At Domtar, we believe it is our responsibility to contribute to the well-being of the people and places around us. Our team members are not just employees — they are neighbors, friends and active members of the community.
Many of the employees of our Kingsport Mill volunteer their time to make our city a better place to live. They mentor at-risk youth, support public education programs, coach sports teams, guide up-and-coming entrepreneurs, plant gardens, care for homeless animals and much, much more.
This is the first in a series of profiles about our team members’ meaningful volunteer efforts and their shared commitment to give back.
Tori Gilliam
Job title: Training and Development Leader
Department: Human Resources
Years with the company: 7
- Training and Development Leader (2021-present)
- Engineer (2019-2020)
- Contractor (2016-2019)
I am very thankful that we are in a position within Domtar to be such active members of the community. Geographically, we have a lot of opportunities to be involved without taking away from our day-to-day work activities. This community is so welcoming and makes being involved a privilege.
Describe your community activities.
I joined the Kingsport Chamber’s Education and Workforce Development Committee in the summer of 2023. That August, I also joined the board of Petworks Animal Services. I joined PEAK (Professionals Engaged in Advancing Kingsport) in 2022 and became part of the Leadership Council in July 2024.
What motivated you to get involved?
As a Kingsport native, I initially wanted to get involved in the community to show others that there are great jobs and opportunities in our backyard. I have always heard “There is nothing to do in Kingsport” and “If you want to be successful, you have to move somewhere else.”
I wanted to show aspiring young students this isn’t the case. Since becoming involved in PEAK, I have realized there is so much more to being involved in the community than just making them aware of local opportunities. Yes, I get to mentor the next generation when we speak to the Women in Manufacturing groups and those in STEM classes, but it’s the personal connections that make more of an impact.
As a young professional in Kingsport, I have found that your impact is what will shape the future of your city. I have been given a great opportunity to mentor students in the area, make connections with other businesses to help Kingsport grow, and create lasting friendships with people I would not otherwise have met. That is what being involved is truly about.
What are some memorable experiences or moments from your community involvement?
One of my favorite activities that I have been involved in over the past two years is “Project Hope,” where PEAK plans a Christmas activity/event for students and families at a local Title 1 school.
Each year, we play games with the students and their family members, give them the opportunity to talk to Santa and arrange a “big” gift for every student. Last year, we raised enough money to purchase a new pair of Nike tennis shoes for every student and provide their entire household with a hot meal to take home and enjoy. That was hugely impactful because the kids were ecstatic, and the parents were beyond grateful.
What skills or knowledge from your job have you been able to apply to your community work?
As a member of the Petworks Board, I use my training and development role at Domtar to help create and strengthen programs for staff and volunteers. I also assist them with standardizing operating procedures, and creating a better working environment and a more consistent training program for their growing volunteer list.
How has your community involvement impacted you personally and professionally?
When I started with PEAK and the Workforce Development Committee, I didn’t know how much we would be involved in local schools. I have friends with kids in the Kingsport school system, and I have gotten to see them through several of our projects within their schools (reading days, pollinator garden planting, Girls Inc. Trick or Treat, STEM/Women in Manufacturing lunch and learns.)
It’s really impactful to see how my participation in local events can bring out the engagement of these kids because they know me. I think it is also great that they can see me as someone who wants to dedicate my time, not just for them, but for their classmates and school. I am grateful that I get to be an influence on them and their friends.
Professionally, I feel like I have been able to make great connections for Domtar within the community because PEAK is involved in so many events. We have also been able to do so many things for Domtar employees due to our connections in the community. By being a member of PEAK, I was nominated for the Petworks Board as a Domtar representative. I was also asked to emcee the National Civics Bee as a member of the Education and Workforce Development Council.
How do you believe your involvement has impacted the community or the individuals you work with?
Through my involvement with PEAK and the Kingsport Chamber, we have partnered with Chamber programs such as “Healthy Kingsport” and “Healthy Workspaces.” Through this partnership, we plan to host our second annual “Domtar Days” campaign with the theme “Because You Matter.”
Employees and their families are invited to a day of fun at Bays Mountain Park and Planetarium, where they can participate in a scavenger hunt, receive back-to-school supplies, enjoy a picnic lunch and have a chance to win prizes.
What advice would you give to someone interested in getting involved in their community?
Becoming involved in the community where you live and work is incredibly rewarding. I have grown up in the Kingsport area since I was 10, but without these programs, I would have never known all the great opportunities that Kingsport has to offer.
I am truly blown away by the passion that this community has for its own, and I am very thankful for the friendships that I have been able to make by being involved.
Does your company encourage employees to be involved in the community? Why?
Domtar and my direct leadership are very encouraging of our involvement in the community. I think the Kingsport mill is in a unique situation by being in a downtown area. It makes the mill an integral part of day-to-day life for the Kingsport community and allows us to be involved much more frequently.