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20 PalletCentral • May-June 2022 palletcentral.com Caryn Smith serves as the editor and art director of PalletCentral. She is CEO of Driven By Design LLC, a communications agency specializing in association publications for over 20 years. e main shift for us to allocate time and resources to serving others started when we were invited to L&R Pallet by James and Carine Ruder to do an informal workshop at their facility. We shared ideas on best practices for running businesses that served God well, by creating meaningful relationships with our employees, our customers, and our vendors. at was our biggest catalyst for change, in my opinion. We walked away from that meeting both inspired by the new ideas we'd discussed but also overwhelmed by how much more we could be doing. We decided quickly to join a local C-12 business peer group in our area to fan the flames of this newfound inspiration and desire to do better and be better. We leaned hard on this group for counsel on helping our business not only grow but grow well. We were challenged to read the book "Traction," which is based on a model called EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System®). is helped us implement a process for running our business that's "comfortably uncomfortable," where we are always pushing ourselves as a team, but not to the point of burnout. Our desire as a company is to win together with those whom we do business. is is summed up well by the golden rule: "Treat others as you want to be treated." We try to do our very best to create win- win situations for our employees (competitive pay/ benefits and a culture which seeks to balance grace with accountability) and our customers/vendors (a partnership mentality which fairly compensates for value provided, keeps promises, and does what's right). While we're far from perfect, it is the path that we're continuously trying to align ourselves with as we're interacting in the marketplace. First, we believe that wages and benefits must remain relevant in our given job markets. From there, we don't think we can understand how to best serve our employees if we don't provide a way for them to tell us. at happens mechanically through things like quarterly surveys/action plans, quarterly all-hands lunch meetings, etc., but the meaningful changes come because of trust and relationship. We just try our best to be consistent about showing people we care so they care enough to tell us about things we could be doing better as a company. In little ways, that looks like showing up with a favorite drink (which requires me to know what that drink is) or providing timely verbal/written recognition for a job well done. In bigger ways, it looks like spot bonuses, company paid meals with a spouse, or contributing to a cause that is important to them. I think our biggest win in helping our employees are those opportunities where a moment to help is recognized by someone in our company. en, we respond in a meaningful way because we knew enough about the employee to know what they may need without them needing to ask. Greenway Products & Services — Personal Mission Submitted by Dominick Davi, President K amps Greenway is a pallet remanufacturer and recycler in the Mid-Atlantic region. We currently have 270 employees located in six different plants. Although we are excellent at delivering a massive number of standard pallets in a very fast and efficient manner throughout the region, we also specialize in custom remanufactured pallets, which make up 30% of our business. I oversee our charitable actions and giving. I believe it is very important to give back to our community and to "Be the Good." I like to joke with my partners and tell them that I am the VP of karma. I feel the better you do, the more goodwill comes back to you. I have been very blessed with my family and in business. I don't think I can ever give enough to match the blessings that I have. ere are of course many ways to lead. I like to think I take a "servant leadership" approach. e first thing I usually do when I come in the office is ask our foremen and other leaders if they have everything they need to get our day done. I feel like if I address those problems first, it leads to a more productive day. It also gives them a sense that they are not alone and management has their back. We offer many different types of benefits to help our employees. One that sticks out is that we offer our employees interest free loans. Unfortunately, things happen such as car repairs, moving to a new apartment, family health issues. We like our employees to know that if there is an issue, we have their back. I tend to be more private with my community efforts. I shouldn't, but I am. I have shaved my head for the last six years for the St. Baldrick's Foundation, a charity that funds children's cancer research. My goal was to raise over $75,000, which I accomplished last year. For the last 20 years, the week before Christmas, my brother and I purchase toys for an entire AHRC school in a low-income area in Brooklyn. I dress up as Santa and, along with my brother, wife, and kids, hand out the toys to each child individually. j We want to thank these leaders for sharing how they lead with heart. If your company has a "Leading with a Charitable Heart" story, please email aferri@ palletcentral.com, and your story could be published in a future issue.

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