The turn of the calendar to a new year is a natural time to look back on what we’ve done and to look forward to what we want to do. Here at SanMar, whenever we plan for the future we ask ourselves how our Family Values figure into our plans because the SanMar Family Values aren’t just a list of nice ideas we trot out during employee orientations and publicity events—they’re written into the DNA of everything we do.

Investing In Each Other is one of our core values, but what does it mean? Well, our company culture encourages innovation and empowers team members to be creative. We’re committed to supporting one another and helping each other grow and thrive in the career paths they choose.

Practically, that boils down to two key elements: training and development. Last year we doubled down on our employee development programs with leadership training, a brand-new mentoring program and subject-matter-specific education, providing our employees with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.

Over 300 people participated in our leadership training program, and we offered over 17,000 hours of additional education, because Investing In Each Other isn’t just a logo or a catchphrase. We work together and lift each other up, and here at SanMar, if we can’t help you, we find someone who can.

Whether it’s a weight loss goal or a sales goal, this time of year, everyone is trying to predict what will happen in the upcoming months. However, when you’ve invested in the people around you, there’s always one thing you can count on—no matter what happens, someone’s going to be there to help.

To learn more about our Family Values and how we use them to make a difference in the world, check out the Sharing Our Progress: 2018 Corporate Responsibility Update.