To continue to build on our commitment, we expanded two ERGs in 2022: HOLA, which supports our Hispanic employees, and Sherwin Heroes, which supports the active military, veteran population and military families at Sherwin-Williams.

HOLA Progresses Talent, Celebrates Culture and Engages Communities

The Hispanic Organization for Leadership & Advancement, or HOLA, expanded in May 2022. The mission of the group is to influence the progression of Hispanic and Latino(a) talent by educating and celebrating these cultures while engaging communities.

“Leaders from every business unit came together to help elevate this group,” said Diego Ascencio, Sherwin-Williams District Sales Manager and Chair of the National Leadership Board for HOLA. The group built momentum throughout the year. “We hosted our first summit during Hispanic Heritage Month,” continued Ascencio. “We had more than 700 participants representing every business unit of the Company. This has been our largest event to date.”

The HOLA board is looking forward to continued growth in 2023. “Our three main objectives are to help attract Spanish-speaking candidates, be involved with our communities and support employee development,” Ascencio said. 

Sherwin Heroes Honors and Supports Veteran Employees, Active Military and Their Families

The mission of Sherwin Heroes is to honor, support and empower active military and their families, as well as veteran employees, by leveraging shared experiences to attract military talent, build awareness and drive engagement within our communities.

Weslie Jackson, Sherwin-Williams Human Resources Manager and Chairman of Sherwin Heroes, was an integral part of the ERG’s launch in November 2022. “The official launch of the group was humbling to say the least,” he said. The group started with veteran meetups at division sales meetings, and eventually the conversation grew into official ERG inception with the ID&E team. “There is support in every walk of life, whether the audience is a veteran or a supporter of our veteran community.”

As of February 2023, the group has garnered nearly 500 members. “As we continue to grow this ERG, we will continue to expand our resources, meet on a regular basis to share ideas and do more for our veterans within the Company,” Jackson concluded. “We want to make this group successful and continue to make an impact.”

This story is featured in the Sherwin-Williams 2022 Sustainability Report.