Owner and Chief Operating Officer Robin Kocina firmly believes that by creating a corporate culture where giving back is accepted and encouraged, employees can be happier and more productive. “This is one reason why we have worked hard to ensure that our company has a ‘pay it forward’ philosophy.”
Kocina was invited by the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce to participate in today’s WOW Conference panel, entitled “Attitudes for Success.”
“Our employees understand the importance and value of giving back to their community,” she told the audience. We encourage and endorse volunteerism, and applaud the efforts of our employees. People are happy and proud to come to work and be part of a team that is making a difference. I firmly believe that this is behind our ability to retain so many high-energy “A” players, and why we continue to thrive well beyond the typical lifespan of agencies in our industry.”
Kocina cautioned companies to be selective because it would be easy to spread themselves too thin. “Find a few, select charities that fit with your passions and focus on those,” she advised.
“Small businesses are essential to this country’s economic future. The way I look at it, we don’t just have an address in Minnesota. That’s our home base. From there, we have forged business and community outreach ties that literally spread throughout the country. And we’re just 50 employees!
“If we all pitch in to help – corporations, nonprofits and individuals – we can lift people up so that they can be in a position to help themselves. And in doing so, we lift ourselves to even greater heights. Imagine what we could accomplish if we all did that!”
