Kennon

Kennon was founded in 1984 in California as an aviation company selling sun shields for general aviation. Since then Kennon has expanded on its mission to protect high-value assets including military aircraft, outdoor restaurant bars, and the most important asset, life, through their soft suicide prevention doors (SSPDs). Kennon is located in a brand new, state-of-the-art facility in Sheridan, Wyoming, and is the first-ever repeat Torch Award for Ethics winner in our region, having previously won in 2015.

Character

Kennon strives to practice servant leadership, as exemplified by Kennon's approach to tough economic times. One of Kennon's founders, Ron Kensey, takes pride in Kennon having never laid off an employee. This includes during the COVID-19 pandemic when Kennon froze senior leadership pay and gave expanded responsibilities to employees rather than filling vacancies. Kennon has also kept workers on even when there was not sufficient work to justify the position, knowing that the long-term benefits of retention were worth the short-term cost.

Kennon's leadership also looks to avoid the "loneliness at the top" problem where top leaders are disconnected from the day-to-day operations of the organization. Kennon CEO Becky Cooper walks the company's offices and production floor each day to greet employees and offer them a more informal opportunity to ask questions or raise issues that need addressing. Quick, all-hands staff meetings held Monday through Thursday also contribute to a feeling of regular connection and transparency between leadership and employees.

Culture

Those fifteen-minute meetings are considered by Cooper to be the heartbeat of Kennon and the cornerstone of the company's culture. Meetings have different topics and speakers, and employees are encouraged to ask questions about topics outside of their specific role, such as production team members asking about financial performance. In addition to meetings, every employee undergoes basic training in producing Kennon's products including sewing.

When Kennon hires, it looks for a long-term cultural fit more so than competency in a specific area needed in the short term. Every applicant is asked to write a cover letter explaining how the applicant exemplifies one of Kennon's core values. Once hired at Kennon, the company takes seriously its investment in its people and seeks to accommodate and offer new opportunities and employee interests as much as possible.

Customers

Kennon holds itself to a standard of quality that goes beyond that which satisfies a customer to "Kennon Perfect." A customer recently ordered sun shields for their personal aircraft. Kennon realized they did not fit the windshield to Kennon's exact specifications and offered to replace them, which the customer initially declined as the sun shields worked well for them. Kennon insisted, and the customer flew into the Sheridan airport where Kennon employees met them with the corrected product.

Kennon knows that its products are intended to protect high value assets like personal and commercial aircraft, sensitive military equipment, and even human lives for a long time. Customers have sent in photos of Kennon products in use for over 30 years. As a result, Kennon has built a culture and commitment to make everything they make to the highest possible quality and provide the highest possible level of service to customers to protect those assets.

Community

Kennon is deeply respected and involved with the Sheridan community. The company sets aside 1% of revenue each year for charitable donations. Employee contributions are matched by the company to increase their impact and volunteering is encouraged. Each year the company chooses a local nonprofit to support throughout the year through volunteering, donations, and sponsorships.

Kennon is also very aware of their role and impact in a small community off the beaten path like Sheridan, WY. Employees take seriously their role as representatives in the community and work hard to uphold Kennon's reputation as not just a company doing business and providing jobs in Sheridan, but one that cares deeply about the town and its people.

As a previous Torch Award for Ethics winner, Kennon shows that the behaviors of a company deserving of the award do not stop when the trophy is handed over. Over the last nine years, Kennon has kept the same commitment to core values and the same ethical framework through significant growth, economic ups and downs, a move to a new facility, and changes to the senior leadership. A second Torch Award win shows just how deeply embedded Kennon's ethical culture has been throughout the company's history.