Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Neki Catron, Corporate Global Community Engagement, Inclusion and Diversity leader with Sylvamo and Chair of the Corporate Social Purpose Network with Volunteer Tennessee, who highlights Sylvamo’s global operations and its commitment to corporate social responsibility, then spotlights the Corporate Social Purpose Network’s role in coordinating private sector engagement across Tennessee.
During the interview, Neki highlights Sylvamo and discusses her background and role at the global company. Known as the “World’s Paper Company,” Sylvamo is based in Memphis, Tennessee with operations across the United States, Brazil, and Europe. She then highlights the importance of the Corporate Social Purpose Network with Volunteer Tennessee for coordinating private sector engagement and addressing local and statewide needs, mentioning collaborations and partnerships with other organizations in the network like Bridgestone, Dollar General, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee. She emphasizes the network’s role in facilitating learning, coordination, and alignment among diverse organizations to address community needs effectively.
The Corporate Social Purpose Network, led by Volunteer Tennessee, was established in 2024 to connect corporate leaders in CSR and sustainability across Tennessee. The network aims to drive positive transformation by convening companies to share resources, information, and best practices in areas like peer-to-peer sharing, community engagement, philanthropy, volunteerism, and sustainability. Jeremy highlights the potential for companies to strategically engage their employees in community service, noting the significant impact of mobilizing large workforces compared to individual volunteer recruitment.
Neki discusses the Corporate Social Purpose Network’s activities in Tennessee, highlighting their work since 2025 in listening to CSR professionals and hosting events across the state. She explains their upcoming events in 2026, including Purpose Exchange programs and the 2026 Tennessee Conference on Volunteerism and Service-Learning on March 9. Neki emphasizes that businesses can join the network for free, with opportunities for sponsorship at events, and encourages leaders to participate in their mission to strengthen community engagement and collaboration across Tennessee.
Visit http://www.VolunteerTennessee.net or https://www.tn.gov/volunteer-tennesse… to learn more about the Corporate Social Purpose Network with Volunteer Tennessee. Visit https://www.sylvamo.com/us/en/ to learn more about Sylvamo.
