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May/June 2017 – BizVoice/Indiana Chamber
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company for five years, conveys this sentiment: “There’s a real focus
on us taking care of ourselves.”
Praise and parties
Karl Ahlrichs comically peers in a window before entering the
conference room.
His arrival elicits chuckles from the group.
After introducing himself, Ahlrichs adjusts his chair to a higher
setting and quips, “I’m going to become more important.”
Ahlrichs, senior consultant of employee benefits, instantly
responds when asked what employees love about working at G&A.
“Values alignment,” he declares. “It’s assumed everybody is smart.
It’s assumed everybody can do their jobs. But (regarding) the issue of,
‘Are we working for the same purpose?’ It would be customer service.
It would be solving complex problems. If insurance was simple, then
simple people could do it. But it’s not simple.
“The other thing I get from the evaluations is ethics and integrity.
It’s so refreshing to work somewhere where it’s easy to make a
decision because you just do the right thing. You do the right thing for
the customer.”
The company also “does the right thing” for its workforce. Perks
range from an annual Employee Appreciation Day and holiday party to
profit sharing and quarterly massages.
“We’ve had people leave and come back. It’s like, ‘Oh my gosh!
You won’t believe what it’s like over there! They don’t have
massages,’ ” Ahlrichs recounts in mock horror.
Account Manager Jenny Poehler relishes summer hours.
“We leave early, which is nice, but we’re still going to get our
work done,” she stresses. “I’m not going to leave my desk with a pile
of work and say, ‘To heck with it. I’m off early.’ Nobody does that.
(The policy) encourages the culture, the family. You’re going to do
the right thing.”
Poehler also enjoys serving on the planning committee for the
annual holiday party, an off-site event with a different theme each
year.
“As soon as we’re done, I’m so excited to plan it again. It’s so
much fun!” she remarks.
Lakisa Skinner, commercial service associate, seconds that.
“Last year, we had a magic show. The magician was awesome,”
she marvels. “People raved about him. He walked around doing all
kinds of tricks and had people in awe throughout the night.”
Smiling, director of marketing Erika Cuadrado cites “another nice
touch. You go to your table and you’re greeted not only by this
beautiful setting, but a nice holiday bonus too.”
The theme is confidential until guests arrive. So are the seating
arrangements.
“I appreciate that,” Morris asserts. “It gets you out of your
cliques. We’re spread out over two floors (at G&A). Chances are,
there is somebody here you don’t know very well, so that’s a great
opportunity for that.”
Through peer nomination, each planning committee member
received a GREAT award. Accolades include having their photo taken
and displayed on a television in the office lobby, a $50 gift card and a
traveling trophy.
“It was awesome because everyone in the office recognized the
hard work we put in to do this,” Skinner notes, clearly touched. “We
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