NORTHBROOK, IL — I was raised to treat everyone with respect, even when that treatment may not be reciprocated. It was foundational to becoming an advocate for employees and helping them perform to their full potential.
I saw that early in my career when I worked for Wendy’s bakery while Dave Thomas was at the helm. I watched him treat every employee in the bakery with respect.
I have always believed that employees are among a company’s greatest assets; without them, we can’t exist. During my career, I have held roles as supervisor, operations manager and plant manager, always combining my personal philosophies with bakery operations and business training from my mentors.
In each position, I kept employees top of mind and let them know we were a TEAM: Together … Everyone … Achieves … More. I learned quickly that motivated employees who understand mutual respect take ownership of their daily tasks, and that brings increased efficiency, reduced waste and high morale.
In May 2021, I became director of diversity, equity and inclusion for Highland Baking Co. Here, we are creating a workplace where everyone feels valued and respected because of their differences, and every employee can reach their full potential and help us achieve our business goals. With support from management, we are attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that represents the customers we serve and communities where we live and operate.
Diversity brings multiple perspectives that generate new ideas and solutions. When employees know they belong, retention rates improve, people become more productive, and efficiencies emerge. It creates a competitive advantage.
When we harness our diversity, we gain improvements in the overall operation. I cannot speak enough about the benefits of having a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce and the positive results that can be gained for your ROI.
