News

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.

On June 17, 2021, Juneteenth became the twelfth federal legal holiday. A number of states also recognize it as a state legal holiday, and most states honor it as a day of observance. The Senate unanimously passed a resolution on June 15, 2021 to give Juneteenth the legal holiday status.

NPR informs us of the 2022 details: “Although the official date of the holiday is June 19, the date on which it is observed can vary if it falls on a weekend. That is the case this year. June 19, 2022 falls on a Sunday, so for pay and leave purposes, federal employees will get the holiday on Monday, June 20 according to the Office of Personnel Management.

“Juneteenth is now formally recognized as a federal holiday. In 2022 Juneteenth will be observed on Monday, June 20, however the actual day of Juneteenth is June 19th which falls on a Sunday. Banks will be closed on Juneteenth, however banks should be open on the following Tuesday, June 21.”

What does it mean for a business such as AMS, and why does this date have importance for all of us? Juneteenth is a big step forward in bringing recognition, equity and due respect to the descendants of African men and women who suffered and endured enslavement in the US. The journey from enslavement to equity has been a long and painful one for Black Americans… through Jim Crow and segregation to racism and racial discrimination. Today’s focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is meant to finally bring an end to inequality in the workplace. As a B Corporation, AMS is pleased to bring attention to this new holiday celebrating the actual end of slavery.

Juneteenth, which is short for June 19^th, marks the day in 1865 when federal troops sailed into Galveston, Texas to inform the state’s enslaved Africans that they were free. The not-so-glorious thing about that date is that it was a full two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared “that all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are, and henceforward shall be free.” Juneteenth honors the end of slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

From history.com we read the following: “Confederate General Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox Court House two months earlier in Virginia, but slavery had remained relatively unaffected in Texas—until U.S. General Gordon Granger stood on Texas soil and read General Orders No. 3: The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free.”

Contrary to what we might have presumed, the Emancipation Proclamation only applied to places under Confederate control and not to slave-holding border states. In Texas, slavery had continued. In fact, many enslavers from outside of Texas had moved there, as they viewed it as a safe haven for slavery. The arrival of federal troops in Galveston that June signaled freedom for 250,000 enslaved men, women and children.

Although emancipation didn’t happen overnight for everyone (in some cases, enslavers withheld the information until after harvest season) celebrations broke out among newly freed people, and Juneteenth was born. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment.

In our recent Memorial Day blog, we spoke about how our society has been able to change and grow in recognition of our shared humanity:

“As a B Corporation we proudly speak of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. We also are proud to consider our employees, our clients, our communities and our natural world stakeholders in the decisions we make. And we recognize that it is due to the freedoms we have, that our society has been able to change from the exploitations of the past and grow into a country that celebrates all human beings.”

As we celebrate Juneteenth we also recognize that there is a ‘way to go’ in bringing equity to all, and at AMS we are committed to the journey and happy to be so!

Photo credit: Heather Mount

We are living within a time period where wrongs of the past are being corrected, and AMS is proud to be on the forefront of advancing those corrections in the workplace. The terminology we use is “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DE&I), and the reality is a culture of fairness, humanity, and non-discrimination in hiring and promotion: the end to prejudice based on race, ethnicity and sexual orientation.

Recognizing that there was prejudice and discrimination, and there is a history of overcoming, we celebrate, in the month of June, both PRIDE and Juneteenth.

With regard to Pride Month, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) history of overcoming is celebrated to honor the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in Manhattan. The Stonewall Uprising was a tipping point for the Gay Liberation Movement in the United States.

From History.com we have gleaned some details of the Stonewall Uprising:

“The Stonewall Riots, also called the Stonewall Uprising, began in the early hours of June 28, 1969 when New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club located in Greenwich Village in New York City.

“The raid sparked a riot among bar patrons and neighborhood residents as police roughly hauled employees and patrons out of the bar, leading to six days of protests and violent clashes with law enforcement outside the bar on Christopher Street, in neighboring streets and in nearby Christopher Park. The Stonewall Riots served as a catalyst for the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.

“The 1960s and preceding decades were not welcoming times for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Americans. For instance, solicitation of same-sex relations was illegal in New York City.

“For such reasons, LGBT individuals flocked to gay bars and clubs, places of refuge where they could express themselves openly and socialize without worry. However, the New York State Liquor Authority penalized and shut down establishments that served alcohol to known or suspected LGBT individuals, arguing that the mere gathering of homosexuals was ‘disorderly.'”

As well as being a month-long celebration, Pride Month is an opportunity raise awareness of current issues facing the community. Parades are a prominent feature, and there are many other events as well. Here below are links to the websites of the Los Angeles Pride and the New York City Pride celebrations.

In this year’s blog we’d like to give credit to the woman who started the celebrations, known as the “Mother of Pride”, Brenda Howard. It was Brenda Howard who coordinated the first LGBT Pride march. From this began a week of events, and these events developed into the annual LGBTQ celebrations held every June. Here below is some of that inspiring story:

“To assemble the parade and the first gay pride week, Howard and the committee met at the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, the first gay and lesbian bookstore in America, at 15 Christopher Street. With the bookstore’s mailing list, they got word out about the parade. Committee member L. Craig Schoonmaker suggested the word “Pride” for the event. “A lot of people were very repressed, they were conflicted internally, and didn’t know how to come out and be proud. That’s how the movement was most useful, because they thought, ‘Maybe I should be proud,’” Schoonmaker said in 2015.

“The parade was scheduled for June 28, 1970. At first, only a relative few showed up for the parade’s 2 PM start time, set to travel 51 blocks, from Greenwich Village to Central Park. Police, there to protect the marchers, had to urge those who did show up to begin at ten after two. As if waiting to see if others would go first, people first trickled into the parade and then showed up in droves, growing louder and louder, eventually forming a thousands-strong mass of people 20 blocks long.”

Read the full article HERE.

AMS Fulfillment strives to create a corporate culture that is truly inclusive, and eager to give respect to voices that have been historically excluded. We are a B Corporation, and as such we are committed to ‘B The Change’ for the better.

As employers with a long-time commitment to diversity, AMS knows from experience that a diverse workforce creates a stronger corporate family. We have a stronger company and a happier family because of the diverse talent, diverse backgrounds, and diverse experiences of our teams today, and we intend to continue on that foundation and improve whatever needs improvement as we go forward.

Happy PRIDE MONTH! Be proud!!

There are patriotic commemorations throughout the year in which we recognize that we live in a country where our individual freedoms and democratic government are to be cherished and preserved. They are even worth life itself. Through these freedoms, human beings and human society can evolve. We have seen that type of growth take place in the USA.

As a B Corporation we proudly speak of diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. We also are proud to consider our employees, our clients, our communities and our natural world stakeholders in the decisions we make. And we recognize that it is due to the freedoms we have, that our society has been able to change from the exploitations of the past, and grow into a country that celebrates all human beings.

This past weekend we celebrated Memorial Day during which we honored and thanked all of the men and women who paid the ultimate price defending our freedoms as members of the military service. This commemoration is sacred to the many who lost ancestors, family members and friends in war. It is a day of appreciation for those who sacrificed for future generations. A very great sacrifice indeed.

The story of how Memorial Day began is an example of that very evolution of our humanity through the freedoms and democratic government that we are willing to fight and die for. This inspiring story can be found on the History.com website. Here below is a brief excerpt:

“And then on May 1, 1865, something even more extraordinary happened. According to two reports that Blight found in The New York Tribune and The Charleston Courier, a crowd of 10,000 people, mostly freed slaves with some white missionaries, staged a parade around the race track. Three thousand Black schoolchildren carried bouquets of flowers and sang “John Brown’s Body.” Members of the famed 54th Massachusetts and other Black Union regiments were in attendance and performed double-time marches. Black ministers recited verses from the Bible.”

“If the news reports are accurate, the 1865 gathering at the Charleston race track would be the earliest Memorial Day commemoration on record. Blight excitedly called the Avery Institute of Afro-American History and Culture at the College of Charleston, looking for more information on the historic event.”

Read the full story HERE.

Coming up in June is Flag Day, commemorating the adoption of the flag of the US on June 14^th, 1777. Following that we will get ready to celebrate the independence of the US on July 4! Then, on the 11^th of November we will celebrate Veterans Day. Moving on to 2023, in the month of May, we will celebrate Armed Forces Day. Click HERE to read our recent blog, “Thank You to our Armed Forces.”

We hope you had a very enjoyable Memorial Day weekend, enjoying friends and family and giving thanks to those who sacrificed their lives. We are very fortunate to live in a country where the human being can freely choose to Be the Change. 

Photo Credit: Aaron Burden

We’re ready to begin the month of May with a salute to our AMS employees of Mexican heritage! Cinco de Mayo is coming right up and there is recognition of that day, that battle victory, the culture, the food and the people at AMS Fulfillment.

Before mentioning the celebrations in the Los Angeles area, we’ll look at the event that is being celebrated. From the History website we find out that this event celebrates a particular battle – the Battle of Puebla.

“Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men—many of them either Indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry—and sent them to Puebla.

“The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez gathered his army—supported by heavy artillery—before the city of Puebla and led an assault.

“The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.”

This victory is even more significant in that the main goal of the French army was to conquer the USA under the military and political leader, Napoleon Bonaparte! You can read the full story HERE.

AMS is very grateful to and appreciative of our employees of Mexican heritage and our Spanish speaking employees. For six years we have offered free ESL classes during work hours and we have enjoyed an excellent response, with many graduates. We have also translated our OSHA safety training booklet into Spanish and begun holding our OSHA walks in both English and Spanish.

We are confident there will be many Cinco de Mayo celebrants at our various AMS facilities on May 5^th, and we wish them all a great day, with good food, friends and fun!

An excellent listing of Cinco de Mayo events in the Los Angeles area can be found HERE.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Harris

Saturday, May 14, is a ‘big day’ coming up in May – the SCV Relay for Life! Relay for Life is a fundraising movement of the American Cancer Society in which communities across the world come together to honor and remember loved ones and help raise funds to support cancer research, provide help for cancer patients, provide access to screening and so forth.

The Santa Clarita Valley (SCV) community is holding a Relay for Life and AMS Fulfillment is proudly participating as a Team. We want to share some details to encourage you – our employees and friends – to attend the SCV Relay for Life with us. This is a community based walk event to celebrate our Survivors, remember those we have lost, and fight back as a community to end cancer.

At the cancer.org website we find the following information:

“Relay For Life is a movement, a community of like-minded survivors, caregivers, volunteers, and participants who believe that the future can be free from cancer. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our community is currently connecting in different ways. While our fundraising might look different right now, our passion to save lives, celebrate lives, and lead the fight for a world without cancer is unchanged.

“When you participate in Relay For Life, you become a vital part of the American Cancer Society: a volunteer. You are now part of an organization of 2.5 million survivors, patients, advocates, volunteers, caregivers, and researchers doing everything within our power to save lives.” 

The location of the SCV Relay for Life event is CENTRAL PARK, 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, California, 91350. You can map the location HERE.

AMS Team participants will meet up at a Campsite Location, and details on the location will be shared soon. You can join the AMS group in person by registering HERE and also participate by donating. The AMS Team will setup a space to fundraise and hang out, with participants welcome to bring tents, chairs, and so forth.

What Are The Basics To Know?

* Relay For Life runs from 9 am – 9 pm on May 14, 2022
* Food will be available for purchase throughout the entire event. (details coming soon)
* Upon arrival, follow the direction signs and drive slowly to a parking spot. 
* Schedule of activities is available below.
* You can participate in 2 ways: Walk and/or Donate

Schedule of Events

• 9:00 am – Opening Ceremonies
• 9:45 am – Team Lap/Introductions
• 10:00 am – 1:45 pm – Various performances on stage
• 2:45 pm – Road to Recovery event
• 3:15 pm – Survivor Lap
• 4:00 pm – 6:15 pm – Various performances on stage
• 7:30 pm – Luminaria Ceremony / Silent Lap
• 8:30 pm – Fight Back / Bell
• 9:00 pm – Last Lap / Closing Ceremonies

Learn More about Relay for Life HERE.  Join the AMS Team and/or Donate HERE.

Fight Back with AMS

We come together as a community to fight back against cancer. Invite your family and friends to attend the event and support you and your fellow Relayers’ fundraising efforts.

Contact [email protected] for more details and please feel free to share the image below.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of March: Bryanna A., Tanya C., Jose M., Hugo J., Ana V., Thomas C., Shamar G., Naphaterie R. and Anton 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!

Bryanna A., Account Manager (01/30/2017)
HQ Admin, Valencia, CA

I nominate Bryanna for March Employee of the Month because she has great leadership skills and is a hard worker. She goes above and beyond for our clients and really puts in the work. Bryanna is always eager to help any team member if they have questions. We are so lucky to work with her each day because she is always positive even when things get busy here at AMS. Bryanna is someone who really stands out to us. She is always there for the team and gets things done without follow up. Bryanna is very knowledgeable and takes on tasks given to her. When we asked our team members to describe Bryanna this is what they said… Hard Working, Strong, Reliable, Sweet, Patient, Compassionate, An Inspiration, Dedicated, and a Team Player! Bryanna has all these positive traits and so much more! She truly deserves this!

Tanya C., Operations Supervisor (03/14/2016)
HQ Warehouse, Valencia, CA

I nominate Tanya for March Employee of the Month. Recently, the Safety Team held our OSHA Safety class in Spanish for our employees who don’t speak English or have limited English speaking skills. We asked Tanya if she could translate the 4-hour class in Spanish for us and she came through in perfect form. Not only did she translate from Spanish to English, but she did it with such enthusiasm. We are so happy to have her as a part of our Safety Team.

Jose M., Janitorial Custodial (10/05/2020)
WIT, Valencia, CA

I nominate Jose for March Employee of the Month because Jose is a team player and does an amazing job with the tasks at WIT.  He is always willing to help wherever he is needed and is an all-around great AMS employee.

Hugo J., Janitorial Custodial (09/07/2021)
WIL, Valencia, CA

I nominate Hugo for March Employee of the Month. Hugo is awfully good in his tasks. He does them fast and efficient. He always has a positive attitude which spreads across to others. He keeps the areas clean and safe from possible accidents. We appreciate his commitment to his work. No matter what the task is Hugo is always willing to lend a hand. He is always going above and beyond to help any department or anyone in the building with a smile. He is a great asset to the team, and we appreciate him very much!

Ana V., General Warehouse II (01/28/2021)
LIV, Valencia, CA

I nominate Ana for March Employee of the Month because Ana is a very hard worker. She is always on time and is here with a great attitude, helping in other departments and willing to learn new processes to improve herself. She is a great member of our team at LIV! Ana took the lead on a difficult client when we needed someone quickly and she has done an excellent job. She learned everything about the client and quickly trained everyone in the department and now everything runs very smoothly. Ana is always willing to learn more and help in any department whenever she is needed. She always has a great attitude and a smile on her face and says, “don’t worry, I got this.”

Thomas C., General Warehouse II F (04/01/2021)
HAR, Valencia, CA

I nominate Thomas for March Employee of the Month because he has shown me a smile and positive attitude since the day I began at AMS. Thomas is always willing to help, he strives to learn, and goes far beyond in both effort and input. During the Client close-down Thomas displayed initiative and dedication that helped this crew do some amazing things. He is the heart of this team; his energy and positive attitude has an impact on this crew, and we hope to see him continue to grow.

Shamar G., IT Associate (08/08/2016)
New Holland, PA

I nominate Shamar for March Employee of the Month. Shamar is always quick to help resolve issues and goes above by checking in to make sure everything is going ok after assisting with IT issues and on a regular basis. He is always personable when doing his work and he is also willing to explain what the problem is instead of just fixing. Additionally, he is also fun to be around and willing to participate when there are events and such. Thank you, Shamar!

Naphaterie R., Logistics Coordinator (04/19/2017)
New Castle, DE

I nominate Naphaterie for March Employee of the Month. As the new HR Manager, my first week was very busy meeting new people. As I was visiting all the locations on the East, Naphaterie stood out. She actively shares information, sets a positive example for others, made me feel part of the team from day one, and made a point to stop in to say hello when she was in New Holland. Neffy is well respected among the management team as well as the front-line staff. She does what it takes to get it done, even when it is hard and unpredictable. Neffy cares about her staff and her colleagues and puts in the effort to recognize everyone for their contributions. She is doing it right!

Anton J., Receiving Clerk (06/15/2020)
Newark, DE

I nominate Anton for March Employee of the Month. Anton has agreed to transfer from New Castle to Newark and we are excited for him to be here. When we were in New Castle together it was great having him on the receiving team.  Anton has always stayed busy working hard throughout the day. He has brought that same work ethic over to OGL1. Anton never complains he just takes on whatever task is asked of him. If you want an example of a team player, it is Anton. I am thankful to have him as part of the team! AMS appreciates what you do!!

KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

One of the most relevant, historic and important global commemorative days is Earth Day – April 22^nd. In a recent blog we spoke about the origins of Earth Day; organized in response to a massive oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara 53 years ago. The sentiment was very strong at the time, to respect the environment and stop the destruction and exploitation of ‘Mother’ Earth.

The environmental movement has continued and grown considerably since that time, and we are very pleased to see that an increasing number of corporations have reached the stage of the B Corporation – a business legally committed to consider the environment a stakeholder in business decisions. AMS Fulfillment is proud to be a B Corporation.

Our AMS Green Team is active, committed, and accomplishing things!! To commemorate Earth Day last year AMS published an Earth Day report that can be read HERE. Much has happened in the past year, and in 2022 we have another Earth Day report for you. Contributing to this report are three Green Team members: Daniel Butera, COO; Samantha Hicks, Senior Program Administrator; and Jeff Pierson, Acct. Manager Client Services.

Update on Carpool –2022 C02 Report

With AMS’ Vanpool program, 14 employees participate in ridesharing, equaling 65 metric tons of C02 which is avoided because of this rideshare program. This may not seem like a big deal to most, but when we look at the big picture, the equivalence of these emissions would have to be counterbalanced by 22.5 tons of waste recycled instead of landfilled, 76.9 acres of US forests in one year, and 2,463 incandescent lamps switched to LED’s.

BIG SHOUT TO AMS EMPLOYEES: Mayra C, Maria B, Analida H, Jocelyn G, Reina C, Jazmine A, Maria G, Angie M, Martha D, Destiny S, Abraham T, Emely G, & Adam H.

Update on LEED Interns

We have received four resumes of College of the Canyons Interns, and plan to start Summer and/or Fall of this year! In this program College of the Canyons Interns will partner with the AMS Green Team to identify and promote modern green infrastructure. The interns will help AMS reduce its environmental impact by identifying meaningful operational solutions which balance sustainability concerns with financial profitability. 

Membership in Sustainable Packaging Coalition

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.

Evaluating, Educating & Investigating

Some of the other initiatives that the Green Team is working on consist of evaluating recycling options for both coasts and at all facilities for supplies used as well as personal/employee waste. We are educating ourselves on how we ensure that these materials that are recycled are being done so correctly, so they end up back into the life cycle of reusable raw materials for new packaging and products. 

We’ve launched an internal investigation that includes bringing in third party groups to evaluate us on where we are being wasteful and where we can make changes. We are also evaluating ways to actively help our clients in finding options for more sustainable business practices, including supplies, so they too can contribute to this goal of carbon neutrality.

Learning Center Reusable Materials

The AMS Learning Center is fully paperless, with dry erase name tents and reusable training material. Our caterer for luncheons and events, LaCo Taco, is using cardboard meal treys to replace plastic.

Goal to be carbon neutral by 2023

AMS Fulfillment is proud to say we are underway on an extensive and in-depth analysis of how we can become a greener, more eco-friendly company and reduce and eventually completely offset our carbon footprint.

We are seeking the following certifications: Carbon/Climate Neutral Certification and Green Business Certification.

Other

We have made available Reusable AMS Water Bottles for all Employees, we are communicating with Employees on Green Best Practices at home and at work and we are holding Weekly Green Team Meetings.

** ** **

Key Performance Indicators in Green Warehousing

In global supply chains, warehouses produce environmental pollution mostly from heating, cooling, and lighting. Generally, the bigger the warehouse, the larger the carbon footprint. Interns and Green Team can measure the carbon footprint of their operations by considering key performance indicators: emissions, natural resource use, amount of waste and extent of recycling and reuse. Studying total carbon dioxide emissions, as well as energy consumption, water consumption, and rate of product or material use, will reveal areas where companies can apply green initiatives.

For example, a warehouse with a high electricity bill might discover that alternative lighting sources—like natural light, automatic lights, or other renewable energy options—offer savings. Likewise, the discovery that a warehouse consumes large quantities of water from an unsustainable and expensive natural source might inspire change. By installing water flow reduction mechanisms or a rainwater capture system, warehouses can reduce, offset, or optimize water use.

PDF: Sustainability Among Consumers

Photo credit: Amy Shamblen

Warehouse safety is in the news nowadays as we move closer to an eCommerce world and become more conscious of the people making up the supply chain we depend upon. Warehouse employees are needed, valuable, and deserving of respect and protection. Accidents can happen in warehouses, and employee safety should be a top priority: safety matters.

AMS Fulfillment is proud of our safety record, as it’s one of the best in the industry. A great deal of thought and care, and attention have gone into safety over the years. Back in early 2020 we began a covid safety blog as something of a guide as to precautions that a fulfillment company can take. Today the covid safety measures continue at AMS, including on-campus free vaccine clinics.

But as we know, warehouse safety goes well beyond covid. In our last blog we spoke about OSHA training. This training is essential as it involves employees in understanding safety procedures, spotting hazards, and reporting issues. We have begun doing our OSHA training in both English and Spanish, and that has been a very rewarding effort.  

In this month’s blog Eric Wiseman, Safety and Security Director and Matthew Warholy, Security and Safety Manager have penned an outline of actions to take in an emergency situation.

Emergency Preparedness

When we think of Emergency Preparedness, we should always think of the Before, During and After to keep us safe. These include Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Fires and Earthquakes at our East Coast and West Coast facilities.

These rules can and should be applied at our homes and while we’re out in public as well to keep our families safe and protected.

*The before should include thinking ahead of what to do in case of a natural disaster or fire. What would I do in case there’s an emergency?

*The during should include taking cover and protecting ourselves until the emergency has passed. Waiting until the shaking stops in an earthquake or the tornado has passed.

*The after should be the evacuation. Get out of the building at ANY exit. Don’t walk across the warehouse to the employee entrance. Just get out at any door.

*Each exit should have a list of emergency phone numbers and a map with evacuation meeting points. These maps are also for emergency personnel coming into our buildings to see how the floor plan is laid out.

*Can’t remember your evacuation point? That’s OK. Just walk around the perimeter of the building until you see a crowd forming. It’s natural to want to leave and check on our loved ones. Kids at daycare, grandma, a loved one at home. Just remember to check in and make sure someone gets your name. If we don’t know that you’ve left, we will be searching for you in the warehouse. That could put someone else’s life at risk.

*Remember to take a breath and don’t panic. Think clearly and stay alive!

With April being Earth Month, and April 22^nd being Earth Day, we set out to see what other B Corporations are doing to celebrate and recognize their obligation to the Earth and to their own impact on the environment. A comprehensive Earth Day report from AMS Fulfillment is forthcoming, and in the meantime we have chosen to look into one of the main environmental concerns of B Corporations and of AMS Fulfillment – deforestation.

Readers may recall that in December AMS Fulfillment chose the Rainforest Climate Action Fund as recipient of its holiday donation on behalf of our valued clients. Like many other companies and certainly all B Corporations, we know that everyone who lives and breathes should care about and take action to prevent the exploitation and destruction of the lungs of the Earth – the rainforests.

The bthechange.com newsletter points us to certified B Corporations that are dedicating themselves to the protection of rainforests. The following article introduces readers to a B Corp called Wild + Pine. They have developed a project called Forest B. The same article also covers an advocacy movement to support passage of the Fostering Overseas Rule of Law and Environmentally Sound Trade (FOREST) Act. Here’s more info on the FOREST Act.

We hope you will enjoy this interesting information and that the efforts of these B Corps will have a real impact. AMS Fulfillment believes that our future matters, and corporations that take action to prevent negatively impacting the Earth are the successful businesses in a better world. For a B Corp, success is measured not in monetary profit alone, but in the beneficial impact of the business on all who have a stake. When the Earth is a stakeholder in every business, we will see a healed Earth.

Collective Business Climate Action to Support Reforestation

U.S. and Canadian B Corps Tackle Deforestation Through Advocacy and Group Initiatives

“The loss of trees around the world — whether for business use or from wildfires — and their carbon-storage role is a growing contributor to climate change and its escalating impacts. As huge tracts of forests are cleared to make way for farms producing crops and cattle, deforestation is responsible for 15% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Amid growing awareness of the effects of this loss — rising temperature, extreme weather, and other ecological impacts — Certified B Corporations are tapping into the collective nature of the community to help businesses raise awareness of the effects of deforestation and take business climate action to protect forests and other natural areas.”

Read the full article HERE