Don’t Forget Your Own
For the past eight years, Central Valley has treated its employees to quarterly breakfasts that also serve as business updates, hosted by company president Steve Patterson. Here, they discuss strategic initiatives, quarterly goals, and recognize employee anniversaries and achievements. Attendance isn’t mandatory, yet Central Valley gets a 75% turnout at each of its locations.
“This is something I’ve always found very rewarding: Get in front of the employees and put a face to the name,” says Patterson. “I try to keep the employees in the loop, keep them informed, and make them feel like they are part of the business.”
More in line with fun than education, Erie advises each of its locations to plan three events per year for the employees: one for couples, one for families, and one just for employees. Events have included bowling parties, dinner cruises, and trips to amusement parks.
“Some have turned into annual events, and some have tried to mix it up,” Neumann says. “We want to do something consistently that lets the employees know we continue to appreciate what [they] do for us.”
Likewise, Tindell’s has kept up two employee traditions: a Christmas breakfast each year, and a company picnic to the Dollywood amusement park. “The savings there are minimal, and the goodwill is way more than the money is worth,” says van Tilburg.
Despite adverse times, Spenard will continue its fishing tournament next year but on a slightly smaller scale, according to Waite. To put an end to the event would be putting an end to the goodwill the tourney sows.
“Our real motto is we want to give back to the industry and our community,” Waite says. “It sounds a lot like mother and apple pie, but that’s what we try to do.”
