6.21.21 SB_K

For profiles of all of the companies featured in this section, go to stltoday.com/business/workplaces

TOP WORKPLACES 2021

June 20, 2021 PHOTO BY LAURIE SKRIVAN, POST-DISPATCH

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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proud to be a

2021 TOP WORKPLACE

Thank you to our teammates – you are the reason we are a Top Workplace. Your great work, exceptional client service and outstanding professionalism create a Team Daugherty culture worth celebrating.

www.daugherty.com stltoday.com

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

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BR A N D AV E. ST U DIOS CON T EN T

Alike in vision and philosophy, Mueller Prost joins Wipfli accounting firm Sponsored content provided by Mueller Prost

In 1983, Doug Mueller and Michael Prost founded an accounting and consulting firm in St. Louis, focused on their vision of bringing midsized entrepreneurs and business owners the solutions often reserved for Fortune 500 companies. They were committed to doing this while maintaining a healthy work-life balance for their associates.

In 1930, Clarence J. Wipfli founded an accounting firm in Wisconsin based on the values of excellence, teamwork, perseverance and integrity.

That commitment to strong relationships with clients and associates led Mueller Prost to join Wipfli effective June 1.

Mueller Prost’s 200+ associates will boost Wipfli’s total to over 2,900, providing accounting and consulting services to more than 88,000 clients across the U.S. “We both value providing innovative services to clients in a culture where associates are respected and diverse thinking is encouraged,” Doug said. “It was a natural fit.”

Kurt Gresens, managing partner at Wipfli, said Mueller Prost and Wipfli are uncannily alike in vision and philosophy. “While it was their entrepreneurial spirit that brought us together, our strong industry and services synergies and longstanding cultural connections between our teams will allow us, together, to bring even more value to the clients we serve and enhance our growth.”

Mueller Prost associates will have access to even more career growth opportunities in Wipfli’s

specialized capabilities in technology, digital transformation, business intelligence, cybersecurity and software solutions.

Wipfli’s culture is steeped in values focused on their associates: • EMPOWER: We give our people the opportunities and resources to find, follow and grow to achieve their dream career.

• CONNECTED: We value everyone’s individual strengths, and we cultivate a culture where relationships thrive.

• IMPACT: Our passion for excellence drives us to achieve results for our clients through our expertise, experience and teamwork.

• TRANSPARENCY: We welcome candor so all voices and perspectives come together to solve problems and serve clients.

• FLEXIBILITY: We give people the freedom to shift their career paths and achieve worklife balance, which creates happier and more productive teams.

Both Doug and Michael held true to their vision of success, as did Wipfli.

“We’re proud of the culture we’ve built here,” said Doug. “We’re excited to continue to deepen our commitment to our associates by joining with Wipfli.”

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.

Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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PA Home to consultants

Wipfli + Mueller Prost: Together, making a lasting, positive impact muellerprost.com/careers stltoday.com

Mueller Prost

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

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How Top Workplaces are identified A

BY BOB HELBIG | ENERGAGE

s employers take extraordinary steps to meet the needs of workers and customers during the pandemic, the Top Workplaces awards are recognizing those efforts.

Survey feedback from employees is the sole basis for determining Top Workplaces. And that feedback serves as the ultimate test of how employers are responding in the age of COVID. “If COVID taught us anything, it’s that asking questions and listening to employees is critical to navigating this new world of work,” said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. “More than ever, you need to be more intentional about your culture.”

This marks the 10th year the Post-Dispatch has partnered with Philadelphia-based Energage to rank the Top Workplaces in the St. Louis metro area. The foundation of the program is a scientific survey of employees who rate their workplace culture. The feedback also gives companies insights about what makes them unique.

Surveying began in January, when the Post-Dispatch started running news articles and promotions to welcome nominations for Top Workplaces consideration. In all, 1,660 employers in the region were invited to have their employees take the survey.

Any organization was eligible to participate, provided it had at least 50 employees in the region.

Employers could be public, private, nonprofit or governmental.

There is no cost to enter the Top Workplaces program.

Combined, the companies surveyed for the 2021 program employed 50,426 people in Greater St. Louis. Of employees who

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received questionnaires, 31,515 responded, either on paper or online. For 2021, 151 employers earned recognition as Top Workplaces.

The employee engagement survey of 24 questions gathers responses regarding issues relating to workplace culture: n Alignment — where the company is headed, its values, cooperation, effective meetings n Coaching — managers care about concerns, are helpful, encourage employee development n Connection — employees feel appreciated, work is meaningful, working at full potential, feel informed n Engagement — productivity, retention, recruiting n Leadership — confidence in company leaders n Performance — execution, open-mindedness, innovation, clued-in leadership n The Basics — pay, benefits, work/life flexibility, training, expectations Employers that score high enough are recognized as Top Workplaces. Employers are ranked within size groups to accurately compare results. Energage also determines special award winners based on standout scores on specific survey topics.

Wonder why a particular company was not on the list? Perhaps it chose not to participate, or it did not score well enough in the survey. Energage sometimes disqualifies employers based on questionable results detected through statistical tests it runs to ensure organizations are accurately administering the survey.

To nominate an organization for the 2022 program, go to stltoday.com/nominate.

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

Workplace satisfaction The importance value shows how strongly each statement correlates with how employees in the St. Louis region rate their workplaces. The closer the value is to 100%, the more important the statement is.

I believe this company is going in the right direction 76.81%

This company enables me to work at my full potential 72.59%

I feel genuinely appreciated at this company 71.53%

My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful 71.46%

I have confidence in the leader of this company 69.07%

Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company 68.39%

This company operates by strong values 68.32%

This company encourages different points of view 67.85%

At this company, we do things efficiently and well 64.1%

My manager cares about my concerns 62.88%

New ideas are encouraged at this company 61.68%

Meetings at this company make good use of my time 61.32%

I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company 60.17%

I get the formal training I want for my career 59.79%

My manager helps me learn and grow 59.72%

This job has met or exceeded the expectations I had when I started 59.37%

There is good interdepartmental cooperation at this company 58.95%

My manager makes it easier to do my job well 57.55%

I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life 50.68%

My pay is fair for the work I do 49.82%

My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry 33.92%

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CAREERS

Thank you to our employees for making us a

“People are everything. Customer satisfaction becomes easy when employees are happy,” said Bruce Gibbs, founder and president of GFI Digital. To achieve this, a multi-faceted approach to employee satisfaction throughout the IT company is key.

VP of marketing, Chrissy Roofe, says the phrase “People driven.

Technology focused.” is the foundation of the company’s culture when it comes to customers and employees alike. Multiple programs to help employees stay happy and engaged have been developed over the office technology company’s 22 years. “Some are focused around wellness and individual well-being and others are team driven with a focus on building relationships within departments and inter-departmentally.”

Accentuate Strengths Accentuating each employee’s strengths is a focus here, instead of assessing and overcoming weaknesses. Every employee’s top five strengths are published along with a photo and personal bio in the company’s digital employee directory. “I can refer to it anytime and find anyone in the company’s strengths. That helps me know how to best communicate with them. It also helps our teams learn about each other and how to work together.”

Roofe said.

G-FIT GFI Digital recently developed an app-based fitness motivation program, aptly named G-FIT. Employees can track workout hours and earn rewards, even an Apple Watch or Fitbit, by being on active teams and individually. Enrollees collectively reached the milestone of 5,000 hours of working out and received a workout tee as a bonus reward.

Career Advancement “In my over five years with GFI Digital, I have yet to meet someone who isn’t happy here,” said Roofe. Roofe said there is an emphasis on recruiting the best IT professionals and helping those who want to move up the career ladder. There are career paths set up in each department so employees who are driven have a potential opportunity to advance. Leadership development is also available to potential leaders as they are identified. “You can start & grow your career in IT with GFI Digital and really make your career what you want it to be.”

PEOPLE DRIVEN. TECHNOLOGY FOCUSED. stltoday.com

Community Outreach Roofe said GFI Digital is involved with charities that are important to both customers and employees. The company is currently involved with Care to Learn, United Way, Boys and Girls Club, Down’s Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis and many more. “Staying plugged into the communities we serve and what’s important to the people around us is important. It’s all part of our people-driven focus.” GFI Digital is currently hiring for every level of IT experience.

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

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BR A N D AV E. ST U DIOS CON T EN T

Wunderman Thompson Health credits employees with continued success Sponsored content by Mary McHugh, Brand Ave. Studios contributing writer

In a normal, pre-pandemic world, Wunderman Thompson Health billed itself as a heads down, business done, culture-of-fun work environment for its employees. Then came 2020 and the company had to add another descriptor to its vocabulary — remote.

Without missing a beat, President Mike Burns said the teamwork, leadership and creativity continued to flow, generating more flexibility, transparency and outstanding client work. And the employees thought so, too, taking the extra time and effort to share their feedback as part of the 10th annual St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Workplaces survey.

GREAT EMPLOYEES CREATE A TOP WORKPLACE – AND FOSTER LONG-TERM CLIENT RELATIONSHIPS For the second consecutive year and fourth time as a winner, Wunderman Thompson Health solidified the company’s standing as a top place to work, whether onsite or remotely.

The creative, data and technology agency offers a diverse and ambitious skill set to clients that is not representative of typical agency work. Thanks to the deeply talented staff, the agency’s resume extends far beyond the usual branding, direct marketing and ad support to include a complex data servicing platform, high-level tech capabilities and uniquely personal consulting opportunities that integrate and deliver creative inspiration across the entire customer experience.

“We wouldn’t be where we are in the industry if not for the incredible dedication, commitment and enthusiasm of our creative employees. The teamwork, leadership and workplace culture they

have created is what drives change and helps instill a healthy workplace environment,” Burns said. “Winning Top Workplace is the badge, but the underlying message of the honor is that it only happens because our employees are so awesome and, we want more of them here.”

And it works both ways. Burns said many of their 160 employees at the St. Louis office have hit their 10-, 15- and 20-year milestones at the company, nurturing and supporting long-term clients, the majority of them in the health care industry, and many of them celebrating the same number of years working with Wunderman Thompson Health.

to be met in terms of communication, and what the frequency of that conversation should be.”

“It’s a symbiotic relationship,” Burns said. “We have long-standing employees and great-standing clients, and we appreciate that every single day because it doesn’t happen very often in this business.”

Burns said their pre-COVID personal connections, employee events and charity work helped transition and carry the team through the Zoomfilled pandemic days. The company is working on a flexible reopening scenario for employees in the coming months.

“WHATEVER IT TAKES” In addition, Burns likes to tout that Wunderman Thompson Health employees help nurture a healthful environment not only for themselves but for their clients’ members.

“The things we’ve been able to do successfully — every bit of it is because our employees make it happen,” Burns said.

That says a lot in and of itself — onsite and remotely.

“Because of the nature of their business, one of the more fulfilling things we do is help our clients move the needle on making people healthier,” Burns said.

“Our employees have incorporated this philosophy into their work and have made it their passion. We do whatever it takes — traditional channels, digital, ads, communication and much, much more — to find who the client members are, where they want

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.

Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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5 tips for refreshing your resume DIANA SHI | Fast Company

mid the coronavirus pandemic, some industries are thriving, while others are reeling. For many, this marks a refresh period that is ideal for devoting your energy to landing a new job.

If you’re a recent job hunter wondering where to begin, it may be a good idea to start with refreshing your résumé, which you probably haven’t looked at since the last time you searched for a job. Ask yourself which elements are still serving their purpose and which are not.

In a difficult job market, you must be inventive. Use this unique moment to put together a résumé that shows you are prepared for a new opportunity — and have the skills to make the transition.

A

1 Elevate your

pandemic pursuits

The last year has been a whirlwind. Some of us felt motivated to check off every possible project on our to-do list, while others — faced with financial, caregiving or health concerns — tried our best to maintain our well-being.

If you have been able to gain a tangible skill during this unusual year, make sure to add it to your résumé. Did you take up an intricate new hobby that requires great attention to detail? Hobbies that show off your strengths, newly acquired or otherwise, will help set you apart in this novel job search environment.

If you used time during the pandemic to volunteer or care for family, accentuate what you accomplished. Keep the descriptions short and straightforward, so you describe general responsibilities but don’t divulge too many personal details.

For volunteer activities, describe how your work helped you build new skills — especially soft ones. You can always provide more details about the significance of these experiences — drawing connections to the role you’re hoping to land — in a follow-up interview.

2 Surpass the

application robots

Applicant-tracking systems are intended to find the most qualified candidates and place them in front of recruiters.

Of course, this isn’t always what happens.

If your résumé doesn’t follow certain formatting guidelines, it may get passed stltoday.com

over — even if you’re qualified for the role.

To get past these finicky mechanisms, one easy step is to drop keywords into your résumé directly from the job description.

3 Explain any gaps in employment

When explaining a gap on a résumé, such as one caused by the pandemic, be honest. If you are forthcoming about stepping back from a role because of caregiving responsibilities, or getting laid off because you worked in a struggling industry, a hiring manager will likely be understanding.

Also consider that gaps in your résumé were common even prior to the pandemic.

A gap can easily emerge if your company went through a merger and acquisition, and your role suddenly became redundant.

As workforce development director Thom Kleiner says, doubt “is the worst thing” you can insert into a recruiter’s mind. Avoid this by clearly explaining your circumstances.

4 Show off your

secondary sources

Enhance your résumé by pointing to skills that show your value off the paper.

If you’re a professional cinematographer, attach a file of your reel. If you’re a writer, share clips of your recent work.

A résumé can operate as a sign post to other accomplishments, but it cannot explicitly provide these receipts of your achievements.

Think of these extra additions as “proof of skill,” akin to completing an assignment during an interview — except you’re already set to hand in your work.

5 Guide a recruiter’s eyes

through focused design

Simplicity is key when trying to draw a recruiter’s eye to your résumé. To improve your chances of getting noticed, go for a minimalist design and keep everything well organized.

Don’t use distracting font types and visual flourishes. You may think these equivalents of flashing neon lights will set you apart. But in reality, too much embellishment overcomplicates your résumé and creates a poor first impression.

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

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TOP SMALL EMPLOYER

HILLARY LEVIN, HLEVIN@POST-DISPATCH.COM

Top Flite Financial sales manager Christopher Piatchek uses a little flair to spin the incentive wheel on May 28 during the weekly spin for prizes for employees who have performed well. The 9-foot wheel barely fit through the door when the company recently moved into a larger space to accommodate its growing workforce. It now occupies a storefront in The Boulevard shopping district in Richmond Heights.

Prizes key at Top Flite Financial Incentives help local branch lead company in revenue

BY TERRI WATERS

Special to the Post-Dispatch

RICHMOND HEIGHTS — Top Flite Financial likes to hand out money and lavish trips to encourage employee performance, and it seems to be working.

The incentives have launched the 10

branch office here to the top revenue spot among the company’s 37 locations nationwide, executives said. “We’re the biggest team, and we do more than half the company’s total loan volume,” said division manager Todd Feager.

Top Flite took first place among small employers in this year’s Top Workplaces survey. This is the second time the mortgage lender has nabbed the honor. Last year it ranked second — and the branch

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

has only been in St. Louis for five years.

The branch has grown to 80 employees from 12 in 2016.

A visit to Top Flite’s new office space at The Boulevard shopping district tells much of the story. First, there’s the enormous spinning wheel on a stage-like platform. The 9-foot-diameter wheel was custom-made for Top Flite, and it barely fit through the doors when it was delivered, Feager said.

Top Flite Financial Address • 1034 S Brentwood Boulevard Suite 1910, Richmond Heights Website • topflitecd.com Phone • 314-748-1290 Founded • 2002 Description • Mortgage lender

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TOP SMALL EMPLOYER

TOP SMALL EMPLOYERS Every week, the top performers spin the wheel to try to win a cash prize of $1,500 to $2,500 depending on the results from that week. Employees also spin for the monthly $8,000 vacation package. Winners can choose from numerous destinations and take a friend, spouse or the whole family.

Feager said his branch is on track to hand out anywhere from $200,000 to $250,000 in incentives this year. Entries are earned not just for sales, but also for other types of job performance so that employees in operations and administration have opportunities to win, too.

“Anyone can qualify. It keeps everyone engaged and prevents the top two people from winning every time,” Feager said.

The corporate office offers the vacation bonus to the top branch — which is consistently St. Louis — but otherwise gives each location discretion on how it will reward employees. When Feager and co-manager Dave Bray launched the office together, they wanted to share the wealth with employees.

“The concept is: What if you treated others first? Usually, the guys in the corner office get the financial rewards.

It’s a simple version of the golden rule,” Bray said.

“We put it back in,” Feager added. “We don’t have to do that. People do make a great living here. We find a way to motivate people and show we appreciate them. Some people think we’re crazy.”

Golf, anyone?

Money talks, but so do other perks. At the St. Louis office, the mostly male workforce — only 17 of the 80 employees are female — includes plenty of people who practice their putting skills on one of the five carpeted areas outfitted with a sunken cup.

Putting competitions give workers a break from the stress of selling and assisting customers through the mortgage process.

“These guys are on the phones all day. We try to find opportunities to help break it up,” Feager said.

On the day a reporter visited, one employee was in the training room setting up to putt. He called it “a good tension reliever.”

Many of the employees wear headsets and walk around while talking on the phone. About half the staffers were standing at their desks, which can be raised or lowered.

Another bonus is a Starbucks machine in the spacious, modern kitchen. Cappuccino, espresso and hot chocolate are just a few of the selections that employees enjoy for free.

Top Flite’s busy workload is fueled by the more than 400 leads they receive each day through Lending Tree, the online loan referral tool. Top Flite assists clients nationwide, the vast majority of whom are looking to pay off credit card debt by refinancing their mortgage.

“When you have less than perfect credit you don’t have a lot of options,” Bray said. “It’s very satisfying for our employees to help people, to give them freedom and relief. It can be a very emotional experience (for clients).”

Please see TOP FLITE, Page 13

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50-149 employees Rank

Company

Founded

Ownership

U.S. headquarters city

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76

Top Flite Financial Beckner Painting & Contracting American Metals Supply Co. Circa Properties Janet McAfee Real Estate Beck Flavors Design Aire Heating and Cooling Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation Budget Heating, Cooling and Plumbing Delmar Mortgage Maryville Consulting Group Inc. Helmkamp Construction Co. Auto Repair Network Secure24 PreventEd KnowledgeLake Inc. Rossman School Krilogy Financial LLC DriveCentric 1904labs Omega Auto Care Erie Construction McClure Engineering Madison Mutual Insurance Company Title Partners Agency LLC Technology Partners Inc. Elite Orthopedics LLC StraightUp Solar CC3 Solutions ITF GROUP LLC Vivial Golden Oak Lending KAI Enterprises Veterans Care Coordination Buildingstars International Stone Technologies Inc. Sunset Transportation Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal P.C. Unity Hospice Westport Pools, Inc. Wipfli Flat World Global Solutions Lakeside Renovation & Design National Design Build Services Kforce Brand Addition Corrigan Company Lutheran High School South Southwestern Hearing Centers Horner & Shifrin Inc. Cass Commercial Bank Amitech Solutions Lutheran Church Extension Fund-Missouri Synod College Nannies, Sitters and Tutors Axiom Product Administration Experitec Inc. Concordance Academy of Leadership Northwestern Mutual — St. Louis Residential Home Health, Hospice and Palliative The Watering Bowl Renewal by Andersen of St. Louis Vanliner Insurance Company Bastian Solutions Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. CAPREIT Parents as Teachers Provident Behavioral Health Geotechnology Safelite AutoGlass Tiger Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Electrical Services Object Computing Inc. Dielmann Sotheby’s International Realty Dodge Moving & Storage GFI Digital Parkside Financial Bank & Trust Wise F&I

2002 1961 1962 2007 1975 1904 1904 1996 2009 1966 1994 1938 2014 2007 1965 1990 1917 2009 2010 2016 2010 1976 1953 1920 2006 1994 2015 2006 2017 2012 1910 2001 1980 2011 1994 1996 1989 1994 1992 1967 1930 2006 1997 2007 1962 1986 1896 1957 1947 1933 1906 1999 1978 2010 2015 1975 2016 1857 2018 2010 2012 1978 1952 1977 1993 1984 1860 1984 1947 1993 1993 2005 1902 1999 2008 1989

Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Parent company Non-profit Private Non-profit Private Private Private Private Private Private Cooperative/Mutual Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Public Partnership Private Private Public Public Private Non-profit Private Private Public Private Non-profit Private Private Private Private Cooperative/Mutual Parent company Private Private Public Public Private Private Non-profit Non-profit Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Public

Williamston, Mich.

Maplewood Hazelwood Clayton St. Louis Maryland Heights Maryland Heights Madison, Wis. St. Peters St. Louis St. Louis East Alton O’Fallon St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Creve Coeur St. Louis St. Louis Chesterfield Toledo, Ohio St. Louis Edwardsville St. Louis St. Louis Chesterfield St. Louis Des Peres St. Charles Dayton, Ohio St. Louis St. Louis Lake Saint Louis Maryland Heights Chesterfield St. Louis St. Louis Skokie, Ill. Maryland Heights Milwaukee O’Fallon Chesterfield St. Louis Tampa, Fla. St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Missouri O’Fallon Chesterfield St. Louis Creve Coeur Glen Carbon St. Louis Maryland Heights Fenton Carmel, Ind. St. Peters Rockville, Md. St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Collinsville St. Louis Clayton Earth City Maryland Heights Clayton Fenton

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

11

BR A N D AV E. ST U DIOS CON T EN T

Core & Main: Creating a sustainable infrastructure for generations to come

PHOTO PROVIDED BY CORE & MAIN

Sponsored content provided by Core & Main

Core & Main was established in 2017, built on the foundation of more than 80 legacy companies. We are a leading distributor of water, wastewater, storm drainage and fire protection products, and related services, in the United States.

Each day, we’re seeking to change the face of the waterworks and fire protection industry one person at a time, in the classroom or on the job, in person or online. Among our development efforts is legacy building — in which industry veterans teach custom, in-house curricula to the next generation, fostering the infrastructure experts of tomorrow. Through our commitment and expertise, our goal is to lead our industry to

create modern, sustainable infrastructure.

Our people go behind the scenes to ensure communities can work, live and prosper. Though our contributions are often unseen — whether that’s underground, inside structures or behind walls — we are hard workers who aren’t afraid to get our hands dirty. At Core & Main, we roll up our sleeves and get to it. No matter what.

We want to create a sustainable future for our children. Whether you’re a partner, customer, associate or neighbor of Core & Main, you are a part of our vision — to foster a world where communities thrive because our people and products provide safe, sustainable infrastructure for generations to come.

Learn more at coreandmain.com.

Our branches distribute more than 200,000 SKUs, not to mention offering industry training, custom fabrication and installation services. To keep it simple, we start with a simple statement: We supply the infrastructure that brings good water to you and takes bad water away from you.

And we do this from coast to coast.

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.

Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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TOP SMALL EMPLOYER

Top Flite From 11

Hiring family, friends Bray and Feager rely on referrals to recruit new employees.

“We hire a certain type of person, with a solution-driven mindset,” Feager said.

“Almost everyone we hire comes to us with no industry experience. We prefer that. It allows us to train people from the ground up and not have to break any bad habits.”

Hiring family is not a problem, as long as the person fits in and works hard.

“We’ve squashed the theory of ‘don’t hire friends.’ We have a mom, two sons HILLARY LEVIN, HLEVIN@POST-DISPATCH.COM and a wife here,” Feager said, referring to the fact that his mother, brother and Top Flite Financial mortgage coordinator Jamie Massa, right, on May 28 helps her brother, Cody Lehnen, who recently started his job as a mortgage coordinator with the company. spouse all work for Top Flite.

Jeremy Brigham joined the company in late 2019 as a loan processor. He was several years earlier, where he said the Flite was recruiting. He met with his working long hours for an aviation sup- atmosphere was tense and negative. He former colleagues and was encouraged plier and was looking for a better work- wasn’t sure he wanted to give the mort- by what he saw, including the prizes and life balance. He had worked with Feager gage business another try, but he saw bonuses. and Bray at another mortgage company a Facebook post mentioning that Top “The higher-ups are more concerned

about their employees than giving themselves raises,” Brigham said.

He also appreciates not being micro-managed, as he was in previous jobs. “It’s nice not to have someone breathing down your neck saying: More, more, more.”

Brigham won the monthly vacation prize last month. He plans to go somewhere warm when it gets cold here.

Joe Daniel joined Top Flite Financial as a loan officer two years ago. Before that he ran a Little Caesar’s franchise.

He was working 16-hour days and not seeing his two young children enough.

Two friends worked at Top Flite and suggested he come in for an interview.

They said it didn’t matter that he didn’t have sales or mortgage industry experience. He would be trained on the job.

The job is commission-only, which worried his wife at first. But things have worked out well. Daniel won a vacation prize and is taking his wife to Maui this fall for seven days.

“Now my wife’s happy, the kids are happy,” he said.

HELPING COMMUNITIES THRIVE. Join our vision-driven team. team

jobs.coreandmain.com stltoday.com

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

13

TOP MIDSIZED EMPLOYER

Teamwork makes RedKey Realty work Fun and quirky office environment helps agents conduct serious business

BY AUSTIN HUGUELET

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A

sk someone at RedKey Realty what it’s like to work there, and you can expect to hear a string of happy contrasts.

They’ll say it’s a fiercely collaborative office in an industry that can be cutthroat, an environment that’s fun and quirky even as agents conduct serious business, and a place to grow as a person as well as a professional.

And if that sounds too good to be true to you, you’re not alone.

“I get people that come in and they’re like, ‘Are you guys serious?’” Nate Johnson, RedKey’s director of agent development, said. “But I tell them, ’Yeah, this is real, this is what we do.’”

Here’s the proof: the Frontenac-based firm ranked first among the region’s midsize companies in this year’s Top Workplaces survey.

The company, first established in 2012, didn’t get here by accident.

CEO Jill Butler had worked in real estate before founding RedKey, and while she’d had success, she wanted the new place to be different.

“Some real estate offices will be kind of competitive, like each agent is on their own a little bit,” she said in a recent interview. “And that’s fine, but it’s not the only way.”

RedKey’s way is more about team meetings that start with people sharing what’s going good in their lives and often lead to people asking for and getting help with whatever’s going south.

“Everyone leaves their ego at the door,” agent Sandra Mesker said.

The same ethos applies online in a private Facebook group where agents and staff post inspiration and troubleshooting advice throughout the day.

Marketing director Jenn Cloud said the group existed pre-pandemic, but became a real lifeline last year.

“Agents could put something in there in the morning and probably have a dozen 14

HILLARY LEVIN, HLEVIN@POST-DISPATCH.COM

RedKey Realty CEO Jill Butler’s work philosophy is to do good things and have fun. She stands in front of a collage of framed photos that line a wall in a hallway at the Frontenac office on May 28. The pictures are of employee parties and other moments in the company’s history.

RedKey Realty Leaders Address • 10333 Clayton Road, Frontenac Website • redkeystlouis.com Phone • 314-692-7200 Founded • 2012 Description • Residential real estate agency

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

answers by the end of the day,” she said.

RedKey leaders concede it’s not necessarily intuitive for real estate agents to be selfless as independent contractors who compete for a limited number of available commissions.

But Klaus Bank, a broker as well as an executive at the firm, said RedKey encourages agents to see things differently.

“We focus on abundance rather than scarcity,” he said. “There’s more than enough for everybody, so it makes sense

to help someone else when you can.”

It also makes sense for the bottom line.

“If you have 180 agents sharing their experience, that’s great,” she said. “That’s way better than someone trying to do it on their own.”

RedKey’s way also includes a full roster of events to maintain team chemistry.

There are birthday parties for employees where everyone said something they appreciated about the person turning one year older, and they continued even stltoday.com

TOP MIDSIZED EMPLOYER

TOP MIDSIZED EMPLOYERS

HILLARY LEVIN, HLEVIN@POST-DISPATCH.COM

Brandon Gray, right, with RedKey Realty Leaders, watches Nathaniel Leonard strip a door on May 25 at a house in the Southhampton neighborhood of St. Louis. Gray and his business partner, Missy Dillon, bought the home, and they are rehabbing it to resell it for RedKey. through the pandemic via Zoom.

There’s also a book club that helpfully focused on inspirational reads over the past year.

RedKey tries to help employees take care of themselves in their personal lives, too.

That means offering the usual array of benefits, of course, but it sometimes it also means bringing a masseuse into the office for a few hours for head, neck and shoulder work.

Other times it means a few days at Pere Marquette State Park for a retreat.

“We do business planning, but there’s also yoga and hiking,” Mesker said. “We spend time on ourselves as people, not just businesspeople.”

That spirit follows employees back into the office, too.

There’s a big poster in a hallway in Frontenac where employees write life goals — finishing a book, buying a new home, riding a motorcycle from Florida to Alaska.

When they reach their goal, they get their picture taken in front of the poster to commemorate it.

Butler acknowledges RedKey’s way isn’t the simplest stltoday.com

or cheapest way to run a real estate firm.

She also concedes that not everything is perfect.

The pandemic has put pursuit of some life goals on hold for the last year, and Butler says the company needs to really push people to take some vacation this year to catch up.

But she said that overall, the collaborative approach makes things fun, and the extra money spent on employees makes them happy, which makes them more productive — which makes things more fun.

And beneath all the buzzwords and business terms that float around the office, that three-letter word appears to be the heart of what’s going on at RedKey. “I’m getting philosophical,” Butler said at one point in the interview, “but why are we here? It’s to do good things and have fun. And this is super fun for me.”

Employees agree.

“I’ve worked for several other brokers,” Mesker said, “and I would not leave. This is the best real estate company I’ve ever worked for.”

Austin Huguelet • 314-788-1651 • @ahuguelet on Twitter • ahuguelet@post-dispatch.com

Rank Company

Founded Ownership

U.S. headquarters city

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

2012 2011 1979 1960 2008 1980 1994 1869 1899 1955 2001 1973 1972 1992 1998 1989

Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Private Partnership Partnership Private Private Private Non-profit Private

St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Chesterfield St. Louis St. Peters Lake Saint Louis St. Louis Wilmington, Del. St. Louis St. Louis Rosemead, Calif.

St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis

1955 1965 2003 1988 1947 1914 1959 2017 1996 1965 1972 1986 1985 2011 1979 1898 1918 2008 1902 2010 1969 1981 1989 1997 1922 2003 1952 1946 1951 2015 1906 1946 1998 1902 2001 1974 2010 1994 1953 1947 1997 2006 1994 1987

Private Partnership Private Private Public Private Public Private Private Non-profit Private Private Private Public Private Private Private Private Private Partnership Private Private Private Public Public Private Public Private Public Private Private Private Private Private Private Non-profit Private Private Partnership Private Parent company Partnership Parent company Private

Chesterfield St. Louis Chesterfield St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Charles St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis St. Charles Olivette O’Fallon St. Louis Edwardsville Kansas City Dupo Edwardsville St. Louis Scott Air Force Base Bridgeton Rolla St. Louis St. Louis Imperial St. Louis Festus St. Louis Illinois Wentzville Chesterfield St. Louis Hazelwood St. Louis Seattle St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Minneapolis St. Louis St. Louis St. Louis Clayton St. Louis

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60

RedKey Realty Leaders Wood Brothers Realty Brown & Crouppen Law Firm Guild Mortgage Company Benjamin F. Edwards & Co. Cosmos Corporation TJ Wies Contracting, Inc. Moneta CSC HOK USA Mortgage, a Division of DAS Acquisition Company, LLC Panda Restaurant Group Brown Smith Wallace LLP ARCO Construction Company Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Hoffmann Brothers Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing, Electrical & Appliance Repair Gershman Mortgage Anders Minkler Huber and Helm LLP Treats Unleashed Vetta Sports Carboline Company Booz Allen Hamilton Orchard Farm R-V School District Core & Main Connectria LLC Concordia Plan Services Distribution Management Inc. HDIS Ungerboeck Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd LLC Utilitra Burns & McDonnell Kuna Foodservice The Gori Law Firm Guarantee Electrical Company UNCOMN LLC Leonardo DRS- Land Systems Brewer Science Inc. The Pisa Group Inc PERFICIENT Windsor C-1 School District National Medical Billing Services Jefferson R-VII School District Budrovich Excavating Accenture North Star Insurance Advisors Midwest BankCentre Woodard Cleaning & Restoration Artur Express Inc. Volpi Foods Slalom Mid-America Transplant Services TierPoint Two Men And A Truck CliftonLarsonAllen LLP ACME Constructors Wunderman Thompson St. Louis Midas Hospitality Buckingham Wealth Partners KPMG

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

15

BR A N D AV E. ST U DIOS CON T EN T

Keeping soldiers safe through advanced manufacturing and combat systems integration Sponsored content provided by Leonardo DRS Land Systems

Leonardo DRS Land Systems is a business unit within Leonardo DRS and is a world leader in the integration of complex technologies into U.S. military systems and platforms, and for military and commercial customers around the world. The business unit is headquartered in Bridgeton, MO, with an additional primary location in West Plains, MO. WORLD-CLASS INNOVATION From its ultra-modern, advanced engineering and manufacturing headquarters location, the business designs and integrates a number of defensive protection systems into U.S. military and allied nation platforms. The company has integrated and delivered Active Protection Systems (APS) to defend tanks against enemy shoulder-fired missiles, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) able to eliminate enemy drones, and Maneuver Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) systems that protect warfighters from a range of airborne threats.

Leonardo DRS Land Systems is also a leading integrator of additional advanced technologies for ground vehicles, including reconnaissance and surveillance systems with sensor suites from radar to thermal imagery to laser systems, all with onthe-move capability.

The business unit’s site in West Plains provides additional heavy manufacturing capabilities, to include welding and Chemical Agent Resistant Coating (CARC) painting core competencies for a wide range of military vehicles to support maneuver and logistics operations worldwide.

From the U.S. Army’s Joint Assault Bridge (JAB) that allows mobile forces to cross gaps on the battlefield, to heavy-duty, rapid military aircraft loading systems for the timely and reliable flow of logistics in arduous environments, to construction

PHOTO PROVIDED BY LEONARDO DRS LAND SYSTEMS

of launch containers for ballistic missiles, the business supports its customers with world-class innovations and cost-effective solutions.

A TEAM APPROACH TO EXCELLENCE Leonardo DRS Land Systems recognizes its biggest advantage is the strength of its team. The company’s commitment to diversity and inclusiveness is unwavering, and a core value that employees firmly stand behind. To remain a trusted company, it must value diversity and different perspectives that make our nation, our military customers and our own company so great. This includes hiring military veterans and those with the experience and desire to ensure our customers – the men and women of our U.S. and Allied forces – come first.

insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, short-term and long-term disability, 100% tuition reimbursement, flexible work schedule, casual dress code, parental leave and much more.

Career opportunities in the Leonardo DRS Land Systems business will interest those who love innovation, high-tech and working for a higher purpose. Positions range from advanced manufacturing to electrical and logistics engineering, logistics support management, mechanical and project engineering, program management and software and systems engineering.

To see the full range of the Leonardo DRS Land Systems capabilities, visit www.LeonardoDRS.com/ who-we-are/our-segments/land-systems.

Working for Leonardo DRS Land Systems has its perks. The company maintains a comprehensive benefits plan designed to meet the needs of all its employees, including medical, dental and vision

This content was produced by Brand Ave. Studios. The news and editorial departments had no role in its creation or display.

Brand Ave. Studios connects advertisers with a targeted audience through compelling content programs, from concept to production and distribution. For more information contact sales@brandavestudios.com.

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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2021 TOP WORKPLACES

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TOP LARGE EMPLOYER

CEO Maryann Vitale Alles, right, helps fill out the closing paperwork for Elizabeth Selk, left, on the sale of her rental property at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties office in St. Louis County on May 26. Property coordinator Elaina Mueller, center, sits in on the closing because she helped manage the property for Selk.

COLTER PETERSON, CPETERSON@POST-DISPATCH.COM

Berkshire Hathaway sells growth Opportunity, fun drive real estate firm’s success

BY STEPH KUKULJAN

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

ST. LOUIS — Nate Carr joined Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties eight years ago as chief information officer, tasked with upgrading the real estate firm’s technology following the recession.

Carr, who had no background in real 18

estate, liked the challenge and flourished.

“I’ve had the opportunity to spread my wings and take on a lot of other roles,” said Carr, now chief operations officer.

“We give folks the opportunity to swim across a lot of different lanes here. I’ve done everything from network infrastructure, planning a golf tournament, to marketing.”

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties took first place among large-size employers in this year’s Top

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

Workplaces survey.

The opportunity for career growth is among the prime reasons employees like working for Select Properties, which has about 550 employees across nearly a dozen offices in the St. Louis metropolitan area.

Jill Fisher started at Select Properties part time in accounting 18 years ago, when it had just four area offices. She stayed because of the career opportunities, and is now the firm’s chief financial officer.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties Address • 1650 Des Peres Road, west St. Louis County Website • bhhsselectstl.com Founded • 2002 Description • Real estate firm

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TOP LARGE EMPLOYER

“Anytime we’re growing or there’s a need for a new position, the executive team has always looked within,” Fisher said. “They’ve always said, ‘Who do we have? Who knows our culture? Who can rise to the opportunity?’ That’s definitely one of my favorite things here.”

President and CEO Maryann Vitale Alles co-founded the company in 2002 at a time when two of the region’s biggest real estate firms — Gundaker Realtors and Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage — merged. Alles sought to provide another option for home buyers and sellers as well as create a company that could help her employees and agents advance.

“I like the reward of helping people make more money than they ever imagined they could ever make,” Alles said. “I tell them, ‘You are the CEO of your own company.’ We will teach you what you need to do and train you.”

That training is ongoing and available to more than just new employees. Select Properties offers weekly coaching calls to any interested employee. The company also hosts “mastermind meetings” that offer insight on various topics. One recent mastermind meeting was about family business and how agents can build a successful company while working with family members.

As agents were forced to pivot to virtual tours during the COVID-19 pandemic, Select Properties partnered with a media company to help agents become more comfortable with creating videos.

“We try to support all of the different things that agents need in today’s market,” said Alles.

Other benefits employees said they enjoy are a 401(k) with a 4% company match, cellphone plan and a membership to Lift Time Fitness in Frontenac.

The company also grew during the pandemic. In January, it acquired Illinois-based Elite Properties, which expanded Select Properties’ reach into the Metro East with roughly 50 agents serving southern Illinois from Edwardsville to Fairview Heights.

Accounting specialist Patrick Bost has been with the company since its launch in 2002 and has served in a variety of roles. He’s stayed because of the career opportunities as well as the casual work environment and fun events the company hosts outside of work.

Pre-pandemic, the company held gatherings at bar and gaming lounge Westport Social, wineries, pool parties, golf outings and more.

“The company offers a lot of benefits,” Bost said.

Steph Kukuljan • 314-340-8506 @StephKukuljan on Twitter • skukuljan@post-dispatch.com

stltoday.com

COLTER PETERSON, CPETERSON@POST-DISPATCH.COM

CEO Maryann Vitale Alles, left, and co-owner Deborah Colburn pose for a portrait at the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties office in St. Louis County on May 26.

TOP LARGE EMPLOYERS 500 or more employees Rank Company

Founded Ownership

U.S. headquarters city

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

2002 2005 1985 1964 1970 1922 1995 1934 1964 1972

Private Private Private Non-profit Private Private Private Non-profit Private Parent company

St. Louis St. Peters, MO St. Louis Lake Saint Louis, MO Chesterfield, MO St. Louis Lake Saint Louis, MO Chesterfield, MO St. Louis St. Louis

1930 1869 1994 1949 1976

Public Private Public Public Private

St. Ann, MO Clayton, MO St. Charles, MO St. Louis St. Louis

11 12 13 14 15

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties CarShield Daugherty Business Solutions National Information Solutions Cooperative Waterway Gas & Wash Co Edward Jones Medical Transportation Management Inc. First Community Credit Union Missouri Baptist University Penn National Gaming St. Louis Argosy, Hollywood & River City Casinos Pattonville School District Graybar Ameristar Casino Resort Spa St. Charles Lindbergh Schools Keeley Companies

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

19

People Powered.

Customer Driven.

6th Straight Year!

Thank you to all of our employees for your continuous hard work and dedication.

It’s your efforts that continue to drive our success, and is the reason for Safelite being one of the St. Louis Post Dispatch’s Top Places to Work!

safelite.com | 800-800-2727

Thanks to our great employees for making us a

Top Place to Work.

NATIONAL CENTER

To our CC3 Solutions Family, thank you.

We’re honored to be a Top Workplace in St. Louis.

Join our team at: cc3solutions.com 20

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

stltoday.com

Panda Express is honored to be recognized as one of the

Top Workplaces in

St. Louis To learn more about the Panda family, visit us at www.pandacareers.com

stltoday.com

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

21

THE STANDOUTS Special recognition goes to employers who scored high marks in key areas FROM STAFF REPORTS

T

he following special award recipients were chosen based on standout scores for employee responses to specific survey statements. Employees rated these statements on a seven-point scale from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.” Ten confidence-boosting leaders are:

INDIVIDUAL AWARDS

COMPANY AWARDS Direction: CarShield From employee responses: “Carshield is growing rapidly and I’m proud to be a part of an industry leading company that is thriving for doing things the right way. They take care of their customers and their employees equally.”

“I love that I feel like I have job security.”

“Very family oriented, able to guide me in a direction to be successful.”

Managers: Waterway Gas & Wash Co. From employee responses: “Any questions I ever have they are always happy to answer, and I appreciate the safe space to ask questions without feeling shut down.”

“Continuous constructive criticism and positive support.”

OTHER AWARDS

Leadership: Maryann Vitale Alles of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Select Properties, in the large employer category.

From employee responses: n “She is a strong woman with goals, and wants everyone within the company to succeed.” n “Inspirational messages, working one-on-one for training, positive attitude, ‘you can do it’ attitude.”

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Leadership: Landon Hobson of Cosmos Corp., in the midsize employer category.

From employee responses: n “He is a very strong servant leader. He makes it clear that he cares about the employees here.

He has done an excellent job over the years he has been here in taking Cosmos to the next level.” n “Landon very much cares about the employees and encourages us to grow.” n “Our CEO believes that everyone’s opinions matter. He listens to the consumers, workers and leadership team.”

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

Leadership: Lisa Nichols of Technology Partners, in the small employer category.

From employee responses: n “Strong work ethic, and open to new ideas.”

n American Metals Supply Co. wins the new ideas award by scoring highest with the statement: New ideas are encouraged at this company. n Top Flite Financial wins the doers award by scoring highest with the statement: At this company, we do things efficiently and well. n Veterans Care Coordination wins the meaningfulness award by scoring highest with the statement: My job makes me feel like I am part of something meaningful. n RedKey Realty Leaders wins the values award by scoring highest with the statement: This company operates by strong values. n Brown & Crouppen Law Firm wins the clued-in senior management award by scoring highest with the statement: Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company. n Panda Restaurant Group wins the communication award by scoring highest with the statement: I feel well-informed about important decisions at this company. n Design Aire Heating and Cooling wins the appreciation award by scoring highest with the statement: I feel genuinely appreciated at this company. n Beckner Painting & Contracting wins the work-life flexibility award by scoring highest with the statement: I have the flexibility I need to balance my work and personal life. n Moneta wins the training award by scoring highest with the statement: I get the formal training I want for my career. n Concordia Plan Services wins the benefits award by scoring highest with the statement: My benefits package is good compared to others in this industry. stltoday.com

CAREERS | ADVICE

PANDEMIC GRAD GRIND 7 tips for graduates preparing to face a competitive job search

5 Book informational interviews

Mark Anthony Dyson, founder of The Voice of Job Seekers, calls this “a vital strategy” for students who want to gain insider knowledge about their future career path.

“Informational interviews are conducted with professionals working in their target industry,” explains Dyson, who says these interviews offer the chance for students to ask questions that will help do three things: determine what their next moves need to be, what additional skills they’ll need, and who else to talk to for more insight.

“All seniors with normal class loads can do one informational interview a month, but many can do two dozen or more in their final year,” Dyson says.

“The university’s career center can be instrumental with (helping) seniors interview alumni.”

KATHLEEN FURORE

Tribune Content Agency

S

oon-to-graduate students will likely encounter a tight, very competitive job market in light of the pandemic.

Jill Tipograph, co-founder of Early Stage Careers and a member of Forbes Coaches Council doesn’t pull any punches about what lies ahead.

“COVID-19 caused a brutal job market that no one expected. And the lasting impact will pervade 2021 hiring — and likely beyond — for college grads,” Tipograph says.

But there are “actionable steps” grads should take now to set themselves up for success. Here are seven pandemic job-searching tips from career search experts.

panic 6 Don’t It’s easy to think the job search will

a skills master 1 Become “Upskill” is the word of the moment — something employers are looking for during COVID-19 and will look for beyond the crisis, Tipograph says.

“They are expecting workers, especially college grads, to have mastered new skills ... as well as (to have developed) deeper proficiency at ones they need. Use this time wisely to research such skills and get credentialed in as many as you can,” she advises.

“Start by learning something new,” says Mark Hayes, head of marketing at Kintell. “Consider taking a design/writing course or get started with Adobe XD — it’s completely free design software, and it’s incredible.” As Hayes notes, “Both of these opportunities teach you valuable skills that you can use to both transform your CV and your resume and enrich your future workplace. Plus, it sounds impressive when you’re asked, ‘What did you do during the pandemic?’ and you share that you learned a completely new skill, unprompted.”

stltoday.com

2 Get your marketing playbook in order

Tipograph says this step includes fine-tuning your resume, LinkedIn profile and overall social media presence — and making sure “all parts of your public brand are consistent and positive,” she says.

LinkedIn is an especially important job-search tool, considering about 70% of jobs are obtained through networking, Tipograph says. “Become a LinkedIn expert user; its powers are far reaching,” she says. “Ensure your profile is robust, and join alumni and interest groups. Become an engaged user and find thought leaders to connect to.”

3 Prepare for

virtual recruiting

Tipograph doesn’t see in-person recruiting coming back for quite some

time. “Virtual job fairs with large numbers of companies are the vogue starting in September,” she says. “Everyone is equal on a Zoom meeting, visually and figuratively ... Students need to learn how to stand out in a memorably positive way.”

4 Become a

virtual virtuoso

Tipograph predicts that many companies will consider a hybrid approach to remote/in-office work. “Demonstrate to prospective employers that you have been a successful remote worker, (highlight) projects you’ve collaborated on, how you have maneuvered a virtual internship,” she advises. “This is also the time to reach out to gain virtual internship experience ... Look into micro-internships and see if a professor can use help on a project.”

be hopeless if you focus on unemployment figures and talk about the “hidden job market.” But Dyson says not to panic.

“Jobs are segmented or splintered but no one is hiding jobs,” he says.

“As a senior, you can start joining industry-specific organizations to network with professionals and also find out about sectors of your industry that are hiring. You can also get job leads before they’re posted if you’re an active member of the organization. Many of them have discounted (sometimes free) pricing for student members.”

7 Volunteer This is always a way to increase your knowledge and career options, too.

Dyson calls volunteering, “a must to expand your possibilities.

“There are virtual volunteer projects online and possibly could result in a job or internship,” he says. “Volunteer work enhances your network and increases your value in the eyes of an employer.”

06.20.21 • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • TOP WORKPLACES

23

thank you to our amazing team for making HOK a Top Work Place 4 years in a row!

To Learn More, Please Visit www.WiseFandI.com Fan At Wise F&I, We Support Dealers With An Emphasis On Efficiency And Service!

With over 30 years in the automotive industry, we have the expertise to bring you success. Our compliant protection products, technological development and exceptional customer service are designed to support you and your customers.

Full Suite Of F&I Products For For

HERE’S TO OUR LIFESAVING TEAM! Thank you for making Mid-America Transplant one of the St. Louis area’s Top Workplaces.

Looking for a career with meaning?

800-849-1080 8 00 | Sales@WiseFandI.com

At Mid-America Transplant, you can make a difference every single day. Join us in our mission to save lives through excellence in organ and tissue donation.

MIDAMERICATRANSPLANT.ORG/CAREERS

Business Beat from David Nicklaus Receive daily updates on the latest news in the St. Louis business community.

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NORTHSTAR INSURANCE ADVISORS is proud to be a Top Workplace!

Thank you to our wonderful employees! stltoday.com

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25

ROLE-MODEL ROLES Non-classroom vocations for people who enjoy working with children

EAR READERS: There has been a lot of press lately about teachers leaving the profession. For example, almost 40% of KATHLEEN respondents in FURORE a recent survey from the Colorado Education Association said they’re considering leaving the profession, with an unrealistic workload, potentially unsafe working conditions during the pandemic and low pay listed as the top reasons.

I know several young people who love working with kids, but don’t want the “negatives” that come with teaching. There are

D

many routes to take outside of the classroom — it just takes a little outside-of-the-box thinking to discover the options. So, what are some alternate career options they can explore?

Here are a few categories to consider.

Private tutoring According to Michael Knight, co-founder and marketing head of Incorporation Insight, this is something many teachers transition into because the nature of the work is still related to their field but without the hassle of teaching at a school.

“Tutoring allows teachers to

be more flexible with their time than teaching in a public/private school, where they have recurring meetings, extraneous work, grading and the like,” Knight explains. “It also allows them to spend one-on-one time with their students, which results in a more relaxed, focused teaching environment for both parties, resulting in better results.”

Positions with nonprofit organizations There are myriad groups that work with children from all walks of life.

And all employ professional

staff members — think executive directors, program managers and other career-level positions — to help run the programs they offer.

Some, like AmeriCorps’ CityYear program (which partners with public schools in high-need communities) and the ASPIRA Association Inc. (described as the only national Hispanic organization dedicated exclusively to developing the educational and leadership capacity of Hispanic youth) focus specifically on education.

Others, like Big Brothers/Big Sisters, focus on mentoring and building strong relationships

with children facing diversity.

The ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) has compiled a list of organizations serving children and youth; and ZipRecruiter has a list of openings for job seekers looking for positions at nonprofits working with children.

Positions with youth and family programs Youth services coordinator, youth development coach, museum educator and coach/ manager of youth sports organizations are a few examples to consider.

Kathleen Furore is a Chicago-based writer and editor who has covered personal finance and other business-related topics for a variety of trade and consumer publications. You can email her your career questions at kfurore@yahoo.com.

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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PROUD TO BE A ST LOUIS TOP WORKPLACE. Thank You To Our Employee Family For All Your Hard Work.

We Are Always Looking For New Talent To Join Our Award Winning Team CONTACT US rbastl.com/careers • (314) 983-9977

Peace Of Mind For The Road Ahead Be A Part Of Our Growing Family! www.facebook.com/autorepairnetwork

Protection For The Unexpected And Your Budget.

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27

NETWORK CONNECTIONS 6 tips for making good impressions and establishing strong relationships in business PETER COHAN | Inc.

E

ven the smartest business leaders can’t run a business all by themselves — they find the best people and make excellent use of their talents.

The first step to achieving this is to know what you can do well that is valuable for growing a business, and to pinpoint what skills you lack and must add to your team.

You can achieve the ladder by networking. Here are six rules that well-connected investor Chris Fralic follows to make memorable impressions.

appreciation 1 Show People don’t care what

you know until they know that you care.

Research the person you’re meeting and find something you respect and admire in what they’ve accomplished, then share that sentiment with them when you begin your meeting.

with intent 2 Listen Begin a conversation with what questions you’d like to discuss and ask the person you’re networking with to share their discussion points, too.

Listen closely when someone is answering your question, and think carefully about whether they are answering it clearly or whether their answer makes you think of another question. When appropriate, follow up with your new question.

This will give you the information you need and make the other person feel that you listened carefully.

3 Be appropriately humble

Humility is a valuable trait in networking. Conveying a self-absorbed or self-deprecating demeanor is often a conversation-killer. The person you’re networking with will think that there is nothing of value that you can offer them.

The right level of humility is focusing on where your strengths intersect with the other person’s experience or needs. If you focus on building that connective bridge, you can solidify the basis on which to have further conversations.

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4 Offer unvarnished honesty

Respond to questions honestly, with a willingness to disclose truths that highlight both weaknesses and strengths.

If you’re honest, you will build trust. If you remain honest, your relationship with the other person will be much more effective.

A corollary to this point: Don’t fake it till you make it. You can’t be fake at first and honest later.

5 Brainstorm

from a new angle

You can’t always be the solution to the problem that the other person is looking for you to solve in a networking meeting. But you can help them by sharing your perspective on how you would approach the problem.

One insightful or different approach to the problem could be very helpful, and show your abilities in problem solving.

6 End conversations with optimism

When you meet someone, always assume that you will meet them again. Behave optimistically to end things on a good note and to lay the foundation for a positive start to future conversations, or willingness to meet again.

Peter Cohan is a strategy consultant, startup investor, teacher and author of 15 books.

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

You can’t always be the solution to the problem that the person you’re networking with is looking to solve, but you share your perspective on how you would approach it, showcasing your problem-solving abilities.

stltoday.com

An Employee-Owned Company

2021 2020

2019

2018

2017

Horner & Shifrin is proud to be recognized as a Post-Dispatch Top Workplace for the fifth consecutive year! Thank you to our Employee-Owners, whose hard work and commitment to quality have made H&S a great place to work in St. Louis for more than 87 years.

Interested in joining our growing team?

Visit www.hornershifrin.com/careers

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29

Cass Commercial Bank extends congratulations and a sincere THANK YOU to our Cass team members.

You make the difference and are greatly appreciated.

For more than 110 years, Cass Commercial Bank proudly serves the St. Louis business community as well as faith-based institutions and franchise restaurant businesses nationwide.

www.cassbank.com | (314) 506-5678 Member FDIC

REACH

Every day, we are motivated to reach higher for our clients, staff and community. We are proud to say that this commitment is what continues to make us a Top Workplace.

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HOMETOWN SERVICE. #1 Workplace in the USA in 2021

Interested in growing your career with Fairway? Now is the time.

We have Fairway locations all across the area, including St. Louis, Kirkwood, Eureka and St. Charles!

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Contact Info: Mike Swaleh, Area Manager, NMLS #739145, 12213 Big Bend Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122. Copyright©2021 Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. NMLS#2289. 4750 S. Biltmore Lane, Madison, WI 53718, 1-866-912-4800. This is not considered an advertisement as defined by 12 CFR 1026.2(a)(2). All rights reserved. Equal Opportunity Employer. Equal Housing Opportunity.

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PRODUCTIVITY FATIGUE 3 ways to recalibrate and reset your mind AYTEKIN TANK | Fast Company

I

knew we’d hit peak productivity when I read a story espousing the benefits of hanging upside-down. Whether you bought a special table or strapped on gravity boots, the article suggested that regular “inversion breaks” could help you achieve surgical focus and crush your to-do list.

Over the past decade, we’ve forged a complicated relationship with productivity. Experts, psychologists, writers and even founders like me encouraged people to hack, optimize and maximize their time to the point where terms like “productivity fatigue” and “productivity shame” began to flourish. Then the pandemic hit.

As we take the first tentative steps toward normalcy and emerge from lockdown, what should productivity look like?

Will we try to make up for what feels like lost time? Or will we finally discover how to embrace a slower life?

Now is the perfect time to reset our vision of productivity.

I often return to author James Clear’s excellent definition: “We often assume that productivity means getting more things done each day. Wrong.

Productivity is getting important things done consistently.

And no matter what you are working on, there are only a few things that are truly important.”

Instead of hitting never-ending targets or pushing the bar ever higher, we also crave consistent progress. “Of all the things that can boost emotions, motivation and perceptions during a workday, the single most important is making progress in meaningful work,” write researchers Teresa M. Amabile and Steven J. Kramer in Harvard Business Review. “And the more frequently people experience that sense of progress, the more likely they are to be creatively productive in the long run.”

I’m not a hard-core life-hack enthusiast. I’m more likely to talk about picking olives with my family in Turkey than my morning routine. My company doesn’t set hard deadlines; we urge staff to protect their downtime, and we encourage regular vacations. But after a difficult year of grief and loss, I’m trying to redefine productivity — and I invite you to do the same.

Here are three simple tactics I’m using to support this shift.

your brain real breaks 1 Give Maybe you’ve tried a digital detox, like avoiding devices on Saturday. It’s a smart idea, but I’m convinced we need to drastically reduce what we cram into our heads all week long.

In the 1990s, psychiatrist Nancy C. Andreasen coined the acronym REST (random episodic silent thought) to describe the free association our brains engage in during quiet relaxation. She’s currently studying a small group of artists, scientists, mathematicians and others working at the top of demanding fields.

For many of the participants, “letting their mind run freely is a big resource for their creativity,” Andreasen told The Washington Post. In other words, productivity requires a steady supply of novel thoughts that arise only through rest. We need to restock our mental shelves if we want to do meaningful work.

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

niksen 2 Embrace To replenish your

mind throughout the day, consider the latest lifestyle philosophy — niksen, the Dutch art of doing nothing, like watching the coffee brew or staring out the window.

When you finish a task, take a moment before starting the next one.

Close your eyes and feel the sun on your face. Make your lunch in silence.

There’s a reason we get brilliant ideas in the shower — our minds have a precious few minutes to roam free.

I know terms like niksen can feel gimmicky, but reclaiming small pockets of time can help you recalibrate.

Observe people waiting in line, and it’s clear that doing nothing is almost a radical act. But watching the birds or chilling on a park bench makes it easier to remember that you’re not a machine.

3 Discover what lights you up

When we obsess about productivity, we miss daily opportunities to experience joy, even in tiny slices. The pandemic reminded us that life is fleeting.

We can’t take simple pleasures, like coffee with a friend, for granted.

Work is another chance to explore what makes us happy. It’s a privilege, of course, but when you follow your curiosity, stretch your skills and take creative risks, stress diminishes and you’re more likely to enter a flow state.

Meditation is another great way to explore what matters. There’s a reason everyone suggests it: Mindfulness helps. A few minutes spent following your breath or watching your thoughts flutter in the breeze calms the brain. What often emerges is a bit of perspective; maybe even a glimmer of clarity about how and why you’re working, and what could make it better. And it’s a lot easier than hanging upside-down.

Aytekin Tank is the founder of JotForm, a popular online form builder.

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Title Partners Agency Tops the St. Louis Real Estate Market

ST LOUIS -- St. Louis-based Title Partners Agency LLC., is honored to be among this great city’s Top Workplaces this year. It’s an accomplishment that recognizes the company’s roots here, its commitment to a strong culture for both employees and customers and its embrace of innovation for a better future. The business is truly like a family and has been able to adjust through the pandemic in the same way that most families were forced to adjust.

In addition, due to favorable mortgage rates and increased housing demand, Title Partners had record sales during the past year! Again, the way the company was able to adjust to maintain proper safety measures along with the high volume of transactions was outstanding, thanks in large part to the cohesive efforts of our entire staff!

OV E R 1 0 0 Y E A R S O F F LAVO R I N N OVAT I O N

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STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS 3 ways to better connect with your boss in the virtual office CARSON TATE | Fast Company

G

one are the days of stopping by your manager’s office or catching up in the break room or at the company happy hour. In a remote work environment, out of sight can easily become out of mind. And when you add in Zoom fatigue and the inherent challenge of meaningful rapport in a virtual environment, it can be difficult to connect with your manager.

Evaluate your interactions with your manager and ask yourself if you have the visibility and relationship you want. If not, consider implementing some of these strategies to get their attention and strengthen your relationship.

1 Be your own publicist

Every Friday, send your manager a list of five bullet points describing your achievements for the week. Once a month, summarize your accomplishments and how they supported or enabled your team’s goals.

Stay top of mind and ensure your boss knows how you contribute to the team’s success.

And remember, right now your digital presence is your brand. Review all your internal communications with the same rigor as you would for external communications. Typos, slang and incomplete thoughts undercut your brand, credibility and clarity.

2 Tailor interactions to work style

When most of your interactions with your manager are via email and Zoom, it is essential that your messages are clear and understood. Tailor them to your boss’s work style preference.

Your manager’s work style is how they think about, organize and complete their tasks.

Typical work styles are: n Analytical and data-oriented n Plan-focused and detailoriented n Expressive and emotionally oriented n Strategic and idea-oriented Cater to your manager’s style in your communications with them. Read more tips below.

Implementing self-advocacy, granting honorable intent and adjusting your communication style to your manager’s work style can help you have the visibility and relationship you want with your boss in a Zoom-heavy environment.

3 Assume and grant honorable intent

When you are overstretched, and overwhelmed, it’s easy to tell yourself negative stories if your manager’s behavior offends you or seems wrong. Negative thoughts often lead to further negativity — break that cycle.

The next time your manager is especially chatty, has their camera turned off or is being a jerk, assume and grant honorable intent. Be open to the possibility that there was a decent reason for the behavior or situation and reframe it in that way.

Of course, there will be times when you are so mad you can’t break the cycle. Give yourself a pass and try again. Your goal is to realize when one negative event is adversely impacting future events and then break the cycle.

Out of sight does not mean out of mind. Be intentional in your communication with your manager and ensure that you are clearly heard and understood.

Remember, we all have bad days and could all use a little grace and humor in our interactions right now.

DETERMINING MANAGEMENT WORK STYLE To determine your boss’ work style, think about these questions. Once you determine the style, use the tips below for better communication with them.

Do they focus on project details and timelines, and include action steps in their emails?

Do they send emails with only a few words and maintain a laser focus on the team’s goals?

Do they use hand gestures while talking? Or are they more controlled in their movements?

Do they expertly build relationships and know where everyone went on vacation?

Do they divert the conversation to discussing new ideas or strategic implications?

COMMUNICATION TIPS BY WORK STYLE Analytical and data-oriented Focus on data and the facts. Be brief, succinct, clear and precise. Think through your ideas in advance and present them in a logical format.

In emails: Be direct and to the point.

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Plan-focused and detail-oriented Stay on topic, present your ideas in a sequential, organized manner, and provide detailed timelines.

Expressive and emotionally oriented Keep the conversation informal and open, and make plans with team members in equal consideration.

Strategic and idea-oriented Communicate with minimal details, visuals and metaphors. Articulate how the project aligns with company strategy.

In emails: Clearly outline your main points, next-action steps and due dates.

In emails: Include a salutation before getting into the business of the note.

In emails: Provide the big picture and context and avoid too many details.

TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

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A Culture of Success “At Janet Ja McAfee, our agents and their clients are our top priori priority. Our philosophy is, “If they’re not successful, we’re not successful.” No office fees and lucrative compensation plans succes with ffull broker and staff support for every agent.”

- Janet Horlacher, Principal

We are delighted to announce 2020 and 2021 year-to-date have been the best years in our company’s history!

PROUD TO BE A 2021 TOP WORK PLACE

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GORICK NG | Fast Company

Eliminate nuisances and streamline your workday by being a “user-friendly” co-worker

A

t a time when 67% of us are facing work-from-home burnout, it’s easy — and expected — to let our discipline slip.

It began with our attire: 60% of U.S. workers admit to wearing casual or athletic wear when working from home.

Then came the formality: 36% of workers in the United Kingdom agree with the statement,“Most people I work with are much less formal with one another than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Then came the emails, at least for me: Emails that I would have otherwise read multiple times are now getting sent without a second glance.

While it’s important not to overthink, not thinking at all can backfire.

Take the case of scheduling meetings.

As tempting as it may be to write “Let’s find a time to meet” and leave it to others to figure out the logistics, doing so can lead to an explosion of back-andforth emails.

Situations like this are preventable.

It begins with taking a page from the world of user-centered design. Designers don’t force users to adapt their behaviors to use a given product or service.

Instead, they put themselves in users’ shoes, observe their behaviors and design experiences around their needs and wants.

Designing user-friendly experiences isn’t just the stuff of designers, though.

It’s a mindset we can all apply to our day jobs in order to help others help ourselves. Here are five ways to be a “user-friendly co-worker.”

While each of these five tactics does lead to more upfront work for you, the investment pays off. Your colleagues will view you as a solutions-oriented teammate. In a world of digital maximalism, be the proactive minimalist.

your full availability 1 Offer Unless you have access to the oth-

PROACTIVE MINIMALISM

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TOP WORKPLACES • ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH • 06.20.21

ers’ calendars (and an unspoken agreement to block off times without asking first), one of you will need to offer up your availability. Rather than push the burden onto others, take the lead and offer your own availability in bullet-point form.

This way, all the other people have to do is pick a time. If they’d like to pay back the user friendliness, someone else could (and ideally should) send the calendar invitation so you don’t have to.

your nudges 2 Bundle With instant messenger — and therefore our co-workers — at our fingertips, it can be tempting to nudge others the instant we have a question. Though such an approach might be easiest for you, it isn’t always the most user-friendly for those getting interrupted every 12 minutes. Consider bundling questions and asking them all in a single sitting.

Minimizing interruptions also applies when sending emails or calendar invitations to the same person. Better yet, clarify how the other person would prefer to communicate.

3 Use easy-to-follow file names

Using file names like “Draft” and subject lines like “Update” may be easy to write, but they make files impossible to hunt down.

Instead, consider file names such as “ABC customer survey analysis — 202103-08.xlsx.” Such a format makes not only the file contents immediately obvious, but also the file easily sortable, even in a different year. Apply the same mindset to email subject lines by turning “Agenda” into “Review by 4 p.m.: Draft conference agenda.” Make it easy for others to know what the message is about before opening the email.

clear phrases 4 Write Before hitting “send,” ask yourself, “What action or actions do I want the recipient to take?” Whether it’s to answer a question, provide feedback or share information, make the call to action clear. Put it upfront, bold it if needed and, when you have multiple calls to action, list them in bullet-point form.

or draft emails 5 Schedule Answering emails at night? Keep in mind that one fewer unread email in your inbox means one more unread email in your recipient’s inbox. And if you are a manager, your 11 p.m. emails could also send the unspoken expectation that your team should be awake and working when you are.

To save others from the stress (at worst) and guesswork (at best), try clicking “send later” (in Outlook) or “schedule send” (in Gmail). That way, your email arrives when others are in a position to read and reply.

Gorick Ng is the author of “The Unspoken Rules: Secrets to Starting Your Career Off Right.” stltoday.com

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THANK YOU TO OUR OUTSTANDING EMPLOYEES for making Midwest BankCentre a Top Workplace.

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