Wolter Inc. turns employee feedback into meaningful support for Veterans’ causes.
By Nicole Needles
AT WOLTER INC., employee feedback isn’t something that gets collected, filed away and forgotten. In 2024, the company’s employee engagement survey sparked a meaningful initiative that would unite team members across the organization around a shared purpose: supporting veterans.
When Wolter asked employees which causes mattered most to them, the response was clear.
“Hands down, veterans initiatives were by far the most popular choice,” said Kim Wachs, chief HR officer at Wolter Inc. “Our workforce made it really clear – whether it was veterans initiatives, animal welfare or cancer research – veterans initiatives were the most important to them.” The results of that survey directly shaped Wolter’s next charitable effort. With the company due to host a giveback initiative in 2025, leadership didn’t hesitate to align their efforts with employee priorities.
“If veterans’ causes are what are most important to our employees, then that’s where HR is going to put its time and effort,” Wachs explained.
Throughout April, Wolter employees participated in a veterans donation drive that collected both monetary and in-kind contributions for a local veterans organization. Two large, pallet-sized donation bins were placed onsite, inviting employees to contribute items from a provided wish list that included hygiene products, clothing and other essentials.
By the end of the month, employees had raised approximately $1,000 in cash donations and filled two large collection boxes with supplies. Beyond the numbers, Wachs said the experience brought energy and connection to the workplace.
“It was fun to see people putting things in the boxes and seeing if we could fill them,” she noted. “It built excitement and momentum among our workforce.” Employees appreciated the opportunity to give in ways that felt personal.
“It was actually fun to see the different things that people were buying,” Wachs said. “One person might buy clothes, another might buy personal hygiene products. Everyone brought what they felt was most important for a veteran to need.”
The cause resonated deeply with Wolter’s team, many of whom have direct ties to military service.
“We do have a lot of veterans who work here, or employees who have family members who are veterans,” Wachs said. “I think that makes employees feel good and that you’re giving back to a cause that really hits home.”
That sense of connection aligns naturally with Wolter’s identity as a family-owned business. “We want to keep things family-focused, and this was a way to do that for sure,” Wachs added. The donation drive is just one part of Wolter’s growing commitment to honoring veterans.
Inspired by the same engagement survey results, the company also launched an annual Veterans Day recognition program in 2024. Each year, veterans who work for Wolter and wish to be recognized receive a company-branded gift as a token of appreciation.
“We’ve done it twice now, in 2024 and 2025, and it’s been very well received,” Wachs said. “Our veterans have appreciated being appreciated. They’ve said, ’Thank you for recognizing our service.’”
Looking ahead, Wolter plans to continue and expand these efforts. As the company’s geographic footprint grows, Wachs hopes to expand veteran-focused initiatives beyond the corporate headquarters and into regional branches as well.
As Wolter continues to grow, its commitment to giving back remains grounded in listening to employees and supporting the communities it serves. “We draw our workforce from the communities around us,” Wachs said. “It’s important that we give back to them just as they’re giving to us.”
