Month: June 2024

At Covia, we have highlighted several team members whose dedication and leadership have shaped the success of the company and the environment or their community. In this Insights Blog, we share the journey of Mike Foster, Senior Plant Manager at Covia’s Cleburne plant. From his early beginnings at the Guion plant to his current role, Mike’s story is one of leadership, mentorship, community support, and a commitment to safety.

Journey to the Cleburne Plant

I began working for Covia 12 years ago at the Guion, Arkansas, plant. I had worked in the resin business before, so when a friend told me about a job opening at Covia near my hometown of Batesville, Arkansas, I knew I had to apply. Guided by my friend’s recommendation, I decided to take a new path and ended up working at the Guion plant for about six years.

After six years at Guion, I accepted a new opportunity in West Texas as Operations Manager for Covia’s Crane, Texas plant. However, living away from my family began to weigh on me. I was ready for a change, and so was my family. As fate would have it, the COVID-19 pandemic triggered some changes and an opportunity arose to transfer to Covia’s Cleburne, Texas, plant, and I accepted the challenge of leading the Cleburne plant through those uncertain times.

As I took on this new role as Senior Plant Manager, I turned to my former boss and mentor, Mike Maloney, for guidance. Mike shared valuable leadership insights that helped me in making strategic decisions that empowered the entire Cleburne team, which ultimately helps us work exceptionally well together. We also implemented new data collection and monitoring tools that have helped us reduce machine downtime and optimize operations. We’re incredibly proud of the work we’ve put into building our team and the results we achieve together.

Today, almost five years later, we continue to exceed expectations, winning Covia’s 2023 President’s Safety Award. This team understands the critical importance of safety to ensure the well-being of all team members. We have weekly meetings and safety is our top priority. We’re always watching out for one another. I have also been inspired by Mike Maloney and his commitment to his community in Arkansas. At Cleburne, we are actively involved in various community initiatives, including supporting local schools, food banks, and providing financial assistance for scholarships. Fostering strong relationships with the local community is part of being a good neighbor, and it’s all connected to watching out for each other’s well-being. I take great pride in being part of this team and I’m excited to serve as a mentor and leader for future generations of Covia Team Members–just like Mike did for me.

The team we have is hardworking, dedicated, and incredible to work alongside because people are always looking out for one another and building each other up. I couldn’t be happier with the team we assembled and how they’ve helped us become one of the leading plants at Covia. As a plant manager, the very best days are the ones when you can celebrate the team’s accomplishments. At Cleburne, we have a lot of those days.

Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my wife and two kids. I have an 18-year-old son who’s graduating high school this June and an 8-year-old daughter. Our weekends tend to be pretty busy as they are both athletic and active. My son plays baseball and is currently in the Texas state playoffs, while my daughter plays basketball, softball, and competitive cheer. When my wife and I aren’t running around the country for tournaments, I enjoy going fishing and hunting. What makes it even better is that my kids love to go with me – so we can spend even more quality time together.

Community First

In addition to the great team at Cleburne, I’m also proud to be part of a company that is dedicated to the community around us. Covia gives back in various ways, from the upcoming Monarch Joint Venture project at Cleburne to the scholarships and donations that are revitalizing our communities. Being able to work with others to make a difference both in the plant and beyond is a great feeling, and I am looking forward to how our organization continues to grow and give back.

Learn more about Covia’s ESG program: https://www.coviacorp.com/esg/

Since 2011, our employee led Military Appreciation & Assistance Resource Council (MAARC), has grown to engage partners worldwide to ensure military service members and their families have the proper resources to succeed.

We are thrilled to share that the Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services team recently joined forces with MAARC and ExodusPoint Capital Management, LP for a global exercise event dedicated to raising awareness and support for active and veteran armed forces and first responders. This initiative underscores our collective commitment to giving back to those who serve and protect us.

Special thanks to our teams in New York, Chicago, Bangalore, Tempe, and beyond for their enthusiastic participation.

Your dedication is inspiring.

Originally published on Aflac Newsroom

MIAMI, June 20, 2024 /3BL/ — Aflac, the leading provider of supplemental health insurance in the U.S.1, partnered once again with beloved TV personality and cancer survivor, Adamari López, to bring the excitement and joy of soccer to pediatric patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. This event marks the second consecutive year that Aflac has aligned with López as the company continues in its mission to support the communities, families and patients impacted by cancer and blood disorders, particularly in the Hispanic American community.

Designed to spread joy and offer an interactive day for patients, the event celebrated the love for a sport that is deeply rooted in Latin America and followed by Latinos in the United States.

Adamari López, an avid soccer lover who shares this same passion with her daughter, Alaïa, engaged with the patients and their families, bringing the excitement and camaraderie of the sport. The event featured various stations where children may design their own soccer pennants, enjoy concessions-style treats and take home some special souvenirs. Each child also received a passport to take with them as they explored different countries participating in the upcoming soccer tournament, combining fun with educational elements.

“Aflac and I have a shared mission of bringing inspiration and hope for those going through their own wellness journey, whether faced with a cancer diagnosis or another condition,” said López. “I absolutely love the enthusiasm around the soccer games, and this event is the perfect way to share that message with the precious patients at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.”

Adamari has previously worked with Aflac on initiatives supporting the Hispanic community, focusing on cancer awareness and preventive care, including findings from the 2023 Aflac Wellness Matters Survey. Additionally, data from the soon-to-be released second annual survey is in, and Aflac will be kicking off a campaign designed to generate awareness of the need for people in the Hispanic community to urge their loved ones to take charge of their personal health. In fact, 79% of Hispanics are likely to go for routine medical checkups if a friend or loved one encourages them to do so, 10% higher than the general population. Through initiatives like this, Aflac remains committed to being a part of culturally relevant moments as it continues to serve and support the Hispanic community.

“It is an absolute pleasure to once again work with Adamari — who has been a source of inspiration for many as they go through their own cancer journey — and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to bring the excitement of the soccer championship games to their pediatric patients,” said Ines Rodriguez Gutzmer, senior vice president and chief communications officer at Aflac. “We know that the hospital setting can be stressful, so we are glad to bring some joy and comfort to these children and their families — something we have been doing since 2018.”

“Patient experiences like this one provide the opportunity to impact patient families beyond bedside care,” said Perry Ann Reed, senior vice president and chief operating officer of Nicklaus Children’s Health System and president of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “Thanks to supporters like Aflac and Adamari, we are able to give patients a moment of fun and a break from the day-to-day of being in a hospital setting.”

This initiative was an extension of Aflac’s long-standing dedication to supporting pediatric patients battling cancer or sickle cell disease. Since 1995, Aflac employees, agents and The Aflac Foundation Inc. have donated more than $182 million to support the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and blood disorders. With the goal to expand their impact even further, Aflac joined Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in 2016 as a national partner and, as an extension of the Aflac Childhood Cancer Campaign™, Aflac created My Special Aflac Duck®, an award-winning robotic, comforting companion designed especially for patients with pediatric cancer or sickle cell disease. Since 2018, we’ve delivered more than 30,000 of these special ducks.

About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Where Your Child Matters Most ™ 
Founded in 1950 as Variety Children’s Hospital, Nicklaus Children’s is South Florida’s only licensed specialty hospital exclusively for children, with approximately 850 attending physicians, including more than 500 pediatric subspecialists. The 307-bed hospital is renowned for excellence in all aspects of pediatric medicine, with many specialty programs routinely ranked among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report since 2008. The hospital is also home to the largest pediatric teaching program in the southeastern United States and since 2003 has been designated an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Magnet facility, the nursing profession’s most prestigious institutional honor. For more information, please visit www.nicklauschildrens.org.

ABOUT AFLAC INCORPORATED 
Aflac Incorporated (NYSE: AFL), a Fortune 500 company, has helped provide financial protection and peace of mind for more than 68 years to millions of policyholders and customers through its subsidiaries in the U.S. and Japan. In the U.S., Aflac is the No. 1 provider of supplemental health insurance products.1 In Japan, Aflac Life Insurance Japan is the leading provider of cancer and medical insurance in terms of policies in force. The company takes pride in being there for its policyholders when they need us most, as well as being included in the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere for 18 consecutive years (2024), Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies for 23 years (2024) and Bloomberg’s Gender-Equality Index for the fourth consecutive year (2023). In addition, the company became a signatory of the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) in 2021 and has been included in the Dow Jones Sustainability North America Index (2023) for 10 years. To find out how to get help with expenses health insurance doesn’t cover, get to know us at aflac.com or aflac.com/espanol. Investors may learn more about Aflac Incorporated and its commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability at investors.aflac.com under “Sustainability.”

1 LIMRA 2023 U.S. Supplemental Health Insurance Total Market Report

Media contact: Jon Sullivan, 706-763-4813 or jsullivan@aflac.com

Analyst and investor contact: David A. Young, 706-596-3264, 800-235-2667 or dyoung@aflac.com

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SOURCE Aflac