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Read All About It! AMS News and Local Updates

Thank You!! AMS Employees of the Month – April 2019

Congratulations to the AMS Employees of the Month for April! We are very pleased and proud to recognize Paula Z., Jorge M., Bobby A., Anubhav D. and Ciara H.

AMS Fulfillment has several facilities and several hundred valued employees. We are recognized within the Santa Clarita community as a company that cares, through training and development of a diverse workforce. Our employees are the reason for this reputation and a very big part of our endeavor.

Every month the supervisors at our facilities nominate individuals who are doing an outstanding job for the clients and for their team. These nominations and supervisor comments are filled with appreciation for the individual being recognized. Thank You to the following members of the AMS Family!

Anubhav D. (Bhav): IT Support Level I (June 2018)
HQ Administration, 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I nominate Bhav for Employee of the Month. He is an IT Technician and is always helpful to everyone, at any time. Bhav has been so very helpful with my own computer problems, whether it is the system or the Internet or other programs. He has a great sense of urgency, jumps right in to help and he always gets the problem solved. I sincerely appreciate his help and his knowledge. Bhav is truly a great asset to the AMS team.”

Ciara H.: Supervisor I (March 2012)
HQ Warehouse: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I would like to nominate Ciara for these reasons: She has outstanding characteristics and her helpfulness in the returns department stands out, she is a dedicated Supervisor, and she is well organized and a great communicator. Ciara makes our department fun! 1. A great team leader. 2. She comes up with good ideas for the returns department. 3. Well organized. 4. Great communicator with her team. 5. She always has plans for the following day. Ciara deserves Employee of the Month. She is always willing to help with any situation that comes our way and she has a great deal of knowledge about our system. She motivates us to learn new things and comes to work with a smile.

Paula Z.: Clerk I Shipping (September 2010)
WIT2: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

Paula has been with AMS since 2010. In this time she has worked with some pretty busy clients. She is always on top of her work for those clients. Paula helps out wherever she can, and she does it with a great attitude. She has a great relationship with all of her peers and is always making sure she takes the time to adhere to working safely.

Jorge M.: General Warehouse II (August 2018)
WIL: 28936 Avenue Williams

Jorge should be the Employee of the Month because he is a quick learner and is always willing to help out if anyone needs help. He comes in with a good attitude and is ready to start the day. He has improved in such a short amount of time and is ready to help out in any department. Jorge is reliable and can get the work he is handling done. He is a key addition to our team and an excellent co-worker with 100% commitment to do the job correctly, quickly and efficiently. He takes initiative, accepts all challenges and carries out additional responsibilities. His attitude is bar none. Jorge is a key player in Williams and we appreciate his commitment to his work.

Bobby A.: General Warehouse II F (August 2015)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Bobby is my nomination for Employee of the Month. He’s always at work and on time. He sticks to the tasks he is given and gets them done in a timely manner with high accuracy on his order picking process. He always has a positive attitude and gets along with everyone. Bobby is a team player and is ready to take on any task. He is always asking to help others. My team would not be the same without him.

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Our outstanding employees are the reason that AMS succeeds so well and continues to grow. Thank You from the entire AMS Fulfillment Family!

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AMS Thanks Employees of the Month – March 2019

Congratulations to the AMS Fulfillment Employees of the Month for March! We are very grateful to these outstanding members of our corporate family! Thank you Jason I., Mike R., Yolanda R., Jose R., and Dovon H.

AMS Fulfillment occupies a number of facilities in Santa Clarita, CA, and employs several hundred individuals. Even though we are large, it’s not difficult for us to notice the achievements of our valued employees. In fact, we make a point of it. Each month the supervisors within our facilities nominate an employee who has provided outstanding service to the clients. The nominations and supervisor comments demonstrate that the individual being recognized has gone above and beyond, and deserves Special Thanks!

It’s our pleasure to recognize the following Employees of the Month:

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Jason I., CIO (2002)
HQ Office: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I nominate Jason for employee of the month. Between ERP integrations for new business, shipping software projects, East Coast DC system maintenance, daily CS requests, and no shortage of existing client projects, Jason is tasked with a demanding and extremely complex workload. While we may not always receive the completion notice for our requests right away, Jason does a good job prioritizing open tickets and projects across 50 + accounts making sure that he and his team focus on the most critical items first. He has a knack for working with all different types of personalities including our client’s staff and developers. He also has the incredible talent of staying calm in almost all situations by providing truth, facts and examples without hearsay and opinion. One could imagine that a high-level IT position is a selfless job in some respects. You only really hear from your coworkers and clients if there is a new issue or request, so I wanted to nominate Jason to show much we really appreciate him. His IQ systems-fulfillment knowledge is awesome and he is such an incredible asset to AMS.

Mike R., General Warehouse II (September 2013)
HQ Warehouse: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I nominate Mike for Employee of the Month because of his outstanding characteristics and his helpfulness. He has a positive attitude and is a hard worker. Mike does whatever he can to assist others. He always takes responsibility for his job and he cares for his co-workers and their safety. He is always on time and is willing to help others no matter how difficult it might be. He is a great worker, very respectful, and he deserves this recognition.

Yolanda R., General Warehouse II (July 2018)
WIT: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

I nominate Yolanda because she works hard and is dedicated to AMS and to our clients. Yolanda does an amazing job in the Witherspoon building. She has excellent attendance and is one of the top pickers at Witherspoon. She pays close attention to detail and no missed picks. Yolanda’s positive energy and hard work have a great impact on the success of the Witherspoon building.

Jose R., General Warehouse II (October 2018)
WIL: 28936 Avenue Williams

Jose is a very hard-working individual and is always ready to learn new things. He has set up new challenges and gets the job done with excellence. Jose is always willing to help in any area where assistance is needed and he has great communication with his co-workers. He has 100% commitment to do the job correctly and in an efficient way the first time. He always has a positive attitude which spreads across to others. We appreciate Jose’s commitment to his job.

Dovon H., Clerk I – Inventory Receiving (June 2018)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Dovon works hard and is always willing to lend a hand to others in the department. He is great at unloading containers!! He is a team player and we appreciate having him in our department. Dovon deserves to be Employee of the Month.

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These outstanding employees are the reason that AMS succeeds so well and continues to grow. Employees of the Month recognition is offered as a sincere Thank You from the AMS Fulfillment Family!

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AMS CEO Nominated for SCV Man of the Year

We’re celebrating! AMS CEO, Ken Wiseman, has been nominated for a prestigious award – the Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year. According to the organization’s website, the purpose of the Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year Recognition is to honor men and women who have given outstanding volunteer service to the Santa Clarita Valley area.

Ken was nominated for the honor by the SCV Sheriff’s Foundation. LASD Capt. Robert Lewis talked about Ken’s contributions to the station which include 15 years with Search & Rescue and 8 years as President of the Sheriff’s Foundation. He further highlighted the new DIVERT program that is a partnership between the station and AMS Fulfillment, This program, along with county funding, will allow AMS to provide adolescents who have had a brush with the law (and have been referred by the station) employment and educational opportunities at AMS.

According to SCV history, Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year was started by the Newhall-Saugus Chamber of Commerce as the “Outstanding Citizen of the Year.” The year was 1964. The Newhall-Saugus Chamber became the SCV Chamber of Commerce. Today the event is operated by the SCV Man & Woman of the Year Committee, an independent nonprofit organization. Winners are selected by the Committee of previous honorees. Honorees receive a cash award that they may give to the charity of their choice.

The SCV Man & Woman of the Year Committee has put forward a group of 9 men and 13 women who are inspiring leaders in the community.

The 53nd Annual Premier Volunteer Recognition Event, 2019 Santa Clarita Valley Man and Woman of the Year dinner, will be held Friday, May 3, 2019, at 6 p.m., at the Hyatt Valencia. https://scvmw.org/

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AMS: The Value in Recognizing Women’s History

The global community observes and celebrates International Women Day annually, on March 8th, and Women’s History Month during March. It is usually in the human rights community that we hear about the progress of women and look into the history of that progress. But in reality, women’s rights are with us every day in the corporate community, and women’s history is being made every day in the corporate world.

AMS was established during the time when equality between men and women in the business world and the workplace was recognized as needed and even accepted as a ‘must’. The pattern and prejudice of the past was being overcome in equal pay, maternity leave, breaking the glass ceiling at the executive level, and so on. We’re proud of our record at AMS, and very proud of the women who have achieved so much.

Why women’s history recognition? While the world, including the business world, is still working to achieve ‘higher ground’, it remains vital to study, learn and teach our children about the past efforts of women to gain equality in the world and to be considered of equal value in society. The world is changing, and history is vital to understanding and lifting the change onto higher ground.

As we grow, we can assist others in their growth. Information from the global human rights community tells us that there is much to do. Here are just a few facts to consider, among many: Around the world, 62 million girls are denied an education, which often dooms them to a life of poverty and dependence. Education for girls is often the lowest budget priority in many countries. Many girls begin working as early as five years old – mainly in agriculture or in homes as domestic servants. Child domestic workers are particularly vulnerable to trafficking, forced labor, sexual violence and many health issues.

The American Human Rights Council (AHRC-USA) advocates on behalf of women around the world. The following quote is from Ms. Stephanie Crider, AHRC Advisory Board Member.

“In today’s climate, our society should be more protective of women than ever before. Despite overcoming years of hitting the glass ceiling, women are still at the front lines fighting for equity and inclusion at too many tables. To many women, it feels like we’re on the brink of something new, something powerful and life changing for the generation behind us.”  

Society will achieve its highest potential when women have achieved their human rights.

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” ―Rosa Parks

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Thank You! Employees of the Month, February 2019

Employee appreciation - AMS FulfillmentCongratulations to the AMS Fulfillment Employees of the Month for February, 2019! We are very grateful to these outstanding members of our corporate family! Thank you Janet R, Rosa Emma Q., Fatima C., Giovanny R., and Andrew D.

In the fulfillment industry employees are much more than human resources. They directly serve the company’s clients, making their efforts vital to the growth and success of the business. We know their value, and we respect and invest in our employees.

Each month the supervisors within AMS’ Santa Clarita, CA (Valencia) facilities nominate an employee who has provided outstanding service to the clients.The nominations and supervisor comments demonstrate that the individual being recognized has gone above and beyond, and deserves Special Thanks!

It’s our pleasure to recognize the following Employees of the Month:

Janet R., Account Support (February 2016)
HQ Administration, 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I Nominate Janet as Employee of the Month because… she is a GOLDEN STAR! Janet joined the CS team less than a year ago, and she has shown immense amount of growth since! She is always on top of her work, always positive, and she is willing to learn and help the team when needed. We’re proud to have her on the team!

Rosa Emma Q., General Warehouse (February 2015)
HQ Warehouse, 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I nominate Rosa for February Employee of the Month because she works hard and works smart. Rosa has developed a method of opening boxes that turns the box into a tray, preventing product from falling out to the floor or to the boxes below. Her method also removes the cardboard that is in the way and allows the plastic bags that are also in the way, to be opened and removed after putting the product into the box. The ‘pick’ now becomes a ‘grab and go’ rather than a ‘fuss and find’. Her method also eliminates the hours required to return product to proper locations. If this catches on and everybody starts following her example, Rosa has my vote for employee of the year!

Fatima C., General Warehouse (November 2018)
WIL: 28936 Avenue Williams

I would like to nominate Fatima for Employee of the Month for all of the effort she puts in to learn different processes. She started as a seasonal and became AMS recently. She has given her best since day one. Fatima has succeeded in every area; she is always here on time and is accurate in every single job assigned. She is a team player and helps as much as she can with a very positive attitude.

Giovanny R., Inventory Clerk (October 2015)
WIT2: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

Gio always gets his work completed correctly and quickly. He is our ‘go to’ when we need something done quickly. He has good attendance and a good relationship with management and his fellow employees. Gio will never turn down a challenge and he is a key part of our Inventory/Receiving department here at WIT2. “

Andrew D., General Warehouse (May 2017)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Andrew is a great worker! He is always accurate on UPC’s and bringing down overstock. He helps out picking the B2C orders and does a great job. Andrew is a team player and ready to jump in wherever needed. He deserves to be named Employee of the Month.

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These outstanding men and women are the reason that AMS succeeds so well and continues to grow. Thank You Employee of the Month Honorees from the entire AMS Fulfillment Family!

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AMS: Los Angeles in Black History

We’re nearing the end of 2019 Black History Month in the US, and we sincerely hope that every reader has set aside some time this month to learn more about the occurrences and figures in Black American history that many of us didn’t hear about in school. Perhaps it wasn’t taught because it was not the history of the majority, and perhaps because it is a history that can be uncomfortable to look into.

Black Palm Springs – Val Verde

We’re nearing the end of 2019 Black History Month in the US, and we sincerely hope that every reader has set aside some time this month to learn more about the occurrences and figures in Black American history that many of us didn’t hear about in school. Perhaps it wasn’t taught because it was not the history of the majority, and perhaps because it is a history that can be uncomfortable to look into.

Fortunately, today the Internet is a great source of information on black history, with numerous documentaries available and much written information. We came across a number if informative articles when searching the Internet with the question, “Do we really still need Black History Month.”

One reason we found for a month of study and recognition of black history is outlined in an article from magicvalley.com:

“…black history is more than a chronicle of atrocities. It is a tale of how tens of thousands of people strived and achieved much, despite all their hardships and limitations imposed upon them by both society and the government. Those achievements were often intentionally ignored, in both the press of the day and by the writers of history books. These stories can be found in every community in the nation, if one cares to look.”

Continuing the search, we looked for information on black history in California and in our community, and came across an article from Cultural Weekly that points to the history of Val Verde.

“Even though the city of Los Angeles was founded by 44 Black and Brown Spanish citizens in 1781, it remained one of the most segregated cities in North America for most of the 20thCentury. Restrictive housing covenants and redlining policies enforced by banks and insurance companies propagated these policies across Los Angeles County well into the 1970s, even after the Supreme Court declared them unconstitutional between 1948 and 1954. Such policies were even enforced in cemeteries.

“For many years, the Evergreen Cemetery in Boyle Heights was one of the only places people of color could be buried in Los Angeles County. Not surprisingly these policies also extended to places of recreation like parks and beaches. There were only a few parks and beaches that allowed the presence of people of color. One of the few early communities that did not restrict African-American Angelenos was Val Verde and Val Verde Park in Northwest Los Angeles County, just a few miles shy of the Ventura County line.

“Located just beyond Magic Mountain between hills in a lush pocket of the Santa Clarita Valley, Val Verde was considered the Black Palm Springs in the 1930s. Founded in 1924, it was designated as a resort area for African-Americans right from the beginning. In 1939, they built an Olympic swimming pool. The first African-American actress to win an Oscar, Hattie McDaniel, was known to frequent Val Verde during the 1930s.” Read more:

Another enjoyable find was a YouTube video entitled “LA Stories from the Map Cave.” It’s a very informative look at black history through maps of Los Angeles neighborhoods, and stories that go with those maps.

We hope Black History Month has been an enjoyable time of learning, and celebrating the great contributions Black Americans have made to our diverse world.

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Chinese New Year: Fulfillment and Logistics

Chinese New Year - AMS FulfillmentThe Chinese New Year celebration, also called ‘Start of Spring’, takes place across the globe. It is not just celebrated in China but also in other countries in Asia and in Chinese communities throughout the world.

Because the holiday is based on the Chinese lunar calendar, the dates change each year. It always falls between January 21 and February 20. This year it began on February 5 and will end on February 19th with the Lantern Festival. On the final night of the full moon, families gather for dinner and go out and see fireworks and light lanterns, creating beautiful sights in the sky.

During the holidays millions of people travel long distances to be with family, making it the largest annual human migration in the world. Nearly 100 million workers will leave their jobs in the urban areas and travel to their rural hometowns. The migration is known as the Spring Festival Travel Rush.

In the weeks leading up to and immediately following Chinese New Year, business does not go on as usual. Virtually all businesses in China close, including all factories. With the workers returning to their families manufacturing is shut down for the duration.

For companies importing or exporting goods to or from China, the New Year Spring Festival can bring challenges. Shippers normally ‘front load’ their shipments before the celebration, as they know prices will rise and lead times for getting products moved will begin to slow. There is normally a huge spike in volumes before the holiday and very low volumes during two weeks of celebration and for a time period before and after. Business operations may take through the entirety of March to return to normal.

AMS’ John Bevacqua, VP of Logistics and author of the ‘Freight Freak’ blog, said, “Chinese New Year does affect many importers who are AMS clients. The clients will order heavily in January to be sure they have adequate inventory to get through February. This in turn causes additional receiving’s at AMS for those clients just before the CNY Holidays begin.”

With foreknowledge and planning, importers and exporters do make it through China’s ‘Start of Spring’ without difficulty.

Now to the big question: How and where can we join in some of these celebrations? According to the Internet, the best celebrations are held in: Seattle, Los Angeles, New Orleans, San Francisco, Philadelphia, New York City, Chicago, San Jose CA, Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., Boston, Raleigh NC, and Houston.

In Los Angeles a big party is coming up on the 17th of February called the Chinese Festival and Parade, and who knows… some of our AMS family members may attend and enjoy this global holiday. It’s an opportunity to experience a beautiful culture, enjoy some great food, and start the year over again! Happy New Year to all celebrants!!

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AMS Partners in Prison to Employment Initiative

Education and training - AMS FulfillmentIn 2018 the California Legislature passed the Prison to Employment Initiative (P2E Initiative) and the State budget released supportive funding. In order to gain guidance from the community in how to best carry out the legislation, an Employer Engagement Workgroup was established. Because of AMS’ nationally recognized workforce development programs and AMS’ support of reentry into the workforce, Ken Wiseman, AMS CEO, was invited to participate in the Workgroup.

Now the Los Angeles Basin Regional Planning Unit (LA Basin RPU) and AMS have officially entered into a partnership under the P2E Initiative with the goal of improving the outcome for formerly incarcerated individuals who are seeking employment.

The P2E Initiative seeks to accomplish on a large scale what AMS has been doing on a small scale, which is to align education, training, employment preparation and community-based supportive services in support of reentry. AMS has extensive experience in this arena having been working in partnership with SCV’s College of the Canyons and Goodwill Industries as well as a number of other community-based support services on behalf of job seekers in the community who are experiencing difficulties in gaining employment.

The letter of partnership between the LA Basin RPU and AMS Fulfillment states:

The LA Basin RPU is committed to working with business and industry partners to ensure a skilled and agile workforce that supports economic growth in the region. We applaud the growing number of public organizations and private sector businesses countywide who are taking action to ensure that all residents, including reentry individuals, have the opportunity to participate and thrive in the regional economy. When nearly one in three adults in the region has a criminal record, it is important to align systems and resources to prepare these individuals with the skills and knowledge to succeed in work and life. Especially as new research makes it increasingly clear that companies with more diverse workforces are more productive and perform better financially.

AMS CEO, Ken Wiseman shared, “The more you get involved in providing employment to individuals that face challenges, the more you see the culture of your organization embrace the inclusivity and reflect this in the bottom line performance of the company. Our mission statement reflects this best when we refer to “profit and growth as merely outcomes of uncompromised attention to our customer, our organization, our community and ourselves.” Successful companies today must demonstrate that they are part of the change that will better our communities. Not only is it the right thing to do, but these are the companies that attract great people, inspire innovation, and ultimately create shareholder satisfaction.”

AMS Fulfillment is proud to join in this Partnership and we are committed to work collaboratively with the other Partners of the LA Basin RPU Prison to Employment Initiative to bring about highly successful outcomes for reentry individuals and the businesses involved.

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AMS – January 2019 Employees of the Month!

Congratulations to the AMS Employees of the Month for January, 2019! We are very pleased to recognize Stacy J., Juan C. M, Mayra A., Jenny M., and Gerad M.

Every month the supervisors in our facilities nominate a team member who has provided outstanding service to AMS and its clients. Nominations are listed according to the facility that the employee represents. All of these AMS facilities are located in Valencia, CA, City of Santa Clarita.

As you will see from the comments, the AMS supervisors depend upon and place great value in employees. We care about employee wellbeing, job satisfaction and growth, and we show it in a number of ways. No matter which department they work in, which task they do, or which location we find them in, our employees are the reason that AMS succeeds so well and continues to grow.

Stacy J., Account Manager (May 2012)
HQ Administration: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Every day Stacy shows her passion and dedication to AMS. She is a great organizer who keeps herself together even during rough times; she’s a great leader and a great multitasker. Stacy worked very hard during peak and helped pick up other client tasks that were new to her. At first the client was concerned about the changes within the team but they ended up being very impressed with Stacy’s knowledge and professionalism. I appreciate everything Stacy does, and I am very grateful to have her in my team.

Juan C. M., Receiving Clerk (July 2017)
HQ Warehouse: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I would like to nominate Juan Carlos as employee of the month. He has been a great addition to the receiving team. He always comes in with a great attitude and ready to work and get things done. He has a good relationship with all his coworkers and other departments as well. Juan is always willing to help with any task. This past month he was a great help to the team to make sure all tasks were completed and he volunteered to stay longer to finish the work many times. He is a real team player and we are happy to have him as part of our team.

Mayra A., Operations Lead (July 2011)
WIT: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

I would like to nominate Mayra for employee of the month as she is one of the most well-rounded and dependable employees. Mayra is always willing to stay late or work weekends if necessary and always gives 110% when she’s on the clock. Mayra is a true pleasure to work with and she deserves this award.

Jenny M., Shipping Clerk (June 2018)
WIL: 28936 Avenue Williams

I would like to nominate Jenny for employee of the month because she has shown great potential in the short time she has been working at AMS. She always shows up to work with a positive attitude and ready for all tasks. Jenny started in the assembly lines but immediately demonstrated how fast and efficient she could be in other areas. The last two months operations believed in her skills, so they gave her the opportunity to add knowledge in the department of returns. She has demonstrated again that she is a model employee that AMS needs. We are fortunate to have Jenny as a part of our crew.

Gerad M., Operations Supervisor (October 2011)
SCO: 27801 Avenue Scott

I would like to nominate Gerad because he deserves recognition for everything he does. He has been working with the company for eight years. Gerad has so much knowledge about so many clients and their needs. He communicates well with others and speaks up about mistakes being done. He is always in a positive mood. He deserves to be Employee of the Month.”

Thank You AMS Employees!

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AMS CEO Assists CA Prison to Employment Initiative

Community Involvement - AMS FulfillmentFor years, AMS has been fully engaged in workforce development and actively hiring individuals who have experienced obstacles in joining the workforce. One of the groups facing obstacles is persons who have a criminal record or who are seeking ‘reentry’.

Formerly incarcerated individuals make up an untapped talent pool for employment. For example, while nearly half of employers report that they struggle to fill jobs, at the same time more than 60% of formerly incarcerated individuals are unemployed a year after release. Another important statistic: 1 in 3 adult Americans has a criminal record, so this truly is a large talent pool.

Recently the California Legislature approved the Prison to Employment Initiative, and an Employer Engagement Workgroup was created to help carry out the obligations of the legislation. The Workgroup is seeking the assistance of employers in planning how to best utilize allocated funds.

Because of AMS’ record of involvement in issues of hiring justice involved individuals and AMS’ nationally recognized workforce development programs, Ken Wiseman, AMS CEO, was invited to participate in the Workgroup.

The Employer Engagement Workgroup is seeking to design a plan that will:

1) Increase the number of living wage job opportunities linked to career pathways. 2) Increase employer awareness of the benefits and value in hiring from this largely untapped pool. 3) Increase the number of employers willing to support the hiring and retention of the reentry population.

Ken and other members of the Workgroup have agreed to consider questions and think through critical issues, helping to design an integrated plan that best meets the needs of employers. The Employer Engagement Workgroup is scheduled to meet three times during the month of January.

AMS is very pleased to participate in helping California’s Prison to Employment Initiative succeed in its purpose of increasing job opportunities, employer awareness and hiring and retention of the reentry population.

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Business That Cares: The Changing World

One doesn’t have to look back far to see the worst of the ‘profit above all’ motive of an individual or business. Child labor, slavery, deadly working conditions – the people have endured this and more. In some parts of the world they still do.

But things do change. We can watch that change, and be a part of it. With the emergence of the B-Corporation and Social Enterprise we are seeing business embrace a greater motive, realizing that dollars are not the only measure of profit.

It’s likely there are several reasons for this change, with one being the integrity of today’s business owners and upper management. The article posted below points to a second reason: Employees want to work for a company that is socially responsible. Valuable talent will choose to work for a business that respects its employees, its community and the environment.

This is what a B-Corporation strives to be – good For the world. We have seen that in being good for the world, a business can profit financially as well. It is inspiring to read the article below, and see CEOs encouraged to take the lead in social responsibility.

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Employees want CEOs to fight for change in the world: survey

The era of the guarded CEO that is afraid to take public stands on hot-button social issues may be nearing an end. Or at least it should if said CEO wants to keep top talent that is engaged with an litany of new social issues like never before.

More than 75% of employees say they want CEOs to take the lead on change instead of waiting for government to impose it, according to new data in the 19th annual Edelman Trust Barometer. About 73% believe a company can take actions that both increase profits and improve economic and social conditions in the community where it does business.

Public relations firm Edelman, which supplies the data, surveyed 33,000 people spanning 27 markets around the world.

“CEOs have to speak up and talk on behalf of society and can’t wait for government,” Edelman CEO Richard Edelman tells Yahoo Finance. Edelman thinks being a more outwardly vocal CEO on key social issues is part of being a “next generation” CEO.

READ MORE at Yahoo News.

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US Government Shutdown: Transportation, Logistics and Customs

US Government - AMS FulfillmentThe partial US Government shutdown is a fact of life, at the moment, and we all hope it will end soon. In the meantime, businesses turn their attention to the effects of the shutdown on their operations.

For the most part AMS is unaffected by the shutdown once goods are received in our warehouses. This includes order processing and the outbound domestic and international small package shipments. But many of our Clients import goods that require federal services from Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and services involving cross border clearance.

The following is a brief overview of the effects of the shutdown on US and international transportation and logistics and importers, exporters.

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The US Department of Transportation (DOT) employees are at work, as that agency is not subject to furlough. Funding for DOT’s Federal Highway Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) comes from the Highway Trust Fund, which means they don’t depend on congressional appropriations. DOT did stipulate that the situation may change based on the length of the shutdown.

Rail transportation is not supported by a trust fund, and it is affected, so the Federal Railroad Administration employees are on furlough.

Roadside truck inspections continue, as do most highway projects involving federal money. Airport operations continue as usual, however truckload border crossings are experiencing delays. Air and ocean imports are seeing delays, since there are many government agencies involved in this process.

The US ports and borders are being protected, and they are open for trade as Entry Specialists are working, but a number of processes have been shut down. There are delays in clearing the ports as US Customs and Border Protection is affected, and has put a number of employees on furlough.

Once containers have cleared the ports they still may need to get the stamp of approval from a number of government agencies, including the US Department of Agriculture, US Consumer Product and Safety Commission, Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency, so further delays may be in store.

The Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) has cut back its operations, and the National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Exam Centers (RECs) are closed. No new Foreign Trade Zones are being approved and processing is slowed down.

As we look for the US Government partial shutdown to reach an end soon, we will continue to monitor the situation, and offer whatever support we can provide to our Clients as needed.

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