Meet Andy and Courtney: Driving Change and Community Spirit Through Henkel

Tapping into different voices, perspectives, and experiences helps businesses solve problems, reveals new opportunities to grow, and encourages contributions that better support people and communities. At Henkel North America, diversity is a path to progress, innovation, and impact. Our employees and partners are united by our purpose: Pioneers at heart for the good of generations. They collaborate to tackle challenges, find solutions and open new perspectives – allowing us to deliver products, services, and innovations that enrich and improve everyday life.

We invite you to “meet” our pioneers in our series, “Pioneers for Good.”

Introducing Andy and Courtney

Andy Riddick, Plant Manager, and Courtney Dixon, Administrative Assistant, are catalysts for advocacy and engagement within the Bowling Green plant and across the neighboring areas. At Henkel’s largest manufacturing facility for laundry products, they are at the center of organizing volunteer efforts, donation drives, and building strong ties with local partners.

Through enthusiastic promotion of collaboration and service, Andy and Courtney foster a workplace culture where team members are empowered to make an impact. With a ‘lead-by-example’ approach, Andy and Courtney embody Henkel’s goal of creating lasting change in the communities Henkel calls home.

Immersing Henkel in the Community

Andy and Courtney pride themselves on their deep connection to the Bowling Green community – a value that has become core to their roles at Henkel. By focusing on team building, communication, and employee engagement, they champion activities that benefit the local community and create better environments for future generations.

“It’s our job to communicate with Henkel employees and encourage them to participate in donation and volunteer opportunities, bridging a connection and relationship with the community,” said Courtney.

Andy added, “Being a part of the community is almost a requirement of working here. Our coworkers are constantly bringing up new ideas to get involved and strengthen our community relationships.”

Henkel’s local community work focuses on creating a safer, stronger future for generations to come. The Bowling Green team organizes about 10 community service events with hundreds of employees participating every year.

Among their many community service events is the Barren River Area Child Advocacy Center’s Great Teddy Bear Run, an event advocating for children who are survivors of sexual abuse. Henkel supports the cause financially and employees join in the motorcycle ride and donate teddy bears to comfort children in need. Every small gesture helps to make a big impact.

One of the newer opportunities for service was initiated by Henkel’s Military Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG) – supporting the Foster Grandparents Program. This program provides senior volunteers an opportunity to support, mentor, and nurture children. To help these wonderful grandparent volunteers, Henkel donates pallets of laundry detergent, body soap and hair care products. Along with helping to ease costs, volunteers can use as a teaching tool for children in their care to learn basic activities such as washing a load of clothes.

When Henkel employees are unable to make it to a volunteer event, Andy and Courtney bring the event to them. For example, they organized a makeshift assembly line on the manufacturing floor, where employees came together to create care packages for a local women’s shelter. They go above and beyond for their community and inspire impactful actions among their coworkers, opening the door for larger change across their region.

Getting Their Hands Dirty

For Bowling Green employees, Mud Happens stands out as a signature example of their hands-on approach to making a difference. The annual, mud-filled 5k obstacle course event in August brings together thousands of people from all walks of life for a day of fun and of course mud, to raise awareness and help prevent child abuse. Henkel has been a sponsor of Mud Happens for over 10 years, contributing more than $60,000 to date, and proudly stepped up as title sponsor five years ago.

Courtney is central to Henkel’s sponsorship. She rallies the team of Henkel volunteers to coordinate the booth and Henkel product giveaways, and cheers on her colleagues who participate in the run. Through this shared experience, Henkel employees accomplish something exciting and meaningful together, strengthening their bond. See pictures below and read local news from this year’s event.

It’s a big deal to be part of this event; at least 5,000 residents come out to support this amazing cause. It means a lot to us to have Henkel’s name closely associated with it – whether we’re handing out laundry samples, running our booth, or our employees are taking part in the activities.

Courtney Dixon, Administrative Assistant

The Lasting Value of Community Engagement

Andy, Courtney, and all the volunteers at Henkel’s Bowling Green facility demonstrate that meaningful community engagement isn’t always about grand gestures—it’s about showing up, being present, and investing in relationships over time. Through their actions and events like Mud Happens, they have shown that each conversation, hour volunteered, and kind gesture can add up to something transformative.

To hear and see the excitement of the people you are connecting with and making a difference together is something that can’t be replaced, those moments are truly unforgettable.

Andy Riddick, Plant Manager