Commendations for Leah J. Wagner
from colleagues, employees, managers, and founders
Leah has been a quiet force behind all good things at Dirt Hugger. She has designed, implemented, and fought for employee wellness, development, coaching and support. She’s the reason we have amazing onboarding, 30-60-90 day check-ins, rafting, beverage calls, and a host of other positivity culture drivers. Without Leah, this would be a very different place and our lives less full. She has made Dirt Hugger a great place to work and grow.
— Pierce Louis, Dirt Hugger cofounder (from DH Hugger Award nomination)
There is no task or project too large or too daunting for Leah. In my history working with her I could count on her to come to issues with fresh ideas, steadfast determination, and a laser-focus to solve problems.
Even more important than her problem-solving skills and dedication is the human touch that she brings to everything that she does. In today’s economy and culture of virtual meetings and AI, work can feel transactional and inhuman. Leah is the opposite of that, and I always found that so refreshing.
Leah is skilled at working up, down, and sideways in organizational charts to make every employee and teammate feel seen, appreciated, and renewed for the challenges of the day. She excels in both hard skills and soft skills. There is not an organization around that could not be made better by her thoughtful, human, and deliberate approach that she brings to work and those that she works with.
— Caleb McDaniels, Finance & Accounting Leader, remote colleague at Atlas Organics
Leah has an extraordinary talent for ensuring that each person feels important, valued, and acknowledged. Her consistent acts of kindness, welcoming demeanor, and positive influence have undeniably played a significant role in fostering our DH culture. Whether it's a place card with a handwritten note, or a sweet Valentine accompanied by the most delightful cookies I have ever tasted, Leah constantly finds unique and considerate ways to make everyone feel truly exceptional. She is a true gem of a human! Thank you, Leah, for all that you do to keep our team on track and ensuring we never miss a company beer call! Cheers.
— Amber Strain, Dirt Hugger Retail Yard Manager (from DH Hugger Award nomination)
Leah was both the backbone and the personal touch behind our business. While her attention to detail and work ethic kept us organized and on track, what really set her apart was her unique ability to attract and maintain long term guest relationships. Additionally, her kindness and positive attitude was contagious and led our entire staff to be more happy and productive. She would be an invaluable asset to any organization, especially those that rely on excellent customer service and relationship building.
— Dave Seal, Wet Planet River Manager
You are the heart of this place [Dirt Hugger]. Everyone knows it.
— Lacey Roberts, Dirt Hugger employee
Leah has really stepped up trying to make sure the transition [sale of Dirt Hugger to Atlas Organics] is going as smoothly as it can, which is no easy task. She is always positive and willing to help with whatever is needed, no matter what she may have going on. She is also amazing at reminding people when things need to be done so we don’t drop the ball. Leah has been a big part of trying to keep the things that made Dirt Hugger what it is/was, like beer calls, rafting, and All Hands lunches, just to name a few.
— Andrew Voodre, Dirt Hugger Site Manager (from DH Hugger Award nomination)
You have made an enormous and lasting impact on Dirt Hugger and everyone who works here. Thank you for four years of holding space, seeing each individual, and meeting people where they are. You set a new standard for employee compassion and caring. Your impact on the culture at Dirt Hugger is durable and lasting. Your legacy will endure during each All Hands, check-in, beer call and more…
— Pierce Louis, Dirt Hugger cofounder
Leah is the sunshine on the river. Her positivity is authentic and her heart leads the way. Thanks for all you do!
— Diana Del Garbino, Wet Planet whitewater rafting guest
You have brought so much to Dirt Hugger and really see each individual employee.
— Nate Fleming, Sales Manager, Dirt Hugger
You have that superpower of making everyone feel valuable and important. It is such a valuable thing.
— MJ Anderson, Trucking Manager, Dirt Hugger
You have had a huge positive impact on Dirt Hugger over the years, and I feel grateful that we’ve had you on our team. You have created the culture, which I believe has made Dirt Hugger a unique and amazing place to work. Your compassion and caring ability for every employee is irreplaceable. Thank you for everything you have given to Dirt Hugger.
— Tyler Miller, Dirt Hugger cofounder
Leah does an amazing job; her compassion, thoroughness, and strength help the office be the amazing place that it is.
— Jeff Clewell, Wet Planet River Guide & Trip Leader
Leah continues to bring next-level professionalism to DH. Our hiring process and HR, in general, are worlds beyond what they were before Leah helped on these fronts. On top of this, she steps up and helps the sales team when needed.
— Nate Fleming, Sales Manager, Dirt Hugger (from DH Hugger Award nomination)
I don't know what we'd do without Leah! From helping with sales calls, to yelling through the walk-up window to "hard of hearing" truck drivers, to making sure we've been keeping up with COVID protocols through these crazy times. And her birthday shout-outs on Slack have been awesome!
— Eilidh MacLean, Dirt Hugger Marketing Manager (from DH Hugger Award nomination)
Thank you for being the best! We got the care package from you guys. You bring sunshine to a sometimes dark world and the world is better with you in it!
— Caleb McDaniels, Finance & Accounting Leader, remote colleague at Atlas Organics
Leah is always thinking of all the little things that add up to make the bigger picture more enjoyable. She is there to keep all of us keyed into our responsibilities as well as the perks that come with working here at Dirt Hugger. She truly cares about all of us here and does her best to keep the amazing culture alive. Leah is always willing to look over items to make sure they are worded, punctuated, and formatted correctly. This is something that has helped me more than she knows! Thanks for all you do, Leah.
— Andrew Voodre, Dirt Hugger Site Manager (from DH Hugger Award nomination)
Leah - thank you for doing so much work to support trucking. You have done a fantastic job at setting up clear systems and structure in a new-to-us and obtuse federal system. You have also done this single-handedly, which is super impressive. Nice job and thank you.
— Pierce Louis, Dirt Hugger cofounder
Visited Wet Planet in July with my family. Since I was bringing several kids with us, I called around to compare companies. While cheaper options were available, what ultimately sold us on Wet Planet was how helpful and considerate their call center was. One woman in particular, Leah, took great care helping us find the right trip for our family. It was evident that she had vast knowledge and love of the trips themselves and wasn’t just trying to sell us something expensive and be done with it. I don’t think we would have chosen this company if it had not been for her patience and helpfulness with all of our questions.
— Tripadvisor review from a Wet Planet whitewater rafting guest