For 40 years the Sierra Pacific Foundation, today overseen by Red’s daughter Carolyn Dietz, has provided scholarship grants to children of our crew members and financial support to charitable organizations. The Foundation is dedicated to giving back in our operating communities. So far in 2021, the Foundation has given more than $1.7 million to community organizations. The Foundation also has an active program focused on awarding scholarships for continuing education to the dependent children of our crew members, helping these students to achieve their education through universities and trade schools.
We thought we’d share just a few examples of community projects that received grants from the Foundation this year.
River Bend Train Project | Merrill, WI | $24,000
Merrill, WI is home to two of Sierra Pacific Window’s manufacturing plants and has had a decade-long community project to develop a 5.5-mile paved trail along the Wisconsin River and through the city. The Sierra Pacific Foundation’s contribution facilitated the construction of an overlook to the river, now called the Sierra Pacific Overlook.
Workforce Training Center | Centralia College | Centralia, WA | $25,000
The Sierra Pacific Foundation joined other forest industry partners to support the construction and development of a workforce training center at Centralia College, a community college in Southwest Washington. The training program includes truck driving, logging and welding simulators. The program fits a critical need to developing and training the next generation workforce for manufacturing and supply chain logistics.
UC Berkley Grizzly Corps Cadet Program | Northern California | $8,000
The Grizzly Corp program sends recent college graduates into rural communities across California to promote fire and forest resilience. Participants work in conjunction and coordination with rural community entities including, Resource Conservation Districts, forest industry partners, and non-profit organizations to expand the use of techniques to reduce fire risk and improve watershed and soil health.
Center for Land-Based Learning | Northern California | $5,000
The FARMS (Farming, Agriculture and Resource Management for Sustainability) Leadership program is a multi-tiered approach that introduces high school students to career opportunities in agriculture and natural resources through hands-on experiences. The Foundation’s contributions are used to provide transportation, meals and other costs associated with Field Days that take program participants to manufacturing and agri-business locations in Northern California. In addition, Sierra Pacific Industries and Sierra Pacific Windows host FARMS Leadership program participants at our facilities in Anderson and Red Bluff, providing tours and having conversations about sustainable forest management.
There is so much to be grateful for, I open my eyes, and my list is full!!!!!
I am so grateful to work on an A team, a tiger team, my peers, and leadership team who all make each other better at what we do. I am so grateful for my clients that I get to meet every day and cultivate lasting relationships. I am so grateful to work for a company that when I tell our outgreening story people genuinely want to purchase the brand. I am so grateful for the Sierra Pacific Foundation and their philanthropic commitment to their employees, community, and planet. I have two sophomores that benefit from the school scholarships (next year, I will have two freshmen - 4 total kids!!!!) insert crying with gratitude and joy emojis here.
I'm grateful for my family's health, our Company's growth, and gravy.
Looking back over the past 25 years working in the fenestration industry I have a lot to be thankful for, this year especially when it comes to celebrating my one-year work anniversary at Sierra Pacific! I’m thankful for the success we have had in sales growth all year long which I contribute to Sierra Pacific’s people, resources, support services, and a wide range of high quality/high performance products and options. I’m thankful for the close working relationships that all of my co-workers have with each other. Robbie Kelley, Andrea White, and every one of my co-workers’ support and care for one another in each of our personal and professional lives and have become my second family.
What I am thankful for this year is the TREE.
Be it deciduous or conifer.
Professionally, our company entirely revolves around trees and what can be utilized from them. I am not just talking about the end product, but the entire cycle from planting, nurturing, harvesting and the final end product. Also, the natural benefits trees provide. They absorb Carbon dioxide, which we all know what it does, and emits oxygen which is vital to our survival on this globe. Just as important, the benefit trees provide to wildlife and water quality. Trout need clean water and I need trout. Our company may not exist, and therefore my job which I truly enjoy, if not for trees.
On a personal note, I have 11 pine trees in my yard that are between 50' to 80' tall which are remarkable. I have a 60' tall Blue Spruce at the corner of my house which is undoubtedly the most spectacular living Christmas tree I have ever seen. Also, my 4 apple trees which supply not only my needs but the appetite of deer and bear wondering through in the fall. I am also extremely thankful for two mature trees spaced approximately 12' apart where I can sling my hammock. Hammocks are a necessity in my life for a nice place to read, catch a quick nap (often the latter follows the former) and for camping excursions.
The TREE, let's all give it the appreciation it is due.
Thankful thoughts…
Not a year goes by when friends and family don’t gather for the holidays and share all the wonderful things people are grateful for. I have been a New Englander for most of my adult life and like many other geographical areas, we have a stereotype. We are collectively a bunch of whining complainers.
We complain when the weather is cold, we complain when it’s hot. We complain about the traffic, the many accents, the temperature swings, when the Yankees are in town, gas prices, why the cost of four people to attend a professional sporting event will cost more than $1K, cell service black holes, the aggressive driving attitudes and why a drive to the nearest Dunkin is a painful four minutes.
I am thankful I have these things to complain about. Many have much worse, I am thankful for my complaints.
Finding the Extraordinary within the Ordinary
I am grateful for the little things, as they are the biggest things and definitely the best things. A really good cup of coffee, finishing an amazing book, finding a perfectly ripe peach, a long walk with a friend on a sunny day, my cat’s content purr on my lap, the silence before sunrise, laughing with my family, watching the leaves fall, or receiving a thank you card. The blue of the sky, the formations of clouds, the vibrant flowers, or the first robin. It would be impossible to list out all those millions of small moments begging me to appreciate. Finding beauty, wonder, peace and grace in each day, shifts my thoughts from what is missing in my life to what is there. Joy is there, in the simple and ordinary moment. My grateful heart is allowing me to be more present and content. Taking notice, with just a slight shift in perspective.
Looking back over my 39+ year career in the window industry, I’m very thankful to have the opportunity to work in an industry that involves so many individuals collectivity achieving a common goal, to provide beauty, light, views, enjoyment and safety to a building we all call home. So many friendships created and memories made. I couldn’t have done this without the support from my beautiful wife and family.
Well, it’s getting close to Thanksgiving and every year around this time I start thinking of all the things that I am thankful for. I can truly say that I have so many things to be thankful for that it is really hard to narrow it down to just a few of the most important items. First, I am so thankful for my wife and partner in life. She has to be the most beautiful amazing woman in the world. She obviously has to be the most patient person alive as she has been putting up with me for nearly 22 years. She is also the best mother and homemaker in the world. My daughter is another of the things I am most thankful for. I am thankful to have been able to be an influence on such an amazing young woman. I still can’t fathom how athletic and graceful she is. I remember the first time I held her in my arms and just thought how perfect. I am absolutely blessed with an amazing family and thankful for every day that I can spend with them.
In my professional life I am thankful for being able to work for such an amazing company. SPI and SPW have been so good to me. I started work loading trailers 20 years ago and have been able to grow my career from there. I have always been amazed to see the generosity of this great family company. Whether it is donating to different things in the communities that we work in or scholarships for our children. I have been blessed to be in a position that allows me to promote SPI / SPW in my community.
To say that I have a ton to be thankful for is an understatement. I am looking forward to gathering around the dinner table this year and just remembering to appreciate everything that I have been blessed with.
I am thankful for:
I am forever thankful to those who have served, serve now and will serve this country along with their families and friends and the sacrifices they have made and continue to make on our behalf.
What am I Thankful for? Life. I am thankful for the life I have been blessed to live with my beautiful family and close friends. I am especially grateful for the love and support of my wonderful husband and for my amazing parents that have always encouraged me to be better while appreciating who I am now. I’m so very appreciative of all the individual stepping stones I’ve traveled in life that have made up my path from growing up in a great small tight-knit community, to life’s many learning experiences, to the career I now have with a truly special caring family owned and family minded company. I hope everyone reading is able to be with their loved ones this Thanksgiving holiday and share all of the blessings you’re thankful for together!
I am very thankful for Sierra Pacific Industries and Windows. The Emmerson family has guided the growth of the Industry/Wood company to incredible heights. I was a customer of the wood division for many years purchasing window parts from their millwork division. Sierra Pacific was always known as the most honorable and easiest to deal with. I purchased car loads of window parts because my company, Jersey Millwork, manufactured our own line of windows. I am thankful to be a part of this wonderful history now as an employee in the Window Division. Over all these years nothing has changed, the Emmerson’s and Sierra Pacific Industries are exactly as they have always been. I am thankful to be an active part of it all.
What am I thankful for…
I know many are thankful for their jobs, or the organization they work for. I’m no exception, but it’s not the job, or this company that I’m most thankful for, I’ve had other jobs and worked for good companies.
It’s the PEOPLE at SPW/SPI that I am most thanks for.
My family, and many colleagues have had heartbreaking things happen to them from time to time, a death of a family member, a sickness or injury, and it’s the PEOPLE at SPW/SPI that continually surprise me by their unconditional outpouring of support, condolences, and encouragement when times are not so good.
I use to think the saying, “we are all family”, was just a cliché. At SPW/SPI, it’s their culture. If life throws you a curve, work is never mentioned. It’s always about YOU, how are YOU doing, is there anything we can do to help YOU, take all the time YOU need.
From the owners, management, and my closest colleagues they truly are only interested in how they can make things better for YOU. So, I am most thankful for the people, the friendships, and yes, the family I’ve have made at SPW/SPI.
I truly feel Blessed to be a part of this family.
Reflecting on the loss of my father this year quite a bit, I would have to start with saying how thankful I am to have been born into the home that he and my mother both created. A home with siblings full of respect for other’s and a love of our Lord Jesus Christ. A home with the guiding principles of the greatest generation ever! And oh, how I am extremely thankful for the trials and tribulations that brought me to two of the most supportive supervisors of my professional career, and how they have had my back in all that we have faced the past few years in this environment. And mostly I am thankful for the loves of my life, my wife Linda, and my daughter Caroline.
We all have homes, personally, but professionally you also need to have a "home". Being in the fenestration industry going on 30 years, I have found mine. Working with others who always take the time to answer questions, share their expertise, and give of their time to helping each other, whenever needed. It is a great feeling to know the people I work for, care enough to make quality products, while giving that same energy to caring for land for which all of our material comes. Knowing that all of this isn't successful without having the right people in the right position, and showing them the respect and care they deserve to fulfill their responsibilities.
I am truly grateful for the wonderful life I have had and all of the fantastic people I have met and worked with. And I am lucky to have such a great company to work for that puts their employees first in all that they do. I am especially thankful for the two most talented and kind bosses that I have ever worked for in my 42 years of Millwork, Andrea and Randy. Of course, I wouldn’t be where I am today without my best friend, partner and wife with all of her love, patience, understanding, and extremely strong will to keep me in line. Thank you all, and have a Happy Thanksgiving. God Bless us everyone!!
I could write a novel on all the things I am grateful for, but have tried to pare it down - it's hard!
Professional:
Personal:
What am I grateful for this year? The commitment the Emmerson family makes to every person that works for this company, making sure our health and well-being come first, their generosity from the little things to the continuous improvement in our manufacturing facilities, and the biggest commitment they make every day – to make responsible and sustainable choices regarding the 2.3 million acres of land they own. I am grateful to get to work with the AC Team above, who challenge, inspire, motivate, and make me proud! They have grown individually and collectively to be the best fenestration gurus in the industry. I appreciate all the people within Sierra Pacific that make the wheels go round every day, especially the production crew who day after day show up to build our beautiful products. We are all thankful for the architects, builders, and clients that choose to use our windows and doors in your spectacular projects. My personal joy in life comes from my family and friends, who I am so thankful to have in my life. We hope your Thanksgiving holiday is full of things you’re grateful for and you can spend it with those you love.
Mark, Caroline, Red & George