As communities become more diverse across the United States, efforts to create more inclusive and equitable workplaces have been a major point of discussion in the business world. For Columbia Distributing, inclusivity isn’t just a sentiment but a core component of our vision and values, and team members at all locations and across all levels work toward it every day.
One team member with a passion for fostering a more inclusive culture at Columbia Distributing is the Vice President of Optimization, Douglas Bailey. Learn about what his role entails and his thoughts about the progress of the company with inclusivity, as well as what work still needs to be done.
Support for Employee Personal and Professional Development
What does a day in the life of the Vice President of Optimization look like? According to Bailey, it involves many meetings. After responding to emails early in the morning, Bailey typically attends several meetings each day to discuss the status of different projects. When he’s not in meetings, Bailey is completing a range of other tasks such as developing presentations, completing research, or training other team members.
His job with Columbia Distributing isn’t the first that Bailey has had in the beverage distribution industry, but the company has stood out to him from his previous employers.
“I was working for Pabst Brewing Co. when I was introduced to Columbia Distributing. I was impressed with the family-like feel of the organization, as well as the aggressive goal for portfolio diversification and moving the distribution business into the 21st century,” Bailey says.
Bailey also appreciates the many career development opportunities he’s been afforded. For example, the company enabled him to earn a Lean Six Sigma Knowledge Transfer Green Belt and Lean Leader Green Belt. Along the same vein, Bailey is inspired by the support he receives when working on an assignment outside the scope of his regular job duties.
“The reason I’m in the role I’m in now is that I enjoy removing hurdles for myself and my teammates, and I tried to do that even when it wasn’t part of my first two roles at Columbia Distributing,” Bailey explains. “I was only able to do this because Columbia Distributing provided a safe space and the support to work on these projects to make things better.”
Fostering Inclusivity Is an Ongoing Effort
Columbia Distributing’s equity statement recognizes that when companies cultivate employees, partners, and the greater community through a culture of diversity and inclusion, it makes them stronger. Bailey is proud of the culture of inclusivity that Columbia Distributing has built over the years, but admits there’s still work to do.
“There’s a growing trend toward creating inclusive spaces, thinking about who isn’t in the room or at the table that should be, and remedying the omission. We still have plenty of room to grow as our leaders learn to make inclusion a part of their daily process,” Bailey says.
This matters, especially for a company like Columbia Distributing. With nearly 3,000 team members working in Washington and Oregon, the experiences and cultural backgrounds are wide-reaching. When inclusivity is prioritized, all employees feel that their voices matter, and the company benefits from unique perspectives on how to achieve strategic goals.
To nurture and maintain a truly inclusive culture is hard work, and this isn’t lost on Bailey. From a personal standpoint, it sometimes involves a lot of practice to feel natural. Bailey’s approach to thinking and acting more inclusively is to listen.
“I try to listen first. I try to make sure I seek to understand before seeking to be understood. I try to pay attention to who has something relevant to say and truly take it in and make sure that no good ideas go unheard,” Bailey expresses.
Even though it will take time, Bailey is passionate about his contributions, and the efforts of all team members at Columbia Distributing, to create a more inclusive workplace culture. If this is the type of workplace you want to be a part of, you can explore distributing careers at Columbia Distributing in Washington and Oregon today. Contact us to learn more.