Honor Food, our redistribution brand, has acquired Sunny Morning Foods, a well-known dairy brand and foodservice redistributor headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Integrating Sunny Morning Foods’ valued products and service reputation into our ONEBURRIS marketplace offerings strengthen our capabilities as a complete supply chain solution. Their Southeast reach, to include parts of South America and the Caribbean, extends product offerings and competitive differentiation for Honor Foods. The Sunny Morning reputation as a top-notch customer service provider and Team Member centric workplace is a perfect fit for our ONEBURRIS culture, and we are excited about the future.
Read more from Honor Foods President Walt Tullis, and Burris Logistics CEO, Donnie Burris here.
New ONEBURRIS Culture Initiative:
According to organizational psychologist and best-selling author Adam Grant, “The culture of a workplace – an organization’s values, norms and practices – has a huge impact on our happiness and success.”
It’s part of human nature to desire to be a part of something bigger than yourself, be part of a community, and work in a place where you feel valued.
It’s no secret that the catalyst of any great company is the people that work there. It’s not just about having the most talented or intelligent Team Members but rather having a group of individuals who work together, believe in the purpose, and want the company to succeed.
While this sounds simple, it’s not. Company Culture, at least a positive one, doesn’t happen by accident or on a whim. Instead, it involves intention and creating an atmosphere of trust and accountability where people care for and about each other.
That’s why we have recently rolled out a new ONEBURRIS Workplace initiative, defining a shared purpose and values. According to our CEO, Donnie Burris, building an extraordinary culture is “the single most important thing we are focused on over the next year.”
Hiring Team Members that align with who we are is part of building and maintaining a strong company culture. That is why we are excited to share with you our just-released recruiting video! In this video, you will hear from Team Members across the organization, in all locations, positions, and business sectors, about who we are, our purpose, our values, our culture, and our benefits.
We know that it is our Team Members that make us successful. We are grateful for the Team Members we have and look forward to welcoming more Team Members to our Family.
If Burris Logistics, Trinity Logistics, or Honor Foods could be your next workplace to call home, check out this video and learn about who we are and what we stand for.
ONEBURRIS Culture
The culture at Burris is a customer-driven, family-oriented environment. Team ONEBURRIS is comprised of three operational brands. Those brands are Trinity Logistics, which provides third-party freight brokerage and technology; Honor Foods, a foodservice redistributor; and Burris Logistics, the operational brand, which offers cold storage solutions, direct-to-consumer fulfillment, and distribution programs. Our goal is to be one Partner with Many solutions. To achieve that, we know all operational brands which are a part of Team ONEBURRIS must adhere to the same core purpose and values.
Our Purpose
Our purpose is to “Improve lives and supply chains by solving tough problems.”
There is an old fable that says, ”Nothing worth having comes easy.” Logistics is a challenging and complex industry. There are many moving parts, many things changing quickly, a lot of technology, and room for error. However, it is also essential and rewarding. Our goal in the industry is not to be the biggest but it is the be the best. We want to tackle challenges that others don’t want to face. We want to use innovation to solve problems others won’t think of. We want to be a Team of thought leaders. We want to do the hard stuff that makes people’s lives better. We want to better the lives of everyone we come in contact with, from our Partners to their customers, and most significantly, the lives of our Team Members. To do that, we believe there are three core values we must live by, and they will guide us toward being the best at what we do.
Value #1: Personal.Service.Excellence
According to Trinity Logistics President Sarah Ruffcorn, “Personal.Service.Excellence means “Being able to have just an extreme accountability in every role, in every job, in every task, in everything that we do.”
To be successful, we must all take accountability for our actions. In addition, we must take responsibility for our work ethic and dedicate ourselves to providing the best service possible for our Partners.
Value #2: Make It Happen
Joe Adams, VP of Sales Honor Foods, says, “Making it happen means coming to work with a positive attitude, a can-do attitude, and making sure that what is needed from you each and every day, you provide the best person you can be. Making it happen means we are going to provide excellent customer service, and we’re going to treat each other with excellent respect.”
The phrase make it happen means to find a way, whatever it takes. Be creative. Be innovative. Figure it out. Instead of finding an excuse, find a solution. It’s a total commitment to finding a way to reach the goal.
If our purpose is to solve tough problems, we need Team Members who won’t give up when the answer isn’t straightforward and instead will find a way. We want a Team that is so determined to reach the desired outcome that obstacles are just an opportunity for a creative solution because we know that kind of grit, that ability to keep going, is what will make us the best.
Value #3: We Not Me
According to John Hummel, President of Burris Logistics, “We Not Me really is the embodiment of the true spirit of Teamwork and leaving your name off the back of your jersey and really working towards one common goal, as a Team, as a group, as a family.”
Coach John Wooden once said, “It’s amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.” Therefore, we want our ONEBURRIS Culture to be a collaborative and inclusive work culture. When you walk our halls or warehouses, you can expect to see Team Members working together, communicating, and helping each other get the job done. You will see Team Members volunteering to help without being asked, just because help is needed to get the job done or simply because they can. A Team is always stronger than any individual member, and we believe that having an environment where teamwork is celebrated above personal success will make our organization successful.
TEAM ONEBURRIS Culture
We understand that in addition to living by our purpose and core values and recognizing our Team Members who do, it is also essential that we take care of our Team. Part of valuing our Team is also valuing their family. If you go through our organization, you will find many Team Members who grew up around the warehouses because a parent worked here, or have many family members currently working in different departments. That’s something we are proud of. It is important to us that we provide an environment where our Team Members are happy and prosperous, and part of that is giving them the flexibility to be there for their family and provide for them. That is reflected throughout our culture in several ways.
Work-Life Balance
Honor Foods Team Member Dominique Torres says, “The nice thing about Burris is they really do understand the work-life balance. They never make you choose between your family and your job.” We encourage our Team Members to spend time with their families, attend doctor’s appointments, not miss their kids’ soccer games, enjoy their hobbies, and use their vacation time. Flexibility and work-life balance are values we hold close to.
Benefits
Helping Team Members care for their families, and themselves means providing an extensive benefits package. We have company-paid life insurance and company-paid short and long-term disability. In addition, we have a robust employee assistance program, pet insurance, and a tuition reimbursement program. This is an addition, of course, to health care, dental, vision, etc. A fun fact is that Burris pays 88% of our premiums!
Career Growth
Looking throughout our organization, you will find many individuals who have been promoted several times and grown a career here. You will also find an incredible number of Team Members who have been with the organization for a long time. It is not at all uncommon to celebrate a 20th anniversary at Burris! This is something we are incredibly proud of, that we can provide Team Members an opportunity for an accomplished lifelong career.
Training
Part of providing career growth opportunities is offering an extensive training program. We focus on finding our Team Members’ goals and work hard to help them get there. Training courses are offered in various subjects, from working with particular technical areas to overall leadership training.
Conclusion
ONEBURRIS, comprised of Burris Logistics, Trinity Logistics, and Honor Foods, is an organization that is committed to being a great place to work and a great Partner to the businesses we serve. With our shared purpose of “improving lives and supply chains by solving tough problems” and our values of “Personal.Service.Excellence.” “Make it Happen” and “We Not Me,” we know that our defining culture will help us succeed in business and in caring for our Team Members. Take a few minutes to check out our new recruiting video or visit our new careers website to learn more about who we are and what it means to be TEAM ONEBURRIS.
If you are a great fit for our culture, click on the button below “view our current job openings”. We would love to have you on our Team.
The average person spends 90,000 hours at work, or one-third of their life. That is the equivalent of watching every TV show and movie on Netflix three times!
Choosing where to start or grow your career is a big decision. Therefore, finding a company that aligns with your values in a supportive environment that allows you to grow is imperative.
We are ONEBURRIS, comprised of the operating brands Burris Logistics, Honor Foods, and Trinity Logistics! All of our brands and business units are committed to the same cause of creating an extraordinary place to work.
The strength of our company comes from the amazing technology and deep-rooted knowledge of logistics, all managed by committed Team Members who we consider Family. Like our warehouses and offices, we have career opportunities spanning the country. Our goal is to find Team Members to help run our operations and become a part of a culture that improves lives and supply chains by solving tough problems.
To better represent our culture as ONEBURRIS- One Partner, Many Solutions, we have created a new career platform on our website. Our goal is to teach future Team Members what it is like to be part of ONEBURRIS. Whether you are interested in warehouse work, driving, or administration, this is not easy work, but it is fulfilling and essential to our country.
On our new website, you can also discover more about our excellent benefits that support you and your family and encourage you to develop and succeed. Everything from pet insurance, tuition reimbursement, and medical benefits, just to name a few, are available to our Team Members. We even offer employee discounts on everything from amusement park tickets to Broadway tickets to cruises through our Plum Benefits partnership. You will also discover that we wear jeans to work every day!
In addition, you can learn more on our new careers website about our culture. Our culture is rooted in teamwork, a drive for excellence, a commitment to customer service, and a determination to Make It Happen every day.
At ONEBURRIS, we want Team Members to enjoy coming to work and know we value their contributions. Therefore, we focus on understanding our Team Members’ career goals and use our numerous locations and brands to offer countless career opportunities, often promoting from within.
90,000 hours in a career is a long time. At ONEBURRIS, we are committed to making that time as fulfilling and fun as possible for our Team Members. We welcome you to browse our career site. Stick around, and get to know us. When you decide that we are a Family you would like to join, submit an application, and we will certainly reach out to get to know you.
Kevin Rich, Chief Information Security Officer.
ONEBURRIS was created by Burris Logistics CEO Donnie Burris. The idea started as a way to unite Burris Logistics, Trinity Logistics, and Honor Foods under one purpose to best serve our Partners. Each of these brands operates individually to foster their entrepreneurial spirits, but they are ultimately well connected through the ONEBURRIS initiative of supporting each other.
Speaking of support, our company’s mantra is “Team before Self”; and without our incredibly dedicated Team Members, the ONEBURRIS initiative could not have come to life. In addition to our talented operational Teams at each brand, there are dozens of admins responsible for creating solutions across all three. We sat down with Burris Logistics’ Chief Information Security Officer, Kevin Rich, to hear about his experience being a part of #TeamONEBURRIS.
Q: Why did you decide to join #TeamONEBURRIS?
A: I have worked in information security since the very early days of the 90s. Early on, I worked for a consulting firm, then I went on to create, buy, and sell multiple security businesses, and in my previous role at another company, I was Burris Logistics’ Account Executive. I loved working with Burris and really admired the culture here. I had already established a great relationship with Ed Krupka, who went on to become my boss instead of the customer! It’s awesome being a part of a Team where you know that leadership and board members have your back.
Q: Tell us more about your position.
A: As Chief Information Security Officer, I am tasked with securing the information assets of Burris Logistics. I have my hand in a lot of different projects, depending on the need. My Team and I design programs, policies, and processes for safeguarding our assets, and we also help educate Team Members on using these practices. One thing about Information Security is that it’s always changing- so we are constantly evolving and innovating to support our risk-based approach.
Q: Why is cybersecurity important in logistics?
A: Aside from its obvious overall importance in protecting our company and Teams’ data and information, it’s especially important in logistics because we provide essential services to people, like food and medical deliveries. If these kinds of services are delayed due to a security breach, it can really disrupt people’s lives. Our Partners also make huge decisions based on a trust that Burris will get their product where it needs to go, on time. That is why we proactively take a risk-based approach to our security so that we can avoid unexpected disruptions that will negatively affect our customers, Partners, Team Members, and business.
Q: What do you love to spend your time doing outside of work?
A: I like to say that I was born a geek. My dad was a ham radio operator since the 50’s and exposed me to it as a young child, which really ignited my interest in technology. Since then, I’ve been active in amateur radio and have made contacts all over the world. I’ve even bounced signals off the moon to communicate across the globe! But my favorite thing in the world is spending time with my grandbabies. My wife of 41 years and I love to have lunch with them, explore outside, and just try new things! They enjoy playing outside, and my wife and I have always loved the outdoors; in our free time, we like to go hiking and camping. I’ve recently also been super interested in gardening. I think I even want to run a plant nursery after I retire!
Vlad Navitski, Software Developer, I.T.
Everybody, meet our ONEBURRIS Team Member, Vlad! Vladzislau Navitski joined the Burris Logistics Family in 2011 as a warehouse selector in one of our warehouses and has held multiple positions within the company ever since! Currently, Vlad is a software developer in our I.T. department, where he has been since 2013.
Vlad moved from Belarus to the United States in 2011 with his wife and small child. While living in Belarus, he had been studying for his Ph.D., but after the move, he was searching for a temporary warehouse job to support his family. Within a month, he was hired at one of the Burris Logistics’ facilities in Connecticut.
This temporary position lasted only about a year before Vlad saw a job listing for a clerk position. Although he enjoyed the camaraderie of the warehouse, Vlad is a firm believer in continuous education and improvement and was ready for a change. So, with hopes of spending more time with his family and having more free time to pursue his other interests, he spent the following year working as a clerk in the same location.
Throughout that year, during his leisure time, Vlad decided to pursue his interest in web development and took free programming courses online. Soon after, he landed a Web Developer role at Burris Logistics H.Q. in Milford, Delaware. Vlad has remained in the Information Technology department ever since.
His desire for a temporary position turned into a lifelong career and second family, literally speaking! In 2019, his wife Jane also joined the Burris Logistics Family in Milford. Besides spending time in his Burris Logistics’ HQ home, Vlad loves spending time with his wife and kids traveling, road tripping, and playing board games. Vlad claims if you have never traveled to Massachusetts or played the game Photosynthesis, you are missing out!
We are so grateful to have inspiring Team Members like Vlad as an essential piece of the Burris Logistics Family and cannot wait to see the wonderful things he continues to accomplish!