Fairchild AFB Exchange Wins 2021 Global Connection Contest

The Fairchild Air Force Base Exchange is the winner of this year’s Global Connection contest, which honors diversity and inclusion efforts.

“We are a smaller store, and winning this award showcases the work the team has put into diversity and inclusion, including hiring,” said General Manager Jimmie Burris.

Fairchild associates display their Global Connection awards. For associates’ names, see the gallery below.

The Fairchild Exchange won a 2021 Global Connection plaque and $500 toward a team celebration. Four regional runners-up each earned a plaque and $100.

The runners-up were Fort Hood, Central Region; Fort Jackson/Shaw AFB, Eastern Region; Italy Consolidated, Europe/Southwest Asia Region; and U.S. Army Garrison Humphreys, Pacific Region.

The contest highlights how supporting the Exchange’s Special Emphasis Programs can lead to increased productivity, resulting in better service to military communities. In their entries, stores describe diversity and inclusion efforts, community outreach and community service.

Carolyn Shagen, a Fairchild associate for 30 years, is also a Special Olympics gold medalist. People with targeted abilities comprise nearly 10% of Fairchild’s workforce.

The Fairchild Exchange partners with the installation’s Equal Employment Opportunity Diversity and Inclusion team and participates in its events.

“One of the big callouts we received was for Black History Month,” Burris said. “Our visual team put together the pamphlet for an EEODI team event and worked on some of the décor. We were also at the event with a slideshow explaining why Black History Month is important to the Exchange.”

The Fairchild Exchange’s partnership with the military community played a big role in winning the annual contest.

“It was a difficult year, but during the pandemic, the Fairchild team was a strong community partner,” said Valerie Wagoner, the Exchange’s associate EEODI officer. “The team worked to have an inclusive environment among associates as well.”

Located in Spokane County in eastern Washington, the Fairchild Exchange noted in its submission that it is nearly 22% ethnically diverse in an area that is only a little more than 15% diverse. The store employs associates from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Germany, Thailand and Croatia.

People with targeted disabilities comprise nearly 10% of Fairchild’s workforce, the store noted, highlighting associate Carolyn Shagen, a Special Olympics gold medalist in downhill skiing. Shagen has been with the Fairchild Exchange for 30 years, with 26 years at Burger King and four years at the main store.

Burris said that Fairchild’s diversity and inclusion efforts continued in May during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Associates with Asian American or Pacific Islander background brought in clothing and other objects for a mall display.