Company News and Highlights

May 2, 2018

AMS Thanks Employees of the Month – March 2018

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 Mark F., Angelic A., Jose D., Erick R., Moran M., and Andres C.

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. AMS Fulfillment is a large company with a number of facilities and several hundred employees. But even though we are large, it’s not difficult for us to notice individuals and their achievements. In fact, we make a point of it.

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:

Mark F., Maintenance Manager (October 2013)
HQ Administration, 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Mark is a hard-working, intelligent and consistent contributor to AMS on so many levels. His leadership in controlling supply purchases, pallet purchasing/exchanges, building maintenance and recycling has been a great benefit to AMS financially. Mark always puts his thought and energy toward helping AMS be successful in this regard. Mark has also been a true leader in the company’s Green Team initiative, and it’s clear that he believes in our mission to be a good citizen of the earth and reduce our carbon footprint as a conscious “B Corporation” business. Thank you Mark for ALL that you do for AMS and for the planet!

Angelic A., Receiving Clerk I (April 2016)
HQ Warehouse, 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Angelic is a great team player. When given a task she will complete it on time and precisely. She is very dependable and you can count on her to be there and rise to the challenge when she is called upon. It’s a joy and privilege to have her on the HQ team. Angelic is always a pleasure to work with because of her positive attitude and eagerness to learn. She recently switched to a new position within the company and her hard work shows daily. She completes her tasks with a smile on her face even when things get hectic. Thank you Angelic.

Jose D., Operations Lead I (July 2007)
WIL1: 28936 Avenue Williams

Jose is a team player and is always there to support any department or client in WIL. He is professional and a pleasure to work with. Jose is helpful, patient, courteous and a very reliable employee. He is a great person to have working for your company!

Erick R., General Warehouse II (April 2014)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Erick has recently been stretched very thin at work. He is our only lift driver and always stays if needed. Erick is a very hard working employee who cares about AMS. Thank you Erick!

Moran M., Shipping Clerk I (February 2016)
WIT2 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

Morgan has shown that he is a very hard worker especially when it is crunch time. He is always ready to help others. Morgan is also a Clerk Mentor when new employees are assigned to our department. He gives clear and accurate information needed to complete the task correctly. We truly appreciate him.

Andres C., Production Lead I (July 2008)
IND1: 28220 Industry Drive

I would like to nominate Andres for employee of the month. He is as dedicated to AMS as they come! He manages a client that is competitively priced and manages it well. He is aware of the RPH, how many units we can do in an hour and he gives motivation to always improve. He is definitely one who should win employee of the month for March.

***

Whether these outstanding employees are part of the management team, client services, technology, accounting, fulfillment operations, facilities, the warehouse team, taking inventory, answering the phone, training people, making decisions, doing payroll… they 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!

May 2, 2018

Local Entrepreneurs Win YEA! Competition

According to one local teen, creative ideas combined with skillful training can translate into sweet success. A member of Santa Clarita’s AMS Fulfillment corporate family, Cheyenne, and her younger sister Layal, who is a high school student, have started a rapidly-growing, successful online business. An extra sweet outcome of that business is Layal’s upcoming participation a national event for young entrepreneurs.

In late 2017 Layal was nominated by her school, Desert Sands Charter High School, for inclusion in YEA! Young Entrepreneurs Academy. She was chosen as one of 12 students from the area schools to participate in a 21-week course designed to mentor young people along the path to self-employment. The culmination of this training was a competition that Layal won, earning her the right to participate in the YEA! Saunders Scholars Competition and Conference on May 5 in Rochester, NY.

The competition consists of presenting a ‘Shark Tank’ type pitch, complete with business plan, product and projections, to a panel of investors. All six individuals who competed in the first competition were granted a bit more investment money than they asked for, including Layal. In the upcoming semi-finals the top student businesses from each YEA! class around the country will be competing to win scholarship dollars, and business start-up prize packages. Winners of the semifinals competition will advance to the finals in Washington DC.

Cheyenne and Layal’s business is interesting, trendy and smart enough to win a competition. Their online strategies have taken them from a small Etsy account selling handmade jewelry to a store at depop.com with 1,900 followers who regularly shop for their vintage thrift store finds. Their fashion sense, modeling, photography and social media marketing skills have made their store, Garden Apparel, something to really be proud of.

We are grateful that organizations like the Young Entrepreneurs Academy are in our community, supported by Chambers of Commerce, as they positively impact the entire community, including the AMS corporate family. Congratulations Cheyenne and Layal – we wish you much success in the upcoming competition.

April 30, 2018

AMS: Recognizing Earth Day Every Day

April 22 was the 48th year of us celebrating Earth Day. We reflect on how much has changed, and ask, “Is it enough?” In 1970 the awareness of environmental damage was increasing due to a number of disasters and a great deal of evidence coming to light. One book with a strong impact was Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, which revealed the effects of DDT and other pesticides on wildlife.

Laws had not protected the people and environment from industrial pollution, and it was rampant and dangerous. It was a turning point for the environment when President Nixon signed a law (NEPA) to require the federal government to use “all practicable means to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony.” That same year (1970) Earth Day was founded. Since then we have seen massive change, with increasing awareness that more is needed.

One of the changes that have come about over the years is the birth of a ‘socially responsible corporation’ – B Corporation (B-Corp). For a B Corp, every day is Earth Day. The B Corp voluntarily holds itself to a standard that benefits the environment and the community in which it operates. AMS Fulfillment (AMS) is understandably proud of its certification as a B Corp, and of its commitment to keep pace with the most environmentally conscious businesses in the US.

The theme of Earth Day this year is ‘End Plastic Pollution’. According to the Earth Day Organization, “Earth Day 2018 is dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally change human attitude and behavior about plastics.” The commitment this year is to reduce the use of plastics. That is a commitment we can all support as individuals and as businesses.

Since AMS began as an environmentally conscious business by recycling bottles, cans, corrugate materials and plastics, the awareness among employees of the company’s environmental footprint is high. Several years ago AMS employees created a volunteer GREEN TEAM that monitors the business practices and recommends additional ways that AMS can be an industry example of a green company.

This year, when various departments were asked if they could see more ways to reduce the use of plastics, replies came back that even though recycling is always done, more efforts are always made to reduce the use of plastics. Mark Fese, AMS Facilities Manager, reported that the company is trying out methods of plastics reduction, in particular the stretch-wrap they use for a dock to location application. In-office recycle bins are also being looked at as possible ways for further reduction.

AMS President Jay Catlin noted that the company has been focused on reducing the use of paper by updating and improving routine business practices where printing is involved. “We’ve always recycled paper, but now with our efforts to reduce the use of paper, the recycle bins are taking much longer to fill up which is great news! In looking at plastics, AMS continues to recycle discarded stretch-wrap and plastic strapping along with plastic bottles, and we’re now exploring how best to make an impact on the usage.” Mr. Catlin went on to mention that they encourage clients to avoid strapping inbound cartons as much as possible, and the focus now is on limiting the use of stretch-wrap without sacrificing warehouse safety for the proper handling of pallets.

AMS Fulfillment does its best to uphold the commitment to community and to humanity as expressed in this excerpt from the B Corporation Declaration of Interdependence. We look forward to the time when we no longer need an Earth Day to remind us that all of life is interdependent and no one profits when the Earth is harmed with pollution.

“We envision a new sector of the economy which harnesses the power of private enterprise to create public benefit. This sector is comprised of a new type of corporation – the B Corporation™ – which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.”

April 18, 2018

AMS: Committed to Inclusive Workforce Development

How much of a positive impact can a Social Enterprise Corporation (B Corp) have on the communities in which they operate their business? AMS Fulfillment, operating in the City of Santa Clarita, in the Valencia area of Southern California, could be a model to look at when answering that question due to its long-established commitment to workforce development and service to the surrounding community.

AMS was granted B Corporation status in 2017 due to its groundbreaking efforts in education and training and its hiring practices. Operating under a business model that is committed to uphold social goals, AMS is keenly focused on the underserved job seekers in the community. The underserved that AMS is actively working with span a wide demographic from single mothers to the homeless, to veterans and seniors, to individuals with a felony record and to individuals with disabilities. The focus of research in this article is on individuals with disabilities.

AMS CEO Ken Wiseman currently serves as Chair of the Santa Clarita Mayor’s Committee on Employment of Individuals with Disabilities, so he is doubly involved as both an employer and an advocate. The Mayor’s Committee promotes awareness and enables communication between local businesses and community organizations in an effort to assist businesses in finding appropriate candidates for employment.

Are the efforts making a difference? Can we see a change for the better?

An article published by PsychCentral, discusses some very positive conclusions reached by the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability. The study is quoted as follows: “The findings show that disabled people are actively engaging in job preparation and job search activities, and successfully negotiating barriers at work.” This one sentence speaks volumes.

The report goes on to say that among those surveyed, around 69 percent are striving to work and overcoming barriers to finding and maintaining employment. This is a very encouraging number and it seems to answer our question with good news. More good news has been compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to bolster the report:

“Workers with disabilities made significant employment gains, however. According to BLS, the participation rate in the labor force for working-age people with disabilities increased from 28.6% in March 2017 to 31.7% in March 2018. The National Trends in Disability Employment (nTIDE) report, issued by the Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire, Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD), said that the latest jobs numbers marked 24 consecutive months of ongoing employment gains for people with disabilities, outpacing the employment gains of people without disabilities.”

A third and similar article based on data from the study goes one step further, suggesting a shift in the way people in the US think about people with disabilities. They are seeing a fourfold jump in employment, and they conclude that television and other media have helped as well. They conclude, “At the macro level, we are absolutely seeing a shift in societal attitudes toward people with disabilities.” They also make it clear that getting hired is still very difficult. Even though there is positive news, there is still a great deal to be done.

These conclusions and statistics encourage us to believe that change is taking place. Appreciation for the progress can be offered to all parties concerned. The corporation does its part, helping job applicants over obstacles; the Mayor’s Committee does its part through advocacy and bringing parties together, the community organizations do their part preparing individuals for work and individuals with disabilities do their part by seeking fulfilling employment.

For AMS, reports and statistics are not the only things that measure the progress of their efforts. Employees who are happy with their work, who are engaged in in training and advancing, who are better able to provide for themselves and their families make for satisfied clients and a successful business.

April 13, 2018

AMS OSHA Safety Challenge: Congratulations Witherspoon!

There was a competition going at AMS on April 11, and everybody won!! Wednesday morning a select group competed in the first AMS Safety Challenge. The competitors are graduates of the AMS OSHA Safety Program, which began in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Each warehouse appointed a team of three graduates to represent them in the competition. The teams were given the task of spreading out in a specific building and finding staged safety violations.

There were 27 placed safety issues in a 100K sq. ft. facility. Items like plastic wrap hanging from a pallet, chains not across an open door at the loading dock, multiple extension cords used in tandem, broken equipment not red tagged and in proper zone and a safety matt with a rolled edge making it a tripping hazard.

The competition went very well. There were five teams of three, each representing a different AMS facility in Santa Clarita. They were given 45 minutes to walk a route around the entire warehouse and attempt to find the hazards.

The team from AMS’s Witherspoon Building won first place and will house the trophy until the next event when they will compete to keep it or give it up to another building. AMS hopes to do these events at least two times per year for the alumni of our OSHA-based safety training.

The Witherspoon team received $50 each, the pride in bringing back the trophy to their building, and a pizza lunch for their building. Congratulations Chardae W., Marquita J. and Jeremy C.!

AMS CEO Ken Wiseman shared his thoughts: “There before me at the start of the event were many of our most motivated and upward mobile employees. It was so much fun to see them compete, and to see the competitive spirit and the skill in which they had developed. I was proud of all of them!”

The event was coordinated and run by Facility Manager, Mark Fese, who did an outstanding job orchestrating the event. AMS is committed to keeping safety at the forefront and this fun competition has shown us how well we’re doing. Everybody won!

***

Photo left to right: Jeremy, Chardae, Marquita and their Proctor, Stacy C

April 2, 2018

Congratulations! AMS February Employees of the Month

CONGRATULATIONS! AMS Employees of the Month for February, 2018: We are very happy to recognize Alicia G., Cynthia G., Analilia L., Justin W., Michael G. and Isabel M.

Every month the supervisors in our various facilities nominate a team member who has provided outstanding service. The nominations and comments demonstrate that the individual being recognized deserves to be thanked and appreciated for not only doing a job well, but for caring enough to go above and beyond. Nominations are listed according to the facility that the employee represents. All of the AMS facilities are located in Valencia, CA, city of Santa Clarita.

From the first day of business to this day, AMS nurtures a family environment that takes note of and cares about the employees, their wellbeing, and their job satisfaction. With sincere appreciation, we recognize the following:

Alicia G., Operations Supervisor II (09/30/2002)
IND1: 28220 Industry Drive

Alicia is an asset to the IND1 team. She is willing to help out any department and cover for any department that needs help. Alicia has taken on the responsibility of overseeing clients, receiving, shipping and adjustments. She is a hard worker and very well respected by the associates and co-workers.

Cynthia G., General Warehouse II (12/18/2017)
WILL: 28936 Avenue Williams

Cynthia is fairly new to our building but she learns extremely fast. She has taken over one of our most active clients with no issues. Cynthia takes her job seriously and is always willing to take a leadership role in group projects. She goes above and beyond to get her job done and looks for new ways to increase efficiencies. She is also always willing to stay as needed and works well under pressure.

Analilia L. , General Warehouse II (11/12/2014)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Ana is an outstanding employee. She is always at work ready to get the job done. When Ana is working on very demanding accounts she does it with a smile on her face. She has no problem with working overtime with little to no notice. Ana goes above and beyond to get the job done as efficiently as possible.

Justin W., Director of Operations (02/01/2017)
WIT: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

Justin is a hard worker and a great team leader. He has a strong rapport with the Operations team, Client Services and AMS clients. He is always looking to improve processes and increase efficiency. Justin has raised RPH for just about every client in the Witherspoon facility and is always focused on profitability. One of the most admirable things about Justin is that when volumes increase, Justin is on the floor helping his team. There have been countless rushes where Justin is taping boxes, shipping orders, receiving product, and helping his team do whatever it takes to get the job done. He is a pleasure to work with and makes the workday not only productive, but fun too. He is a valuable employee to the AMS workforce.

Michael G., Sr. Account Manager (10/04/2010)
HQ Admin: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Mike is an excellent ‘out of the box’ thinker, super sharp and a great role model for not only his team but all the AMS team members. Our entire Operations team enjoys working with Mike. He is professional and always keen and understanding of the work that goes into getting the job completed. He always has the best interest of our company and its employees in mind and really cares about his job and his fellow employees. Mike’s customers are super happy and well informed and we are blessed to have such a great employee at AMS.

Isabel M., General Warehouse II (10/17/2016)
HQ Warehouse: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Isabel deserves to be the employee of the month because she is a hard working individual, has great attendance and is always here. She is responsible and gets along with all of her co-workers. Isabel is there to help when needed. She is a great addition to the AMS team.

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Whether part of the management team, client services, technology, accounting, fulfillment operations, facilities, the warehouse team, taking inventory, answering the phone, conducting training… our employees are our corporate family, and they are the reason for our success. Thank You February Employees of the Month from everyone at AMS!

March 14, 2018

AMS – January 2018 Employees of the Month!

Congratulations to the AMS Employees of the Month for January, 2018! We are very pleased to recognize Ida L., Pricilla R., Tommy D., Gloria J., Russel M., and Wendy M.

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

As you will see from the supervisor comments, AMS has nurtured a culture that depends upon and places great value in employees. We call it a ‘Family’ culture because we care about the people who work here, their wellbeing, and their job satisfaction. 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.

Ida L, AMS Writer, Remote (1/2015)
HQ Administration: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

I nominate Ida Lawrence, our Corporate Writer for Employee of the Month. She is our “unsung hero” of the social media world. Ida works quickly and quietly, all behind the scenes, gathering information, doing interviews and writing AMS Facebook posts, blogs, tweets and press releases. She not only works independently on assigned projects, but also composes new innovation blog topics, constantly updates our web pages for SEO purposes and even writes articles and blogs for some of the organizations in the community we support. She goes above and beyond to promote AMS in social media and we couldn’t possibly do it all without her! Thank you, Ida!!!!!

Pricilla R, Supervisor I, Receiving (07/2013)
HQ Warehouse: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Pri has always shown dedication and passion for her job. She works well with her team and motivates them by example of getting the job done. She is always willing to step up to the place when extra hours are needed during heavier work times. Always thinking of ways to be proactive in her department. She deserves the employee of the month.

Tommy D, General Warehouse II (12/2017)
WIL1: 28936 Avenue Williams

Tommy started working at AMS as an Exact Staff Employee. He demonstrated the skills needed to be successful and always put all his efforts into his work. He then got hired on to be a part of the AMS family and joined our Williams team. Tommy has become one of the best pickers for all of the clients we have. He is fast paced and is always willing to learn new processes with no hesitation. Tommy is very helpful and likes to get the work done in a timely manner. When we are in need of help or coming into work on the weekends he is the first person to raise his hand to come into work. We appreciate having Tommy on our team.

Gloria J, Clerk I, Shipping (11/2010)
IND1: 28220 Industry Drive

Gloria is a great team player. She always comes in with a positive attitude and works hard to meet any task. Gloria is a multitasking type of employee, and that is appreciated. She has been with AMS for a long time, so we know she is a dependable employee and a pleasure to work with.

Russel M, Lead I, Shipping (03/2015)
WIT2: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

Russel is a very important team member to our department. He is dependable, not just by his punctuality and attendance but also his performance. Russel joined the team three years ago. He started as a shipping clerk and has worked his way up to a shipping lead. Russ has great communication with management and always checks in to make sure nothing is needed from his part. He is very eager to learn, and was recently selected for the apprenticeship program. I am looking forward to seeing him share and bring new ideas to the department.

Wendy M, General Warehouse II (10/2014)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Wendy is a hard worker, friendly and respectful. She helps others when needed and always has a positive attitude. She is never late and always on time. Wendy is loveable and committed to doing her job well, and she deserves to be nominated.

Thank You AMS Employees!

March 8, 2018

AMS Celebrates International Women’s Day!

March 8th is a good day to ask the women… “How are we doing?” It’s International Women’s Day, making it a perfect time to consider how gender inclusive a company is. Are women in positions of authority at AMS? Is there gender balance? Are women receiving equal pay for equal work? These are questions that AMS is considering, and as we do so, we encourage others to do the same.

The movement to bring parity to the workplace has been going on for years, and it has made progress. Women who were beginning their employment experience in the 1960s remember well when there was no gender parity. The work climate has changed a great deal in 50+ years, but still there is more to do and progress to make.

The organizers of the International Women’s Day 2018 campaign explain the theme as follows:

“With the World Economic Forum’s 2017 Global Gender Gap Report findings telling us that gender parity is over 200 years away – there has never been a more important time to keep motivated. While we know that gender parity won’t happen overnight, the good news is that across the world women are making positive gains day by day. Plus, there’s indeed a very strong and growing global movement of advocacy, activism and support.”

Actions that the organizers recommend are easy to accomplish, and yet challenging. The challenge to any change in society comes with changing minds by bringing awareness. The organizer’s recommendations to bring awareness are: 1) maintain a gender parity mindset, 2) challenge stereotypes and bias, 3) forge positive visibility of women, 4) influence others’ beliefs / actions, 5) celebrate women’s achievements.

Today we celebrate the achievements of five women in executive positions at AMS, and we also celebrate all of the women working as Associates at AMS, holding this company up with their dedication, intelligence, and caring service.

AMS Executive Vice President, Betty-Lou Wiseman, had this to say about the fantastic women who work at AMS: “It has been my honor and privilege to work with the amazing, strong, goal setting women at AMS, many of whom have overcome what seemed like insurmountable challenges and succeeded in all areas of their lives!”

March 6, 2018

AMS Joins Business Leaders at Mayor’s Committee Luncheon

Recently AMS joined SCV business and political leaders at the Mayor’s Committee for Employment of Individuals With Disabilities Annual Luncheon, held at the College of the Canyons Culinary Institute. The February 22 event was highly anticipated, very successful, well attended by the community, offering an excellent meal, and some teaching moments for the Committee.

Ken Wiseman, CEO of AMS and Chair of the Committee, introduced the program, which began with encouraging words from SCV Mayor Laurene Weste. The first high point of the program was when Mayor Weste introduced Stephanie Kamel, 1st place winner in the 2017 Art Contest for Students with Disabilities. Stephanie received resounding applause for her artwork, which was the award being presented.

The main highlight of the event was a slide presentation by Committee Board Member Charlene Lowe, who introduced the ‘Bias Buster’ theme. Some of her Key points were:

Everyone has biases; it’s part of being human. It’s important not to be ashamed of this basic fact. If you have a brain, you have bias. •Even a tiny bit of bias can have big consequences. •Unconscious bias against people with disabilities appears to be higher than with any other group. •Real impacts: The employment rate for people with disabilities in California is much lower than the employment rate for people without disabilities. •The outcome of reducing bias is improved quality of decisions. First step: •Hold yourself accountable. •Empower everyone to call out unconscious bias. •Commit to One Action: Be prepared: Change your language, listen positively! Be visible: Join a group, get a sticker, wear a t-shirt! Bring it up: Share articles and stories, start conversations to educate others.

Other board members including Ken Wiseman, Tom Iland, and Scott Shepard also joined in presenting real life examples of biases they had observed.

The Mayor’s Committee presented awards to twelve organizations recognized as having provided employment opportunities to individuals with disabilities. The Committee then awarded companies that had directly supported their efforts to get out and meet with potential employers. AMS Fulfillment was among the organizations receiving awards. Other recipients included: the City of Santa Clarita, Boston Scientific, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, College of the Canyons, Jersey Mike’s, Neo Tech, Cardinal Health, Pacific Lock, Princess Cruises, and Lowes Santa Clarita Store #1510.

AMS Fulfillment is proud to support the work of the Mayor’s Committee, and appreciative of the Committee Members who put great effort into this work throughout the year: Ken Wiseman, Charlene Lowe, Scott Shepard, Tom Iland, and Araz Valijan.

February 20, 2018

AMS Apprenticeship Featured in National Magazine

The AMS Fulfillment and College of the Canyons (COC) apprenticeship program was recently featured in the annual publication, produced by the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL). CAEL is a national nonprofit that works at all levels within the higher education, public and private sectors to make it easier for people to get the education and training they need.

Jeffrey Forrest, VP of Economic and Workforce Development, College of the Canyons, authored the article, featuring the story of AMS Associate, Ana Rodriguez. The intention of the publication, and of the author, was to provide expert insight into best practices, research and thought leadership on trends in education and the workforce.

The Apprenticeship Program began being developed in 2015 as a unique, first of its kind in the US, collaboration undertaken by COC, AMS Fulfillment and Goodwill Southern California. The following quoted text gives a picture of just a few of the innovations that make this collaboration a model for other companies:

“In an effort to deliver on the promise of a college education—and provide job skills for adult learners like Ana—College of the Canyons, Goodwill Southern California, and AMS Fulfillment have created an apprenticeship program. The program provides customized instruction and on-the-job training to 18 adults from underserved populations in Santa Clarita, California. This partnership between higher education, a workforce intermediary, and a local employer is unique in the following ways:

“1. The instruction is held at the company’s location. This option allows the apprentices to attend classes without having to leave the workplace. Not only is this a convenient alternative for the students, it allows the college to be more engaged with the company. AMS Fulfillment dedicated a portion of its facility to the construction of a world-class learning center, equipped with computers, whiteboards, and projectors. The learning center can seat up to 60 students.

“2. Flexible schedule. The courses are offered in the evenings from 6:00pm—8:30pm, Monday through Thursday. The length of the courses is usually 12 weeks.

“3. No tuition cost to the apprentice or company. The apprenticeship is funded through the California Apprenticeship Initiative New and Innovative Grant Program. The grant covers teacher’s salaries as well as other costs associated with taking classes (such as uniforms, tools, etc.).

“4. Mobile enrollment. Practically all of the apprentices at AMS Fulfillment are adults who have not been to school in many years. As a result, they may be intimidated by the prospect of going to a college to register for classes. To address this challenge, an enrollment team from College of the Canyons goes to AMS Fulfillment to assist the apprentices in becoming students of the College. The process includes advising, assessment, and enrollment. This feature has been a critical component to the education process.”

We are grateful to Jeffrey Forrest and CAEL for shining a spotlight on advances in workforce development and we are quite proud that AMS is on the forefront as a leader in this field.

Ken Wiseman, CEO of AMS, announced several weeks ago that there is more good workforce news to come, as a new Pre-Apprentice Program will soon be funded. Ken said, “This program is designed for employees struggling to get themselves established in the job market. We are trying to help these pre-apprentice candidates get their hands firmly around the first rung of the employment ladder, and empower them to start their climb.”

Readers are encouraged to download the attached PDF of the CAEL publication, especially those who are committed to workforce development. The article not only tells Ana’s story, it goes into detail with regard to the collaboration and the structure of this exciting new approach to apprenticeship.

February 13, 2018

Thank You! December Employees of the Month

CONGRATULATIONS! AMS Employees of the Month for December, 2017: We are very pleased to recognize Erica M., Angelic A., Analida H., Elvira A., Lizette B., and Ana R.

Every month, and especially after our busiest month of the year, it’s such a pleasure for supervisors to recognize a specific employee as having been outstanding. Our people are much more to us than human resources… we are the AMS family.

There are a number of AMS facilities, with over 300 employees, and one might think in such an environment it’s hard to create ‘family’ and give credit to individuals. But we have chosen a different route in growing to this size: from the beginning and to this day we value a close environment that takes note of and cares about the wellbeing of employees, and their job satisfaction.

The nominations and comments below demonstrate that the employees being recognized did an outstanding job during the month of December, and deserve our thanks for caring enough to go above and beyond.

Erica M: Assistant Account Manager (10/8/2010)
HQ Office: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Erica is always the first person to jump at the chance to help others whether it’s for one of her clients, or stuffing envelopes for a charity event, or helping organize the holiday dinners and gifts for families in need in our local communities. She does this at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and she communicates with other employees about adopting a family for the holidays so that children will receive gifts. Erica is always smiling and friendly, she as a great sense of humor and is always in a good mood. She is a great asset to AMS, and is truly pleasure to work with.

Angelic A: Clerk I Receiving (04/11/2016)
HQ Warehouse: 29010 Commerce Center Drive

Angelic is a team player. When given a task she will complete it on time and very precisely. She is dependable and you can count on her to be here and rise to the challenge. It’s a privilege to have her on the HQ team. Angelic is a very hardworking individual, very respectful and always eager to learn new things and help out. She has recently transitioned into the shipping department and has shown an immense improvement and excellence in this new area. She has become a very supportive and reliable worker and assistant to the shipping supervisor, sharing her ideas on how things can be improved. Angelic is always a pleasure to work with because of her positive attitude and eagerness to learn. She completes her tasks with a smile on her face, even when things get hectic.

Analida H: Inventory/Receiving Supervisor I (09/23/2011)
SCO3: 27801 Avenue Scott

Analida has done an incredible job supervising our physical inventory team. She is extremely organized and well prepared for every physical inventory we have performed. We have met all of our clients’ expectations and deadlines with fantastic results. For the first time ever we have had three perfect audits for our clients. Analida’s hard work and dedication to the physical inventory process makes her a superstar and we are proud to have her on our team.

Elvira A: General Warehouse II (01/03/2017)
IND1: 28220 Industry Drive

Elvira is a team player! She is always available and willing to help out even if that means coming in on weekends. She completes every task she is given. Elvira comes into work with a good attitude and she always tries her best to answer questions or help whoever needs help. She is always willing to teach and mentor partners to help them succeed. Elvira has been a great help with all of our recent physical inventories. She is also fun, friendly and enthusiastic. We never have to worry about her job getting done. No matter what the task is she gives 150% effort to make sure it is done accurately and efficiently. We are so happy that she responded to the job here at AMS.

Lizette B: Assistant Manager I (05/20/2012)
WIT2: 28624 Witherspoon Parkway

Lizette goes above and beyond to get her job done. She is very polite, respectful and cares about the employees. She is consistently amazing to work with, very on point and organized, serious and meticulous about her job and overall an awesome human being. When we come in to work and look for stand-out employees we would be willing to go to battle with she is the first one that comes to mind. Lisette is a phenomenal assistant manager who can handle any task she is given with no problem. She is very knowledgeable of all the processes and procedures, always looking for new ways to increase efficiencies. She treats all employees, coworkers and management with the same courtesy and respect.

Ana R: Assistant Operations Manager (09/16/2015)
WIL1: 28936 Ave Williams

Ana has done an amazing job with all the clients. She has a good work ethic and makes sure that everything gets done properly, going above and beyond to get tasks done in a timely manner. Ana always remains with a positive attitude and has a great relationship with all of her coworkers. She carries the team on her back when needed and always offers to help others. Ana is an outstanding leader to our team and a big part of our success here at Williams.

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Our ‘Employee of the Month’ recognition is meant to convey a sincere Thank You to individuals in the AMS Fulfillment Family! Whether part of the management team, client services, technology, accounting, fulfillment operations, facilities, the warehouse team, taking inventory, answering the phone, training people, making decisions, doing payroll… you are the reason for our success and we Thank You!

February 13, 2018

AMS Employees Begin WMS Training

AMS is pleased to announce an exciting new class opportunity for employees! This is the first WMS (Warehouse Management System) training with AMS’ warehouse services software enhancements. The class will cover system navigation (InOrder, Warehouse Services) on processes related to Shipping/Picking & Packing, Receiving/Inventory and Returns/Cycle Counting.

Warehouse managers oversee the handling and storage of all supplies and goods as well as track supply requests and forecast future needs. This training is necessary and valuable for employees to understand the modules, processes and capabilities of our warehouse software. AMS employees will receive hands-on training in all areas of our business to develop, expand and enhance their warehouse skill set to become more flexible employees with a solid knowledge base of our ever-changing industry.

WMS students will learn the key aspects of inventory control and materials handling. They will develop their knowledge of receiving and storing materials with an eye to greater safety and efficiency. Instructors will provide lessons in proper material processing, including the picking and shipping of goods. Students learn the WMS technologies and computer systems that assist managers in maintaining inventory and forecasting supply needs.

The WMS Training class will be held once a week, every Tuesday from 12:30 pm to 2 pm, in the AMS Learning Center (Witherspoon Pkwy. – WIT2N – upstairs), beginning on Tuesday, February 6th, 2018 and ending on March 6th, 2018.

The five 2-hour classes are taught by: Todd G., Eric W., Steve D., Oscar R. and Hector E.

Please contact [email protected] for more information.

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