A message from Chief Operating Officer Dave Stander
Columbia Teammates,
We have the privilege of working and living in one of the best corners of the country. We take great pride in living and working here, and with that pride comes the responsibility of keeping ourselves and our communities safe. Today we’re announcing plans to increase our awareness of a major threat to our safety, often hiding in plain sight – human trafficking.
Human trafficking is defined as the recruitment, harboring, transporting, obtaining or maintaining of a person by means of force, fraud or coercion for purposes of servitude, debt bondage, slavery, organ sales or participation in sex trade. It is a form of modern-day slavery, and it impacts every community in America. To learn more about trafficking in Oregon and Washington, click here.
Distributor employees are in a unique position to spot human trafficking activity because we have access to non-public areas of venues, bars, hotels, convenience stores, event arenas and more where this activity is more likely to occur.
In the coming weeks we will release these materials to all of you. You will see general education and awareness information and an online training video, mandatory for those of us on the front lines. We will also make our communities awareness of our commitment through public promotion and signage on our fleet.
As a fellow Columbia team member, a Washington resident and a father of two, I am very proud of this initiative and Columbia’s desire to participate. I hope you are as well and I look forward to sharing more with you soon.