In July, Worthington Enterprises hosted the annual Joint Employee Council conference in Columbus where 19 employees from 11 facilities across six states are sharing best practices, engaging with Company leaders and discussing how they, as local leaders, can help achieve an increasingly connected culture and other aspects of our strategic goals. Employee Council is a Worthington legacy dating back to 1961. As the Company grew, so did Founder John H. McConnell’s unwavering effort to know and listen to employees. Today, monthly meetings empower Employee Councils throughout the Company to address concerns, assign actions and carry out plans that ensure open, two-way communication in a comfortable environment.
Quality is an aspect of our work that impacts nearly all employees as well as our partners. Last week, we conducted our annual Quality Conference in Columbus, Ohio, bringing together more than 30 Quality team members from nine locations to share and discuss best practices, lessons learned, FY25 performance and FY26 goals. Eric Reed, senior director, Quality, Worthington Enterprises, states, “We believe that a holistic approach to continual improvement and planning helps all of us prepare for the coming year in order achieve more together than we may individually. We had a productive session, and I have every confidence that our Quality team will help our Company achieve its strategic goals.”
Yesterday, our intern class swapped business casual for garden gloves! The group assembled for a morning of volunteering, beautifying and giving back to the Ohio Wildlife Center in support of outdoor education. Worthington Enterprises strives to create unique experiences for interns throughout the course of their time with us that empower them to thrive. "Supporting a local organization and sharing the experience with other interns made it a meaningful part of my summer internship experience." - Annelise Salomon
Members of our brand marketing, innovation, supply chain and sustainability teams spent yesterday morning touring the new Rumpke Waste & Recycling center to gain in-person insights into how products move through the waste and recycling streams. The Rumpke facility is the largest of its kind and one of the most technologically advanced in North America. Visits such as this are just one of the ways we're taking a proactive approach to sustainability.
Worthington Enterprises announced its acquisition of Elgen Manufacturing (Elgen) of Closter, New Jersey. Elgen designs and manufactures HVAC parts and components, ductwork and structural framing for commercial, mechanical and electrical, and residential segments throughout North America. The acquisition expands Worthington’s Building Products portfolio of critical building systems and components.
Worthington Enterprises is proud to employ military veterans throughout our Company, and we are committed to connecting veterans and military spouses with career opportunities. We are enhancing this commitment by joining the US Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) program that provides members of the U.S. Army with an opportunity to serve their country while they prepare for their future. PaYS partner organizations guarantee soldiers an interview and possible employment after their service. This unique program is part of the Army's effort to partner with American businesses to integrate veterans back into the workforce.
At the end of May we welcomed 26 students from 14 universities for our annual summer internship experience. As part of our program, each intern gains hands-on work experience within their department, participates in workshops focused on developing leadership skills, career preparedness and inclusivity in the workplace, meets regularly with an employee mentor who interned previously with Worthington and joins fellow interns for a community service project. We're excited to have these students join us and look forward to supporting their contributions to our Company and their personal growth.
Memorial Day Weekend is the unofficial start of summer and millions of Americans will be spending time outside doing yardwork, grilling, entertaining and/or camping. In doing so, they are likely to be using several products within the Worthington Enterprises portfolio of market-leading brands. Be sure to check the handle of your 20-pound propane tank collar for the manufacturing number "M4875", which means it was manufactured at our Westerville, Ohio, facility.
Forty-six employees from 14 of our locations gathered for our annual spring Learn and Lead: Empowering Our Workforce conference. The curriculum is designed to help accelerate personal development and elevate growth. Employees representing roles such as group leader, operator, transformation analyst, demand planner, engineer and maintenance tech, among others, gained actionable insights into behaviors that advance performance and foster meaningful change. Learn and Lead is a multi-tiered leadership development program helping to equip employees with the tools, resources and experiences to best succeed in their unique professional journey.
Congratulations to Katlyn Sterner who will become the next president and CEO of Worthington Armstrong Venture (WAVE) effective May 1 upon the retirement of Doug Cadle. WAVE is a 50/50 joint venture between Armstrong World Industries (Armstrong) and Worthington Enterprises. In a joint statement, Victor Grizzle, president and CEO, Armstrong World Industries, and Joe Hayek, president and CEO, Worthington Enterprises, said, “Katlyn brings a wealth of experience, strong leadership, strategic insight and a deep understanding of both our operations and the needs of our customers. During her tenure, Katlyn has led in many ways across a variety of situations and in doing so earned the respect, trust and confidence of those around her. We are looking forward to having her lead WAVE through its next era of growth.” Grizzle and Hayek added, “Doug’s leadership and perseverance significantly accelerated WAVE’s growth and profitability, which made this more than 30-year joint venture even stronger. His charismatic personality and genuine care for employees and customers are hallmarks of his career and will have a lasting impact on the organization. We are grateful for his contributions, including positioning WAVE for sustainable growth built on a foundation of a people-first culture and strategic investments.”
