Kevin Parrington has been working at Oracle for nearly 30 years. An American expat based in Japan, he works as a commercial and compliance manager specializing in global logistics. His role at Oracle is just one of the many ways he thinks on a global scale. As an Oracle Volunteer, one of the stakeholders Kevin’s most passionate about is our planet.
Journey to Oracle Japan
Kevin joined Oracle when we acquired Sun Microsystems in 1991. “I interviewed and was hired by what was then Sun Microsystems Japan,” he recalls. “I actually came to Japan from outside the IT industry, leveraging my logistics expertise to join the tech world. Having a business level of Japanese was a definite plus in me landing the job. Having work experience in the US and Japan, I was often a kind of East-West liaison for matters between our global organization and our Japanese organization.”
Almost three decades later, Kevin is as excited as ever to be part of Team Oracle. The fact that Oracle empowers him to give back as a volunteer is just one part of the puzzle. “My role and responsibilities have grown and evolved over time, keeping me interested and challenged,” he explains. “I have a positive relationship with my direct manager, and I feel appreciated and recognized for my work and my potential. I work with a great team of people who respect and support each other, and I have a strong network of Oracle colleagues around the world.”
Waves of change need to happen now
An avid surfer, Kevin has always harboured a deep appreciation of our oceans. Home to hundreds of thousands of marine species, the sea sustains life for all 7.8 billion people on earth. Yet, Kevin laments how our local beaches, the sea floor, and the ocean itself are littered with marine debris of all kinds.
“From my surfing experience, the first thing I noticed was the pollution,” he notes. “The ocean is a place where I spend a lot of my free time, and I want it to be clean. This litter didn’t come from the beach alone, so where else did it come from? And what impact does it have on marine life?”
Taking action for our blue planet
Today, Kevin is finding creative ways to leverage Oracle Volunteering to protect our oceans. Amidst the pandemic, he’s been busy facilitating webinars on environmental issues, teaching young people about ocean conservation, and teaming up with SEGO and Ocean Conservancy to keep his local beaches litter-free. Meanwhile, in the UK and California, Oracle Volunteers are joining forces with Keep Britain Tidy and The California Coastal Commission.
“Leading volunteer projects is made so easy at Oracle,” Kevin shares. “Oracle provides fantastic support and resources for volunteer project leaders to be successful. Internal communications and leveraging my network helps to mobilize colleagues and interested individuals. We exchange ideas and rally support for upcoming projects over Zoom. The tools and resources we have are very user friendly.”
Finding your philanthropic passion
At Oracle, giving back is part of who we are. That’s why we give all of our employees 40 paid hours a year to donate their time and talents to charitable causes of their choosing. Kevin encourages his fellow philanthropists to make the most of this. “Whatever your passion is, you can turn it into volunteering. You may think there’s too much to do, but you can make a difference, you really can. Every little bit helps.”
“There are a myriad of organizations that Oracle supports,” Kevin continues, “so depending on your interest, you’re very likely to find an organization that will benefit from your help. I’ve found my colleagues to be really open-minded and willing to pitch in, from food drives, to teaching children coding, to beach clean-ups.”
Your impact matters
While marine debris enters the ocean in many different ways, Kevin is vocal about his belief that individual choices can have a positive impact. Every small action adds up—from avoiding single-use plastic bags, to using reusable water bottles and coffee cups, to avoiding items wrapped in excessive plastic. “Even if you pick up just one piece of plastic, you’re helping,” Kevin states. “But much more is needed. Just go out and do it!”
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