In the children’s story, The Elves and the Shoemaker, a struggling cobbler gets his groove back thanks to a group of elves who show up in the middle of the night to help him make his shoes. The Unifi After Dark crew is a little like those elves. The team shows up in stations at night – transforming employee breakrooms with fresh paint, new furniture and appliances – whatever is needed.
The work is an integral part of Unifi Operations. It is carried out by the Operations team, including Chief Operating Officer Greg Kennedy, who rolls up his sleeves at every site, cleaning floors, emptying shelves, painting walls, anything that needs to get done. After completing surprises and delights at breakrooms across the country, the team came together in Atlanta to redo the breakroom for Unifi’s Air Canada team.
With a group of almost 70 employees covering above and below-wing services for the airline, the break room did not reflect the team’s dedication. The furniture was old and falling apart, the paint on the walls were chipped, and the floors worn down. It was a space in desperate need of a facelift.
Kennedy and his team members, including SVP, Operations for the Southeast Perry Venturo, Vice President Joe Collete, and Station Manager Eric Jones, were onsite by 6 p.m., emptying the room, collecting garbage, and sweeping the floor. Also present were Project Manager Ricky Lampkin, who oversees the Unifi After Dark program, and Chief Safety Officer Brian Bartal. Others, including HR Manager Melissa Moore and Director of Operations Erin O’Leary, were also pitching in.
Within five hours, the entire room was cleaned and painted, and new furniture and appliances, including a refrigerator, were brought in. The fridge was stocked with cold drinks and snacks. Reaction from some of the team was immediate, as agents who worked on the night shift came in after their last flight took off. They saw that the breakroom they had seen at the start of the day had been given a makeover.
Cries of “Oh my God!” and “This looks amazing!” filled the space.
According to Kennedy, this is precisely why Unifi After Dark is invaluable.
“Nothing is more important than helping our frontline,” he says. “This is a way we take care of our frontline employees, show they matter, and it helps connect us to them. I walk away more enriched every time.”
Lampkin also says seeing the employees’ reactions makes it all worth it. “They are so happy to have a space they can be proud of and one that makes them feel valued.”
Planning for Unifi After Dark began at the end of 2023, and Lampkin was brought on as Project Manager to help lead the initiative. With 200+ breakrooms across the country, Kennedy knew it was time to examine which ones needed the most TLC.
“Our teams work incredibly hard, and a lot of them hadn’t had their breakrooms updated in years, so it was essential for me and my team to do this for them,” says Kennedy.
It was a task long overdue because it was fraught with challenges – primarily ensuring that any work being done wouldn’t disrupt operations.
Lampkin works ahead prior to each renovation, ensuring that it is scheduled during the overnight hours—during limited staffing and flights—all the supplies are on site, and the team is ready to go.
“The biggest challenge is placing orders and ensuring all the supplies and equipment arrive at the correct location and on time,” says Lampkin. “But the hurdles are all worth it. We’ve had breakrooms where nothing had been done for years. I’m proud we’re turning that around.”
Erin O’Leary, Director of Operational Excellence who has participated in three breakroom renovations, including Atlanta, says the experience always leaves her gratified.
“At the end of the day, you are improving the atmosphere. A new coat of paint and new furniture help to deliver a new attitude because employees have a place, they want to spend time in.”
