The Crest Industries Culture Corps is a group of team members nominated and recognized by their peers as examples of our Values in action. Each month, one member of the Culture Corps is recognized as a Culture Champion for their outstanding efforts of living our Values and helping our teams, customers and communities grow beyond what we believe is possible. These Culture Champions receive the “Walkie-Talkie Award” for their commitment to walking the talk and living our our Values every day.
We extend trust, build confidence, and hold each other accountable.
We win when we all win together. We create mutual success and build trusting, lasting relationships.
We are never content with "that's how it's always been done." We question to understand, learn, continuously improve, and innovate.
We ambitiously turn challenges into successes through perseverance, resilience, and a will to win.
Brian joined our team as a Civil Engineer in 2014. His supervisor, Travis Larrabee, shared how Brian is dependable and has a talent for thinking outside the box to turn challenges into success. Brian’s nominator, Chris Willcutt, says, “Brian is always someone you can count on to get the job done. He meets challenges head-on and independently researches solutions to bring to the table. He is a great asset to the team that helps us win together!”
Aaron joined the team at Optimal in 2017, and his team shares that he is about as close to an ideal team member as you can get. Darnell Gremillion says that “Aaron is always making sure everyone has what [we] need to be successful.” Jacob Fontenot shares that Aaron “truly embraces the values of “we win together” and “we rise to the challenge.” He is always working diligently to be sure we’re ready for the next job."
Brittany's nominator, Justin Ware, shares that “[she] always has an open door,” and that it has been very helpful to the team. “Brittany is extremely approachable and has a way of explaining things in terms that make sense. Rather than just telling you what buttons to click and walking away, she will always do her best to ensure you are comfortable with whatever work you have in front of you.”
Chandler joined the team in 2022, and his nominator, Tommy Fontenot, says that “whether it’s coming in early to fill a customer’s order or staying late to ensure the production process is complete, [Chanler] rises to the challenge to make sure the job gets done. Having that mindset on the front line is invaluable to Avant and Crest, and we’re lucky to have him on our team!”
Jenny has been with the team for more than 30 years. Her dedication to doing what she says, winning together, and turning challenges into successes is something to be applauded! With teammates across the country and multiple projects happening at once, Jenny goes above and beyond to assist anyone in need at any time.
Congratulations to our Culture Champion for October, Kristal Ducote! Kristal is the Procurement and Billing Supervisor at DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations, and she has made an incredible impact on our teams while living our values and inspiring those around her. Kristal was nominated by several people throughout the past few months, and they all commented on her passion, positive attitude, and commitment to our teams and values. Kristal is no stranger to vulnerability and rising to the challenge. From taking on new opportunities to facing personal struggles, her resilience is undeniable, and we are excited to celebrate her example of vulnerability, trust, and perseverance!
Each month, we recognize a member of the Culture Corps as Culture Champion for their outstanding efforts to help our teams, customers, and communities grow beyond what they believe is possible, and Josh embodies that within our team. He has been integral in starting up operations and research at Avant Organics. The work he performs in the lab, his dedication and ability to follow through, lead our teams, and rise to meet the challenges and high standards of the industry are inspiring to the team. Wesley Fontenot shared that Josh is a true go-getter and innovative problem solver within the team. He says, “as an R&D chemist, [Josh] represents the heartbeat of this company and continuously provides new ideas [and he’s] a constant source of innovation that is invaluable to Avant and Crest.” Josh, thank you for being a great example of doing the right thing, winning together, and questioning the status quo. Josh is a vital part of our Avant and Crest Family, and we are lucky to have him on our team. Congratulations again!
Each month, we recognize a member of the Culture Corps as CULTURE CHAMPION for their outstanding efforts of living our Values and helping our teams, customers, and communities grow beyond what they believe is possible. For August, our Culture Champion is Herman Norris, Warehouse Leader at Mid-State Supply. The entire Sales Team at MSS came together to nominate Herman and spotlight him for his dedication to living our values in the work he does each day. The team shares that Herman is the go-to example for living out MSS and Crest’s purpose and values – especially while dealing with the demanding requests and unexpected challenges that come with serving Mid-State’s customers.
Ben Parker, MG’s Plant Manager, shares that Tina goes above and beyond to help her team members, and she always does it with a smile. He says he has never heard her tell anyone no for anything. She does her job well, and she also reaches out to help her co-workers when they have a bad day. Her trademark small acts of kindness have made her a joy to be around and a wonderful team member.
Congratulations to Nu Le, Financial Systems Analyst at Crest Operations, on her induction into Culture Corps! Nu is a great example of owning doing the right thing and winning together. She is very active with our teams both in the office and at community events to support charities and organizations in central Louisiana. Her nominator Tyler Pasche says that “Nu will go above and beyond to make sure our teams’ needs are met.” She is dedicated to making sure our team members and business units have what they need to succeed, deliver results, and win together. Nu, thank you for everything you do to support our teams and live our values every day – Congratulations!
Before moving to his new position, Scotty was a Senior Estimator for the team where he supported Beta’s growing proposal requests and headcount. Last year, the Proposal group at Beta underwent substantial growth, and his then collogue, now supervisor Chris Lohman, shared that without Scotty's mentoring, the team wouldn’t be where they are today. “Scotty [took three new estimators] under his wing and has been a major part of their growth and learning.”