In 2021, the Company witnessed two similar and equally impressive employee stories of community service emerge from opposite sides of the globe. Aaron Kavanagh, Sherwin-Williams Customer Service Supervisor, Performance Coatings Group, in Dublin, Ireland, works as an emergency first responder in his spare time, and Chris Locke, Sherwin-Williams Sales Service Representative, Consumer Brands Group, in Davidson, North Carolina, is a volunteer firefighter. Both employees have served in their respective volunteer callings for nearly five years. 

 

 

Kavanagh clocks more than 1,000 hours of donated time with the Irish Red Cross each year. In Ireland, the Red Cross serves as a secondary emergency organization, working in tandem with the national ambulance service under the Department of Defense, often with the Red Cross’ trained first aid volunteers arriving at the scene before an ambulance does. 

 

 

“What many people do not realize is that a large number of hours and late nights are spent planning and coordinating behind the scenes,” said Kavanagh, who serves in many roles with the humanitarian organization, including Emergency First Aid Responder, Cardiac First Response Instructor and Branch Treasurer. He also formerly served as a Unit Officer, where he inspired more than 20 members under his leadership and was responsible for ensuring volunteers were ready and available to respond to emergency calls. 

 

 

Similarly, in the United States, Locke has held various positions throughout his time as a volunteer firefighter. “I have served in different roles within different departments. Currently, I am a captain at Sandy Bottom Fire and Rescue,” he said. “What initially sparked my interest was seeing the team respond to a call at a neighbor’s house. I put in an application the next week and the rest is history.” 

 

 

In July 2021, Locke and seven other firefighters on his team were presented with the SAVE Award by the State of North Carolina. This award is presented to firefighters who go above and beyond the call of duty to save a life; his team was specifically honored for tending to a serious mobile home fire and rescuing one of the occupants in April 2021. 

 

 

For Kavanagh and Locke, helping the people in their communities motivates them to continue to serve. Kavanagh recounted some of the reasons he is so passionate about his service. “The work is very rewarding,” he said. “We have seen people at their best and at their lowest – however, every call we answer helps someone, and that is why I joined the volunteer services.” 

 

 

Locke shared similar sentiments. “My biggest source of pride and what drives me is looking back and knowing that I have improved the lives of people in my community and that I have left it better than I found it,” he concluded. “The biggest thing is finding something you’re passionate about and using that to make a positive impact in your community.”

 

 

This story is featured in the Sherwin-Williams 2021 Sustainability Report.