Living Our Values

The culture corps

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.

Nominate a team member

our core values

we own doing the right thing

We extend trust, build confidence, and hold each other accountable.

we win together

We win when we all win together. We create mutual success and build trusting, lasting relationships.

we question the status quo

We are never content with "that's how it's always been done." We question to understand, learn, continuously improve, and innovate.

we rise to the challenge

We ambitiously turn challenges into successes through perseverance, resilience, and a will to win.

Nominate a team member

Trey Stokes

Welder II

June 1, 2022

Trey joined our team in February of 2020 – just a few short weeks before we began to feel the full impact and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the past two years his teammates have noticed his dedication despite that uncertainty, and they’ve recognized his eye for continuous improvement. His nominator, Jemelle Sanders, says that Trey is always looking for a more efficient way and order of doing things. Trey – thanks for all you do and for helping us all to stay made for the challenge!

Trey Stokes

DIS-TRAN Steel

Chaz Cannova

Corporate Counsel

May 5, 2022

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. Our Culture Champion for the month of May 2022 is Chaz Cannova – Corporate Counsel at Crest Operations. Chaz is an incredible example of integrity and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. He goes out of his way to help and support our teams - doing the hard or unpopular jobs when others are hesitant to step up to the plate. And he does it all with a great attitude and a fun spirit. For example, he is dressed up like the Easter Bunny at our Family Easter Egg Hunt. He was inside a hot costume on a hot day – all so that our little ones could have a special Easter. And he does so much more than this! Like the rest of our legal team, he rises to the daily complex and robust challenges they face while serving all 9 of our companies. Together they build that culture of honesty, accountability, and winning together.

Chaz Cannova

Crest Operations

Esther Long

Courrier

May 4, 2022

Congratulations to Esther Long, Courier at Crest Operations. Esther is a fantastic team member and part of our Crest Community. She interacts with all our teams in Cenla and is always there with a smile, a cheerful hello, and a helping hand. Her nominator shared that Esther “is never afraid to question the status quo and look for ways to make herself, Crest Properties, and our company better. Her dedication to continuous improvement has helped to modernize processes and policies at Properties and made them more accessible and easier to understand for all our team members.” We are so glad to have her as part of our team.

Esther Long

Crest Operations

Sean Jones

Training Supervisor

May 3, 2022

Congratulations to Sean Jones. Sean is the Training Supervisor at DIS-TRAN Steel, and he’s been an integral part of the team for over 20 years. Sean has left an impact on our teams and communities in central Louisiana and across the country. His nominator, Dylan Huffman, Quality Assurance Inspector from Steel’s remote team, shared how Sean was incredibly helpful and intentional during his training in Louisiana – not only for safety and procedural training but also as a representative of the culture and values of our team. Sean is one-of-a-kind - a man of true loyalty and integrity, and we are incredibly lucky to have him on our team.

Sean Jones

DIS-TRAN Steel

Robert Keady

Crest Natural Resources

Robert Keady

GIS Manager

Rob has been with our teams for more than fifteen years, and he is an excellent example of our values in action. He is constantly looking for ways to improve and think outside of the box to create solutions that benefit his team and Crest as a whole. Rob’s nominator said that his dedication to CNR and Crest is “truly impressive” as he values collaboration, is willing to engage in healthy conflict, and holds himself and others accountable to deadlines and commitments. Rob’s approach to challenges, dedication to learning new skills and stretching his technical knowledge are perfect examples of rising to the challenge and questioning the status quo.

Aaron Polk

Optimal

Aaron Polk

Shop Foreman

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."

Terry Gaspard

Terry Gaspard

PFB Team Lead

Terry joined the DTPS team at the central Louisiana port eight years ago, and he is an incredible example of our values in action – especially when it comes to rising to the challenge and the DTPS core values of “Say it, do it, own it” and “Give.” His nominator says one example of this was in 2022. "we had a bus pipe issue when a vendor was late shipping us a piece for a high-profile project. The customer was going to be at our facility in a few days to inspect their structure, so we were under a major time crunch. Terry helped us come up with a solution and then came in on a Saturday to make sure the job was done before our customer arrived. This affected 2 things: (ONE) Our customer arrived and the bus was up on the structure and they didn't know any different (and TWO) the structure was able to ship on the scheduled date and deliver on time - all thanks to Terry!"

Richard Emberly

Crest Operations

Richard Emberly

Senior Treasury Analyst

Richard has been on our team for 5 years, and more than 7 team members nominated him to the Culture Corps. "Richard has gone above and beyond in his support of our teams," says Gaylene Davis. "His work ethic is exemplary, and he takes on challenges with intense determination and without complaint. Although he has high demand on his time, he is always courteous, kind, and willing to help others. Richard is a good example to all of us. I appreciate and respect him more than he knows." "When I started at Crest as an intern, Richard helped me develop professionally by always taking the time to explain things to me," says Graham Pearson. "Through his selflessness and dedication to his work, Richard has inspired me and helped me grow beyond what I believed was possible. He truly embodies all of Crest Industries' core values."

Chanler Thompson

Process Technician

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!”

Chanler Thompson

Avant Organics

Britany Jackson

Proposal Manager

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.”

Britany Jackson

DIS-TRAN Packaged Substations

Nu Le

Financial Systems Analyst

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!

Nu Le

Crest Operations

Ashlee Rachall

Inside Sales Manager

Ahslee has been a part of the Mid-State team for three years, and she currently works out of the Winnfield branch. Her nominator, Junior Hebron, shares that “Ashlee is one of the people that our team trusts to Get It Done every day. Ashlee rises to the challenge, responds to the need, and delivers results. No excuses. Ashlee is truly valued by the entire MSS team, and we are all fortunate to have her working with us.”

Ashlee Rachall

Mid-State Supply Company

living our values