Earlier in February, the Envoy Culture Respect and Engagement at Work (CREW) team hosted its first CREW Summit, bringing together members from across the network to Envoy Headquarters (EHQ) for a day focused on learning, storytelling and genuine connection.

The day, led by Kitch Hamilton, General Manager of Indianapolis, Indiana (IND), Nancy Rivera, Director of Culture and Talent Development, and Jacqueline Vargas, Talent Development Specialist, opened with an interactive “meet your tablemates” activity designed to spark conversations between employees who may not typically cross paths. Seats were pre‑assigned to ensure a mix of workgroups and backgrounds, giving attendees the chance to learn something new about the colleagues beside them.

Following the icebreaker, CREW Ambassadors and Envoy leaders — Nancy Rivera, Chanen Lively, Migdoel Rosa, Deesha Desai and Jude Mayeux — led a panel conversation called “Culture in Action” about how to bring the ideals of CREW into every layer of Envoy.

Deesha Desai, Vice President of Hub Operations at Los Angeles (LAX), underscored the importance of meeting people where they are. “Envoy represents hundreds of countries and countless ways of learning and communicating,” Deesha said. “A core responsibility of leadership is understanding how to reach employees in the way that works for them.” And Chanen Lively, Senior Vice President, HR and Employment Counsel, emphasized action over intention, “CREW gives employees space to come together and celebrate differences — not through lip service, but through action.”

The summit concluded with a practical session led by Talent Development, who walked attendees through each part of the CREW acronym and what those principles should look like in daily interactions as employees return to their work and lead by example.

For many, the day’s message was best captured by Migdoel Rosa, Vice President of Hub Operations at Miami (MIA). “When I welcome someone new to my team, I want to understand who is sitting in front of me — where the person is coming from and how we can work together,” Rosa said. “CREW is central to that. When employees feel that sense of belonging, they become part of the organization in a meaningful way.”