LEADING FOR GOOD

Bobcats Making a Difference in Corporate America

Kegan Wise, a former Select Leader and Wandell Fellow was working at Whirlpool Corporation in Findlay, Ohio, when he noticed a concerning lack of mental health support available to employees. In response, he took the initiative to create a comprehensive strategy and provide in-house training resources to address this pressing need.

Wise's efforts were met with great enthusiasm from Kristin Day, the Plant Lead in Findlay, and Senior EH&S Manager Jeff Linstedt, who recognized the importance of mental health support in the workplace. They were so impressed with Wise's work that they decided to pilot his program in Findlay. The Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training provided to Findlay's team demonstrated the importance of prioritizing mental health in the workplace, and they fully embraced the initiative, successfully training their emergency responders, salaried superintendents, and onsite clinics by the end of 2022.

Whirlpool recognized this training as a success, and senior leadership, including Monica Brown, Director of HR, and Dale Laws, Vice President of Manufacturing, promoted the expansion to all other Whirlpool sites in the United States. Liza (Doyle) Fahner, another former Select Leader, and Wandell Fellow, was instrumental in helping to accomplish this goal.

The initiative was brought to the corporate benefits team, led by Liz, Corporate Benefits Senior Manager. The team partnered with leaders across the company to adopt MHFA training under the Be*well program umbrella and coordinated training at all other sites across the United States. This comprehensive approach to mental health support is a testament to Whirlpool's commitment to the well-being of its employees and the broader community.

How Are You Making A Difference?

Please share with us how the Walter Center leadership development program you were a part of has been impactful in your life.