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EMPLOYERS OF CHOICE

2015

Kryton Engineered Metals l Martin Bros. Distributing l UnityPoint-Allen Hospital l B&R Quality Meats Western Home Communities l Cedar Valley Hospice l CBE Cos. l Power Engineering and Manufacturing Amperage Marketing l BankIowa l Grundy County Memorial Hospital l CFU l DISTek Integration Inc.

Peters Construction l Hogan-Hansen

www.WCFCourier.com Sunday, Sept. 6, 2015

THE COURIER www.wcfcourier.com SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2015 EMPLOYERS OF CHOICE

Job hunters, take note: Explore the following pages.

They will give you an idea of the kind of employers available

in this area.Y o u m a y

have a tough time choosing which ones to approach.

As you’ll find a s y o u r e a d about this year’s Employers of Choice, they’re all deserving of your consider-ation and, most l i k e l y, y o u r resume.

Two years ago, representa-tives of the business commu-nity who volunteered to pick the winners of The Courier’s Employers of Choice awards decided to dispense with rank-ings. They were all deserving of the honor, the panel decided. You’ll find them listed in alphabetical order.

From the nomination forms, it was obvious each company had no peer, from the perspec-tive of its employees. And who better to judge an employer’s worth but his or her own employees?

There certainly were plenty of deserving nominees.

As busy as workers are with their day-to-day jobs, it was gratifying to see such a healthy response to the Employers of Choice program. More than 100 workers took the time to lavish praise on their employ-ers. That certainly speaks to the quality of the workforce and those who employ them across the Cedar Valley.

A panel of representatives from a cross-section of the Cedar Valley business commu-nity — Dan Beenken, director of the University of Northern Iowa’s Small Business Devel-opment Center; Julie Hayes, chief financial officer of Kirk Gross Co.; and Kathy Flynn, vice president for advance-

ment at Hawkeye Community College — graciously donated their time to sift through and thoroughly discuss the small mountain of nominations in a process that determined the region’s top 15 places to work.

As has become a kind of tradition in the Employers of Choice program’s eight-year history, the honored employ-ers fell into a variety of sizes, business models and catego-ries. The services or products they offer are many and varied; the common thread is they rec-ognize building relationships with their own people con-tributes to the success of each organization.

Angst over the economy continues to dominate the landscape, even in the Cedar Valley, which has consistently registered some of the lowest unemployment rates in the country.

Employers of Choice pro-vides insight into the reasons things aren’t so bad in this region. There are legions of appreciative workers across the Cedar Valley.

Perhaps that’s the most important function Employers of Choice performs: a dose of reassurance the local workforce is reaping riches that transcend simply making a living.

Cedar Valley has a bounty of high-quality employers

Jim Offneris The Courier

business editor.

Contact him

at jim.offner@

wcfcourier.com.

JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

CEDAR FALLS — If there is a proper balance to be found between work and family, Amperage Marketing actively seeks it out, employees of the Cedar Falls-based advertising firm say.

Sometime the two mingle, with co-workers and friends b e i n g o n e a n d t h e sa m e , employee Shannon Foote said in nominating Amperage as one of The Courier’s Employers of Choice.

“Principals care and work hard to create a great work environment,” Foote said in describing her bosses.

I t ’s a c o m m o n - s e n s e approach, said Bryan Earnest, co-founder, president and CEO of the company.

“It is very important at Amperage for our employ-ees to have a sense of balance between work and the rest of their lives,” Earnest said. “We have encouraged more flex-ible hours, expanded our ben-efits and have implemented an internal team to help our employees better connect as teammates and to serve our community.”

The internal team, the “Full Volume Crew,” devises “fun and meaningful” activities through the year, Earnest said.

To Amperage employee Jus-tin Tolan, that’s just part of the package.

“I appreciate Amperage sup-porting my work by paying for registration and trips to the annual education conference of the Association of Fund-raising Professionals, as well as area chapter meetings of this organization and the Eastern Iowa Planned Giving Council,” Tolan said. “These experiences

affirm what we are doing well and also enable me to network with other fundraising leaders from around the world.”

Tiffini Kieler and Sammy Gipper worked together in nominating their company for the EOC award.

“Amperage is more than just a marketing and advertis-ing business; we’re a family,” they said. “Our partners know there’s more to life than the work between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. They know we need to be there

with our families, and we appreciate the flexibility they provide. If we need to leave work for one of our kids’ games or activities, they support that, and since we’re a big family, fellow co-workers might even join us in the cheering section.”

Leana Place counted herself lucky to be at Amperage for numerous reasons.

“The people I work with are the best,” she said. “They are so professional yet know how to have fun and get the job done.”

Colleague Kelli Jo Folkers-Whitesell agreed.

“Amperage Marketing is fantastic,” she said. “They have been very accommodat-ing during a personal health issue. They do not hesitate to allow employees to attend conferences to better do their jobs and are always flexible with schedules when family and personal issues come up. Amperage is great about acknowledging a job well done, and department directors are always offering feedback on work performance.”

Amperage energized by family atmosphere

BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer

Brian Foelske, seated, and Monte Bowden look over video at Amperage Marketing in Cedar Falls.

Amperage Marketing

� Address: 6711 Chancellor Drive, Cedar Falls.

� Phone: 268-9151. � Website: amperagemarketing.

com. � Number of employees: 52. � What the company does:

Advertising/marketing. � How it stands out in its field:

Employees note the company’s flexibility and support of profes-sional development opportunities.

2015 Employers of Choice

� Amperage Marketing � B&R Quality Meats � BankIowa � CBE Cos. � Cedar Falls Utilities � Cedar Valley Hospice � DISTek Integration Inc. � Grundy County Memorial

Hospital � Hogan-Hansen � Kryton Engineered Metals � Martin Bros. Distributing � Peters Construction � Power Engineering and

Manufacturing � UnityPoint-Allen Hospital � Western Home Communities

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2015 www.wcfcourier.com THE COURIER PAGE 3EMPLOYERS OF CHOICE

JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

WATERLOO — Sometimes good things come in small packages, and good employers don’t have to be giant corporations.

Anyway, that’s how Mark Rat-kovich and Dennis Brennan see it.

The two own and operate B&R Quality Meats Inc. in Water-loo and work to ensure their 10 employees see much beyond a paycheck, Ratkovich said.

It seems to be working.“B&R Quality Meats is like a

second family to their employ-ees,” said Angela Watson, assis-tant general manager.

Watson nominated her com-pany for The Courier’s Employer of Choice Awards.

She said the owners transcend

the traditional role of employers. They offer benefits like vaca-tion/holiday pay, consistent reviews and competitive wages.

“What sets them apart from

everyone else is their focus on family,” Watson said.

That means Ratkovich and Brennan are quick to accom-modate doctor appointments,

school functions and other familial responsibilities.

There also are occasions when the owners will show their appre-ciation in subtler but equally welcome ways, Watson said.

“On a typical day they provide doughnuts or muffins at no cost for breakfast, and for lunch they grill anything from ribeye steaks

to pork tenderloins,” Watson said.

The owners also are there when an employee is in need, from providing an appliance to helping with vehicle repairs, Watson said.

Teamwork is part of the daily routine.

When someone is gone, every-one pulls together to pick up the slack,” she said. “The cross-training they provide is what makes this possible. Employees are given the encouragement to grow, expand and learn new skills. Every morning when I arrive at work, I am greeted with a smile and a good morning, and when I leave at the end of the day, a thank-you. What could be better than that?”

B&R Quality Meats earns workers’ praise


Jodi Wachal shreds pulled pork at B&R Quality Meats in Waterloo.

B&R Quality Meats � Address: 200 Park Road,

Waterloo. � Phone: 232-6328. � Website: b-rqualitymeats.com. � Number of employees: Nine

full-time, one part-time. � What the company does: Meat

retailer, wholesaler. � How it stands out in its field:

“Family comes first,” co-owner Mark Ratkovich said.

See B&R, page 4


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

INDEPENDENCE — There’s an extra motivation for BankIowa employees when they show up for work.

That’s because they’re part owners of the bank.

An employee stock ownership plan gives workers a direct stake in the company’s success, CEO Rob Robinson said.

It’s a two-way street.“We believe our employees

are our most valuable asset at BankIowa, and we strive to create a positive and beneficial working environment for our employees,” Robinson said when informed his organization was selected as one of The Courier’s Employers of Choice.

The ESOP gives all BankIowa workers a direct connection to the company’s success, he said.

Brenda Lou Werner Willson, a 39-year employee, said the ESOP is a considerable benefit.

“While the bank is privately owned, employees own a minority interest through the ESOP portion of our retirement program,” she said. “When employees celebrate success, we celebrate each other.”

There’s a sense of family at the bank.

“We are family, we feel valued

and are given credit for contribut-ing to the bank’s success,” Willson said.

Willson also noted BankIowa offers employees “a generous tuition reimbursement program along with numerous other classes and training opportunities” and prioritizes promoting from within the company.

Employee longevity is common at BankIowa, 14-year employee

Angela Miller said.“The turnover rate at BankIowa

is very low because our employer cares about us,” Miller said.

She, too, pointed the the ESOP as a major perk.

“This ensures best efforts by all employees and promotes pride in our standards of service,” he said.

Twenty-nine-year employee Wade Itzen, BankIowa’s Waterloo-Cedar Falls markets president and

chief business banking officer, said his company cares about its work-ers as well as its customers, and that loyalty pays big dividends.

“The result we see from our employees is a tremendous return — of loyalty, hard work and satis-faction,” Itzen said. “Our philoso-phy is that if we take care of our employees, they will take are of the clientele, who take care of our results.”

Itzen agreed turnover is low.“BankIowa has a very seasoned

employee base — no one wants to leave,” he said. “In fact, on rare

occasion where there is an open-ing, we have many applications to join our team.”

And employees can move up through the ranks.

“BankIowa provides opportuni-ties to advance as employees learn new skills,” he said. “... BankIowa also has employee recognition programs and opportunities for incentive compensation.”

Sherri Kavalier came to work for the bank 23 years ago, “fresh out of college with a part-time position.”

She originally thought she’d work there for a while, then move on.

“I was hoping that this would be a resume-builder and give me some work experience that every-one asked for during every inter-view,” Kavalier said. “I was lucky enough to stay with BankIowa for the past 23 years and am happy to say that this had been my one and only ‘real’ job.”

Workers have ownership stake in BankIowa

COURTNEY COLLINS / Courier Staff Photographer

Joan Harringa works at her desk at BankIowa in Waterloo.

BankIowa � Address: 230 First St. E.,

Independence. � Phone: 334-7181. � Website: Bankiowa.com. � Number of employees: 140. � What the company does: Bank. � How it stands out in its field:

Employees say BankIowa stands out in areas of employee and customer care. The company also has an employee stock ownership plan that gives them a direct stake in the bank’s success.

Employees respond by stick-ing around for a long time, said Ratkovich. He launched the business with Brennan in the 1980s in Cedar Falls as pri-marily a meat locker and later transitioned to wholesaler and a private-label meat supplier. There’s also a retail store that does a brisk business around holidays, Ratkovich said.

“ We ’ ve h a d l o n g - te r m employees,” he said. “We just had an over-20 (year employee) who left because she was going to relocate. My next one down is 16 years and then it’s 14, 12, 10. We keep our employees because it’s just a good place to work.”

The Employers of Choice award makes it official.

“I think we do have a good company, but we’re very, very small,” Ratkovich said. “It’s nice to know that people think a lot of us here.”

B&R

From page 3


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

CEDAR FALLS — “Got a prob-lem? Tell a supervisor. They’ll take care of it.”

That appears to be the pre-vailing philosophy at CBE Cos., according to employees.

The result: The company came away with another Employers of Choice Award from The Courier.

Twenty-year employee Nick Michael discussed that respon-siveness in nominating his employer for the award.

“The company is so focused on doing the best it can for employ-ees, it conducts an employee engagement survey every six months to measure how satis-fied employees are,” Michael said. “If a concern is identified, management addresses it imme-diately and then communicates back to the organization what the corrective action was.”

It’s no surprise to find many employees with long tenures at CBE.

“Ive been here nearly 20 years and have co-workers who have been here much longer,” Michael said. “CBE must be doing some-thing right. The people are great, the benefits are great, even with the challenges related to ACA. Facilities are beauti-ful and, most importantly, the career opportunities are almost limitless.”

That is as it should be, said Tom Penaluna, CEO.

“As an employer, one of the most important things we can do is give them a vision and a focus on what we’re trying to do and make sure we can pro-vide all the tools they need to be successful and get out of their way and let them be success-ful,” Penaluna said. “So far, it has worked out well for us and them. We’re fortunate to have the quality of workers here in the Cedar Valley.”

CBE employee Dan Tovar said he liked the professionalism he found at the company.

“Since starting at CBE, I’ve worked with some of the best people in my entire career, from the management to the associ-ates,” he said. “This tells you a lot about the culture at CBE. I believe that CBE recognizes part of the foundation of its success is through the hard work and dedication of its talented work-force at all levels.”

The company encourages employee advancement as part

of a “succession plan” that will assure it continues on an upward trajectory.

Human resources employee Toni Babcock said she sees the company from a variety of per-spectives and meets an array of people, from applicants to new

hires to tenured employees.“I have had countless oppor-

tunities to learn and grow at CBE and appreciate the trust the leadership team has in me,” Babcock said. “We have encountered a large amount of change over the past 12-18

months as we have expanded our business, but it has only challenged us to think differ-ently and find new ways of doing old processes.”

CBE, which embraces Ste-phen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and instills its values in employees, make a genuine commitment to its workforce, said Stephanie Perry.

“I started at CBE for a job, and quickly it turned into my career,” Perry said. “This com-pany has invested time into me, both personally and profession-ally.”

Employees laud CBE’s responsivness


CBE trainer Nick Elliott, center, conducts a communication exercise in Cedar Falls.

CBE Cos. � Address: 1309 Technology

Parkway, Cedar Falls. � Phone: 234-6686. � Website: cbecompanies.com. � Number of employees: 882

locally. � What the company does:

CEO Tom Penaluna describes CBE Cos. as a “business process outsourcer” that helps clients with “back-office” challenges.

� How it stands out in its field: “Employees are recognized for a job well done in many different ways,” employee Jamie Swart said.

“I started at CBE for a

job, and quickly it

turned into my

career. This company

has invested time

into me, both

personally and

professionally.”

Stephanie Perry

THANK YOU TO OUR DEDICATED EMPLOYEES FOR YOURCOMMITMENT TO QUALITY, EXCELLENCE & CUSTOMER SATISFACTION

VIEW OUR OPEN POSITIONS & APPL ONLINE:

VIKINGPUMP.COM/JOBS


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

CEDAR FALLS — In January, the president of the United States dropped in on Cedar Falls Utili-ties to hold up the company as a national example for its efforts to build its broadband network.

Re cog n i t i o n ca m e f ro m Google and state officials as well.

The national attention was a morale booster, said Jim Krieg, general manager of the utility. It provides electricity, gas, water, cable TV and Internet service to its Cedar Falls customer base.

“There’s just a good feeling about that recognition,” Krieg said.

Employee Linda Mills, a 42-year veteran, agreed.

“Employees at CFU are

encouraged to be innovative, and this was evident with the visit from the president in Janu-ary,” she said.

Now, CFU is an Employer of Choice.

And that’s more personal, according to employees who nominated their company for the award.

“We hire and retain top-notch employees because of our reputation of being an employer of choice in the Cedar Valley,” Mills said. “It is a company where you can be recognized for your contributions and treated with respect.”

CFU emphasizes a culture of teamwork, community involve-ment and service, employees said.

“When the phone rings at CFU it gets answered. CFU employes recognize the fact they exist to serve the customer, a CFU shareholder, and provide the respect and quality cus-tomer service that is deserved,” employee Kent Halder said.

That attitude is directed inward, too, said Doug Seehase.

“CFU is the first company that I have worked for that truly

cares about the health and well-being of their employees in the Cedar Valley,” Seehase said.

Communication is central to that philosophy.

“At CFU, we are allowed to attend the quarterly meeting, when the CEO presents anni-versary milestones and awards,” Seehase said. “He also reviews upcoming projects and goals. We also have department meet-ings monthly to go over safety issues, wellness questions and equipment needs.”

The company also encourages professional development.

“I have taken online courses to further my education,” See-hase said. “They have also sent me to different work-related expos.”

Maintaining an open rela-tionship with employees is part of the culture CFU promotes,

Krieg said.“We are continually working

with employees and trying to make them better individuals and better employees for our organization,” he said. “We do an awful lot to recognize them for their achievements. We keep them up to date with what’s going on, and they appreciate knowing because they may be an employee in one area but don’t know what other depart-ments are doing. It’s giving them the big picture of where we’re going and why we’re going there.”

Ian Crowther-Green, who has been with CFU for 5 years, said he enjoys his work too much to consider it a “job.”

“They say you never work a day if you enjoy what you do; I haven’t worked a day in the past 5-1/2 years, then,” he said.

CFU employees tout culture, communication


Duistin Halter works at his desk at Cedar Falls Utilities. CFU’s company culture puts emphasis on customer satisfaction, employee enthusiasm and fiscal responsibility.

Cedar Falls Utilities � Address: 1 Utility Parkway,

Cedar Falls. � Phone: 266-1761. � Website: cfunet.net. � Number of employees: About

180 full time. � What the company does:

Public utility in Cedar Falls. � How it stands out in its field:

CFU says it stresses core values of employee and customer service.

“We hire and retain top-notch employees because of

our reputation of being an employer of choice in the

Cedar Valley. It is a company where you can be

recognized for your contributions and treated with

respect.”

Linda Mills CFU employee

7314 Chancellor Dr, Cedar Falls, IA 50613

(319) 266-1771 • http://krytonmetals.com/

For making us a Cedar Valley Employer of Choice.

THANK YOUTO OUR EMPLOYEES


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

WATERLOO — In building an organization committed to ser-vice to others, managers at Cedar Valley Hospice ensure that prom-ise extends to their employees, CEO Marvin Fagerlind said.

“In my mind, it’s not some-thing that you do one thing during the course of the year that makes the staff so happy; it’s the case of one recognizing your staff is the most important resource you have,” Fagerlind said, discussing CVH’s 2015 Employers of Choice Award.

It’s essential staff feel posi-tive about where they work and confident in what they’re doing.

“How it makes people we’re serving feel and staff feel is par-tially a responsibility of man-agement to make sure staff is as satisfied as can be and that staff are recognized for what they do, and we do that in a whole vari-ety of ways,” he said.

Central to Cedar Valley Hos-pice’s mission is the care of families in time of need, and that extends to employees.

“We recognize every day that our staff has families, and if they need time away to take care of a child, spouse or parent, we’re going to enable them to do that, and it doesn’t require a federal regulation,” Fagerlind said.

Employees say the approach works.

“I have worked for CVH since 2007 and have experienced and seen for others the benefits of working for an organization that values their employees

just as much as the people they serve,” employee Chris Olds said. “Whether it is providing adequate sick leave, generous vacation or understanding that employees want and need to put family first if at all possible, Cedar Valley Hospice is second to none.”

Employees are aware their employer has high standards of service, and they feel they play important roles in maintaining those ideals, Shannon Melcher said.

“Each of us at Cedar Valley Hospice feels strongly about serving our patients, clients and families with the best possible care,” Melcher said.

The day-to-day routine of service to clients also sensitizes employees to the needs of co-workers, Melcher said.

“We see firsthand the things that matter most in life every day serving people at such dif-ficult times, and management understands that support-ing our families and our per-

sonal lives helps us be the best employees,” Melcher said.

The organization’s Employee Engagement Committee has representatives from all depart-ments to address any concerns and field suggestions, Melcher said.

In an evolving health care field, the committee is more valuable than ever.

“With all of the health care changes, we are constantly striving to learn new things to keep Cedar Valley Hospice as the leader in hospice care in the Cedar Valley,” Melcher said. “We are all empowered through consistent management guid-ance to find improvement and

solutions that not only help the agency but also those we love to serve every day.”

K a t i e Un l a n d , a 7-yea r employee, praised CVH’s “sup-portive” and “flexible” attitude toward its staff.

“They truly care about their employees and allow them time to take care of family and personal needs that come up in life,” she said. “Cedar Valley Hospice is mission-driven and has a family-like culture that is great to be a part of.”

There are ample opportuni-ties for professional develop-ment.

“I have been given many opportunities to continue to learn in my career,” Unland said. “I have always appreciated their willingness to invest in me as an employee, and it makes me feel valued.”

Caring begins with staff at Cedar Valley Hospice


A morning staff meeting gets underway at Cedar Valley Hospice in Waterloo.

Cedar Valley Hospice � Address: 2101 Kimball Ave., Waterloo. � Phone: 272-2002. � Website: cvhospice.org. � Number of employees: 130. � What the company does: Multiservice agency that provides palliative and

hospice care to people and their families, along with grief support services and medical case management for people with HIV-AIDS.

� How it stands out in its field: The Eucalyptus Tree program addresses the grief needs of children and youth, and it is uncommon to find such a service among hospices, according to CEO Marvin Fagerlind.

“Each of us at Cedar

Valley Hospice feels

strongly about serving

our patients, clients and

families with the best

possible care.”

Shannon Melcher

BankIowa.com

Proud To Be AnEmployer of Choice!

Member FDIC

Cedar Falls Cedar Rapids IndependenceJesup Lamont Norway Waterloo


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

CEDAR FALLS — Winning The Courier’s Employers of Choice Award has become something of a habit at DISTek Integration Inc.

CEO Matt Dickinson was asked to speculate on how the company keeps pulling off the feat.

“I don’t know, because I stay out of it,” he joked.

What he does know is DISTek hires good people and lets them do their thing.

“Teamwork and respect for each other” are the keys, Dick-inson said.

There are other inducements, especially now that the com-pany has launched an employee stock ownership plan. As of

December 2014, employees own a portion of the company, Dick-inson said.

“The stated intention is to sell it to them over time,” he said.

ESOPs generally are consid-ered an effective inducement for employees, since, as partial owners, they have a stake in the organization’s success.

“They get a little bit of an ownership mentality,” Dickin-son said. “They can ask, ‘Is this cost-effective? Does this make sense?’ Just the overall big-picture kind of thing.”

But DIStek employees say they’ve been operating with that mentality anyway.

They like the company’s approach to its mission and its staff.

“I chose to work for DISTek specifically because the com-

pany’s value system matched so closely with mine — a caring, employee- and family-focused organization that encourages

continuous education and self-improvement,” said Bob Theisen, who nominated DIS-Tek for the Employers of Choice honor this year.

That means work schedules will bend to accommodate fam-ily matters and unanticipated turns.

“Flexible work schedules allow me to trade time for a kids ballgame without feeling guilty or neglectful,” Theisen said.

And there are numerous other perks.

“Requests for additional training or education are met with an approach of making it work for the employee. Regular public kudos in our company social network, along with tokens of appreciation and bonuses, keep employees well-recognized,” he said.

Wellness also is a priority. DISTek is a Blue Zones work-place with an active wellness program in place.

Others cited a positive culture at the company.

“DISTek’s core values of peo-ple, community, integrity and customer commitment are key to our business and a true cor-nerstone for the decisions and choices we make day to day,” said Kyle Ross.

T h e c o m p a n y m o v e s thoughtfully, with an ear for employee input.

“DISTek has a strong sense of common-sense roots, where we make sure all decisions are sound before committing fully to them,” he said. “Our work environment is the perfect bal-ance between challenging and fun.”

T h e c o m p a ny ’s c u l t u re seeps into all of its activities, and that’s a key to its success, employee Joe Fisher said.

“It’s a fun, low-stress place to get stuff done,” Fisher said, not-ing there were plenty of “great growth opportunities, super-flexible work schedules, lots of chances to learn new things.”

DISTek engineers another EOC award


Joe Fisher, left, and Mike Volz work on a project together at DISTek Integration in Cedar Falls.

DIStek Integration Inc.

� Address: 6612 Chancellor Drive, Suite 600, Cedar Falls.

� Phone: 859-3600. � Website: distek.com. � Number of employees: 98. � What the company does:

Provider of custom embedded software design services, modeling expertise and test systems to the off-road industry.

� How it stands out in its field: “People here get a little bit of an ownership mentality,” according to CEO Matt Dickinson.

“I chose to work for DISTek specifically because the

company’s value system matched so closely with

mine — a caring, employee- and family-focused

organization that encourages continuous education

and self-improvement.”

Bob Theisen

OUR PATIENTS ONLY

RECOMMEND

THE BEST… AND

SO DO OUR

EMPLOYEES

When it comes to choosing health care, we know you listen to familyand friends. That’s why we’re honored to be among the nation’s most

recommended hospitals.*

When it comes to choosing a health care organization to work in, ouremployees have nominated GCMH as a Cedar Valley Employer of

Choice for the fourth year in a row!

Thank you to our patients and to our employees.We’re honored by the trust you place in us.

*GCMH patient surveys from the past year show the hospital is in the Top 5% in the nation for patients’ willingness to recommend our health care

services. The hospital is also a nine-time winner of Patient Satisfaction awards from Press Ganey, a health care consulting irm.


EMILY EPPENS

[email protected]

GRUNDY CENTER — Staff at Grundy County Memorial Hos-pital say they see more than a employer-employee relation-ship in play where their jobs are concerned.

Employees say they are proud to be associated with the Grundy Center hospital, which was established in 1952.

One reason, they say, is they feel appreciated.

“GCMH is a great place to work,” said Jody Schipper, an employee who nominated the hospital as one of The Courier’s Employers of Choice. “Lead-ership is always active and involved. They care about your work/life balance and ensure that you meet your personal and family responsibilities as well as your workplace responsibilities.”

Schipper noted CEO Jennifer Havens knows every employee by name, not a small feat for an organization of 220 people.

Beyond the active leadership, GCMH provides employees with opportunities for growth and welcomes new employees with open arms. Ally Kwikkel, a fairly new graduate, said the hospital staff not only fully welcomed her into the specialty clinic but let her help in the surgery depart-

ment as well, so she could con-tinue to grow as a nurse.

“ T h ey a lways h ave t h e patient’s best interest in mind, which helps employees do a great job,” Kwikkel said.

In order to keep workers well informed, a weekly newsletter goes out to communicate hap-penings throughout the hospital. Quarterly associate meetings also take place, often with a guest speaker. Management works the front lines to ensure clear and easy access to the employees.

“We would not be where we’re at today without the employees that work here,” Havens said. “We value every role and the work they do in the hospital.”

The hospital is actively involved with the community, participating in health and well-ness events such as Relay for Life, health education programs with the YMCA and similar ven-ues and local fairs.

Havens said the fact the orga-nization is in a small community makes every patient seem like family.

“The fact that we are small allows us to really know each other, not only on a first-name basis, but we know each others’ families and what is going on in the others’ life. The relation-ships I have formed here are very special to me.”

Grundy County Memorial Hospital workers close-knit


Ashley Junker, left, and her 5-year-old daughter, Sophia, with Dr. David Hagedorn; Teri Phelps, RN; and Shelly Johnson in the Grundy County Memorial Hospital emergency room in Grundy Center.

Grundy County Memorial Hospital � Address: 201 E. J Avenue, Grundy Center. � Phone: 824-5421. � Website: www.unitypoint.org/grundycounty. � Number of employees: Around 220. � What the company does: Provides genuine caring healthcare to its

patients in a family-felt atmosphere. � How it stands out in its field: The employees at GCMH really care about

the patients’ well-being. “The small community makes the care even more genuine,” said Jennifer Havens, president of the hospital. “It’s like a bug fam-ily here.”

...to our dedicated staff

who make CBE an

Employer of Choicein the Cedar Valley!

Find Your New Career atCBE and Apply OnlineToday at CBEjobs.com

EOE AAM/F/Vet/Disability. Background checks and drug testing required. Credit checks not conducted for entry-level positions.


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

WATERLOO — Hogan-Hansen is in growth mode, having recently added its eighth office, in Mason City.

Employees, however, say the 91-year-old accounting and consulting firm based in Water-loo never has lost touch with its small-business roots.

That appeals to Ben Schradle, who works in Hogan-Hansen’s Traer office.

“My favorite thing about Hogan-Hansen is that while we are a bigger firm and continuing to grow, they maintain a small-business feel,” Schradle said. “Management is approachable, and they are flexible regarding family and other personal events.”

Schradle noted the firm’s man-agers seek employee input on how to further improve working

conditions.“Management cares about

what the employees think and encourages feedback on how they can improve the company as a whole and the workplace envi-ronment,” Schradle said.

Others agreed.“They have a great atmosphere

— friendly and fun co-workers and partners — and they treat you

like family,” said Danielle Coulter. “They always do things for their employees to show apprecia-tion, and they always keep a high morale in the office.”

The reason is simple, said Steve

Duggan, CEO and one of five principals with the firm.

“As owners, we operate the firm as a place that we’d want to work at if we weren’t already the owners,” Duggan said. “We structure our firm to provide a level of service our staff can be proud of in an environment that supports them — and we like to have some fun along the way.”

Duggan cited a commitment to flexibility for employees as an example.

“We try and have flexible work arrangements for folks,” he said. “I remember when I had little kids — if they’re sick, you want to have flexibility to take time off and not have to use paid time off. We’re always thinking about those situations, how that impacted us as owners and how it impacts staff and their day-to-day life.”

Sue Becker said that’s one rea-son she has worked for the com-pany for more than 30 years.

“During that time, my hus-band and I raised two children,” Becker said. “I was allowed the flexibility to take time off and/or work flexible hours as needed to take them to appointments, give them a ride to school and back, as well as take time off when they were not feeling well.”

Through its growth, the com-pany has not forgotten its roots.

“The firm provides several

company functions throughout the year to enable employees from all locations to get together so that we can get to know each other,” Becker said, listing a golf outings, baseball games, com-pany picnics, lake cruises and Christmas parties.

“They are very easy to talk to and are always open to sugges-tions to make changes for the better of all,” Bekcer said. “They are very appreciative and make employees feel important.”

Newcomers have noticed, said Nick Aarsen, who recently started with the company.

“As a relatively new employee, my experience has been excellent during my time with Hogan-Hansen,” he said. “They take the time to go the extra mile for their clients to make sure that they are doing the best job possible. Whether it is a simple tax return or a large, complex audit, Hogan-Hansen strives for perfection. They are also a very family-ori-ented firm, which is especially nice for those employees who are trying to maintain a balanced home-work life.”

Another “fairly new employee,” Jolene Leerar, agreed.

“Like any other job, we all have our own responsibilities, but there are times when every-one has to work as a team to meet deadlines, and the team adhesion is very strong,” Leerar said. “The management team is also acces-sible and approachable. Hogan-Hansen has been supportive of family and is flexible when we have family issues.”

Hogan-Hansen holds onto values through growth


CPA Sydney Maas at work at Hogan-Hansen PC. Photographed Monday, July 27, 2015, in Waterloo, Iowa.

Hogan-Hansen � Address: 3128 Brockway Road,

Waterloo. � Phone: 233-5225. � Website: hoganhansen.com. � Number of employees: 72. � What the company does:

Accounting/consulting firm. � How it stands out in its field:

“As owners, we operate the firm as a place that we’d want to work at if we weren’t already the owners,” CEO Steve Duggan said.

“Like any other job, we all

have our own

responsibilities, but there

are times when everyone

has to work as a team to

meet deadlines, and the

team adhesion is very

strong.”

Jolene Leerar


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

CEDAR FALLS — Several years ago, Kevin Harberts set about trying to change things for the better at the company he founded in 1981.

In 2011, Harberts changed the company’s identity from Iowa Metal Spinners Inc. to Kryton Engineered Metals. The new name combined two Greek words — kratos, which means metal, and tryton, which refers to strength, said Harberts, who launched the company just out of high school with Max Jordan and Tony Hildman.

But for Harberts, who had bought out his founding partners in the 1990s, the change in moni-ker was just on the surface. It was just one way he wanted to rethink the company.

“It’s probably been six years ago now I decided we needed to change the culture here,” he said. “I just felt to stay relevant and grow the company we needed to change the culture from what it was.”

Harberts said the firm’s evolu-tion remains a work in progress, but he has one important indica-tion the company is on the right track: Kryton has won a 2015 Employers of Choice Award from The Courier.

One of Harberts’ goals was to open up communication with employees and let them know they were a key component in the firm’s renaissance.

The award indicates it’s on the right track.

“They spend a lot of time here, and I wanted them to know I care about them and I’d do what I could to take care of them as long as they’re part of Kryton,” Harberts said. “That has helped with our culture shift. We went from a group of people that lived paycheck to paycheck to more of a group of people that are in this together. ... It’s been outstand-ing, but it surely didn’t happen overnight.”

The changes began at the top.“I feel we hire very intelligent

people, and they can see through

if you’re feeding them a line of stuff that’s not true. You have to be open. That’s sometimes hard, but the more honest and open you can be, the better it is,” hes-aid.

The company’s workforce of around 80 workers has responded.

“From me to the janitor, every-body knows what the heck we’re (trying to accomplish) every day. They’re all in; they’re vested.”

Employee Jose Luna, who n o m i n a te d K r y to n a s a n Employer of Choice, said the environment is conducive to growth, both for workers and the company.

“The moment you walk in that building, you can feel the positive energy and the warmth of the team members,” he said. “That feeling is hard to describe in words and could only be expe-rienced at Kryton.”

Professional and personal wellness opportunities abound at the company.

“This company offers oppor-tunities to all team members and is always finding ways to keep the employee happy,” Luna said. The company offers a gym for employees and their families and other activities throughout the year.

Employee Jason Mathern, who has been with the company just a few weeks, noticed a positive vibe right away.

“I’m new, but I can tell you the environment here is amaz-ing,” he said. “I’ve never worked at a place that genuinely cares for the employees like Kryton. Everyone here seems to view

success in terms of fulfillment and gratification, not just money. Our executive team believes and manages exactly this way: faith, family, work.”

Mike Zehentner agreed.“Kryton Engineered Met-

als truly operates with the core beliefs of God, family and then

company,” Zehentner said.He noted the company has

a “Kryton Kares” fund that h e l ps f i n a n c i a l ly s u p p o r t employees and their fami-lies during tough times. He pointed to a twice-a-week on-site fitness class.

“Kryton is one team, with transparent goals from our owner on down through our executive team to the rest of our company, where people are rewarded for a job well done and promoted for excelling at their jobs,” Zehent-ner said.

Reinvention leads Kryton to award-winning performance


Rob Smith sets up the robot attachment of a CNC spinning lathe to move parts on and off the lathe at Kryton Engineered Metals in Cedar Falls.

B&R Quality Meats � Address: 7314 Chancellor

Drive, Cedar Falls. � Phone: 266-1771. � Website: krytonmetals.com. � Number of employees: 75. � What the company does: The

company manufactures spun metal component and fabrication parts.

� How it stands out in its field: “Kryton Engineered Metals main-tains the most recent technology and a staff of specialists who can help un-clutter your work flow and manufacturing processes,” CEO Kevin Harberts said.

“Kryton Engineered

Metals truly operates

with the core beliefs of

God, family and then

company.”

Mike Zehentner

to our employees for making HGS

an outstanding place to work.

www.teamhgs.com 319-236-3483

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F/D/V | HGS IS A DRUG-FREE WORK ENVIRONMENT.EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER M/F/D/V | HGS IS A DRUG-FREE ENVIRONMENT.


JIM OFFNER

[email protected]

CEDAR FALLS — In a 75th anni-versary year full of celebrations, Martin Bros. Distributing has one more reason to cheer: The Cedar Falls-based food service dis-tributor is one of The Courier’s Employers of Choice for 2015.

“We are very happy to be selected as a preferred employer by the people who make it happen every day,” said Brooks Martin, CEO and grandson of Roy Mar-tin, who founded the company in 1940 as Martin Bros. Paper Co. in his parents’ garage in Cedar Falls.

Today, Brooks Martin and his brother, Jeff, run the family-owned company the same way

their grandfather did, Brooks Martin said.

The business is one of the Mid-west’s largest food service dis-tributors, with more expansion underway. It has its own logistics branch and even a thriving retail store on Viking Road in the Cedar Falls Industrial Park, adjacent to a massive warehouse facility, located at 6623 Chancellor Drive.

“As a company, we have adopted this golden rule: Treat people how you want to be treated,” Brooks Martin said.

There is no bureaucracy at the company, and all employee sug-gestions are heard, Martin noted.

“Oftentimes our greatest breakthroughs come from the people doing the work,” he said.

“This mindset allows us to antic-ipate market changes and adjust to them, maintaining our status as a leader in the industry.”

Workers have a stake in the company’s fortunes since it has an employee stock ownership

plan. The ESOP contributes to the company’s success.

“Half of our company is owned by the employees, and we are vigilant in making sure everyone is treated like an owner with a stake in its success,” Martin said. “Even after 75 years, our com-pany’s founding belief system is applied: If your employees are happy, the customers will be happy. Everybody wins.”

It’s a family-oriented philosophy, and it works, said Gina Mether, who nominated Martin Bros. for the Employers of Choice honor.

“Martin Bros. is family-owned, and they believe in family first; I have never had any issues when it comes to that,” Mether said. “They are always understanding. They are very good with recog-nizing employees for a job well done. This is an absolute won-derful company to work for.”

John Mapes said he worked for another food service company for 16 years before arriving at Martin Bros. five years ago. He said the contrast is notable.

“I am no longer just a number in a corporate file,” Mapes said. “Brooks and Jeff Martin personally come to meetings and shows and thank their employees and cus-tomers for making our company so successful. I am truly thankful to have the opportunity to work here.”

Longtime employees hold a special reverence among owners, said Doug Coen.

“Enter the front door of the

marketing center and you will see a wall mounting of employ-ees with 25 years at Martin Bros.,” Coen said, noting there are 42 names on the wall.

That the list is so lengthy is no accident.

“That longevity speaks to the work and personal atmosphere here,” Coen said. “Generous benefits and a 401(k) are com-mon, but an ESOP that makes an everyday employee a stock-holder is not. Work 35 years at Martin Bros. and your retire-ment account will be substan-tial.”

“As we approach $500 million in annual sales, I could not have asked for a better place to spend 40 years of my life,” he said.

Martin Bros. celebrates 75 years

COURTESY PHOTO

Warehouse employees go through their daily routine at Martin Bros. Distributing in Cedar Falls.

Martin Bros.

Distributing � Address: 6623 Chancellor

Drive, Cedar Falls. � Phone: 266-1775. � Website: martinsnet.com. � Number of employees: About

300 locally. � What the company does:

Foodservice distributor for restau-rants, schools, nursing care facili-ties and other institutions in Iowa and six other Midwestern states.

� How it stands out in its field: “Martin Bros. is a third-generation family-owned company, and they treat employees like they are fam-ily,” employee Christine Link said.Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare is a strong, diverse,

and inclusive health care provider that strives to be

the health care provider of choice and the preferred

partner for associates and physicians.

Join us!Visit

www.WheatonIowa.org/Employment

for open positions.

Covenant Clinic

Covenant Medical Center

Mercy Hospital

Sartori Memorial Hospital


EMILY EPPENS

[email protected]

WATERLOO — In a world of “just get it done,” Peters Construction’s philosophy is “just get it done, safely.”

Peters Construction in Water-loo strives to make employees its No. 1 priority in and out of the workplace. Forty-four percent of approximately 60 employees have been with the company for more than 10 years.

“Construction can be a haz-ardous occupation. It’s very important to us to take care of our people and send them home safe,” said David Peters, CEO of Peters Construction. “We work long hours sometimes, but family is important. When a son or daugh-ter has a sports game or a concert, I expect them to be there.”

Communication is key in the construction business. Peters Construction superintendents

receive weekly progress reports. Bi-weekly field operation meet-ings are held to inform employees about upcoming projects and to hear employee input. Monthly meetings are held for safety train-ing and concerns.

In addition to a flexible sched-ule, Peters Construction sup-ports employees continuing their education. Through partnerships with Hawkeye Community Col-lege and Master Builders of Iowa, Peters lets employees take con-struction-related classes and pays the costs. Some programs last up to three or four years.

“When I was in college, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do because I didn’t see myself in construc-tion,” said Nathan Peters, David Peter’s son. “I took an internship as an accountant at Peters [Con-struction] and I enjoyed it. After I graduated, I took an accounting job with the company.”

David Peters stresses the

idea of family in the workplace; skilled employees often teach newer employees the trade. To insure the employees know their efforts are appreciated, recognition is given to long-

time employees and employees who stress safety procedures. Peters often sends personal let-ters to employees who have gone beyond their duties.

“It really is a family here, many

employees know my family,” said Debbi Allender, a 15-year employee. “We have regular company functions where family or guests are welcome.”

Peters Construction provides commitment, dedication

MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor

Brian Lageschulte, left, construction superintendent, and Nick Hellman, project manager at Peters Construction, on the site of the NewAldaya Lifescapes Memory Care House in Cedar Falls.

Peters Construction Corp.

� Address: 901 Black Hawk Road, Waterloo.

� Phone: 236-2003. � Website: www.petersconstruc-

tion.com. � Number of employees: Around 60. � What the company does: A

commercial and industrial contrac-tor, the company often works on area colleges, schools and hospitals.

� How it stands out in its field: “Long hours and hard work are a part of construction. Peters understands time off for vacations, and family matters. Conferences keep employ-ees fresh,” said Mark Kennedy, a Peters Construction employee.

To make a difference in the lives of Iowa’s senior population – visit our Careers page and complete our online application.

• Full & Part-time Positions

• Sign On Bonus Offered at Select Locations

• Advancement Opportunities

• BSN Tuition Reimbursement

• Nurse Aide Membership Beneits for CNAs

• Anniversary Bonus Program

• Cell Phone Services Discount

EOE/AAP Veterans & Disabled Not For Proit

LaPorte City NRC

(319) 342-2125

[email protected]

NorthCrest Specialty Care

(319) 234-4423

[email protected]

Ravenwood NRC

(319) 232-6808

[email protected]

Windsor NRC

(319) 268-0489

[email protected]

Care Initiatives Hospice

(319) 232-6148

[email protected]

Care Initiatives offers Great Places to Work in the Cedar Valley!

• RN Liaison

• Nurse Aide Instructor

• Hospice RN Case Mgr

• Assistant Director of Nursing

RN opportunities


EMILY EPPENS

[email protected]

WATERLOO — If you are tired of the day-to-day routine, Power Engineering and Manufacturing Ltd. may be right for you, employees say.

Every day on the job involves new chal-lenges, said John Warren, PEM president. The company creates gearboxes to assist in the oil, steel leveling and mining indus-tries. Because each request for a gearbox is unique, every gearbox is custom-made by the PEM employees.

“It’s not the same thing all the time. It’s constantly changing,” Warren said. “There’s something new and interesting to do every day. I view it as my playground; I love coming to work.”

Besides the promise of new challenges, all full-time employees receive generous health and dental insurance benefits. Regu-lar paid bonuses, a free lunch the first Tues-day of the month and free Cattle Congress tickets also all ways PEM shows apprecia-

tion to the employees.“Employees are provided with regular

positive and individual and group feed-back to commend and inspire us,” said Vicki Koepke, employee. She also said PEM offers professional development and cross train-ing opportunities to the employees who wish to further their skills.

All PEM managers have been promoted

from inside the company, offering employ-ees the opportunity to move up. Manage-ment better understands employees’ needs on a personal level. Family is of high impor-tance, and scheduling flexibility is given.

“The company has undergone a huge

transformation in the last few years,” War-ren said. “The schedule is made by a com-puter program — it schedules products to all get done at the same time, which is more efficient for the company and the employee. Products used to be scattered projects, now we get more done than we ever did before.”

A summer outing, yearly Christmas party, milestone dinners and a yearly golf outing and chili cook-off are all events the employees eagerly look forward to.

PEM strives to be active in educating the community about the manufacturing industry. Company personnel are encour-aged to help in community festivals such as My Waterloo Days and Cattle Congress. PEM sponsors softball teams and donates money to local sporting events and booster clubs.

“PEM puts forth noticeable effort to make sure their employees feel appreci-ated,” employee Dennis Schilling said. “Why do I love my job and this company? Because my company loves me.”

Power Engineering welcomes daily challenges

TIFFANY RUSHING / Courier Staff Photographer

Ryan Ginn with Power Engineering and Manufacturing prepares a gearbox for painting in Waterloo.

Power Engineering and Manufacturing Ltd.

� Address: 2635 WCF&N Drive, Waterloo. � Phone: 232-2311. � Website: www.pemltd.com. � Number of employees: About 85. � What the company does: Designs and

manufactures custom made gearboxes for industrial purposes. Often used in the oil, mining and steel leveling industries.

� How it stands out in its field: “This is not a routine job, it’s not the same thing over and over again. Every day is custom and unique.” said John Warren, PEM president. Free dental and health insurance are also offered to full-time employees.

Our vision at

Western Home

Communities:

www.WesternHomeCommunities.org

Our mission is to create fulilling lifestyles for

those we serve, their families and our employees.

The Employer of Choice honor belongs to all

those who live that mission every day, creating a

culture that has propelled us forward for 102 years.

life fulilled.


EMILY EPPENS

[email protected]

WATERLOO — Leaders at Uni-tyPoint-Allen Hospital say they always have ranked the health care facility’s employees among its most important assets.

The Waterloo hospital was ranked in the top 100 commu-nity hospitals in Becker’s Hos-pital Review and in the top 50 cardiovascular hospitals by Car-diovascular Truven Analytics.

“We want the best outcome for the patients every time, and the employees really buy into that mindset,” said Pam Dela-gardelle, the hospital’s CEO. “We engage employees in improving health in the communities that we serve. If we don’t provide a great place for them to work, we can’t expect them to provide quality work.”

Allen provides a unique cul-ture that fosters employees’ pro-fessional development, workers there say. Employees who want to further their education can

attend Allen College for as little as $550 for a bachelor’s degree.

“There aren’t many jobs where you hear individuals say they love waking up every morning just to go to work. ... At Unity-Point Health, it’s always a great day to be at work,” said Angie Fuller, marketing manager.

Workers are rewarded through employee recognition events and luncheons at the hospital. Every month an employee forum is held to keep staff informed and for an understanding of what employees and the workplace environment needs.

Once or twice a month,

employees are invited to sit down one-on-one with Dela-gardelle in an event known as “Pizza with Pam.” During these lunches, employees can express ideas and concerns to benefit the organization.

“We are more than a building that takes care of sick people,” said Steven Cusher, employee. “We are a family that takes care of each other along with our community.”

Delagardelle said there are employees who have worked for the company for more than 45 years.

Allen Hospital gives back to

the community by providing charity care to people who can’t afford treatment. It provides services and finances to Cedar Valley United Way, American Heart Association, the local food bank and the American Cancer Society.

“Employees recognize the work they do is rewarding and every action has the oppor-tunity to make a difference,” Delagardelle said. “There’s a lot of longevity here, and you don’t get to see that at every organiza-tion.”

Allen Hospital ranks high nationally


Employees at Allen Hospital attend a recognition luncheon July 28 in Waterloo.

UnityPoint-Allen Hospital � Address: 1825 Logan Avenue, Waterloo. � Phone: 235-3180. � Website: http://www.unitypoint.org/waterloo. � Number of employees: 2090. � What the company does: Medicine. � How it stands out in its field: Allen Hospital employees “live out their mis-

sion of ‘the best outcome, every patient, every time,’ which is only achievable by having the best employees who truly demonstrate the values of a caring organization,” said Tom Eachus, employee. AWork Family

FOR THE HARDEST FIGHTOFMY LIFE

“You never know how strong you are until strong isyour only option. When I was diagnosed with stage2 breast cancer my Amperage family helped methrough the hardest time of my life. They kept megoing, and helped me to keep looking forward nomatter how sick I felt.

“Their support made me feel like I was still acrucial part of the team, even when I was goingthrough treatment.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to workwhen I was experiencing the hardest ight of my life.”

Tiini Kieler,Amperage Design Manager

Amperage is honored to be awarded one of the Employers of Choicein the Cedar Valley. But we aremore proud of our employees and

what theymean to the agency and each other.

August 2010

AmperageMarketing.com


EMILY EPPENS

[email protected]

WATERLOO — Western Home Communities is a flourishing home environment that brings a new meaning to retirement — and employment, according to workers who nominated it as an Employer of Choice.

Founded in 1906, Western Homes offers a range of living options for its residents, from independent living to full-time assisted living.

Employees who work at the organization said the job answers a yearning to serve others.

“Western Home Communi-ties is a very family-oriented place to work,” said Cindy Wiles, one of numerous workers who nominated the organiza-tion as an Employer of Choice. “The years of experience and

the stories that go back decades are very rewarding.”

Western Home opened Iowa’s first “small house” nurs-ing homes June 1. The cottages operate on a household model with as much independence as an occupant needs, with 16 or fewer residents in each cottage.

“It’s a family-open atmo-sphere,” said Kris Hanson, president of Western Home. “It’s amazing how a home environment can help people get better.”

Employees are encouraged to get to know the residents and get involved with their lives both on and off the clock.

“If our people are only here for a paycheck, I just as soon we separate now,” Hanson said. “We want (employees) to open themselves to love and to be loved and have interaction and participate

in (residents’) lives and them in yours. We are very fortu-nate to have employees that embrace that.”

The paid-time-off program allows employees flexibility when their personal schedules get busy. Hansen said it is par-ticularly handy for employees around the holiday season.

“The freedom and inclusion given to the residents is not typical in a nursing home set-ting,” said Matt Garcia, who works at Western Home. “It’s why I love working at Western Home.”

Western Home is involved in the community, providing lead-ership for nonprofit organiza-tions and helping with events at the University of Northern Iowa and Hawkeye Community Col-lege.

“It takes us all to make it the best,” Hanson said. “We

try our best to empower all of the different settings in the organization, people take care of other people so we can let our residents have the best days and outcomes they can have.”

Western Home is a family-oriented organization


Western Home Communities employees Carolyn Martin, left, and Lizzie Jones with Gail Tansey in Cedar Falls.

Western Home Communities

� Address: 420 E 11th St, Cedar Falls.

� Phone: 277-2141. � Website: www.westernhome-

communities.org. � Number of employees: About

750. � What the company does:

Provides long-term care. � How it stands out in its

field: Western Homes recently opened Iowa’s first “small house” nursing homes. “[It’s] putting the home back in nursing home,” said Linda Bowman, employee.

it’s about living

because By choosing

Cedar Valley Hospice,

you can be surrounded

by loved ones and

supported by experts.

We are honored to be an

Employer of Choice

as well as your community

hospice since 1979.

319.272.2002 :: cvhospice.org :: 800.617.1972

waterloo . independence . grundy center . waverly . hospice home

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