Before co-leading Elder Care, Patty and Brenda were merely colleagues. Through ERG leadership, they’ve collected a network of supportive friends and many more skills.
Patty Campbell always went to Brenda Houck to file expense reports, and nothing more. After January 2020, their relationship changed.
That's when Brenda attended her first Elder Care event at Corning headquarters – a movie screening and discussion around Alzheimer's. With her mother in a wheelchair and her father recovering from back surgery, she wanted to connect with others who might be navigating similar situations.
She was astounded by the turnout. In the auditorium, she found people she worked with every day – people who also sought support. One of those people was Patty, an executive administrative assistant who planned the event.
"I walked up to Patty and said, 'I didn't know you were going through the same thing that I was going through,'" Brenda, a Corning Shared Services senior coordinator, said. She learned that Patty's 90-year-old mother is living with advanced Parkinson's, and that Patty needed help, too.
That's when Patty and Brenda became close friends… and eventually co-leaders of Elder Care, a Community of Interest, a.k.a. a subgroup, within Corning Family Support Network (CFSN).
CFSN is one of Corning's 16 Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) that celebrate culture, identity and inclusiveness within the company. ERGs rely on leaders like Patty and Brenda to devote their time and efforts to help foster community. ERG membership is open to all employees, and leaders often go through a training with the Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Office to sharpen their skills.
Rita Shauger, DE&I coordinator, manages these trainings and gives ERG leaders the tools they need to host meetings, educate employees, and plan events, much like Elder Care's Alzheimer's talk. These skills easily translate into their day jobs, Rita said.
"During our leadership trainings, we do breakout sessions where leaders get to meet each other, rather than being stuck in your chair," Rita said. "We make sure they feel a connection with other folks. When they come out of the training, they feel empowered to lead and collaborate with each other. It's inspiring to witness."
Leaders dedicate a chunk of their Corning work hours to their ERG, with supervisor approval. But it's not just time to chat, said Camille Torres, DE&I manager.
"There's this perception that we're trying to break that ERGs are just strictly social," Camille said. "They are social, but there is also a business component to them."
The availability of ERGs help with retention and recruiting – not just to Corning, New York, but to the many locations where ERGs have their global chapters.
"If you are not from the area, just knowing someone that has something familiar with your situation can be comforting," Camille said. "If they also have a disabled child, they can help you with what school districts offer the best support. If you are part of a cultural group, they can share what is available in the area, such as places to worship, a hair salon, or a grocery store that carries traditional ingredients. Simple, everyday stuff like that is really important if someone is considering whether to take a job or relocate."
Gilbert Castillo, clean process engineer, was new to the Corning area in 2017, and joined the Global Latino Organization (GLO) ERG a month after he started working at Corning.
"I didn't know anyone," Gilbert said. "Joining GLO was my way to connect with other colleagues at Corning."
Gilbert took GLO's mission – to invite more Latino employees into Corning – to heart. He started going to conventions and recruiting events on the group's behalf to attract diverse talent to the company.
"I think ERGs serve dual purpose – one purpose is that Corning stays an inclusive environment for everyone, but it's also about creating a home away from home. That is what GLO has done for me," Gilbert said. As a leader, he tries to foster that community for everyone.
