News

Looking back into the last 12 months we see a lot going on at AMS. AMS Fulfillment is a company that has a strong commitment to workforce development; diversity, equity, inclusion and promotion from within; community service; safety of employees; growth and bringing together AMS East and West; top notch service to clients and respect for the environment. We’ve been doing it all, and in this writing we’ll look at some of the highlights of the year.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

In February the “Wall of Justice” mural was installed in the AMS classroom. This mural was created to recognize the March for Change that took place at AMS in response to the murder of George Floyd. At the installation, Ken Wiseman, AMS’ Chief Workforce Development Officer, offered some inspiring words: “This ‘Wall of Justice Mural’ memorializes and reflects our pledge towards Diversity, Equity and Inclusivity. Pause to look at it now and again, as its images and words represent the best of AMS moving forward.”

In March Ken Wiseman, was nominated for the Los Angeles Business Journal’s Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Award! He joined four other nominees on a panel called “Master Class on Diversity, Inclusion & Equity.”

AMS celebrated Women’s Equality Day in September by featuring and interviewing Betty-Lou Wiseman, President of AMS West; Kim Peszek, VP Client Engagement AMS East; and Carmen Kernek, Vice President of Human Resources.

In November the organization Diversity Works conducted an interview with Ken Wiseman in which Ken gave examples of how employees are respected as stakeholders. That interview was made available on YouTube.

Workforce Safety:

As readers are aware, AMS has a strong and consistent commitment to workforce safety. Throughout 2020 many steps were taken to keep covid infections at bay. We placed hand washing/sanitizing stations, pumps and wipes in our buildings; 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.  We developed a checklist for all high-risk common touch areas that must get sanitized a minimum of 4x per day. In February of 2021 we 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.

In June AMS held an OSHA Challenge and also scheduled the second Vaccine Clinic on campus with great success. About the vaccine clinics, Marco Pelaez, AMS VP of Operations said, “AMS rolled out their second vaccination clinic with a great success delivering close to 100 vaccines of which 70% were the second dose for our employees and family members, the other 30% were employees getting their first dose.”

AMS held a third mobile vaccination clinic on July 15^th and the vaccine clinics continued throughout the Summer and Fall with the latest clinic being held on December 3^rd.  Marco Pelaez announced, “We’ve had another successful vaccination clinic this morning. Over 70 people were vaccinated; first, second, and the booster shot were provided.”

Company & Culture:

In February and March of 2021 we saw some exciting promotions: Eric Wiseman was promoted to Operations Director: Building; Shannon Crader was promoted to, Software Development Manager and Carmen Kernek was promoted to Vice President of Human Resources.

In March AMS was named a MCM Top 3PL for 2021, joining dozens of other leading third-party logistics providers selected by Multichannel Merchant in its sixth annual directory. MCM explained that “Each company has been selected based on their industry experience, services offered, performance and range of capabilities.”

In April AMS launched a new website to bring together its East and West Coast locations. Jay Catlin, AMS CEO, explained the planning and purpose of the new website. “For the past year AMS Fulfillment and Echo Data Group have been operating as one AMS family, yet with two public ‘faces’. During this one-year time period we have planned, created and now are launching a website that embraces the clients, employees and communities on both coasts.”

Also in April, AMS received the Middle Market Growth Workplace Award granted by the Association for Corporate Growth due to our extensive efforts in workforce development. In June AMS was featured in the magazine of the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation as one of two outstanding B Corporations in the area. In October Retail Tech Insights Magazine recognized AMS Fulfillment as a “Top E-Commerce Fulfillment Company 2021” and featured AMS’ CEO, Jay Catlin in a cover story interview.

Finally, in December CEO Jay Catlin was interviewed again when AMS was honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal “Disruptor Awards” in the Sustainability category for its efforts as a B Corporation in protecting the environment. In the interview, Jay explained that a B Corporation considers its obligation to do good for the world a primary goal, over and above the “bottom line.”

AMS Green Team:

To celebrate Earth Day in April, the AMS Green Team published an extensive report with the following highlights: In 2017 AMS adopted Vanpool, taking 22 vehicles off the road; in 2018 we implemented our first partnership in recyclable bin sortation; in 2019 we implemented a companywide recycling program on warehouse floors, and adopted Eco Green cleaning agents. In 2020 we reduced electrical consumption and replaced our propane powered machinery with rechargeable battery-type machines; we began recycling cardboard and used metal products and began exchanging and re-using pallets with our vendor. In 2021 we installed LED lighting and natural skylights in every warehouse; began using disposable compostable paper cups and table cloths for employee events and placed purified water dispensers in each warehouse to encourage re-usable water bottles. Our future plans are to adopt solar energy sourcing, carbon credits, and Client Participation.

In September the AMS Volunteer Committee stepped in to support Green Team efforts by organizing participation in environmental programs taking place on both coasts: Work day: Kelly’s Run Invasive Removal in Lancaster, PA, and the 26th Annual River Rally Cleanup in Santa Clarita, CA.

Congratulations AMS for making 2021 a hard-working year of growth, service to clients, protection of the workforce, advancement of DE&I and commitment to the protection of the environment.

Last January, in our first blog of 2021, we talked about the upcoming Chinese ‘Year of the Ox’, and described the Ox as strong, hard-working and persevering. Looking back at 2021 it does seem an accurate prediction. Coming up in 2022 is the ‘Year of the Tiger’! What does the Tiger mean? The description we found is… “Tigers are strong in the face of adversity and never back down from a challenge, they’re persistent and determined.” It sounds like another good year coming up for AMS Fulfillment!

On December 8th the Los Angeles Business Journal announced its Disruptor Awards, given to four of the top 25 of their “LA 100 Fastest Growing Companies” list. There were honorees in four categories: Innovator, Accelerator, Social Responsibility and Sustainability.

We’re proud to announce that AMS Fulfillment was chosen for the honors in the Sustainability category. AMS has been an environmentally conscious company since its founding, and over the years has made continuous decisions to be as “Green” as possible, always looking for ways to improve.

We very much appreciate being honored by the LABJ and selected for this award. As a B Corporation, AMS is a Disruptor of the status quo. We have made a commitment to be good for the world, and that includes our employees, our communities, our clients, ourselves and our environment.

To watch the LABJ Award program and interview with AMS’ CEO Jay Catlin on YouTube, click HERE.  

The supply chain is definitely in the news. A quick google search brings us articles by NPR, CNN, Bloomberg, the Washington Post, the NY Times, CBS News, Businesswire, FOX Business, USA Today and many more!! The reason of course is the season – the people are concerned with gift-giving and the availability of goods.

In his October 6th blog on the supply chain, John Bevacqua, VP of Logistics at AMS Fulfillment, answered a number of questions and made recommendations with regard to Christmas shopping. He said, “This is not going to end soon and there are going to be more shortages of certain goods. Therefore, I say yes to ordering early to be sure you get the items you want if they are of course available today.”

It has been more than a month since John B made his observations. The LA Times article tells us that the situation at the ports is easing, slightly, due to new fees put in place by port officials. The article reads as follows:

“One key problem facing the port complex has been the towering piles of containers left at the import terminals for days on end, taking up space that should go to new containers unloaded from the ships offshore. 

 “In response, officials at the ports voted in late October to impose a new fee on containers that sit around for more than six days if intended for rail transport or nine days if intended for trucks. Starting Nov. 15, the ocean carrier companies that brought those idling containers in will be charged $100 on the first day past deadline, $200 on the next, and so on — an escalating fine that could quickly grow into the tens of millions of dollars a day for the thousands of containers on the docks.”

The other articles speak to the same issue – so many containers sitting around. The CBS article says, “California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Wednesday that ships are coming to get some of the empty containers out of the way. He’s also looking for vacant lots to store containers that still need to be picked up, so the longshoremen have room to do their jobs.”

In the October interview with John B we conclude with a hopeful viewpoint: “The good news is we will most likely have long way to go before the supply chain catches up, however, for the supply chain professionals and shipping companies I think the work has never been more challenging and rewarding at the same time. Supply chain management is no longer a back-office function, largely ignored or taken for granted.”

That certainly is true. One thing that the pandemic has given us is an appreciation for all of the elements involved in getting our products into the stores and/or delivered to our doors.

Now that we are well within peak season we can thank all of the men and women who are working to keep the supply chain unbroken. Thank you as well, AMS Fulfillment.

AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, and as such, we appreciate what B Corps do to make the world a better place. Each year we encourage shopping with a B Corp for holiday gifts, and we share the recommendations at bcorporation.net. We know these recommended companies have made a legal commitment to respect and consider their employees, their community, their customers, the environment and themselves. B Corps do not put profit above all because they understand that considering all stakeholders leads to success. It truly is how to do good business.

The holiday campaign begins with some enjoyable ideas that readers can find at these links:

14 Gifts That Take Care of the Planet  [CLICK HERE]

15 Gifts That Give Back [CLICK HERE]

16 Gifts That Value Producers [CLICK HERE]

10 Gifts That Employ With Purpose [CLICK HERE]

11 Gifts That Reshape the Economy [CLICK HERE]

The gifts span a wide range from products to food items to a trip to polar bear country plus cosmetics, office equipment, dog food and more! The products look exciting and the prices good. They are described as “…holistically working to have a positive impact on communities, workers, customers, and the environment.” I’m sure on their websites information can be found on how they do business and what they base their decisions upon as B Corporation. How is this business good for the world? That question is an important one nowadays.

AMS Fulfillment has interesting stories about what went into decisions that hugely affected the employees. In a recent interview with the Diversity Works organization, Ken Wiseman, AMS’ Chief Workforce Development Officer, spoke about some of the enormous changes brought about by the pandemic. He talked about AMS’ strong focus on employee safety and also spoke of a dilemma the company had to face. When the pandemic began and clients faced closures, AMS had to lay off a significant portion of the workforce. How could they respect the workforce in deciding who to let go? Readers can listen to that story and see an example of employees as stakeholders. [CLICK HERE]

We encourage readers to know the stories of the companies they shop with or do business with. In that way we can all participate in Being the Change we wish to see in the world. We hope our readers a wonderful season of giving, please enjoy the featured B Corps.

We’ll conclude with four B Corporation products you can find on the store shelves!

Plant-Based Protein Bars by ALOHA

Lip Butter Trio Gift Box by Badger

Baby Teething Flashcards by Bella Tunno

Original Tote by ChicoBag

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of October: Ignacio F., Alex C., Dretwon P., Cesar G., Reina C., Stefanie H., Jeff C., Barbara L., Joyce S. and Jessica B.

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!

Ignacio F., Receiving Supervisor I (07/06/2021)
HQ Warehouse, Valencia CA

I nominate Ignacio for October EOM. In four months Ignacio has greatly improved the HQ receiving department. His energy, positive approach, and willingness to lead by example have greatly motivated his team and built a true camaraderie amongst them. Receiving times continue to improve, and he continues to learn the many nuances of all our clients. He has improved the organization of the department, as well as identified areas that could be improved upon and implemented them. He is quick to share ideas and holds himself personally accountable as he grows in his role. Nacho is a great addition to the AMS Team.

Alex C., Account Coordinator (06/22/2015)
HQ Office, Valencia, CA

I nominate Alex for October EOM. Alex’s work ethic and engagement in his daily tasks and duties are impeccable. He is a great asset to the Client Service Department. He is great at communicating with all departments and clients. Alex’s attitude to get the work done with no hesitation is one of his great abilities. He is constantly working and is willing to always help if needed. Alex goes beyond the extra mile to complete any request and it’s extremely friendly and has a smile all the time.

Dretwon P., General Warehouse II F (06/24/2021)
HAR, Valencia, CA

I nominate Drew for October EOM. He has shined in all departments here at Harrison. Drew is a very helpful employee who loves helping his coworkers. We are very pleased to have him working for us. Keep up the great work.

Cesar G., General Warehouse II F (12/22/2020)
WIL, Valencia, CA

I nominate Cesar for October EOM. He has the Greatest attitude for coming to work and he is always willing to help out in any other departments. Cesar has been a great addition to the Williams building and is a go-getter in all aspects. He is always willing to come in early or stay late if necessary to complete urgent tasks. Cesar is a joy to have in this building and is essential for this fourth quarter.

Reina C., General Warehouse II (02/22/2016)
LIV, Valencia, CA

I nominate Reina for October EOM. Reina is always willing to take on any task that is given to her. I really appreciate how she gets the job done and gets it done with a positive attitude, especially when the workload is heavy! Reina is a very valued member of my team and deserves to be recognized for all of her hard work.

Stefanie H., Returns Clerk (08/19/2019)
WIT, Valencia, CA

I nominate Stefanie for October EOM. She is a hard worker who never complains. Stefanie gets more done than what is expected of her and is a team player. She is a pleasure to have on the WIT team.

Jeff C., Facilities Supervisor II (03/23/2015)
Facilities, Valencia, CA

I Nominate Jeff for October Employee of the Month because Jeff always has a can do attitude, and he always finds a way to come through for the team. No matter what building, or what needs fixing/assembly, Jeff jumps into action and over delivers.

Barbara L., DFC Group Leader (07/23/1998)
New Holland, PA

I nominate Barb for October EOM. Her experience and dedication make her a tremendous asset to AMS. Her reliability and dedication, along with her ability to meet deadlines under pressure, are excellent qualities in the distribution business.

Joyce S., Account Manager (05/10/2004)
New Castle, DE

We nominate Joyce as our October employee of the month. Joyce has been selected as our employee of the month because she brings a positive friendly attitude to the workplace. On top of that Joyce also understands the importance of client services and operations functioning in a unified manner to achieve productivity goals. We appreciate the effort she put towards creating this type of atmosphere. Thank you, Joyce, for being part of the team.

Jessica B., DFC Supervisor (06/08/2021)
Newark, DE

I would like to again have Jessica as Newark’s  EOM. She has continually proved to be a valuable part of the Newark team. Her knowledge of the systems and processes here at AMS is growing fast. At times she has walked me through things that I was having difficulty solving. She is a true asset to the Newark team, and we would not have the success we have if it wasn’t for her. She is literally my right-hand man (woman).

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

Nowadays we hear about corporations and businesses following Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) principles. While we understand what diversity means, and equity and inclusion, we might not have a good understanding of what DE&I looks like in practice and how these principles might affect decision making within a corporation.

Recently the organization Diversity Works conducted an interview with Ken Wiseman, Chief Workforce Development Officer for AMS Fulfillment. AMS is a bi-coastal fulfillment company that is recognized for its DE&I efforts over the years. The company employs around 600 individuals, so the workforce is quite large. AMS is also a B Corporation as well as a Social Enterprise, with Ken being the driving force behind the efforts to serve the community through its hiring practices and empower and protect the wellbeing of the workforce.

There is a video of the interview available, which we will include below, but we also would like to offer a story that we feel is an excellent example of what DE&I looks like in practice.

During the interview, Ken told the story of some decisions AMS had to make when the COVID pandemic shut down some of the businesses for which AMS was providing fulfillment. AMS found itself in the position of having to downsize the staff by 35%, and the question was, “How can we do this fairly and equitably.” While another company might have made the decisions based on tenure or on keeping the ‘best workers’, AMS took a different path.

The company created a survey for the employees, recognizing that some employees would want to be home to care for children, or due to health concerns they need to be home. By choosing this first option the employees could temporarily be laid off. The survey also offered the option of willingness to be unemployed, and absolutely want and need to stay employed.

AMS was able to downsize the workforce with just the employees who had indicated the first option – I want or need to be at home during this crisis. And the beautiful outcome was that with the stimulus dollars in people’s pockets the economy improved and AMS was able to bring back all of the employees.

This is but one inspiring example of what DE&I looks like in practice. We encourage readers to listen to the full interview HERE.

In our previous AMS Green Team reports we have talked about the projects undertaken by Green Team Volunteers, the Vanpools we’ve organized to help our employees save money and avoid Co2 emissions and traffic, and the extensive Green efforts in our warehouses and offices. Our last report focused on the AMS TrashTag Clean Up Challenge 2021, which took place in October. Please see the photos below! 

In this report we’ll be talking with Samantha Hicks, HR Business Partner and head of AMS Programs and Services, about two very inspiring future plans. The first is for AMS West Green Team and the AMS East Green Team to officially launch their joint efforts, and the second is proposed internships of College of the Canyons LEED certified students who will help our Green Team in their efforts to increase environmental sustainability in our warehouses across the board. 

Q: AMS East and AMS West have already joined forces and the joint launch will take place in January 2022. It seems challenging to bring together the many facets of environmental sustainability and yet an exciting opportunity. Can you tell us, Samantha, what your hopes are for AMS East and West to accomplish together in the next year? 

Samantha: “As a Member of the Green Team, I am excited to be an active part of bringing AMS East and West up to par with top B-Corp standards. Our passionate Green Team Members have been designated to get together monthly to identify opportunities that improve the sustainability of our organization and to develop actionable solutions for these goals. Having individuals from various departments ensures all areas of the business are being taken into account, and it invites open collaboration of ideas and resources.

“This team of like-minded employees typically focuses on two main areas of responsibility: operations and culture. The operations focus covers developing strategies to change policies and processes that protect the environment and potentially improve the efficiency of the business. The other focus, creating a green culture, covers employee participation and educating employees about the why’s and the how’s of sustainability, ultimately encouraging engagement and participation.

“Through employee engagement, our Green Team will encourage a sense of open communication and collaboration across levels and departments. When barriers like this are broken down and a sympathetic outlet for observations is established, the employees who interact and observe the processes or operations almost daily can create valuable insight into improving the company. This second aspect of the Green Team’s responsibility is paramount to ensure a lasting culture of sustainability and a program that successfully drives change.”

* * *

The proposed internship with College of the Canyons seems an excellent opportunity both for AMS and for COC students. LEED students (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) will be able to get direct experience of warehousing issues and AMS will be able to learn how to increase the sustainability of our warehouses across the board.  

Q: First of all, Congratulations Samantha on this exciting proposal. We understand that we’re looking at Spring of 2022 for this program to begin. Since this program is in the development stage we look forward to a much more detailed report in the future. For now, could you tell us how you came up with this idea, which seems like a Win-Win for both the students and for AMS? 

Samantha: “I am excited for the opportunity to potentially partner with 3rd parties, such as COC LEED Certified Interns, in our Green Walk-Throughs. A more tangible business value of sustainability stems from improving operations through on the ground expert level observation that otherwise may be overlooked or go unreported. This can range anywhere from facility efficiency, energy efficiency or operational process efficiency and can provide a strong economical return on investment. Ultimately, as our CEO, Jay Catlin states, our goal is to be carbon neutral.”

We truly appreciate the AMS Green Team and Samantha Hicks for helping AMS uphold its commitment as a B Corporation.

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Photos of the AMS TrashTag Clean Up Volunteers!

As a B Corporation, AMS Fulfillment takes pleasure in recognizing the commemorative “History Months” where the focus is to learn more about the histories of Hispanic-Latino Americans (in September), Native Americans (in November), Black or African Americans (in February), and Women (in March.) Our focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion would be remiss if we fail to acknowledge that the people who make up this great country have stories that, for many of us, are largely untold. When the stories are told from the mouths of the people, they become real to us all, and highly valuable.

November is Native American Heritage Month, and November 26 is Native American Heritage Day. This year’s theme is, “Rising Above Adversity: Bringing Native Voices to the Forefront.” It centers on the history and journey of Native Americans as sovereign Nations with distinct cultures, Nations that have made many meaningful contributions to American society.

A good place to enter into the history and heritage is the website, NativeAmericanHeritageMonth.Gov. At this website, visitors can see an online exhibition called “Why We Serve,” which honors the generations of Native Americans who have served in the armed forces of the United States since the American Revolution. Another section on the website contains a library of 18,000 photographs from the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). There is also a video featuring interviews with cultural leaders and a guide for educators with information from a number of sources.

The following quote is from the “About Native American Heritage Month” page:

“One of the very proponents of an American Indian Day was Dr. Arthur C. Parker, a Seneca Indian, who was the director of the Museum of Arts and Science in Rochester, N.Y. He persuaded the Boy Scouts of America to set aside a day for the “First Americans” and for three years they adopted such a day. In 1915, the annual Congress of the American Indian Association meeting in Lawrence, Kans., formally approved a plan concerning American Indian Day. It directed its president, Rev. Sherman Coolidge, an Arapahoe, to call upon the country to observe such a day. Coolidge issued a proclamation on Sept. 28, 1915, which declared the second Saturday of each May as an American Indian Day and contained the first formal appeal for recognition of Indians as citizens.”

Finally, there is a very comprehensive timeline worth studying on the History.com website. It begins with an entry from 1492 about Christopher Columbus. It says, “Believing at first that he had reached the East Indies, he describes the natives he meets as “Indians.” On his first day, he orders six natives to be seized as servants.”

The final entry in the timeline tells us just how much the culture has changed: “March 15, 2021: Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico is confirmed as Secretary of the Interior, making her the first Native American to lead a cabinet agency.“

AMS Fulfillment benefits greatly from its focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. When the workforce is diverse, the opportunities are equal and everyone’s story is included, the workplace culture is vibrant and engaged in our B Corp purpose.

This link will take you to an enjoyable video by some representatives of today’s Native American youth.

It began as Armistice Day, marking the end of World War I. It fell on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 wherein the entire country reflected on the heroism of those who fought and died in service during that devastating World War. Then in 1954, the commemoration was changed to “Veterans Day” in order to recognize and appreciate all veterans in all wars.

Today Veterans Day remans on the 11th day of the 11th month, regardless of the day of the week as a federal holiday. This is a day to honor all who have served, living or deceased, but in particular the living veterans among us. For that reason we greet and honor the military veterans working at AMS Fulfillment and the veterans in our communities. Thank You for your service to our country!

At AMS Fulfillment we support all efforts toward improved healthcare and services to our Veterans in any way that they need care as we HONOR their service and appreciate their sacrifice.

At veteranaid.org there is a very helpful listing of meaningful ways to celebrate Veterans Day, such as adopting a military family, donating to a veteran’s organization, participating in the two minutes of silence across the country, and participating in the VA’s “Be There” campaign, which is an effort to connect with veterans who are at risk of suicide. We encourage readers to visit the website and participate in a meaningful way. Click HERE.

From the White House – A Proclamation on Veterans Day, 2021

“On Veterans Day, we honor our Nation’s veterans, who have given so much to protect our freedoms and the freedom of others around the globe.  They represent the highest ideals of our country.  While we can never fully repay the debt we owe these heroes, we will honor their service and provide them the care and support they deserve.  We also salute and show gratitude for all who ensure our Armed Forces remain strong, united, and unmatched.

“In respect and recognition of the contributions our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.” Read the full proclamation HERE.

In appreciation of all US Military Veterans we offer an inspiring video dedicated to the men and women who served and are now serving our country in all branches of the Armed Forces. We Thank You!

This week in our B Corporation blog series, we are inspired by an article at the bthechange.com website about a B Corporation that is reshaping hiring and employment practices to diversify the workforce. As our readers are aware, AMS is known for its hiring practices. Being both a B Corporation and a Social Enterprise, we have focused on hiring a diverse workforce and offering education and training as well.

Even though AMS Fulfillment is well established in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) practices we recently engaged an organization to provide additional training. About the training, Ken Wiseman, AMS Chief Workforce Development Officer, had this to say:

“But like any employer, we know we have blind spots. Recently we engaged Diversity Works, which used a rigorous data-driven approach to evaluate our DEI performance. We approached the effort like an individual would take up exercise and eating well – we wanted to set an intention to do better because we knew we’d come out the other side stronger and more resilient. The results confirmed some things that we already knew, and it identified opportunities for us to hardwire the changes we had made to ensure they last. Most importantly, the recommendations were tailored to our business and aligned to our values – our people are more than inputs, they are integral to our success and future performance.“

The following article from bthechange.com talks about a digital marketing company called Two Octobers that developed an apprenticeship program for Black, Indigenous and other People of Color that does not require a college degree. We hope you enjoy this inspiring article.

How B Corps Are Reshaping Hiring and Employment Practices to Diversify Their Workforce and Strengthen Their Business

Through New Programs and Training, B Corps Live Their Values and Expand Their Teams

“Research shows the benefits of a more diverse workforce — financial, societal, professional, and otherwise. But it was firsthand experience as a marketer and educator as well as a desire to better resemble and serve the community that inspired Nico Brooks and his colleagues at Two Octobers to establish a new hiring program. Similarly, other Certified B Corporations are adopting practices and policies to eliminate common barriers to employment.

“Earlier this year, Denver-based B Corp Two Octobers launched a digital marketing apprenticeship to provide an on-ramp to careers in the field for applicants who are Black, Indigenous, or other People of Color or do not have a college degree. The 20-person digital marketing agency provides analytics, paid media management, SEO and content services. It works primarily with purpose-driven organizations, including nonprofits and fellow B Corps, with an emphasis on teaching, coaching, and training.”

Read the full article HERE.

Over the past months, we’ve produced a number of safety blogs focused on COVID safety, as AMS Fulfillment has been a leader in protecting employees during the pandemic. Every measure that could be taken for employee protection was taken, including a number of very successful vaccine clinics held on the AMS campus. The AMS vaccination rate is 90% fully vaccinated. We continue promoting the clinics, including a booster shot this coming week for the safety of our employees. But we also know that while the COVID protection effort is going on, general safety practices and training have to be engaged as well.

According to an article produced by Cyzerg.com on warehouse safety, the most common workplace injuries in warehouses are: Heavy Equipment Accidents; Slips, Trips, and Falls; Exposure to Chemicals; Being Hit by Falling Objects; and Machine Entanglement. The article goes on to list tips for the warehouse safety experts to follow.

AMS has an outstanding safety record and we know this is from the training and attention given to safety. Recently we saw that once again, in September, there were NO lost time injuries in any AMS warehouse.

What Does Lost Time Injury (LTI) Mean? According to Safopedia.com, a lost time injury is an injury sustained on the job by an employee that results in the loss of productive work time. An injury is considered an LTI only when the injured worker: 1) Is unable to perform regular job duties; 2) Takes time off for recovery, and 3) Is assigned modified work duties while recovering.

The reason LTIs are so significant is that they are key indicators of the effectiveness of the company’s safety program. To find out more about AMS’ safety program and LTIs specifically, we asked Matthew Warholy, AMS Security & Safety Supervisor for his comments:

“At AMS, the fact that our Lost Time Injury rate is very low is due to our O.S.H.A. safety training courses every month and the amount of employees that have been through the course.

“A large portion of our employees that have been through the course are now empowered to look out for and report any safety issues. We can’t do it alone. The employees are our eyes in the warehouses. We have been able to curtail a large portion of accidents and injuries with simple preventative maintenance. That goes a long way. Coming up in 2022, we will be offering our OSHA course in Spanish for our non-English and limited English speaking employees who haven’t been able to take advantage of our current course. This will empower the majority of our workforce to use our safety initiatives.

“With our peak season looming, our workforce increases significantly. Safety is of the highest regard in our warehouses. 

“The majority of our injuries are caused by simply not paying attention to surroundings or taking shortcuts while working. These injuries create workers comp claims which can be expensive and cause our insurance rates to rise. Keeping injuries to our employees low ensures safer work locations, healthy employees and lower insurance premiums. As I stated earlier, preventative maintenance goes a long way.”

Workers across the Midwest walked off their jobs at John Deere recently, echoing the frustrations of workers at Kellogg the month before. After years of relatively low strike activity, a spike in 2018 and 2019 followed by a disruptive global pandemic may be shifting the power dynamic between employees and owners, who often view their people as inputs, the same as they view materials, buildings, or equipment.

This mindset creates unnecessary risks, not just the risk of strikes but the risk of unsafe working conditions, high turnover, lawsuits, and low productivity. And it is why companies that take diversity, equity, and inclusion seriously are already a better investment and will continue to outperform their peers in the future.

Many companies started thinking about DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) in the wake of George Floyd’s death, particularly as employees started asking how their employers would respond to the problem of structural racism and the call for social justice.

Certified B Corporations like AMS Fulfillment have this commitment baked in, and it is a significant factor in our success. We focus on DEI to create a safe environment for our employees which in turn makes us a more attractive employer than some of our competitors. We use our DEI values to make sure managers follow the rules and to coach all of our employees on how to resolve conflict and improve communication. As a result, we perform better and improve our margin.

But like any employer, we know we have blind spots. Recently we engaged Diversity Works, which used a rigorous data-driven approach to evaluate our DEI performance. We approached the effort like an individual would take up exercise and eating well – we wanted to set an intention to do better because we knew we’d come out the other side stronger and more resilient.

The results confirmed some things that we already knew, and it identified opportunities for us to hardwire the changes we had made to ensure they last. Most importantly, the recommendations were tailored to our business and aligned to our values – our people are more than inputs, they are integral to our success and future performance.

When we were acquired by a private equity firm a few years ago, it was these values that made us an attractive investment. Thirteen investor teams made us an offer. In the end, we selected an investor who didn’t offer us the most money but the one that agreed to sign the B Corporation agreement and saw our DEI commitments as a competitive advantage.

There are rewards for doing well by your people and considering your employees’ success as your own success. As the former CEO and now, in semi-retirement, Chief Workforce Development Officer of AMS Fulfillment, I see our B Corporation certification and our DEI strategy as part of my legacy.

We’ve created opportunities for people who often have very few, such as individuals who have been involved in the justice system. We’ve worked with our customers to support organizations that help vulnerable mothers provide for their kids and that help people with disabilities find work. And we celebrate every time one of our employees advances their career because of the leadership training that we provide. We do all of this while also giving our investors a good return.

It remains to be seen if striking employees in the Midwest or even right here in Los Angeles with the film and television workers are able to shift the balance of power in their favor. But it doesn’t have to be an adversarial relationship. In our experience, you can value and invest in your employees while also being profitable and competitive. We can do better and protect the bottom line.

By: Ken Wiseman, Chief Workforce Development Officer, AMS Fulfillment

Follow this link to read the above article at hometownstation.com.

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“Change starts with a culture of respect, acceptance, encouragement and progresses on the basis of providing opportunity and education while instilling confidence and trust,” said Ken Wiseman.

Wiseman is a well-known figure in the SCV community, appreciated for developing the workforce at AMS Fulfillment, and for his extensive volunteering while guiding AMS as its CEO. Wiseman has served on a number of boards including Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation, 10-year SCV Sheriff’s Foundation, former Chair of the SCV Mayor’s Committee for the Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, member of the College of the Canyons Business Alliance and current President of the Piru Neighborhood Council. He also served until recently as an 18-year volunteer with the SCV Sheriff’s Search & Rescue Team.

In 2019, Wiseman made the decision to go into semi-retirement and serve AMS as Chief Workforce Development Officer. Among his many achievements are the establishment of an employee learning center, and the creation of opportunities for persons struggling to enter and achieve success in the workforce. Wiseman continues to focus on training and creating a diverse, equitable and nurturing work environment.