News

The first of our Women in Leadership series features the President of AMS West, Betty-Lou Wiseman. Betty-Lou truly needs no introduction at AMS or within the community. She has been a leader, a mentor, an inspiration and a force for good in the community for 18 years. We are delighted to shine a light on one of the most loved and respected members of the AMS family!

Betty-Lou joined AMS in June of 2004 as Executive Vice President of Client Services. Her passion to organize and lead team members in areas facing challenges, brought her over the years into all areas of the business including Client Services, Operations, IT, Sales, HR, and Accounting. She was promoted to President in May of 2019. In 2020 when the company faced the pandemic challenge as an essential business, Betty-Lou was instrumental in helping the nearly 400 employees stay safe and helping the clients fulfill their orders. It has been a herculean task and Betty-Lou has handled this challenge as if she was made for the job.

Betty-Lou has served on the Board for the SCV Domestic Violence Center and is an avid supporter of fundraising events supporting the local SCV Sheriff Station, SCV Search & Rescue, Senior Concerns, multiple youth organizations and Single Mothers Outreach. Recently the Heritage Valley Boys and Girls Club asked Betty-Lou to become a Member of the Board of Directors, and she was delighted to accept that responsibility as well. Upholding AMS’ commitment as a B Corporation, with a strong focus on service to the community, Betty-Lou works on AMS’ Volunteer Champion Committee and volunteers at an event every month. She also manages AMS’ annual holiday meals and gift program to several community areas and families in need.

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Thank you for the interview, Betty-Lou, and your willingness to be in the spotlight. In last week’s introduction we referenced a report that gender diversity brings about many positives that align with our B Corp values. Could you offer your thoughts on the women you work with and those you have mentored?

When joining AMS to build a Client Service team the first place I looked was within AMS. I have mentored two women that started in the warehouse to become Directors within the company. Zuleika Gonzales worked in the Shipping department, and I knew that she was someone who had the energy and drive to be in the Client Service Department. She moved up the ranks and currently is a Director who manages a team of ten associates and manages our top three accounts. Evelyn Ruiz is also someone I recruited from the warehouse where she was working in Operations. She has also moved up the ranks to a Director. Mentoring both of these young women has made me so proud of them to see how they professionally embraced a leadership role. Both Zuleika and Evelyn are original employees of AMS being with the company for 18 years.

We know that as President you have been focused on all of our B Corp goals, and we thank you for that. We have seen over the years that your heart is in service to the community, and you are recognized, loved and appreciated for your work. Could you talk about the rewards and your personal joys in serving the SCV community?

Community has been near and dear to my heart. Single Mothers Outreach has become an organization that AMS supports. Our clients know all about SMO and they have become supporters of this organization that helps single mothers and children as well. My favorite and most memorable times, in so many ways, are the Holiday Family Adoptions for an underserved community nearby. The camaraderie within the company of departments adopting a family, buying gifts, and wrapping them is like we are Santa’s little helpers, but in reality we really are helping families have a holiday to remember. We gather our gifts and meet our families and all share in the joy, tears and seeing happy families take their gifts home to put under the tree. The teamwork, the giving, and the satisfaction that we did this for our community together is so very rewarding.

Thank you for this interview, Betty-Lou Wiseman, President, AMS West! 

AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation that embraces the value of a diverse workforce. Studies have shown that a diverse workforce creates a strong foundation and exceptional pool of talent. We see that talent manifested from our warehouse employees to the executive staff. AMS is proud to have such a diverse workforce.

The focus of this first ‘AMS Appreciates’ blog is Marco Pelaez, VP of Operations, West Coast. Marco’s life story is unique and yet, like all of us, he has endured hardships and enjoyed successes along the way.  

Marco has been put to the test since early 2020 when the pandemic began. As the VP of Operations, Marco took everyone’s health and safety as his main concern – he took his employees’ safety and well-being to heart. Although the pandemic is far from over, we have come through a great deal, grown closer as employees, and have learned a lot. We asked Marco if he would be willing to share his story and allow us to appreciate him.

Thank you for the interview, Marco. Could you tell us about yourself, where you were born and any challenges you experienced in your early journey?

I was born in Puebla, Mexico. My first challenge started when my parents decided to send me to Marion, Indiana as an exchange student in my senior year of high school. I had to learn English at that point, and I was forced to learn the language in express mode as I was the only Spanish-speaking person in high school. That was my first challenge. After I was done with high school, I went back to Mexico to become a commercial pilot, hoping to work for a major airline company. After working for a private small company flying Cessnas 150s and 172s I decided to move to the USA full time and to work on something different.  

Did you make your move to the US alone, or did family members join you? When you returned, what career did you choose?

Being the youngest of a family of six – four brothers and one sister – I was the only one that wanted to do things outside the family circle. I tried to prove to everyone that I was able to do things away from family and on my own.

I moved alone. All my family members live in Mexico as they never had any interest in moving to the USA. Changing my life, away from family, I’ve had to deal with many challenges. I held different jobs starting from the bottom – I remember my hourly wage back then was $3.25/hr. I worked lots of overtime, seven days per week when the opportunity was available for me. Then I said to myself, for me to move up within my job opportunities, I need to start getting an education.  

Logistics and Distribution was my next career choice. I received an opportunity to go back to school while working for SFE Technologies. They paid for my education with the only condition – to get grades no lower than “B” – otherwise I would have to pay. They promoted me to a Materials Control Supervisor, and I was able to implement a brand new process system within the company, TQM/JIT.

How excellent that the company paid for your education! You must have been performing exceptionally well… and congratulations on the process system! Did you confront other challenges during that time?

In 1994, I lost everything I owned during the Northridge earthquake. My apartment complex was right at the epicenter of the seismic area, and my second-floor apartment ended on the first floor. I had to start from zero that year, and that was very challenging. Also, at the same time I continued working on my education in business administration.

I worked for B.U.M Equipment as a Logistics/Transportation Manager. The main challenge there was to drop the freight cost to all their retail stores. Back then they had 90 stores across the country. In 1996 I started working for RightSideUp as an operations manager, and within the first couple of years I went from Ops Manager to Director of Operations to Vice President of Operations.

From what we understand, the Fulfillment Industry is where you met AMS’ co-founder and current CEO, Jay Catlin. At what point did Jay come into your life?

Jay Catlin and I worked together in a fulfillment company for six years before AMS was started. The company was RightSideUp. When Jay made the move to leave the company and start working with his father to build AMS Fulfillment, he called me and asked me to join him. That is where everything started. I came into AMS at the invitation of Jay as Vice President of Operations. 

We understand you have been involved in community service as a member of the SCV Search and Rescue Team, and this experience played a role during the COVID-19 challenges. Did you work alongside AMS’ long-time CEO, Ken Wiseman?

Yes, I did work alongside Ken. Helping the community was what we talked about, and we continue to this day to talk about different ideas and projects. Becoming a Search and Rescue Team Member was another challenge as I needed to get my EMT license to be part of the team. I got my license and I have been doing it for the last 15 years.

During the early years Ken and I would go on weekend hikes and talk about daily work challenges and come up with different ideas or solutions for AMS. This helped me to grow and helped me to look at things from a different perspective. When I applied those ideas into the operation, it made it more efficient.

During the pandemic, the SCV Sheriff’s Department offered me the training to start vaccinating people. During that time, I vaccinated over 750 people – Sheriff’s deputies, city employees, jail workers and their family members also including some portion of AMS employees.

Dealing with COVID-19, I took this virus personally and wanted to protect our employees and make them feel that they were safe while working at AMS. Since then, we have provided 12 vaccination clinics and 98% of our employees are fully vaccinated including booster shots.

Marco, your life story is so inspiring! Could you share your thoughts on working for a B Corporation? Has it made a difference to you? 

When you work for a B Corporation, you learn that employees are more important than profitability and when you apply that concept, the results are very positive. We saw this during the pandemic, where the most important part for us was the employees. The safety results were very positive for the employees and the company.

We’re so glad you’re part of the AMS family, Marco, and we thank you for caring for the AMS employees, and for caring for the community as well. AMS Fulfillment appreciates you!

We are excited to announce a new blog series featuring AMS’ women in leadership. As a B Corporation, we are driven by high-value standards including diversity and inclusion. We are proud to have a leadership team that is about 50% female. We are proud of our diversity and attribute our success over the last 20 years to our B Corp values.

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.’” 

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.

Our blog series will shine the spotlight on AMS’ women in leadership positions, looking at their achievements and listening to their hopes for all women. We will ask how AMS is doing with our B Corporation goals, i.e. how are we serving our clients with integrity, transparency, and dedication to their success; how are we serving the communities in which we exist; how are we watching over and caring for the well-being of our employees; how are we focused on reducing our environmental impact; and how are we keeping ourselves and our own stability in mind in order to be a profitable business.  

Our series will be featuring the President of AMS West, the CFO, the VP of Human Resources, VP of Marketing, Directors of Client Services, and Operation Managers.  

We look forward to beginning our series by shining the spotlight on the President of AMS West, Betty-Lou Wiseman! Stay tuned!

Photo credit: Amy Hirschi

Last month’s Green Team Report covered a wide range of topics. We talked about what AMS is doing in the warehouses to reduce the carbon footprint. In addition, we provided a long list of how we’re handling recycling. The Team also reported on employee transportation and we finished with the latest news. Please refer to the June report for an overview of what a fulfillment company can do to consider our impact on the environment and make decisions that will reduce negative environmental impact.

In our earlier Earth Day report we talked about our membership in the Sustainable Packaging Coalition and the AMS Purchasing Department’s decision to create a sustainable packaging catalog to assist our clients in their decision making.

“AMS Fulfillment is proud to say we are an active member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, whose sole purpose is to change the packaging norms and educate businesses on sustainable packaging. To help our clients with options for sustainable packaging, we are creating a Sustainable Packaging Catalog for them to order sustainable supplies and different options from different companies, with the goal of encouraging them to think more eco-friendly with their products.”

This month we will focus again on how the AMS Purchasing Department makes decisions with an eye toward sustainability. Our Purchasing department’s goal is to focus on procuring eco-friendly, sustainable shipping supplies along with everyday standard office supplies. The report is as follows:

Although pick tickets are not used as often, last year AMS switched from standard pick tickets to eco-friendly pick tickets whose base stock is 100% recyclable, certified through the SFC (Sustainable Forestry Council). The adhesive is a soy-based adhesive that is 100% recyclable. Pick tickets originally came from Illinois and the eco-friendly ones are manufactured in LA which reduced carbon footprint of trucking in the product as well as saving on freight and shipping time.

Another impactful investment has been purchasing a cardboard shredder. Instead of baling all the cardboard, we can take cardboard and shred it which can in turn be used as dunnage to fill in empty spaces in boxes. 

The copy paper used in all facilities is 100% fully recycled paper certified by the manufacturer and it’s free of elemental chlorine and its by-products.

When it comes to standard office supplies here is a list of some items purchased:

• BIC Ecolutions writing pens (made with 74% recycled plastic)
• Post-It Greener notes made with water-based adhesive and 100% recycled paper.  They are also sourced from certified renewable and responsibly managed forests.
• 9×6 notebooks with kraft board cover with paper made from 80% sugarcane waste fibers
• Compostable paper plates
• Compostable forks, spoons, and knives (made of PLA and BPI certified)
• Sustainable whiteboard cleaner (contains bio-based cleaning agents
• Refillable Dry Erase Markers

We have a trio of trash cans in the HQ lobby that have clear signs to make recycling easier. There is also a green box to dispose of batteries safely.

The AMS Green Team continues to work toward our goal, meeting weekly to discuss options and make decisions on how to reduce AMS’ footprint on the environment. Our goal is to be carbon neutral, and we’re pressing forward with the environment as a stakeholder in our decisions.

In our B Corp series we report on news within the B Corporation community, often focusing on inspiring B Corps and their stories. Our May blog talked about B Lab having reached 5000 B Corps. In June we spoke about women in leadership moving corporations toward sustainable development goals (SDG) and we explained what SDGs are.

This month we have taken note of a very important announcement at bcorporation.net: the three Co-Founders of B Lab are passing the torch to new leadership. At AMS Fulfillment, we see the B Corporation as vital to a future where human beings and the earth are no longer exploited. We have chosen to be the change we all want to see in the world and are very happy and proud to be in the company of a growing number of B Corporations. We welcome the new leadership and look forward to a future where the B Corporation leads the way.

At bcorporation.net we see the following announcement:

“Sixteen years ago this week, B Lab was formally launched by three college friends committing themselves to a Declaration of Interdependence. The three of us — Andrew, Bart, and Jay — shared a hope for a better way to do business: better for workers, better for communities, better for the planet.”

The article goes on to talk about the beginning, the inspiration, the ideas and what they saw as the opportunity to address challenges.

“The very first B Corps were certified 15 years ago, in June 2007, at the BALLE (now Common Future) conference at UC Berkeley. 19 pioneering companies stood up in a room and said “We Are In” without having any idea what they were in for. By the end of that year, we had certified 81 Founding B Corps, each signing a copy of the Declaration of Interdependence as an expression of our shared values and additional requirement of their certification.”

The article talks about having reached the milestone of 5,000 B Corps spanning 80 countries and 150 industries. The authors explain that the movement “…has never been about building an empire of B Corps, and that the certification is a means, not an end. B Corps have a direct impact on their workers, communities, and environment; they are making collective commitments to be net zero on climate, to reduce inequality, and to build racial equity in their companies; and their advocacy has resulted in the passage of legislation in 52 jurisdictions around the globe to upgrade fiduciary duty and corporate governance.”

The founders welcome Eleanor Allen as B Lab’s new Lead Executive as follows:

“We believed that the organization would be best served by moving from a founder-led organization to a professionally managed global network. After an 18 month search, we are beyond thrilled that Eleanor has agreed to carry the torch of leadership into this next decade of impact.

“The three of us remain totally passionate about and totally committed to this movement. We will continue to contribute outside of day to day operating roles, with Jay leading Imperative 21, a collaborative organization that is building narrative power for a just economy, and Andrew and Bart as executive members of the B Lab Board of Directors and advisors to Eleanor.”

AMS Fulfillment joins in welcoming Eleanor to the constellation of leaders that is the B Global Network. Please read the full article HERE.

We are nearing the height of the season where heat exposure becomes a safety issue for a fulfillment company. National Heat Awareness Day, which took place in May, anticipated the heat wave that we have been experiencing in the past few weeks. In fact, national news media have brought us quite a few examples of heat as a safety issue with record temperatures in many areas.

OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) produces standards for employers and education on the symptoms of heat illness. At the OSHA website we find the following on Heat Illness: “Every year, dozens of workers die and thousands more become ill while working in hot or humid conditions. The OSHA Heat Illness Prevention campaign educates employers and workers on the dangers of working in the heat.”

Under the OSH Act, employers are responsible for providing workplaces free of known safety and health hazards. This includes protecting workers from heat-related hazards. The OSHA plan includes heat hazard recognition and the provision of water, rest and shade for workers exposed to extreme heat. OSHA lists the illnesses as heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, heat syncope, heat rash and muscle pain or weakness.

The AMS safety team is well aware of heat safety issues, and they monitor for symptoms, staying observant and watchful. They encourage employees to be watchful of each other as well and intervene if they observe symptoms.

In June of last year we produced a blog about fire safety and heat exhaustion. In that blog Matthew Warholy, AMS Safety and Security Supervisor, spoke about how AMS approaches heat safety. Quoting Matt: “…warehouses can become just as hot inside as it is outside. We encourage employees to drink plenty of liquids. Every warehouse has water dispensers and employees can refill their water bottles as much as they’d like. Our receiving teams are unloading trucks that are extremely hot. Sometimes 20 -30 degrees hotter than it is outside. We make sure that those employees are switching roles periodically. We stress the importance of ‘See Something, Say Something.’ If you are feeling dehydrated, speak up. If you see a co-worker with signs of exhaustion or dehydration, say something immediately. A little prevention goes a long way.”

Keeping our employees safe from heat related illness and warding off heat exhaustion through providing ample water, rest, breaks and switching roles is a priority and will be as we move through the hot months to come.

According to Marco Pelaez, VP of Operations, we have been taking some extra safety steps this year to deal with the heat wave. Marco said, “We remind our employees to drink plenty of water the night before they come to work to keep their system hydrated because we know that it is sometimes too late to hydrate the system during the heat of the day. We have also provided every building with a freezer, ice, jugs, and Gatorade (powder) so our employees can consume some electrolytes.”

Thank You Marco!

AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, which means that we are committed and dedicated to employee safety. Our Safety Blog outlines the many different practices that have given us one of the best safety records in the industry.

AMS Fulfillment is delighted to welcome our new Vice President of Marketing, Sarah Smith. We look forward to experiencing the value of her energy and skillset and her extensive knowledge of marketing within the industry. Sarah has more than 16 years of marketing experience, with over five years specifically in the eCommerce & fulfillment industry.

Sarah comes to AMS from Rakuten Super Logistics where she served as Director of Marketing. She 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 designed and implemented comprehensive marketing strategies which led to an increase of inbound leads by 25% and she took inbound revenue from $30MM to $100MM in four years.

She 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. Sarah and her husband are avid hockey fans. They also enjoy ballroom dancing, traveling, and spoiling their two German Shepherd Dogs.

AMS CEO, Jay Catlin extends his greeting! “We are so excited to be adding Sarah as our very first seasoned marketing professional to the Sales & Marketing Team at AMS!  It’s a true Team effort at AMS within this department, and Sarah is already becoming a fantastic contributor and collaborator.  Welcome aboard Sarah!”

What does it mean to be employed by a B Corporation? We certainly hope our employees would tell you it’s something special… a B Corp actually cares about the people working there.

AMS Fulfillment employs nearly 700 people in eight locations, on both the west and east coasts. We often say, and we do believe, our employees are the reason for our success. As a B Corporation our commitment is not to financial profit above all; our commitment is to 1) our employees, 2) our environment, 3) our community, 4) our clients, 5) ourselves. So, a B Corporation has five stakeholders that weigh in on every decision. Its intention is to be good for the world!

AMS is engaged in continuous effort to meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, accountability, and most importantly our employees’ safety and happiness. In this blog we have talked about the free educational opportunities, the extensive safety measures and our excellent safety record, and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. But there is still a way to go in recognition of employee needs.

There can be stress and strain in providing for a family in normal times, and even more during a time of rising costs. Our thought and effort has gone into providing support and resources for employees who face challenges in meeting the needs of their household. 

We encourage employees to contact us with regard to free resources that have been made available:

• Non-Perishable Food Donation
• Thanksgiving Family Meal (immediate household)
• Holiday Gift Donation (immediate household)
• Employee Assistance Program (childcare, financial, emotional, legal)
• Training and Development Courses at AMS Learning Center
• Coronavirus Relief Fund, the CARES Act
• Local Clothing, Food, Shelter, and Rehab Location Centers
• Free Accident Insurance through Mutual of Omaha
• Paid Family Leave Assistance through EDD 

In addition to the above-listed resources, AMS offers free health insurance for qualifying employees including: medical, dental, vision, basic life/AD&D, short term and long term disability, accident insurance, and employee assistance program, and a company match on 401K.

AMS also offers vanpool for commuting employees, saving riders hundreds of dollars each month. Recently we launched RideMatch for AMS Employee carpooling! RideMatch is an online platform that connects AMS drivers with AMS employees that need rides. Sharing a ride to work can save time and money while reducing carbon emissions.

We know that when you strengthen an employee, you strengthen a company, and when you strengthen a company, you strengthen the community.

To sign up for one or more of the free resources, please contact [email protected] for more information. We would like to help.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of May: Ingrid I., Leonardo S., Saul M., Melody G., Cristy G., Danielle K., Steve Z. and Devin P.

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!

Ingrid I., Account Manager I (05/18/2021)
HQ Office, Valencia, CA

I would like to nominate Ingrid for May Employee of the Month. Ingrid is always willing to go above and beyond for her clients and team members. She’s committed to learning and growing, and she has yet to lose momentum. Ingrid really showcased her analytic side with our recent QBR creating detailed analysis to present to the client. She’s eager to step up to any challenge. Ingrid, thank you for your hard work and dedication!

Leonardo S., Operations Associate II (05/20/2022)
HQ Warehouse, Valencia, CA

I would like to nominate Leonardo for May Employee of the Month because he is better known in receiving as “El Compa Leo”. What can I say about this gentleman? He works and works and does what he can to help; even if it is a little tough when he is helping us in receiving. He manages, learns, and adapts. He is always doing the right thing and always having fun. If you walk the aisles, you can hear him singing and laughing.

Saul M., Operations Supervisor (09/15/2021)
LIV, Valencia, CA

I nominate Saul for May Employee of the month because of his hard work and dedication. He is always willing to go the extra mile to ensure our orders and our goals are met for the day, and always willing to do the overtime when needed. Saul is a great example to follow as well as an even better team player. Saul walks in with a great attitude and a sense of urgency. Thank you, Saul!!

Melody G., General Warehouse (05/04/2022)
WIT, Valencia CA

I nominate Melody for May Employee of the Month because as a new employee she has become a great asset to the team. She learned the picking process within days and her efficiency is undeniable. In the short time working in the department, she has managed to picker/packer list. She pays attention and is very detail oriented. She is always on time and always willing to help others. She has a positive attitude, and it stands out every day.

Cristy G., Inventory Receiving Manager (04/16/2012)
WIL, Valencia, CA

I nominate Cristy for May Employee of the Month because she is a huge key to success for the WIL1 building. She is always willing to take on any task with a smile. She is dealt very difficult tasks by management, clients and/or client services and always prevails and makes it look easy. Cristy is without a doubt an AMS All-Star.

Danielle K., DFC Operator (05/06/2021)
New Holland, PA

I nominate Danielle for May Employee of the Month because she a loyal employee. She shows up every day to work on time and always has a great attitude. She works great with everybody and every department she is put in. Danielle is great with helping others. She deserves recognition for being a valued member to AMS.

Steve Z., Receiver (12/08/2021)
New Castle, DE

I nominate Steve for May Employee of the Month because he has stepped up and helped the receiving department while the supervisor of the department was out in California getting CT training. Steve has a positive attitude and has established himself as a valuable member of the team.

Devin P., Exact Staff (04/12/2022)
Newark, DE

I nominate Devin for May Employee of the Month because he has only been with us for a short time, but in that time he has shown us commitment to getting the job done right. Devin has a willingness to learn other tasks in the building and help his teammates when needed. He has worked in Assembly, Receiving, and Fulfillment. Thank You Devin and keep up the good work !!!!

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

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

June is a month with quite a few commemorations and special events. The Summer Solstice was on June 21^st giving us the longest day, shortest night of the year as well as the beginning of Summer. We also see Father’s Day and Juneteenth on the 19^th, Flag Day on the 14^th plus Flag Week, and for monthly celebrations we have Pride Month and Black Music Appreciation Month.

The point of these celebrations is to pause and appreciate and learn about some of the great struggles for the betterment of our world. AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, committed to ‘Be the Change’ and better the world through our decision-making. We place strong emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) as one of the many ways we work toward a better world.

We talked about Pride Month and the associated struggle for fairness in a blog published June 1^st, and we talked about Juneteenth with its poignant message a few days later. In this blog we’d like to talk about “Black music appreciation” taking note of the profound cultural changes that were urged forward by Black music during the Civil Rights Movement.

Below is the opening paragraph of the White House Proclamation on Black Music Appreciation Month, 2022:

“Music has the power to lift our spirits, comfort our souls, and inspire our hearts.  It gives a voice to the human spirit, creating a common language that unites people and breaks down barriers.  Perhaps no music has had as profound and powerful an impact in shaping America’s musical score as Black music. Intricately woven into the tapestry of our Nation, Black music enriches our lives and pushes the boundaries of creativity.  Throughout the decades and across the country, Black music has fueled a myriad of genres — from rhythm and blues to jazz, gospel, country, rap and more. This month, we celebrate the extraordinary legacy of Black music on American culture and recognize the indelible impact it continues to have on the world.”

In this writing we will focus on one song, written by Sam Cooke, which became the anthem for the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960’s: A Change Is Gonna Come.

From Wikipedia we find the following information about this iconic song:

“This 1964 R&B hit, ‘A Change Is Gonna Come,’ written and performed by Sam Cooke is among the most recognizable pop songs associated with the African American Civil Rights Movement. The song was inspired by various events in Cooke’s life, most prominently when he and his entourage were turned away from a whites-only motel in Louisiana. Cooke felt compelled to write a song that spoke to his struggle and of those around him, and that pertained to the Civil Rights Movement and African Americans.

“In 2007, the song was selected for preservation in the Library of Congress, with the National Recording Registry deeming the song “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important.” In 2021, it appeared on Rolling Stone’s list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, ranked at No. 3.”

Sam Cooke was right – a change did come and it has kept coming. While discrimination based on race or gender still can be found, much has changed and much is changing in the cultural climate. Companies like AMS and other B Corporations take steps every day to make sure their hiring and promotion enhances diversity, provides equity, and is inclusive. Today there are more than 5,000 B Corporations, and that is good news!

You can enjoy Sam Cooke’s iconic song HERE.

Photo Credit: William Recinos

Father’s Day is not an official public holiday in the US, and yet it is a widely accepted and very important day for the majority of the US population. Father’s Day falls on the third Sunday of every June – this year on June 19th.  It is a day for honoring the men who play the vital role of father, dad, daddy, papa, grandpa… and all other loving names for the ones who light up our lives by supporting and caring for us as only a father can.

First of all, we recognize and appreciate every father working at AMS Fulfillment, and all of the fathers in our local communities. What would we do without you? You support us, protect us, provide for us and guide us, and you deserve more than a pretty card, a lunch out, or a gift. You deserve recognition of the vital role you play in all of our lives.

One of the events that led to the establishment of Father’s Day was a mining accident in West Virginia in which many fathers were killed. These fathers were working to support their families, and they died because they were working in terribly unsafe conditions. According to publicholidays.com the 1907 memorial service to these men inspired the idea of a permanent Father’s Day.

The article goes on to say, “But it was Sonora Dodd who led the charge to make Father’s Day a holiday. Her father’s efforts at raising both her and her five siblings after the death of their mother motivated her to campaign for Father’s Day, and her efforts paid off with the first Father’s Day celebration held on the 19^th of June 1910. Momentum increased in the years and decades ahead as successive Presidents including Woodrow Wilson and Calvin Coolidge supported the idea of Father’s Day. Lyndon Johnson proclaimed the third Sunday of June as Father’s Day in 1966. And, ultimately, President Richard Nixon made the observance permanent in 1972.”

We’ve included below two Father’s Day messages, shared with our blog, from people we know well… Jay Catlin, AMS CEO, and Betty-Lou Wiseman, President of AMS West. These messages certainly tell us that whether you are a daughter or a son, having a father who inspires you is a great treasure.

From Jay Catlin:

“I don’t know if my dad sees himself as a mentor to me, but he has quietly been an amazing guide on my path and journey. You don’t always see it, especially in the early years of life as you stumble your way into adulthood, but he has shown me the way. The incredible energy he put forward every day in raising his two boys, in supporting charitable causes, and in building successful businesses as an entrepreneur… I learned from his example that you get out what you put in, and he poured himself into all of it. He earned his way from very humble beginnings through hard work, determination, love and intelligence, and gave me the chance to prove that I could do the same and experience that personal fulfillment on my own. I am blessed to have David as my father, my friend, my guide and my mentor.”

From Betty-Lou Wiseman:

“My Dad taught me to be part of community volunteering. He was chief of the Millerton Volunteer Fire Department for many years and an active member for over 25 years. His community was important to him being from a small town as this has been passed down to me as I have the same strong mindset that he did with Single Mothers Outreach and now being on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Ventura. Happy Father’s Day and thank you!”

We want every father to know, on this commemorative day, just how important your example is to your sons and daughters. We also want to appreciate the men who play the father role in helping a child who doesn’t have a father. Keep on being an example of a father’s love and father’s inspiration!

Happy Father’s Day! We Value You!

Photo credit: Tim Mossinger

Each month in this Series we cover B Corporation News that is published on bthechange.com. This month an article on women as CEOs and top executives caught our attention. AMS Fulfillment provides an example of women executives with a very impressive Team featuring some admirable women. We are a B Corporation, very much involved in engaging our stakeholders. By stakeholders, we mean: 1. our employees, 2. the community that surrounds us, 3. the environment that we all depend upon, 4. our clients that we serve with passion, and 5. ourselves as a successful and profitable business.

This month’s article is interesting in that it states: “We found that a larger share of women in upper management in major U.S. companies has a particularly positive effect on companies’ implementation of the SDG framework.”

What is the SDG framework? “The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030.” Wikipedia

The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to transform our world are inspiring, and they are goals that few could disagree with:

• No Poverty
• Zero Hunger
• Good Health and Well-being
• Quality Education
• Gender Equality
• Clean Water and Sanitation
• Affordable and Clean Energy
• Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Reduced Inequality
• Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Responsible Consumption and Production
• Climate Action
• Life Below Water
• Life on Land
• Peace and Justice, Strong Institutions
• Partnerships to achieve the Goal

The article goes on to say that their studies imply “…a much broader and deeper integration of the SDGs in the corporate strategy when more female executives are present.”

The authors go on to speculate that companies with women executives are more oriented to change. We can certainly verify that AMS Fulfillment is continuously changing and growing, inspired by and committed to our B Corporation agreement to consider our stakeholders every step of the way. 

We invite you to read the full B The Change article HERE.