Shared Values, Shared Success: The Referral Stories Behind Georgia-Pacific Talent

April 23, 2025

Atlanta - At Georgia-Pacific, we understand the value of a quality personal referral, especially when it comes from someone who shares our principles and values. Our approach to principle-based hiring is more than just a strategy; it is the foundation of how we build our teams.

Take the story of Keith Hamilton, president of Georgia-Pacific's Corrugated business, Chris Payne, vice president of human resources at KES, and Mario Williams, area operations leader for Georgia-Pacific, for example. All three joined Georgia-Pacific through referrals or referred someone based on shared values. Chris began his career with the company in the Corrugated business and met Keith at a previous job. Even though Keith did not have experience in corrugated, Chris saw his strong leadership, operational talent and values that aligned with ours. This made Keith a great referral and hire.

After a while, Keith recalled his experiences with Mario from their previous employer, and when the right opportunity arose, he then referred Mario.

“Keith told me how Georgia-Pacific was with Principle-Based Management and now that I’m here I can really see it myself and it is a way of life,” Mario said.

At Georgia-Pacific we focus on hiring individuals who not only have the applicable skills and experience but also act consistent with our principles. This approach helps us build innovative and successful teams.

Courtney Maynard, senior recruiting manager sums it up this way: "We're not just hiring employees; we're welcoming partners who align with our vision and values. The stories of Chris, Keith and Mario exemplify how our principles shape not just our hiring but the value we put on employee referrals.”

The successes of Chris, Keith and Mario show that when we lead with our principles, we build teams that not only thrive but also drive our success.