A heart for service: One employee’s passion for giving back to his colleagues and community

A heart for service: One employee's passion for giving back to his colleagues and community

In this installment of a recurring series, E.V.P. and Chief People Officer Allison Ausband shares ramp agent Mark Roberts' story of what it means to serve others and bring the Delta Difference to life.

I recently had the opportunity to meet SLC ramp agent Mark Roberts on a day that could not be more fitting - September 11, a national day of service to our communities in memory of the tragedy of the 9/11 attacks.

Mark is, quite simply, the true spirit of a Delta person. He serves with a purpose higher than himself, giving back to his community and his peers with endless resolve.

Mark's spirit of service is rooted in his religious beliefs and his upbringing, with his father setting the example. He joined Delta in 2018, intrigued by his now-brother-in-law's job with us.

"He set the example. He seemed like he had fun, he seemed like he was always happy when we had family gatherings," Mark said. "I wanted that."

Today, Mark participates in a number of service projects organized by Delta. One of his favorites is packing food bags for the Utah Food Bank, seeing smiles on children's faces as they collect bags so filled with groceries they struggle to pick them up.

One of the events that means the most to Mark, though, is our annual Jet Drag fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. Teams from all across our network compete to pull a Delta jet the fastest (the record is just over seven seconds). Salt Lake City is a perennial winner, and pulling is a deeply meaningful experience for Mark. His own father is a prostate cancer survivor, and he's honored to pull each year for those who have lost loved ones to the disease.

"It's all about teamwork," he said. "If you aren't in unison with your team, you're not going to get it."

Mark carries that same attitude every day at work, sharing his love for people and servant-leader mindset. He participates in a mentorship program at SLC, helping new employees learn the ropes - all while approaching each day as an opportunity to learn and grow.

His positive, collaborative attitude is infectious and a true celebration of Delta's people-first legacy that we've honored in our Centennial year. When you put heart into your work the way Mark does, it propels you forward.

"Challenges are amazing because that's where you learn and grow the most," Mark said. "I look forward to challenges every day. Whether I know the answer or not, I still move forward."

Our people-first culture is a heritage we're proud of at Delta. I was inspired by how clearly Mark sees that culture shine through every day. Putting people first is essential to what we do: Only then can our people go out and give the best care to our customers.

"I feel like Delta has given me so much. They give and give and give, and all they want is the best," Mark said. "I feel like that's why I'm here today, to continue to give my best, because I get the best. You're going to give that to me? OK, I'll show you, I can do even better."

• Community Service, Allison Ausband