News

Creating a good balance between our day at work and our life at home is a challenge for many of us and it’s a subject worth discussing. A few days ago, we published a blog on stress. This offering is a follow-up to that blog. Many of us do experience stress, and more-so if our work life and our personal lives are not in balance.

At AMS we do not want our employees’ day at work to take precedence over everything else in life. Having a harmonious work-life balance is important to our employees’ physical, emotional, and mental well-being and we encourage our employees to not put the demands of career above the demands of personal life.

In reading what others say about work-life balance, one of the recommendations is to work from home. AMS is a fulfillment company, and our valued employees work in warehouses and offices on campus, so work from home is an option for very few AMS employees.

Another recommendation is to find a job you love. We definitely do all we can at AMS to make this a place our employees enjoy being in, with labor that is not stressful on the body, and rest when rest is needed. We also offer some ‘extras’ to make working at AMS exciting and beneficial. Primary among the extras is our Volunteer Committee, which engages activities each month for some fun at work. It gives us something to look forward to, something to connect with each other on, something positive to take our mind off other things.  

For those commuting to an eight-hour workday, picking up kids from day-care or running errands, eating dinner, with just enough time to brush our teeth and read a few pages of a book… AMS understands this, and we offer Free education and training for personal and career development during work hours, giving employees what most of us value most, time. We want our employees to love working at AMS.

Moving on, we found some tips for creating a better work-life balance at Business News Daily. Let’s check them out:

In short, work-life balance is the state of equilibrium where a person equally prioritizes the demands of one’s career and the demands of one’s personal life. Here are eight tips for creating a better work-life balance.

*Accept that there is no ‘perfect’ work-life balance. Don’t strive for the perfect schedule; strive for a realistic one.

*Find a job that you love. You don’t need to love every aspect of your job, but it needs to be exciting enough that you don’t dread getting out of bed every morning.

*Prioritize your health. Don’t be afraid to call in sick on rough days. Prioritizing your health first and foremost will make you a better employee and person.

*Don’t be afraid to unplug. Cutting ties with the outside world from time to time allows us to recover from weekly stress and gives us space for other thoughts and ideas to emerge.

*Take a vacation. Sometimes, truly unplugging means taking vacation time and shutting off work completely for a while.

*Make time for yourself and your loved ones. While your job is important, it shouldn’t be your entire life. You were an individual before taking this position, and you should prioritize the activities or hobbies that make you happy.

*Set boundaries and work hours. Set boundaries for yourself and your colleagues to avoid burnout. When you leave the office, avoid thinking about upcoming projects or answering company emails.

*Set goals and priorities (and stick to them). Pay attention to when your most productive work time is and block that time off for your most important work-related activities.

The article is quite a bit more extensive than what we have quoted here, and if readers would like to check it out, here is the Business News Daily [LINK].

In our recent blog on stress [LINK] we encouraged our employees to utilize the AMS Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides free counseling for AMS employees and their families. We encourage employees to contact HR for information on the EAP services. If talking with a professional might help in solving struggles with work-life balance, please take advantage of this excellent program.

More good information can be found in an article at the Mental Health America website. Their focus is on stress caused by juggling workloads, managing relationships and family responsibilities, and squeezing in outside interests. The article states that “More than one in four Americans describe themselves as ‘super stressed’ and that’s not balanced—or healthy.” The article offers some practical steps as follows:

At Work

Set manageable goals each day. Being able to meet priorities helps us feel a sense of accomplishment and control. The latest research shows that the more control we have over our work, the less stressed we get. So be realistic about workloads and deadlines. Make a “to do” list and take care of important tasks first and eliminate unessential ones. Ask for help when necessary.

The article goes on to suggest the following:

*Be efficient with your time at work. 

*Ask for flexibility.

*Take five. Small breaks at work—or on any project—will help clear your head.

*Tune in. Listen to your favorite music at work to foster concentration, reduce stress and anxiety, and stimulate creativity.

*Communicate effectively. Be honest with colleagues or your boss when you feel you’re in a bind. Chances are, you’re not alone.

*Give yourself a break. No one’s perfect!

At Home

*Unplug. Recognize the need for personal time.

*Divide and conquer. Make sure responsibilities at home are evenly distributed and clearly outlined.

*Don’t over commit. Shed the superman/superwoman urge!

*Get support. Chatting with friends and family can be important to your success at home—or at work.

*Take advantage of your company’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

*Stay active. Make time in your schedule for the gym or to take a walk during lunch—and have some fun!

*Treat your body right.

*Get help if you need it. Don’t let stress stand in the way of your health and happiness.

As with the previous article, there is more valuable information offered at the Mental Health America website [LINK].

At AMS our employees are highly respected and appreciated as people. We care. Our employees are the reason for our success and we hope that they, and all readers, get some value from these guidelines. May we all find a peaceful balance between work life and home life.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, committed to putting People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

 

In the United States, the entire month of April is designated as National Volunteer Month. At AMS we celebrate our Volunteers, and we know that even small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of positivity, inspiring others to join the movement of volunteerism.

Introduction and Thank You!

First, we would like to introduce the Volunteer Committee at AMS and give our thanks to them personally. For those readers who don’t know which locations are AMS East, and which are AMS West, here are the AMS East locations – New Holland, Boulden, Churchmans; and here are AMS West locations – WIT, WIL, LIV, HQ Office and HQ. These individuals are presented in random order:

Alyssa F., Account Manager I, New Holland

Bill C., Accounting Specialist I, New Holland

Emma A., HR Business Partner, New Holland

Wendy M., Account Manager, New Holland

Sharon S., Billing Specialist II, New Holland

Jada T., Operations Associate, Boulden

Tia W., Operations Lead, Churchmans

Gabriel G., Asst. Account Manager, HQ Office

Ray A., Asst. Account Manager, HQ Office

Samantha H., Corp. Culture & Org. Development BP, HQ Office

Teresa G., Returns Supervisor, HQ

Tangie D., Operations Supervisor, WIT

Jamie B., Field HR Business Partner, WIT Office

Rocio A., Talent Acquisition Manager, WIT Office

Roxanne W., Operations Associate II, WIL

Cristy G., Inventory/Receiving Manager, WIL

Elizabeth S., Data Entry Clerk, WIL

Saul M., Operations Supervisor, LIV

Interview with Samantha Hicks

We have asked Samantha Hicks, Corp. Culture & Org. Development BP, if she could tell us more about the AMS Volunteers. We have several questions:

Thank you Samantha. We don’t really understand the work of the AMS volunteers. Could you explain what they do?

“AMS always had a “family-like” culture. As the company started to grow, with opening new warehouses across CA, PA, and DE, it was important to engage and include all employees. Company culture can’t be driven alone, we needed a team.

“Our warehouse in PA, dba. Echo Data, has a long rich history of people working at that organization, and it was important to preserve their culture, bridging the cultural gap. With at least one representative from each facility, it enriches our organization as one.

“The AMS Volunteer Committee is a cross-functional team of employees from each of our warehouses who volunteer their time during the workday to engage our teams in cultural and fundraising activities. I like the call them “Culture Champions.” They keep our day-to-day from becoming stagnant, ensuring new ideas come from all areas of the company.

“We call it “Volunteer” because there are no requirements or expectations of the Representatives, the program is completely organic and holistic. We get what we put into it. We recruit openly within our organization, and those who have a real passion for creating a positive experience for themselves and their teams are the ones who volunteer their time and efforts. I am proud to say, the Representatives who initially joined are still part of it.

“To maximize inclusivity, our strategy is to have meetings monthly, and we get together on a blank platform to brainstorm activities for the following month. There is input, collaboration, and co-creation from these Champions. There is no hierarchy, as everyone is on the same level. We aim to celebrate cultural holidays, tying in a fundraising activity, which proceeds will go to helping out the nonprofit organization for that month’s theme.”

Where are the Champions volunteering?

“Mostly, at work during work hours. For example, we hold food and clothing drives and donate to our community. On some occasions, we go outside the organization, like for our annual Santa Clarita River Rally Cleanup. We have fundraising events, like “Pie the Boss” to donate back to non-profit organizations.”

How do the volunteers find the places and ways to serve the community?

“I would go to the city website and see what activities are planned. Other times, the Representatives will have an event they are connected to which we support as an organization.”

Thank you Samantha, and THANK YOU to the AMS Volunteers!! We’re proud of you and grateful for your efforts. You ARE Champions!! 

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to putting People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

 

April is National Stress Awareness Month, and certainly stress is worthy of a conversation. Is there any one among us who does not experience stress now and then? For some of us, stress is a minor issue, and we have methods of reducing it and re-centering. For others stress can affect physical health and have a negative impact on daily life.

For information on stress we went to the National Institute of Health (NIH). The NIH provides guidance for employers, including a recommendation for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). AMS does offer the EAP free to employees and their households, so help is available. AMS employees have access to EAP licensed mental health professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and this includes eligible dependents.

Where does stress come from?

The stress we deal with can come from many origins. Probably the most common are financial and family health, and we encourage our employees who are experiencing these kinds of stress to talk to HR, utilize the EAP, and speak with supervisors if appropriate. At AMS we care, and we want to help.

Other types of stress can come from social media and news headlines affecting the mind. There are far too many ‘fear’ messages, created for the purpose of ‘clicks’, and these messages are bound to affect our minds and spirits. If the headlines are creating fear, we encourage readers to put the phone or computer down and go for a walk, in nature if possible.

Is there a positive side of Stress?

There are some arguments in favor of a small amount of stress if it is short-lived. An article in Bravowell.com [LINK] states: “Stress that lasts for a short time can boost job performance while increasing alertness. Healthy amounts of stress can even help build relationships essential for our health. Stress is also vital for our memory. It allows us to recall the inevitable consequences of our actions to help us avoid them again in the future.”

It is the chronic stress we need to avoid, and we are wise to take steps to reduce stress if we notice it becoming chronic and harmful to our bodies and minds.

Stress Reduction

Exercise:

The most common recommendation for stress reduction is exercise. Exercise does have a very positive effect in reducing stress. Some of us may work out in the gym, some may go for a run, some may play tennis, some may simply walk the dog – whatever avenue you take with regard to exercise, it will be a net positive.

Breathing:

Deep breathing exercises are a very effective method of reducing stress. Chinese medicine has ‘energy work’ called Qigong (pronounced Chi Kung) that can be utilized while sitting at the desk or taking a moment to relax. It involves a slow inhale while raising the hands from hips to shoulders, and a slow exhale while lowering the hands.

Meditation:

Another method of stress reduction is meditation. Meditation is a practice of calming the mind, slowing the thoughts, centering, and being present in the body and aware and observant of self. There are meditation teachers and meditation groups available online, and these can be helpful. There is also a technique developed by physicists that can bring about relaxation by slowing brainwaves – it’s called binaural beats, and a quick google search will bring information.

Stress and Disease

Returning to the NIH website [LINK] we see a very extensive writing on stress and disease. Quoting from the article: “The critical factor associated with stress is its chronic effect over time. Chronic stressors include daily hassles, frustration of traffic jams, work overload, financial difficulties, marital arguments or family problems. There are, of course, many more things that can cause stress, but these are the stressors commonly encountered in daily life. Instead of discharging this stress, however, we hold it inside where its effects become cumulative.”

See your Doctor if Needed

We encourage our valued employees, clients and friends to not ignore stress if it is chronic. Please utilize the Employee Assistance Program and find help if help is needed. If your level of stress is such that it concerns you regarding disease, see your doctor. Chronic and severe stress can cause high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers and other issues that should never be ignored.

Care for Yourself

When you are stressed or anxious make sure you are continuing to look after yourself. Take time to relax when you need to and learn to say no to requests that are too much for you. The answer to prevention of disease can be found in communication, empathy, and sincere care. Employees are encouraged to contact HR for more information on EAP, and please do not hesitate to speak to your supervisor if you’re feeling overwhelmed by stress.

One More Thing!!

AMS is offering a brand new educational course available to all employees entitled “Mental Health First Aid in the Workplace.” Upon completion of the course, students will receive a NCBH Mental Health First Aid Certificate. For more information on this course, please contact [email protected].

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation whose commitment is to put People and Planet before Profit. We seek to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

 

Every month is Earth Month at AMS Fulfillment. We never forget about doing what we can do to minimize any damage to the environment caused by operating our business. But since there is a commemoration going on in April, and April 22nd is Earth Day we are happy to join in and encourage others to honor our beautiful planet.

Why Earth Month?

Earth Month started during the years when Americans were using leaded gasoline and creating significant air pollution due to inefficient emissions from our cars. It was in the early 1960s when a book came out, written by Rachel Carson, titled “Silent Spring”. That best-selling book really elevated the awareness of the effect of pollution on all living organisms.

In addition to the air pollution due to automobiles, there was another environmental crisis. From National Today [LINK] we read the following:

“In January 1969, several witnesses saw a massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California, which caused major destruction to the environment. This captured the attention of senator Gaylord Nelson who wanted to use students’ passion and energy for anti-war protests for ecological activism, particularly regarding air and water pollution. This idea inspired a group of activists to dedicate themselves to encouraging all Americans to be proactive and environmentally conscious. They named their initiative Earth Day, which immediately caught the attention of the media and since a day isn’t enough to achieve the desired results regarding climate solutions, Earth Month was created. This was first celebrated on April 4, 1970.”

Thankfully this effort caught on and by 1990, Earth Month became a global event. At a website called Sustain Life [LINK] we read about how the concern for the environment grew. After the 1970 inaugural event the Environmental Protection Agency was established, and the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act were passed into law.

“In 1990, Earth Day went global, with events and activities taking place worldwide, marking the beginning of Earth Month, which is now celebrated every April. The event grew in popularity, and in 2009, the United Nations designated April 22 as International Mother Earth Day. Today, Earth Day is celebrated in over 190 countries. While Earth Month is a time to celebrate the progress made when protecting the environment, it’s also a time to reflect and double down on action to address the climate crisis and the environmental challenges that remain.”

How AMS Celebrates

Our AMS Green Team will be active and involved on Earth Day (April 22), and we will report on the activities of our Team when the day arrives. In the meantime, we take a moment to uplift Earth Month and express our gratitude to all individuals and all businesses that dedicate themselves to caring for the environment.

In the past years, corporations have contributed to the destruction of rivers, forests, oceans, land, and the air we all breathe. We have seen oil spills, pollution poured into rivers, forests stripped of trees, toxic spills into the environment and sadly these things are still happening. We are grateful for the businesses that join us in our B Corporation commitment to put Planet before Profit and we urge all businesses and institutions to focus on how to lessen the negative impact on our shared Earth.

AMS is proud to have achieved Carbon Neutral status in 2023 and we continue our efforts for 2024. What do we focus on? Our first effort, begun years ago, was recycling and proper handling of all packaging materials. Our goal is to minimize and even eliminate our contribution to landfills. Last year we recycled over one million pounds of cardboard. Recently, after a long effort and some expense, we found a way to recycle stretch plastic. Today it doesn’t end up in a landfill, but instead it is re-used to create any number of plastic-based products.

AMS has eliminated the use of gasoline powered forklifts, we have changed the lighting in our warehouses, and we are most proud of our use of earth friendly options for sustainable packaging materials. We also have created a catalog for our clients to use in determining the packaging they wish to utilize, and we plan to revamp it this year.

We are doing what we can, and we have a very dedicated Green Team researching and creating more ways to lessen our impact. We are looking forward to providing a full report from our Team for Earth Day, April 22^nd.

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AMS Fulfillment is proud to be a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet over Profit. We aim to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

We have a bit of a kerfuffle here at AMS Valencia. Our CDO, Stella, has threatened to engage in ‘barking’ if we don’t straighten up and show her some respect. Stella never engages in ‘barking’ – she considers it undignified, so this is serious.

First of all, Stella is not at all in love with her position as Chief Distraction Officer. She was heard stating… “I am a whole lot more than a distraction!! I am the one who keeps this place fit for humans!” We humbly asked Stella for recommendations, and she simply suggested, “Get a doggie dictionary – I can’t believe you don’t have one!”

We apologized and went to Google to find a doggy dictionary… and found it a bit of a challenge. Okay… here are the parameters: The CEO is the one who assigned her as CDO so maybe we could find an alternate word starting with the letter ‘D’.

How about Dawdle, or Debacle, Divergent, Dapper, Dashing, Devoted, Divine, Dutiful, Delightful, Deserving, Distinguished, Decent or Diplomatic… what about Chief Diplomatic Officer! We went to Stella with the Diplomatic option, and she just replied… “I have nothing to ‘bark’ on that subject – just take me outside for a walk.”

OK – does that mean she accepts the option? In any situation where diplomacy is required, we go to Stella for a smile and a wag? It sounds like it. She actually might be really effective in that position! We’ll check with the CEO.

Stella’s April Fools Request

Since today is April Fools Day, Stella brought up an issue that she has dealt with in the past. Sometimes people will put fake spiders and buggy things around as an April Fools joke, and this really is offensive to Stella. She is a ‘no bugs allowed’ pooch – even fake ones – and nothing irritates her more than going to check the building out and finding someone thinks bugs are funny. Stella said that if she finds any, she will go talk to the CEO.

We urge you to show all due respect to Stella today on April Fools Day. No fake spiders or bugs, especially no chocolate ones. In fact, please make sure there is nothing that she could accidentally harm herself with. Stella likes to snoop around – it’s part of her role as the Chief Distraction Officer (or maybe Chief Diplomatic Officer), finding anything that could offend human beings. She’s very good at caring for humans and giving them reason to smile and feel good, so let’s show her all due respect.

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Happy April Fools Day AMS – have some fun! And seriously… keep pets in mind on this day – making sure there are no ‘harmful to pets’ jokes within reach of a CDO like Stella.  

 

In this third and final Women’s History blog, we are going to focus on three women who were Key in the struggle for equality – Ida B. Wells, Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan. These three names are likely familiar to readers. Our examples will hopefully represent the many heroic women warriors for equality. We wish we could feature them all.

Before we begin covering these three heroic women, we would like to uplift the names of Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth, Lucy Stone, Joslyn Gage, Jane Addams, Abby Kelly Foster and more. We encourage readers to learn about these women and the dedicated lives they lived as well as many others at this National Park Service page dedicated to Women’s History [LINK].

Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells was born enslaved in 1862 in Mississippi. She was able to obtain an education and put it to use first as a schoolteacher and then as a journalist, reporting on lynching and traveling the country to speak on the subject. It is Ida B. Wells who brought attention to the horrors of lynching, and she is on our list of key figures for that reason. At the Monmouth University website [LINK], we read about some of the leadership posts she held:

“Wells was among the founders of the NAACP and the National Association of Colored Women and was a leader in several women’s suffrage organizations including the Alpha Suffrage Club of Chicago, which she founded in 1913. She also founded the Alpha Suffrage Record newspaper.

“Later in 1913, the Alpha Suffrage Club marched in the seminal Women’s Suffrage Procession in Washington D.C.; membership voiced its disapproval of march leaders’ placement of Black marchers at the rear of the parade as a concession to southern suffragists, and many either did not march or joined the parade elsewhere. Wells disregarded instructions altogether, taking her rightful place in the front of the parade between other movement leaders.”

Ida B. Wells is a major figure in the history of Women’s Suffrage as well as the struggle for equality for Black Americans. Although she was a founder in various organizations and member of others, she did not often achieve leadership positions. Nevertheless, she stands as a major figure in the activism of her time. Read more about Ida B. Wells here [LINK].

Gloria Steinem

Gloria Steinem was born in 1934 in Ohio. After high school she attended Smith College where she studied government. She graduated magna cum laude in 1956 and earned the Chester Bowles Fellowship, which enabled her to spend two years studying and researching in India. At the Women’s History website we read the following [LINK]:

“Steinem started her professional career as a journalist in New York, writing freelance pieces for various publications. Getting plumb assignments was tough for women in the late 1950s and 1960s, when men ran the newsrooms and women were largely relegated to secretarial and behind-the-scenes research roles. Steinem’s early articles tended to be for what was then called “the women’s pages,” lifestyle or service features about such female-centered or fashion topics as nylon stockings. Steinem once recalled that, “When I suggested political stories to The New York Times Sunday Magazine, my editor just said something like, ‘I don’t think of you that way.’”

The article continued as follows: “She worked hard to make a name for herself, and in 1968, she helped found New York magazine, where she became an editor and political writer. At New York magazine, Steinem reported on political campaigns and progressive social issues, including the women’s liberation movement.”

Steinem lived a life dedicated to the advancement of the women’s movement and to the cause of women’s rights. Steinem co-founded a number of women’s organizations, and she was a writer of several books that had an impact on the time.

“An award-winning and prolific writer, Steinem has authored several books, including a biography on Marilyn Monroe, and the best-selling My Life on the Road. Her work has also been published and reprinted in numerous anthologies and textbooks. In 2013, President Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor. In her honor, in 2017, Rutgers University created The Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies.”

Betty Friedan

Betty Friedan is well known as a co-founder of the National Organization for Women (NOW). She was born in 1921 in Peoria, Illinois. She attended Smith College and the University of California. From the website Freedom Forum we read the following [LINK]:

“Friedan is sometimes called the mother of the modern women’s rights movement. After spending time as a reporter and homemaker, she researched middle class women in the home and wrote the 1963 book “The Feminine Mystique.” The book spurred conversation about the role of women at home and at work. She exercised the freedoms of assembly and petition to help create groups like the National Organization for Women and advocate for gender equality in the workplace.

“Friedan helped organize the Women’s Strike for Equality to protest discrimination on Aug. 26, 1970, the 50th anniversary of the 19th Amendment’s certification, ensuring women’s right to vote.”

There is a great deal more to Betty Friedan’s impact on the women’s movement. In addition to co-founding and acting as President of NOW and organizing the Women’s Strike for Equality, she authored the book credited with actually sparking the ‘second wave of feminism’.

We will conclude with a quote from Wikipedia as follows: “Regarded as an influential author and intellectual in the United States, Friedan remained active in politics and advocacy until the late 1990s, authoring six books. As early as the 1960s Friedan was critical of polarized and extreme factions of feminism that attacked groups such as men and homemakers. One of her later books, The Second Stage (1981), critiqued what Friedan saw as the extremist excesses of some feminists.”

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Well, there we have it. We hope that readers have enjoyed our efforts to explore women’s history during the month of March. We are grateful for the dedicated efforts of so many women on behalf of the women of today. We are grateful for the progress that women have made and grateful for the businesses, such as AMS, that are wise enough to put truly competent women in leadership positions within the organization.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

 

AMS has been hiring individuals with disabilities for many years, working with community organizations focused on helping disabled persons find work and live fulfilled lives. As we move toward the end of March, we noticed one more commemoration, March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This simply means we have an opportunity to create awareness of needs and realities around development disabilities.

From Google we see the following: “Examples of developmental disabilities include autism, behavior disorders, brain injury, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, intellectual disability, and spina bifida.”

These conditions may impair physical abilities, learning, and behavior. They begin either at birth or during the child’s developmental years and they impact day-to-day functioning throughout a person’s lifetime.

Most readers will be familiar with individuals with developmental disabilities, either mild or severe, within the family, community, or workplace. Our prayer for family members and loved ones so affected is that they can live a happy and productive life. For many, a happy and productive life includes finding work, and taking part in work life. At AMS Fulfillment we have been privileged to work with and enjoy the company of co-workers with disabilities.

What are Developmental Disabilities?

From the University of Minnesota website [LINK] we read the following:

“Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are disorders that are usually present at birth and that negatively affect the trajectory of the individual’s physical, intellectual, and/or emotional development. Many of these conditions affect multiple body parts or systems. As of 2016, 7.37 million people in the United States had intellectual or developmental disabilities.”

Our Santa Clarita Community

AMS works with two community organizations to hire individuals with disabilities… Desert Haven Enterprises [LINK] and Pleasantview Industries [LINK]. These have been long-term relationships for many of the 20+ years AMS has been in Valencia.

Desert Haven describes itself as follows:

“Since 1954, we have been assisting persons with developmental disabilities to achieve their dreams of becoming productive, independent, fully-participating members of their community. Our programs provide those whom we serve, referred to as “consumers”, with the opportunity to learn important skills needed in everyday life: at home, in the community, and on the job. All programs and services offered through Desert Haven are designed to prepare our consumers to reach their greatest level of independence up to and including securing a job within the community–in keeping with the individual strengths, needs, expectations, and choices of each person served.”

Pleasantview Industries gives the following information:

“Pleasantview Industries, Inc. is an organization dedicated to providing training and support to assist consumers with developmental disabilities in successfully reaching their individually chosen goals. Individuals with disabilities and their families request services based upon their needs and preferences. Since 1969, Pleasantview has successfully supported many individuals in the Santa Clarita Valley through individualized services and support.  The program provides work training, supported employment services and personal skill development training to support program participants to achieve their highest level of independence in the community.”

Supporting the Community

For AMS, supporting these community organizations is a privilege, and hiring individuals with disabilities is a privilege as well.

Many employees that we have hired and worked with from these organizations have been with us for years, not only because we value them as essential contributors to our organization, but because they choose to be here. As with all employees, the organization is dedicated to helping train employees on-site, giving equitable time of extra help to make sure employees are comfortable in their new roles.

“Well, my perspective is when I get to know the employees I get to knowing them really well, getting along with them real well. I would say they treat me like as if I’m one of the family. It’s one of the best jobs I ever had. Better than my other jobs that I used to do.”

 -Bruce B., Operations Associate II, May 2013. Temp to Hire from Pleasantview Industries.

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AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, dedicated to People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

The Women’s movement of the 1960s and 70s was a great step in breaking through the limits placed upon women in the workplace and in the culture. Years before, women had begun to enter the workplace in support of WWII, in weapons manufacturing. This change set the stage for changes to come.

Quoting from Google: “Gradually, Americans came to accept some of the basic goals of the Sixties feminists: equal pay for equal work, an end to domestic violence, curtailment of severe limits on women in managerial jobs, an end to sexual harassment, and sharing of responsibility for housework and child rearing.”

Many Seniors of today can speak of the women’s movement from direct experience… perhaps with more expertise than Google. Equal pay for equal work was strongly called for, as well as curtailment of severe limits on women in managerial jobs. Another strong push, not mentioned by Google, was the entrance of women into professions such as doctors, lawyers, judges, business executives and so forth. Prior to the 1960s there were few if any of these professions open to women.

Second Wave Feminism

There is an overview of the movement at a website called Gale.com [LINK]. The article refers to the movement as ‘second wave feminism’. We will offer some excerpts from the article:

“The second wave feminism movement took place in the 1960s and 1970s and focused on issues of equality and discrimination. Starting initially in the United States with American women, the feminist liberation movement soon spread to other Western countries.”

The article mentions a book by Betty Friedan, The Feminine Mystique, published in 1963 as having an impact. That book reached a wide audience along with other books, such as Our Bodies Ourselves, which awakened women to the wonders of the woman’s body. Prior to that time, women’s bodies were looked upon as something to be ‘hidden’ and even somewhat shameful.

“Second wave feminists cared deeply about exposing and overcoming the casual, systemic racism present in society—unlike the suffragists and suffragettes of the nineteenth century, who focused largely on political equality through suffrage. Second wave feminists realized that women’s cultural and political inequalities were inextricably linked. They worked under a unifying goal of social equality, with sexuality and reproductive rights being central concerns to the liberation movement, and with much of the movement’s energy being focused on passing the Equal Rights Amendment.”

Equal Rights Amendment

“Although the Equal Rights Amendment still hasn’t been ratified, second wave feminism had many successes. The approval of the contraceptive pill by the Food and Drug Administration in 1960 gave women more control over their reproductive rights—within five years, around 6 million women were using it. Feminists also worked and gained women the right to hold credit cards and apply for mortgages in their own name and outlawed marital rape. Awareness around domestic violence was raised, and gender and women’s studies departments were founded at universities and colleges. The passing of the Equal Pay Act in 1963, Title IX in 1972, and Roe v. Wade in 1973 were legislative victories for feminists.”

The article asserts that the Equal Rights Amendment has not yet been ratified, which is incorrect according to many advocates. Whichever opinion is correct, we can say that the ERA is not yet a Constitutional Amendment. We suggest further research to readers who would like to know more of ‘what’s going on’. Recognizing sex-based equal rights as constitutionally protected has cultural and political implications that we encourage readers to explore.

The Women’s Movement Achievements

For those (this writer included) who lived through and were impacted by the Women’s Movement… what does the world look like now? Women doctors, women professors, women lawyers and judges, a woman as vice president, women on the Supreme Court… these things and more are what we dreamed of and worked for. We wanted to prove that we’re not lacking intellectually, and we wanted equal pay. We also wanted to understand and appreciate ourselves including the miraculous reproductive capacity of our female bodies.

For the most part we have seen the changes we desired. AMS Fulfillment is an example of equity: out of all AMS employees, 59% are women. Of the leadership roles, 52% are women. The men at AMS are appreciated, and the women are appreciated. Equal rights, equal pay and equal appreciation.

The women’s movement of the 1960s and 70s continued after the 1980s until today under some iteration of the term ‘Feminism’. The 60s and 70s Women’s Movement was authentic, much needed, and revolutionary. It came during a very tumultuous period and was part of a great cultural change. Also referred to as ‘women’s liberation’, it was liberating mentally and spiritually as women began to dream of what they could achieve.

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Our third and final article for Women’s History Month will shine the light on some of the outstanding women who led the way for equal rights.

AMS Fulfillment is a certified B Corporation, committed to putting people and planet before profit. We work to B the Change we want to see in the world.

Thank you for your exemplary performance during the month of February: DARIUS B., LUZ T., BECKY A., JENNIFER W., BRUCE B., DARYL W., LORETTA R., JOHN C., CRISTY G., and NIKOLOUS L.

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. Every month we see our employees working hard with such outstanding dedication and we are continually impressed by the results they produce!

Congratulations to this month’s winners! All Winners will receive an Employee of the Month Certificate, T-Shirt, and Quarterly Celebration Lunch!

DARIUS B., Operations Associate (12/13/2022)

Boulden

“He is always the first one in, and we have to “force” him out the door every night. He is a team player and is always willing to jump into any account. If you’re having a bad day, see Darius and he will brighten your day with all his stories. “Da-Da” is 1 of a kind. Thank you for all you do Da-Da and you’re very much appreciated!” – Kristina S.

LUZ T., Operations Associate (03/04/2024)

Churchman’s

“Luz is a recent new hire here at AMS. Since she started working in CT B2B, Luz has shown the ability to quickly learn the very complex ins and outs of the client and various retailers. Luz shows up on time ready to work every day and is willing to do whatever is asked of her on a minute-by-minute basis, from training new associates, to wrapping pallets, to picking and packing complex orders! Congrats LUZ!!! Welcome to AMS!!!!” – Paul S.

BECKY A., Senior Operations Manager (03/13/2017)

Headquarters WH

“Becky is MVP of all time. Becky is an unbelievably kind, generous, and helpful person. She sprinkles a little bit of wisdom, life lessons, and cheer across the warehouse. We have nicknamed her the “birthday fairy”. She continues to do what’s best for all and helps everyone, even when she is a bit stressed out. She works hard every day and finds solution to everything thrown at her. As she now ventures into another position in the company, we know she will make a difference and help the logistics team be as successful as she has done for us at HQ warehouse.” – Anonymous

JENNIFER W., Business Development Representative (09/27/2022)

Headquarters Sales

“Jennifer’s positive energy, her eagerness to learn, and attention to details is vital to the sales process and our success in landing new clients. She is always looking for ways to help AMS and our clients be successful and isn’t afraid to take on new challenges and responsibilities. Jennifer is an absolute joy to work with, and a role model for the type of partner we need at AMS!” -Jay Co.

“Jen is such an enjoyable person to work with – she’s definitely focused, super smart, hardworking, and she shows up bringing help when we need it. Our team is really top notch, and Jen is such a big part of it. We work together, plan together, think together and celebrate the successes together too. I’m so glad to be working with Jen.” Ida L.

“Jen is a pure ray of sunshine! I can’t help but smile around her. She has so much passion and enthusiasm for AMS, she inspires me.” – Sam H.

BRUCE B., Operations Associate II (05/17/2013)

Livingston

“Bruce is an outstanding employee who comes to work every day with a GREAT attitude. The moment Bruce walks into the building he is smiling, cares about everyone’s well-being and will say hello and greets everyone he crosses paths with. Bruce gives 100% effort from the time he reports to work until the second he leaves work and always willing to help others. Bruce volunteered to participate in our new website video interview, and he was thrilled when asked to do so! Bruce loves talking about the history of AMS and is a very PROUD AMS Employee.”- Saul M.

DARYL W., Inventory Receiving Specialist I, (10/11/2023)

Newark

“Daryl has been with the company for a little over five months. Our first impression of Daryl, and what stuck out the most, is his persistence. He came to our building looking for a job at least three times and he just kept pushing until he got himself in here. He is our forklift operator, but he doesn’t stop there at all. After he takes care of his replens, he is managing belts, builds pallets, loads the trucks, takes care of the drivers, and will help wherever we need him. He will ask questions when he is unsure of something to make sure it is done correctly. Daryl will also be in here early as he’s needed and be the last one to leave at night. He is truly dedicated to his job, and we really appreciate every bit of effort he puts into this building. Thank you, Daryl !!”- Amber S.

LORETTA R., Operations Associate II (03/06/2020)

New Holland

“I must tell you; I am a newly hired supervisor for one of our accounts. Although I have not been here for over a month yet, there has been an employee that has really gone above and beyond in her position, that I have noticed – Loretta! She is absolutely on point, very thorough in all she does, and she has been above all, an awesome trainer. She has shown me and explained every detail. I am very happy that she is a part of my team!!!!” – Linda L.

JOHN C. (on behalf of the entire team) Operations Supervisor, Night Shift

New Holland

“Recognition for John’s inclusive leadership skills- independently appreciating, celebrating, and outreaching.” – Sam H.

“My team is what I am really focused on. As a supervisor I don’t have to think of every idea, only to facilitate the ideas my team has. As I incorporate more lean principles into the team, they are coming up with amazing ideas to really streamline some of the processes we have. I am literally at the bottom of the triangle – our clients, and my team come way before me. I have been with AMS for almost a year, and I can’t express how much I value and appreciate every team member on 2nd shift. You can kinda’ look at us as the “firemen” for the company. We put out fires as in cleaning up aged orders, last minute priority orders, wrapping up 1st shift projects, and putting 1st shift in a position to succeed to carry out the next day tasks. One word to describe my team would be PERSEVERANCE [steady persistence in a course of an action, a purpose, and state, especially despite difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement] That’s my team. PERSEVERANCE produces character, and character produces hope. Thank you, 2nd Shift, I really appreciate all you do for our team.” – John C.

CRISTY G., Inventory Receiving Manager I (04/16/2012)

Williams

“We would like to take a moment to acknowledge you, Cristy, for your hard work and let you know that we are impressed by your performance. Thank you for your kindness, flexibility, hard work and being a team player. You play a key role in Williams, and we are thankful to have someone like you on our team!” -Ana R.

NIKOLOUS L., Operations Associate II (03/26/2012)

Witherspoon

“Niko is a team player. He is always punctual. He is very kind to his coworkers and always helps them. He is a hard worker and gets the job done.” -Tangie D.

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

AMS Fulfillment is a Certified B Corporation, committed to put People and Planet before Profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

On March 19^th and 20^th we’re going to experience the Spring Equinox, where the light of the sun falls equally on both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Americans are now celebrating Easter and Ramadan and the question is asked… are these holy seasons related to the Equinox? According to Google, one is, and the other is not.

“The timing of Lent is calculated based on the spring equinox, which falls between March 19 and 22. In contrast, Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which follows a lunar cycle. As a result, the dates of Ramadan change every year.”

Welcome to the Sun

Let’s have a look at how different cultures celebrate the end of winter and the return of the sun. Looking into history, people across the globe have celebrated the coming of Spring for millennia. Some interesting information on celebrations of Spring can be found at a website called the Synergy Company. [LINK]

“The first day of spring was so important to most cultures, that many considered it the first day of the year. One thing is for sure, pretty much everyone on the planet celebrates the arrival of spring, and here are some fun examples of how they do it.”

According to the article, there are Springtime celebrations in India, Greece, Thailand, central Asia (Iran, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan), Japan and Mexico. Let’s take a brief look at these celebrations. Please visit the website for more:

“HOLI: Known as the festival of colors, Holi is unquestionably the most vibrantly colorful spring festival in the world. It’s when Hindus in India and Nepal take to the streets to throw colored powder at each other, amidst loud music and drumming, in honor of the season’s multiple hues and stories in Hindu mythology.

“DIONYSUS FESTIVAL: The Dionysus festival was one of the most important events of the year in ancient Greece. Dionysus, god of fertility, wine, theater, and rebirth, was honored every spring with feasts, drinking, and general over-the-top merrymaking.

“SONGKRAN: Based on the Sanskrit word for “astrological passage,” Songkran is the traditional Thai New Year, and more widely known as the spring water festival. Festivities last for days and involve going to a Buddhist monastery, visiting elders, dancing in the streets to loud music, and, of course, throwing copious amounts of water at each other.

“NOWRUZ: People across the Middle East and Central Asia, including Iran, Turkey, and Kyrgyzstan, have been celebrating Nowruz since ancient times. The term Nowruz means “new day,” and marks the first day of spring and the new year, as well as a time of hope and renewal.

“SHUNBUN NO HI: In Japan, the spring equinox is celebrated with Shunbun no hi, when many people head to their hometowns, have family reunions, and visit the graves of their ancestors.”

Equinox on Display!

Next, we come to some celebrations where the ancestors built ways to put the Spring Equinox on display for all to see!

“MEXICAN PYRAMID CELEBRATIONS: The ancient Mayans had an astonishing level of astronomical knowledge that is on full display at the archeological site of Chichen Itza every vernal equinox. The temple of Kukulkan, also called the El Castillo pyramid, is where thousands of people gather to see the “Return of the Sun Serpent.” Every equinox, the sun casts a shadow over the pyramid that looks like an enormous snake moving down the pyramid.

“The archaeological site of Teotihuacan, near Mexico City, is another popular locale to celebrate the spring equinox. Hundreds of thousands of visitors, many dressed in traditional white clothes, climb the 360 steps to the top of the enormous Pyramid of the Sun. There they stretch out their arms to bask in the sun and absorb the special energy that rains down on them on the first day of spring.”

More About Easter and Ramadan

RAMADAN: The holy month of Ramadan began for Muslims on February 11^th and will continue through March 28. Ramadan is a month of fasting between sunrise and sunset. There is no food or drink taken in during daylight hours. The Ramadan fast is intended to bring about private worship and nearness to God, and also serves as a reminder to empathize with those who are less fortunate.  Ramadan ends with a feast, called Eid al-Fitr where friends and family come together and bring gifts.

EASTER: The preparation for Easter starts with the season of Lent. The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday, which was February 14^th, and ends on Easter Sunday. Lent is a time of fasting and prayer, and solemn observance in preparation for Easter. Palm Sunday takes place on March 24^th, Good Friday on March 29^th and Easter on Sunday March 31^st. Easter is one of the most important Christian holidays, it memorializes the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is believed that this occurred on the third day of his burial. The week before Easter is known as Holy Week.

Welcome Spring Equinox!

We hope that our employees, clients and all readers are enjoying the secular and religious holidays that surround Springtime. We see the stores filled with flowers and eggs and bunnies – all symbols of the return of the light. When the day and night are equal in length, Life springs forth! Here it comes!!

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AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, dedicated to putting people and planet before profit. We work to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

March is B Corporation Month, and here at AMS we gratefully join in uplifting the concept of a corporation making the decision to be a Benefit to the World. How can a business benefit the world in the process of doing business? Answer: The business can focus on more than financial profit and give a stake in decision-making to others that are impacted by the business decisions.

From bcorporation.net [LINK] we read the following: “In March every year, B Lab and the global B Corp community join together to celebrate what it means to be a B Corp, build awareness of the movement and educate diverse audiences on the importance of transforming our economic system for the better. 

“This effort promotes one key, unified message through a global campaign; through talking about what it means to be a B Corp, we build meaning, understanding, and trust around the B Corp Certification, highlighting companies that are environmentally and socially responsible, and the people using business as a force for good.”

Businesses of all sizes, across multiple industries are embracing the B Corporation concept. They embrace the truth… that there is a better way of doing business. What is that better way? When the company makes the decision to give a stake in their business to their employees, the communities in which they operate, the environment, their customers, and their shareholders.

AMS Fulfillment became a Certified B Corporation in 2017. At that point AMS had been a Social Enterprise for several years, so employees and community as stakeholders was not new to us. We were hiring individuals with disabilities, people with justice system involvement, people at risk for homelessness, and in doing so we worked with a number of community organizations. AMS established a classroom on campus where employees received free education in cooperation with a local college. So, we were well on the way in including employees and community when we decided to seek B Corporation certification.

What is a B Corporation

From bcorporation.net we read: “Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies verified by B Lab to meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability.

“To become a B Corp, a company must go through the B Corp Certification process – a rigorous assessment of business impact relating to B Lab’s standards. If the company is considered to meet these higher standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability, they can start their journey as a Certified B Corporation, recertifying every three years to demonstrate a continuous improvement mindset.”

AMS Celebrates B Corporation Month

The first campaign for B Corp Month was in 2017. During this month B Corporations spread the message about the positive impact of B Corporations. AMS achieved certification in 2017, and from the beginning, being a B Corporation has had a wonderful impact on our company.

AMS celebrates B Corporation Month by telling our story of how we achieved this certification; a goal that very few fulfillment companies have achieved worldwide. Knowing that we have five stakeholders in our business decisions – employees, community, clients, environment and ourselves – we continued and expanded our efforts.

With regard to employees and community, we continued an already strong dedication, evidenced by our hiring practices, education and benefits, and a considerable involvement with our community. Regarding our clients, as their partner and their operational arm, we have considered all clients to be stakeholders since the company was established 20+ years ago.

What we turned our attention to and focused upon was the environment. AMS established a Green Team and involved everyone. With a dedicated Team we made tremendous progress in recycling, using biodegradable packaging, upgrading equipment and lighting, and analyzing what else we could do. The AMS Green Team made so much progress that we achieved carbon neutral status in 2023.

Proud to be a B Corp

AMS is so proud of and pleased with our decision to seek B Corporation certification. We have joined with 8,254 B Corporations across 162 industries in 96 countries meeting the highest standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency.

Achieving the B Corp certification was the beginning of a journey of continuous improvement for AMS. Going forward we intend to make measurable positive impacts, and that requires that our teams and departments are engaged across the company, and continuously improving. Our goal is to B the Change we wish to see in the world.

To all of our B Corporation family around the world… Happy B Corp Month, 2024!

St. Patrick’s Day is widely celebrated in the US – and it’s done for Fun! It’s a nod to the Irish culture from people of all backgrounds. We love the parades, the shamrocks, and the good time that comes along with March 17^th, so – let’s begin with a moment of AMS Fun!

March 14^th is the St. Patrick’s Day Gold Coin Challenge at AMS. First a joke … Why do leprechauns recycle? Answer: They like to GO GREEN!!

Now here’s the FUN: In each facility, twelve gold coins will be placed in spots where a lucky employee can find them. When you find the gold coin, you will see there’s a number in your coin. Hold on to it!! Winning Tickets will be pulled for each facility and the lucky employee with that number will win a trip to the AMS Prize Room. What’s in the Prize Room? Some seriously nice prizes – choose one and take it home! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

How did this commemoration begin?

St. Patrick’s Day was originally an Irish religious holiday, celebrating the life of the man who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland, or teaching Christianity, Saint Patrick. Who was he, how did he become legendary… these things would be interesting to know. Also, how did the shamrocks and the leprechauns come into the picture?

Who was St. Patrick?

From USA Today [LINK] we see the answer: “Saint Patrick wasn’t Irish – he was born in Britain near the end of the fourth century and was taken prisoner by Irish raiders when he was 16. He spent six years in captivity in Ireland, according to the History Channel, where he eventually became a devout Christian. 

“According to Patrick’s writing, he believed God’s voice spoke to him in a dream and told him to leave Ireland – and he escaped. Later in another dream, he wrote an angel told him to return to Ireland as a missionary, and he became a priest after 15 years of study.

“While many believe St. Patrick was responsible for bringing Christianity to Ireland, the History Channel reports his mission was to minister to existing Irish Christians as well as convert non-Christians. 

“He became a significant figure in Ireland in part because he chose to incorporate traditional Irish culture and ritual into his practice, like merging the sun (an existing Irish symbol) with the traditional cross to create the famed Celtic cross.”

The Shamrocks

Okay – there we see St. Patrick either brought Christianity or taught Christianity, and he incorporated existing culture into the practice of Christianity, creating the Celtic cross. Our next question is about the shamrocks – what is the meaning of this symbol?

“Legend and tradition state that the shamrock was a vital part of St. Patrick’s teachings. He used its three rounded leaves growing on a single stem as a natural symbol simplify the concept of the Trinity. It is also said that the deep green color of the shamrock, which became Ireland’s emblem, cancels out the superstition that it is bad luck to wear green.”

The article goes on to ask about the plant. That question has been up for debate. We most likely believe it is clover but what type of clover. We have the ground-hugging clover in the garden, but there also is a white clover listed in some seed catalogs as the true shamrock. And there is a yellow clover. And another choice as well: “Some claim another member of the pea family as the real shamrock. Oxalis acetosella, also known as wood sorrel and shamrock, has large clover shaped green leaves, much bigger than the unrelated clover you see growing in a lawn or hayfield. There are many varieties of Oxalis, but the one most commonly sold as houseplants have lovely tiny, fragrant, white flowers.”

We may never know which plant, but what is the meaning? It’s not the ‘good luck’ symbol, as that is four leaves, and the shamrock has three.

Google gives it the meaning of Faith, Hope and Love, and leaves room for the good luck: “While trying to convert the Irish into Christians, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the holy trinity with each leaf representing the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The three leaves of a shamrock are also said to stand for faith, hope and love. A fourth leaf is where we get the luck from.”

Now let’s look for Leprechauns

According to the USA Today article, a Disney movie and breakfast cereal is what associated the Leprechaun with the celebration of Irish culture on St. Patrick’s Day. “The leprechaun came from the idea that the Celtics believed in fairies and other magical beings that use their powers to scare away evil. It is presumed that the association came from the popular 1959 Disney movie “Darby O’Gill & the Little People,” which features Irish leprechauns, says Stack. Stack also attributes Lucky Charms as a way the leprechaun got popularized in the USA.” 

To AMS Clients, Employees, and all readers – we hope you have some St. Patrick’s Day FUN on the 17^th, and for our employees… we wish you luck finding that gold coin with a prize ticked inside!!

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AMS Fulfillment is a B Corporation, committed to putting people before profit. We aim to B the Change we wish to see in the world.