that their career at AMS is as big as they want it to be. There are opportunities for everyone to pursue and starting in operations is a launching pad to the entire organization. It is my role to make sure employees understand what is available to them as an employee at AMS. 

The reason we celebrate women in leadership is because women have historically been denied leadership roles. Did you face challenges in your work experiences because of being a woman, and if so, how did you overcome them? 

While I have had tremendous opportunities and great mentors, both men and women throughout my career, I have experienced some bias along the way. I found the best way to overcome bias was to continue to educate and train myself and gain experience in as much as I could. I also found volunteering was a great way to expand my network and learn skills that I may not have had the opportunity to do elsewhere. I have also found that I have to be willing to step out of my comfort zone and take a chance even when it is challenging in order to continue to advance. I have a son and two daughters that are watching me and that drives me to face challenges head on.

Could you speak about your hopes for all women who are seeking to improve their incomes or careers or lives through advancement up the corporate ladder? 

Find a way to take advantage of every opportunity that is presented, whether it is joining a committee, working on a special project, a coaching session, a training class, no matter how small it seems, and never stop learning.

Thank you for being in the spotlight with this excellent interview – Dori Bornstein, HR Manager!

As our readers know, we are producing a blog series called “Women in Leadership.” In this blog series we’re putting the spotlight on the women leaders at AMS. AMS Fulfillment has as many women leaders as it has men, and we are proud of that balance. We are a B Corporation, and Being the Change is evidenced in all we do. We encourage readers to visit our blog and enjoy the Women in Leadership series.

Women’s Equality Day was organized to celebrate women’s right to vote in the US. For most women nowadays it’s hard to imagine a time when we couldn’t vote!! But the fact is, it took the 19th amendment to the Constitution to grant us that right. On August 26, 1920, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby certified the 19th amendment of the United States Constitution, which gave women the right to vote.

From National Women’s History Alliance we can read the history of Women’s Equality Day

“At the behest of Rep. Bella Abzug (D-NY), in 1971 and passed in 1973,  the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as “Women’s Equality Day.” The date was selected to commemorate the 1920 certification of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, granting women the right to vote. This was the culmination of a massive, peaceful civil rights movement by women that had its formal beginnings in 1848 at the world’s first women’s rights convention, in Seneca Falls, New York. The observance of Women’s Equality Day not only commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, but also calls attention to women’s continuing efforts toward full equality. Workplaces, libraries, organizations, and public facilities now participate with Women’s Equality Day programs, displays, video showings, or other activities.”

AMS Fulfillment is happy to recognize that the US, as a country, has come a long way in more than 100 years. And, while there still may be some prejudice or discrimination in the treatment of women in the corporate world, we are an example of a corporation doing it right, with fairness and respect for all, as best we can.

This quote below is from our introductory blog for the Women in Leadership series. As you will see, it makes the point that we still have a way to go:

Fortune Magazine recently published an article about the achievements of women, stating that the number of women run businesses on the Fortune 500 hit an all-time record in 2021 of 41. This is a significant milestone but the article goes on to say:  “While these achievements are notable, they’re only part of the story. Having a total of 41 women chief executives amounts to female leadership for just 8.1% of the Fortune 500. Says Lorraine Hariton, CEO of the gender equality organization Catalyst, ‘We need to tell the optimistic—but not exuberant— story around what’s happening for women.’” 

So, let us say… Happy Women’s Equality Day!!!… and let’s keep moving forward!

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Joint Resolution of Congress, 1971 Designating August 26 of each year as Women’s Equality Day

• WHEREAS, the women of the United States have been treated as second-class citizens and have not been entitled the full rights and privileges, public or private, legal or institutional, which are available to male citizens of the United States;
• and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have united to assure that these rights and privileges are available to all citizens equally regardless of sex;
• and WHEREAS, the women of the United States have designated August 26, the anniversary date of the certification of the Nineteenth Amendment, as symbol of the continued fight for equal rights;
• and WHEREAS, the women of United States are to be commended and supported in their organizations and activities,
• NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that August 26th of each year is designated as Women’s Equality Day, and the President is authorized and requested to issue a proclamation annually in commemoration of that day in 1920, on which the women of America were first given the right to vote, and that day in 1970, on which a nationwide demonstration for women’s rights took place. 

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of July: Desirae F., Baron C., Tangie D., Claudia N., Arisdelsy H., Meggan S., Tatiana E. and Tiffany J.

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

The following nominations demonstrate that the individual being recognized has gone above and beyond and deserves Special Thanks! All winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate & T-Shirt!

Desirae F., Inventory Receiving Specialist I (08/22/2019)
HQ Warehouse, Valencia, CA

I nominate Desirae for July Employee of the month because she is an all-around team player and always makes sure that she goes above and beyond for her team. Desirae is an awesome team player.

Baron C., Maintenance Technician I (10/04/2021)
West Facilities, Valencia, CA

I nominate Baron for July Employee of the month because he is always ready to jump in and help – weekdays, weekends, or night! He is always ready to come out to any of our locations and assist in any way he can. Thank you, Baron, for your dedication.

Tangie D., Operations Supervisor I (04/23/2019)
WIT, Valencia, CA

I nominate Tangie for July Employee of the month because since she has taken over the supervisor position she has done an amazing job making sure her work is completed and on time. In addition, she takes good care of her staff and is respectful to all of them. She is always on time and has excellent attendance. Tangie has a great team feeling with her employees and definitely deserves EOM for July.

Claudia N., Operations Associate II (03/16/2022)
LIV, Valencia, CA

I nominate Claudia for July, 2022 Employee of the Month because she has demonstrated that she could adjust to every task that she has been assigned to and does it at an EXCELLENT level. I personally assign Claudia to every task that is time sensitive and needs special care. Claudia is our fastest and most accurate packer that I have in my dept here at Livingston. She is very dependable, has great attendance, TEAM PLAYER and will do overtime whenever needed. I look forward in seeing Claudia grow within AMS because she has so much potential. Thank you Claudia!

Arisdelsy H., Operations Associate II (04/20/2022)
WIL, Valencia, CA

I would like to nominate Arisdelsy for July Employee of the month because she has been with us a very short period and has impressed us with her willingness to learn all the clients at Williams. She finishes her work in a timely matter and does a great job. She will help anyone who needs help with the process. She has 100% commitment to do the job professionally fast and efficient. She accepts all challenges. We appreciate her very much.

Meggan S., Operations Supervisor I (06/01/2008)
New Castle, DE

I would like to nominate Meggan for July Employee of the month because she has put in 15 plus years at Echodata/AMS Fulfillment. Her dedication to just “getting the job done” & work ethic is unmatched. You see Meggan one second, blink, and she’s on the other side of the warehouse. She is super helpful; always asking if she can assist in spite of her workload being heavy. She comes in early, stays late, and does whatever is needed to make sure orders are completed and Clients are satisfied. Her hard work and dedication deserve to be recognized!

Tatiana E., Exact Staff Associate (05/13/2022)
Newark, DE

I would like to nominate Tatiana for July Employee of the month because she has totally stepped her game up these past few weeks, helping train new people and learning her new roles. She takes pride in her work and is always pushing to make sure the job is done and done right away. Tatiana pays very close attention to her job and the products that she deals with, remembering what sku’s belong where. She is always dependable and will give her best efforts always. Thank You Tatiana!

Tiffany J., Operations Associate II (06/03/2019)
New Holland, PA

I would like to nominate Tiffany for July Employee of the month because she has been on my team for a few months now and she continues to impress me daily. Tiffany produces numbers on a daily basis that are very impressive. She works so hard to make sure AMS meets and beats client expectations. She is a true team member and gets along with everyone. She shares feedback when she sees a need for improvement in her area.

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To all of our Honorees, please know that whatever role you play, you are the reason for our success. Congratulations and Thank You!

This week our Women in Leadership spotlight shines on Sarah Smith, AMS’ Vice President of Marketing. Sarah joined AMS in June of 2022, so she is our most recent Woman in Leadership! Sarah has more than 16 years of marketing experience, with over five years specifically in the eCommerce & fulfillment industry. She comes to AMS from Rakuten Super Logistics where she served as Director of Marketing. Sarah was responsible for all marketing strategies and implementations, including the development of marketing programs, strategic planning, KPI and KSO goals, budget management, execution, and ROI tracking.

Sarah began her career as a Forecasting and Business Operations Analyst in the CPG vertical. After moving to Las Vegas in 2005, she fell in love with digital marketing – where she has been for over 16 years. She spent most of her time in the travel industry before making the switch to B2B Marketing. Sarah has driven businesses to generate optimum campaign ROI using her analytical knowledge. Sarah holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

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Thank you for being in the spotlight Sarah! Our first question has to do with marketing. Have you seen that AMS’ culture and B Corporation focus has an influence on potential clients? Have we reached a place and time within the industry where clients want to see their fulfillment company responsible for being the change?

Yes! Conservation and sustainability are important to us and our clients. We are witnessing firsthand the impact of climate change. Hurricanes are stronger, wildfires are more intense, and here in Las Vegas – Lake Mead is dangerously low.  The supply chain industry is carbon producing; however, AMS is focused on reducing our impact, simple things from LED lighting to recycling, and green warehouses. Climate change is something we all must do our part to tackle – working together we can have a huge impact.

In our introduction to this series, we stated the following: “McKinsey & Company reported that even a 10% increase in gender diversity has a positive impact on EBITDA, above-average profitability, increased company communication and direction, as well as increased sustainability and diversity and inclusion.” We realize that you have been with AMS for a short time, and we’re wondering what you have seen so far as the positive impact of women in leadership at AMS?

AMS is the first organization I have worked for that has more female leaders. This had a huge influence on my decision to join the team. Being in logistics is tough for women, it is a male dominated industry. Only 19% of logistics employees are female, here at AMS, over 50% of leaders are female. AMS has been extremely successful over the last 20 years and I fully anticipate that our growth will be exponential in the coming years due to our leadership.

When you were considering accepting your position at AMS did our B Corporation values, diversity, community involvement, environmentalism and so forth play a role in your Yes decision?  

To answer this question, I need to go back to the 1980s…when I was going to single-handedly save the Amazon Forest. Since that obviously didn’t happen, for decades, I have done what I could to contribute. I have volunteered for organizations like SafeNest (domestic violence survivors) and Get Outdoors Nevada (environmental cleanup). This month, I joined Las Vegas Women in Business for Good, a new organization dedicated to the advancement of women in business.

So, long story short, the B Corp values played a significant role in my decision to join AMS. I have been very fortunate in life – both throughout my career and personally. I feel that now is my time to pay it forward and lead change.

The reason we celebrate women in leadership is because women have historically been denied leadership roles. In your years of service in the corporate world have you faced challenges due to being woman, and if so, how have you overcome them? 

Unfortunately, yes, I have experienced challenges early on in my career. Some were subtle, some were overt. I worked for a power tool company where we were encouraged to learn how to use the power tools. We had a sales rep that didn’t agree with my forecast for accessories (drill bits and such). He made the comment “What do you know about how many drill bits we’ll sell, you’re a woman.” I honestly didn’t know how to respond. It took a few years for me to learn how to handle those type of situations.  By the way – that forecast was just about 100% accurate. 

I can directly attribute my success to my high school, Trinity High School. Trinity was an all-girl college preparatory high school. Being all-girl, Trinity provided an environment that fostered excellence. We didn’t have to deal with a lot of the distractors that were in co-ed schools. The vast majority of women I went to school with have become leaders in their industries. It’s pretty darn amazing. I wish there were more all-girl high schools, those formative high school years really do lay the groundwork for successful careers.

Could you speak about your hopes for all women who are seeking to improve their incomes or careers or lives through advancement up the corporate ladder? 

Women have made some incredible strides in the last couple of decades. When I had my daughter 21 years ago, I vowed to give her the skills to deal with gender discrimination situations. My hope and dream is that she, and no women, ever experiences what I did early in my career.

Thank you for being in the spotlight with this inspiring interview – Sarah Smith, VP of Marketing!

There is some exciting Green Team news to share this month! A few months ago we began to talk about the Team’s plan to work with College of the Canyons LEED Interns to identify and increase environmental sustainability in our warehouses across the board. In March we announced that COC and AMS are working out the details and looking forward to the “green light” to begin. The next mention of LEED interns was when the Team received resumes and began to review them.

Then in early June we announced the following: In our efforts to become Carbon Neutral we registered with the Climate Registry which is an organization that provides us with the tools to measure and report our carbon footprint. AMS hired a credentialed LEED Green Associate as a summer intern to spearhead this program along with one of our Team members. We are working with a 3rd party to take some early steps towards becoming Carbon Neutral from a facilities perspective.

In this August 2022 Green Team blog we’ll give a brief report on the recommendations made in the LEED intern’s walkthrough assessment, conducted on ‎Friday, ‎June ‎17, ‎2022, by Erin Burgess, LEED Green Associate.

Recommendations in the category of SAFETY:

• The front door had safety signage and was locked. Buzz-in was necessary to enter building from the front lobby. There was onsite surveillance and outdoor site lighting. Utilities were properly marked. Speedbumps in parking lot maintain vehicle speed. Equipment marked on floor and handles locked. Fire protection sprinkler system.

Recommendations in the category of SUSTAINABLE SITES:

• AMS Fulfillment’s Headquarters had open space, including two outdoor eating areas with surrounding landscape for employees to enjoy their lunch or take a break.
• AMS Fulfillment may have earned points in this category due to the planters and landscape onsite, which provides habitat for some of the local species, collects local rainwater, and reduces the heat island effect created by the remaining parking lot.
• An assessment could be conducted to see if light pollution created by parking lampposts is within acceptable levels/angles and could be reduced.
• It is recommended that AMS Fulfillment install a rainwater collection system if one isn’t already present.
• (Sustainable Site Credit) “Moat” planter wrapped around three sides of the building, about 4’ wide (maybe 5’). Despite the concrete parking lot, there are areas for local rainwater to absorb into ground and stay on-site.

Recommendations in the category of WATER EFFICIENCY:

• Low flow water fixtures could be installed in the restrooms and breakrooms to reduce Indoor Water Use.
• Water fixtures with timers and/or sensors are an excellent way to avoid wasteful leaks to reduce Indoor Water Use.
• It is recommended that AMS Fulfillment install a rainwater collection system if one isn’t already present. The collected gray water could then be used to reduce Outdoor Water Use.
• Much of the landscaping appeared to include plants that were native or adaptive which reduce outdoor water use.
• It is recommended that AMS Fulfillment have a professional landscape visit the site(s) and see if there are plants onsite that require too much watering and replace them with native or adaptive plants if necessary.
• Water use should be metered as another way to earn LEED points or find and repair costly water leaks.
• If traditional sprinklers are used onsite, it is recommended that these be switched out with drip irrigation as it wastes less outdoor water.

Recommendations in the category of MATERIALS AND RESOURCES:

• AMS Fulfillment is currently designing a well-developed recycling program for onsite activities as well as incentive programs for employees to recycle at home.
• Collect and store well-documented Product Disclosures, MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets), etc., that are easily accessed when needed.
• AMS already has an on-site recycling program both for the waste generated in operations and for waste generated by employees. AMS is currently creating standard colored bins with signage in English and Spanish to designate different types of waste. Bins are placed through the warehouse, office area, and breakrooms. AMS is also in the process of developing an incentive system that will benefit employees for recycling more onsite and encourage them to recycle at home.
• Cardboard gets bailed with an on-site bailer. Plastic is separated by type as best as possible and goes to Waste Management outside with regular pickup.
• Pallets: Broken ones get bought back by pallet company at about half price. They fix them up and then resell them.
• Refrigerant: No refrigeration for operations. A few residential-sized refrigerators in kitchen, break rooms, and conference rooms.
• Forklifts: 40 Electric and 5-6 Propane
• Vehicles: A few vehicles on site to transport employees from site to site, not for deliveries or main operations. New semitruck was recently purchased to comply with new CA Commercial Diesel Codes.
• Shipping: Shipping for main operations is through 3rd parties like USPS, DHL, etc. Scope 3 Paperless Picking: Orders go through a hand-held system rather than paper print outs.
• Rainforest: Donated to rainforest and saved 50K acres.

Recommendations in the category of INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY:

• There were lots of living indoor plants providing oxygen and creating a welcoming environment.
• Bay doors are often open to let in light and fresh air.
• Skylights are used in some areas to let in daylight without glare.
• Industrial floor fans were located throughout the warehouse for Thermal Comfort.
• Replace remaining fluorescent lights with LEDs.
• Reduce duration of timed light sensors.
• Ensure that multiple light switches (such as 4-way switches in the office area) only control localized areas so that some lights may remain off when only part of the area is occupied.
• AMS Fulfillment’s Headquarters had floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby and most office areas allowing in daylight. They have film so direct glare is minimized. Some have shades like in the lobby that are pulled down for shade. Cubicles have windows built into walls so the daylight can penetrate the entire space.
• These large windows enabled quality views to mature, healthy trees and filled planters. In addition, cubicle walls have built-in windows, so the views extend through the entire space.

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The LEED report is extensive and the basic environmental information is presented above. We asked Samantha Hicks comment on where AMS will proceed now, and whether the LEED intern participation has been beneficial to the Green Team. 

We very much appreciate the LEED report and the scrutiny of our facilities. The report points to areas we can improve upon quickly and easily, such as more localized lighting and water efficiency and we will be quick to make those changes. We appreciate also the thumb’s up on the many things we are doing well, including our extensive recycling program. Our Green Team is on a sustainability journey, and we welcome all to join us.

AMS has a strong connection with our local community college, and we knew having an intern on our team would bring a new level of knowledge. Plus, it is a great feeling to be part of helping a person build a foundation with relevant job experience for their resume and a future career in LEED.

Erin’s internship report focused on the environmental and social framework of LEED. Through this lens, the Green Team is educated on AMS’ design of our facilities and how our operations impact the environment through energy use, resource use, waste, and emissions. Erin also looked at the AMS impact on people and community, highlighting our ethical behavior, which measures social impact based on performance with the many programs we offer our employees.

Lastly, Erin took on a huge task with spearheading our reporting software for our emissions report, and made great progress by completing 40% of the project in only a few short weeks! AMS next step is to pick up where she left off by collecting and inputting data, then submitting our report to a third-party verification firm.

I am proud to see and be part of AMS’ progress in becoming Carbon/Climate Neutral. Gandhi said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”

As we continue moving forward through AMS’ growth and the further integration of our East and West teams, we’ve decided to change the structure of the IT teams around to better accommodate AMS’ and our clients’ needs. This includes a shift from an East/West coast structure to one central technology organization. 

Meet Our New VP of Product Management

Ken Shaw has been promoted to Vice President of Product Management for WAMS. Ken joined AMS in 2012 and through the years he has been an essential part of the Technology team and the growth at AMS. Ken has continually excelled at being an expert in our systems and keeping up with the constant changes in them, our business, and our clients’ needs. Along the years with AMS he’s helped launch numerous projects including key functionality such as paperless picking, SLU, the Football Pool, and of course WAMS.  

Ken will be leading the Product Management team including all things related to WAMS going forward. This includes all order processing and integration systems such as WAMS, Warehouse Services, InOrder, ProShip, SluPaq, etc. The Product Management team is responsible for identifying new changes/features and working with our internal teams and external clients to create, implement, roll out, and support these features. The Product Management team will also include the imports teams. Questions and requests specific to our order processing systems will be handled by the Product Management team. 

Thank you Ken for your past achievements and congratulations on your new role – VP of Product Management.