Opportunity

A Catalyst for Change

At Kwik Lok, we believe education is the foundation for sustainable progress. By breaking down barriers and expanding access to learning, vocational training, and economic resources, we empower individuals to reach their full potential and contribute to thriving, inclusive communities. 

Our commitment extends beyond traditional boundaries—through strategic partnerships, targeted initiatives, and meaningful investments, we are unlocking opportunities that transcend geography, social status, and economic limitations. Education fuels innovation, strengthens economies, and creates lasting change. 

By investing in both our employees and the communities we serve, we create a ripple effect of empowerment—ensuring that people, regardless of background or circumstance, have the tools they need to succeed. 

---

Over the past three years 812 hours of online education have been achieved, an average of over 5 hours per employee per year exceeding our original goal of 2 hours per employee. 

Examples of how we use education to break down economic barriers include:

---

Building Pathways to Success 

We partner with organizations to expand opportunities and share knowledge. For example, we hosted members of Women in Manufacturing (Washington Chapter) for a two-day visit to our Yakima headquarters, showcasing our operations and the region’s industrial innovation. 

We also recognize that education and financial support are essential to career development. By providing assistance, we’ve helped Heritage University students and other student interns pursue advanced degrees, ease financial burdens, and move forward in their careers. 

Adrien, a Criminal Justice major at Heritage University, was able to earn his master’s degree while working full-time in law enforcement. With reduced student loan debt, he’s now focused on achieving his long-term goals, including homeownership and starting a family. 

Sophie, a new mother and a member of the Yakama Nation, pursued a master’s degree in social work at Heritage University with the goal of becoming a licensed mental health professional in her community. 

Jacaranda, a Psychology major at Heritage University, received financial support that eased the financial burden of graduate school, allowing her to continue her education with confidence. 

---

Investing in Future Talent: Internships at Kwik Lok 

Internships are more than just work experience—they’re opportunities to build skills, expand networks, and explore career paths. At Kwik Lok, we believe in fostering the next generation of leaders through hands-on learning, mentorship, and meaningful projects. Our paid internship program ensures that while interns gain valuable experience, they also contribute fresh ideas and perspectives that enrich our company. 

---

Meet Our Interns 

Here’s a look at some of the talented individuals who joined our internship program and the impact it had on their journey: 

Cooper (Communication & Marketing Intern) – Cooper faced challenges navigating new environments due to autism, but his determination and unique perspective made him a valuable part of the team.  

Arely (Communication & Marketing Intern) – A first-generation college student, Arely embraced new challenges, from crafting social media content to capturing Kwik Lok’s brand voice. She credits her full-ride scholarship to taking a leap of faith in pursuing opportunities like this internship. 

Joshua (Mechanical Engineering Intern) – While pursuing a Science Transfer Degree at Yakima Valley Community College, Joshua gained hands-on experience that deepened his confidence and technical knowledge. 

Gabe (Business Process Intern) – A chemical engineering major at Washington State University, Gabe explored the intricacies of production processes and discovered his passion for drafting and design. 

Our internship program embodies Kwik Lok’s Beyond Boundaries philosophy—empowering the next generation by creating inclusive, hands-on learning experiences that help individuals grow, thrive, and shape the future. 

At Kwik Lok, corporate responsibility extends past the bottom line—it’s about people, communities, and impact. We’re committed to building a workplace that champions inclusivity, equity, and diversity, ensuring that every individual can thrive. This commitment drives our actions—guiding how we collaborate, engage with communities, and create meaningful change. 

Our Commitment to EDI 

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) are central to who we are. We believe that embracing different perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences fuels innovation, strengthens resilience, and pushes us beyond boundaries. 

• Equity ensures that opportunities are fair and just, regardless of differences. 
• Diversity reflects the richness of the communities we serve and strengthens our organization. 
• Inclusion creates a workplace where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered. 

EDI is woven into everything we do—it’s how we grow, lead, and make a lasting impact. We publish EDI data to hold ourselves accountable and encourage our partners to do the same. 

Driving Real Change 

Our commitment to diversity is evident in real progress across our workforce, leadership, and board, turning aspirations into action. By fostering inclusive hiring, leadership development, and employee engagement, we’re building a culture where unique talents and perspectives drive collective success. 

Equity in Action 

A key pillar of our EDI program is pay equity, which we evaluate annually to ensure fairness across the company. Recent strides include: 

• Standardizing compensation by restructuring bonus pools for salaried employees. 
• Enhancing transparency in vacation policies to ensure fairness. 

Equity, diversity, and inclusion are more than ideals at Kwik Lok—they’re how we build a stronger, more connected future. 

---

Diversity

In terms of diversity, our commitment to supporting Spanish-speaking employees has led to an increase in our Hispanic or Latino workforce from 17% to 22% in both Yakima and New Haven. 

Our Diversity Policy

Kwik Lok Corporation is committed to fostering, cultivating and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion. 

Our people are the most valuable asset we have. The collective sum of the individual differences, life experiences, knowledge, inventiveness, innovation, self-expression, unique capabilities, and talent that our employees invest in their work represents a significant part of not only our culture, but our reputation and company’s achievement as well. 

We embrace and encourage our employees’ differences in age, color, disability, ethnicity, family or marital status, gender identity or expression, language, national origin, physical and mental ability, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, veteran status, and other characteristics that make our employees unique. 

Kwik Lok Corporation’s nondiscrimination policy is applicable — but not limited — to our practices and policies on recruitment and selection; compensation and benefits; professional development and training; promotions; transfers; social and recreational programs; layoffs; terminations; and the ongoing development of a work environment built on the premise of gender and diversity equity that encourages and enforces: 

• Respectful communication and cooperation between all employees. 
• Teamwork and employee participation, permitting the representation of all groups and employee perspectives. 
• Employer and employee contributions to the communities we serve to promote a greater understanding and respect for diversity. 

All employees of Kwik Lok Corporation have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect at all times. All employees are expected to treat each other with respect during work, at work functions on or off the work site, and at all other company-sponsored and participative events. All employees are also required to attend and complete annual diversity awareness training to enhance their knowledge to fulfill this responsibility. 

Any employee found to have exhibited any inappropriate conduct or behavior against others may be subject to corrective action up to and including termination. 

If you have questions concerning this policy or diversity in general, please contact the Human Resources department, COO or CEO. 

Inclusion: Fostering Engagement and Collaboration 

At Kwik Lok, inclusion is a commitment put into action. We believe that employee engagement is key to building a culture where every individual feels valued, heard, and empowered. Our goal is to ensure that the values we uphold as a company are shared across our global operations. 

Listening and Responding to Employees 

We actively solicit employee feedback through multiple channels, ensuring every voice contributes to shaping our culture and CSR initiatives. Key tools include: 

• Whistleblower hotline
  Actively monitored with a 100% response and resolution rate. 
• Employee listening sessions
  Discussions focused on Core Purpose, Vision, Mission, and Pillars. 
• Culture audits
  Each plant is reviewed every 2 years. 

---

Employee Survey Insights 

Our 2024 employee survey saw an 77% response rate—a strong indicator of engagement, though we aim for 100% participation. Key findings included: 

• Employee development and recognition have improved, with a 33% increase in favorable responses for development investments and a 3-point boost in belonging scores due to recognition efforts. 
• Strong employee engagement and mission alignment are evident, with a 4.3 overall engagement score and over 80% of employees agreeing that Kwik Lok delivers on its promises and provides meaningful work. 
• Enhancing cross-functional collaboration presents a key opportunity, as improving communication and workload balance can build on the recent 5-point increase in coordination scores.

---

Building a More Unified Team 

To strengthen collaboration and engagement, we focused on several global initiatives, including: 

• Employee Steering Committees
  These committees connect team members across locations, integrate global teams, and help build company culture. Representatives share insights, participate in meetings, and drive local engagement. 
• Ambassador Program & Internal Newsletter (“Culture in Action”)
  Kwik Lok ambassadors identify and celebrate culture-building behaviors. The newsletter provides a platform for employees to share stories, highlight achievements, and foster community. 
• Monthly Cross-functional Training
  The Engineering and Operations teams meet monthly to share information related to new products, issues, and best practices. 

The response to these initiatives has been overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing our commitment to creating an inclusive, engaged, and collaborative workplace. At Kwik Lok, every voice matters—and together, we are building a stronger, more connected company. 

---

By fostering a safe, rewarding work environment, we create lasting economic impact—helping employees thrive while building a stronger, more sustainable future. 

---

---

By ensuring our employees thrive, we build a stronger, more sustainable future for both our workforce and our company.