Hady Abboud, a Shipping/Receiving Supervisor at Simpson Strong-Tie, explores the significance of our eighth company value, “Giving Back”, and its impact on our company culture and values. He delves into how our culture empowers employees to thrive and develop by creating an environment that values and respects each individual.

After serving for seven years in the Lebanese navy and the US Navy, I moved to the United States in August 2020 for good. While in the Navy, I served as a 1st Lieutenant, responsible for leading 50 other military members. I also completed a master’s degree in mechanical engineering. As I closed my chapter with the Navy, I knew I wanted to utilize my engineering degree in the chapter that I was starting in the United States. And so my journey with Simpson Strong-Tie began as a production supervisor. 

I’ve proudly and humbly been employed at Simpson Strong-Tie for a year and a half. Currently, I am a part of the Shipping/Receiving department. In my current role as supervisor, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety, productivity and efficiency of my team. My day-to-day routine begins with a shift huddle to increase employee morale and provide the team with important updates. After the meeting, I spend most of my time on the floor with the team to provide support, oversight and direction in order to meet shipping deadlines. I typically spend the end of my shift running reports and responding to questions asked by Inside Sales. I work side by side with the Production department, where I worked as a supervisor for a year prior to transferring into Shipping/Receiving. I also work closely with my direct managers, Ruben Garcia, Ahmet Ogut and Andre El-Khoury. Their guidance and support have provided me with invaluable tools.

A company value that particularly stands out to me is the emphasis placed on giving back (Barc Simpson’s Principle number 8). Everybody matters and should be recognized, because success is a team effort. I’ve observed that appreciating the team has helped us to move forward as a whole. Appreciation for small efforts can lead to big, positive impact. In my position as a leader, it’s important to me to credit the entire team for our success. Recently, I shared on LinkedIn how one of my team meetings was interrupted by our management team to appreciate my service. I received a thank-you card signed by my colleagues sincerely thanking me for a job well done. I am grateful to be working for a great company that reflects their company values and appreciates their employees.  

I feel that I belong to a big family where hard work is valued and there’s always opportunity for growth. I’m currently attending school for my 2nd master’s degree, in business administration (MBA). As Barc Simpson once said, “When you join Simpson, you don’t come for a bus stop, this is a career.” That’s certainly how I feel: I joined this company for its positive culture, which I’ve felt from my first day at Simpson. My goal is to do my best to translate this culture within my personal life and to share it with new and existing employees.