Leadership training program launches the first participant class.
Sustainability and worker safety certifications earned.
Sunbrella ® showcases core collections and new offerings.
When we think about how to take the long view, it often comes down to the choices we make every day. When those choices are consistent, we set ourselves up for a promising tomorrow, experiencing a greater positive impact on our personal and professional futures.
We’re seeing examples of these long-term investments come to fruition this quarter. One that comes to mind is the launch of SOAR, a professional development initiative focused on Shaping Opportunities for Aspiring and Recognized leaders. This first class is all-in on doing it right, and I hope learning about SOAR in April’s Coffee Talk sparked inspiration for how individual investments contribute to both personal career growth and our collective achievement.
Our teams at the plants make choices each day in pursuit of operational excellence. By prioritizing thoughtful decisions daily, our team in Glen Raven Asia earned two ISO certifications, gaining global recognition in the industry. It is not lost on me that those achievements are a direct result of the consistent commitment and care from each member of the team.
These two examples demonstrate that investing in tomorrow can take many forms. Making investments in yourself, your team and your work — both big and small — advances our shared future.
Thanks to your hard work, diligence and resilience, Glen Raven is well positioned to take advantage of opportunities no matter where they arise.
Leib Oehmig, CEO
Sustainability is more than just a passing trend here at Glen Raven. Associates celebrated Eco-Spirit Week with activities across the globe, connecting with one another and practicing sustainable initiatives for both the planet and its people.
Teams across the company not only wore green to show their environmental spirit, but they also participated in litter cleanup drives, restored local green spaces through gardening, recycled clothing and electronics, and did office spring-cleaning.
For additional information about what our company does to care for the Earth and its people, check out the 2024 Sustainability and Greenovation reports, which detail our progress in reaching our sustainability goals.
See all the details at glenraven.com/impact/sustainability
Congratulations to our first class of SOAR initiative participants! Shaping Opportunities for Aspiring and Recognized leaders is a training program designed to help associates navigate crucial transitions in their careers. Following a strong number of applicants, the inaugural SOAR class consists of nine associates from the U.S. operations division and will expand globally to ensure our company has a solid leadership foundation to meet future opportunities.
Dr. Kevin Munson, director of talent development, and Billy Harton, director of operations support, shared more about the program during April’s Coffee Talk.
“SOAR is a journey through professional leadership development and networking that brings colleagues from various locations together as they prepare for the next steps in their career,” Munson said.
The yearlong program will teach participants how to navigate the transition from individual contributors to supervisors and managers — noted as one of the most difficult career transitions for people to make.
The curriculum includes topics and activities aimed at developing well-rounded leaders:
• A comprehensive understanding of Glen Raven products, markets and other business functions
• A 360 assessment to understand how participants are perceived by peers, direct reports and supervisors, compared to their own self-perception
• Key leadership topics such as influence and motivation, using content from FranklinCovey, a global performance improvement company
• Training in textile manufacturing fundamentals from the NC State University Department of Textile Engineering
• Communication skills, including writing, public speaking and handling crucial conversations
• Site visits to each location within the division for professional networking
As the program expands globally, future classes will prepare for leadership transitions across all levels and divisions:
• Individual contributors learning how to lead themselves
• Supervisors and managers preparing to lead a team
• Directors and vice presidents learning how to lead a department or function
• Executives understanding how to lead an organization
Similar courses will also be available outside of the SOAR initiative for associates to complete as self-directed training. Reach out to Kevin Munson to learn more.
Summer is here and that means more time to have fun outside. Spending time outdoors is a great way to boost your overall well-being, but prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer. Remember to protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays every day.
While there are several risk factors for developing skin cancer, most can be prevented. Taking proactive steps, such as applying sunscreen, wearing protective clothing and seeking shade, can greatly reduce the risk and help keep your skin healthy.
Individuals older than 6 months should use sunscreen every day, regardless of their skin type or color. This includes those who tan easily and those who don’t, because sun exposure damages your skin over time, even if you don’t get sunburned. The harmful effects of UV radiation accumulate over the years, increasing the risk of skin damage and skin cancer later in life.
When researching sunscreen options, start by looking for a sunscreen that provides broadspectrum protection, which means it protects against UVA and UVB rays. For daily use, the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. If you’re spending extended time outdoors or engaging in activities with prolonged sun exposure, choose a sunscreen with an SPF of 50 or higher to ensure better protection.
Sunscreen also includes active ingredients that help prevent the sun’s UV radiation from reaching your skin. The ingredients in physical sunscreen (also known as mineral sunscreen) reflect and scatter the rays before they penetrate your skin, while chemical sunscreen ingredients absorb UV rays before they can damage your skin.
Skin cancer prevention requires a comprehensive approach to protecting yourself against harmful UV radiation. Here are additional steps you can take to protect your skin when outdoors: Reapply sunscreen when needed –Apply 1 ounce of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating. Wear protective clothing – Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Seek shade – Whenever possible, stay in the shade, especially during the sun’s peak hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Trees, umbrellas and pop-up tents with UV protection are all great options to avoid direct sunlight.
Scheduling regular visits with a dermatologist can also help keep your skin healthy. In between visits, examine your skin at least once a month for warning signs, such as a growth, mole or birthmark that increases in size or changes color; a spot or sore that hurts or bleeds; or an open sore that does not heal. For more details, visit skincancer.org/ early-detection
If you have any concerns, contact your dermatologist immediately.
Glen Raven fabrics play a significant role in promoting sun safety. Our Sunbrella ® fabrics used in shading products have earned the Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation, recognizing them as part of a complete sun protection regimen, along with regular sunscreen use, to help prevent sun-induced skin damage. Additionally, our GlenGuard® fabrics used in protective FR (flame-resistant) workwear products exhibit a +99% UVA/UVB Blockage and have a corresponding UPF value of 50+.
At Glen Raven, we take pride in knowing that these products play a meaningful role in helping individuals and families enjoy the outdoors more safely, supporting broader efforts to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
Learn more about UV protection at sunbrella.com
Glen Raven Asia teams have worked hard to accomplish major milestones toward reducing their energy footprint and its impact on the environment.
After more than two months of meticulous preparation and dedicated effort, the GRA
The two internationally recognized ISO certifications demonstrate the GRA team’s commitment to excellence in manufacturing.
warping workshop — under the leadership of Li Hua, general manager, and Cao Naiyao, plant manager — was successfully recognized as a Suzhou Municipal Model Intelligent Plant in October 2024.
As a result, the teams’ efforts are getting noticed on the global stage. The team earned two ISO certifications as highlighted in the 2024 Corporate Sustainability Report — learn more about the certifications below.
These independent gold standard certifications are no small task to achieve and demonstrate the steadfast commitment of associates to create a safe workplace that is committed to energy
efficiency and helps control production costs and the carbon footprint of our fabrics.
GRA embodies the philosophy of excellence in production that is a Glen Raven standard by consistently pursuing innovation and progress while efficiently completing production tasks. Keeping pace with the times, the plant has fully implemented digital production and energy management systems, achieving in-depth management and precise monitoring of the entire product life cycle.
By achieving these milestones on the journey toward intelligent transformation, the Glen Raven Asia team is all-in on doing it right.
ISO 45001 is an international standard that specifies requirements for occupational health and safety management systems to prevent injury and illness.
ISO 50001 demonstrates a commitment to conserving resources and practical, efficient energy use.
Congratulations to our European associates, who made a strong showing at Salone de Mobile, which is part of Milan Design Week, during the second week of April. Sunbrella joined more than 2,100 other exhibitors from 37 countries at the annual trade fair, showcasing two global collections, Timeless and On The Road, and new offerings that included plaids and the Made to Order collection. The show drew in buyers, retailers, designers and media from 50 countries, resulting in more than 300,000 attendees.
The team created an immersive booth experience featuring library-inspired fabric-covered books, layered displays, draped samples, stacked rolls and a café-style meeting space that emphasized the breadth of texture, color and pattern in the new Sunbrella collections.
The design of the booth space showcased a unique brand experience that opens doors to deeper customer relationships and opportunities for future growth.
