Top ten employers

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Top ten employers
Some you've heard of, some you haven't–here are the hottest spots to get on payroll

by maxine glass

Ten homegrown businesses hide between the prosperous Wisconsin cornfields and the great presence of the Capitol, tucked far within the towering pine trees and glass-topped lakes. Some remain conspicuous, unable to deny their globally known brand names, while others continue to prosper quietly. Whatever their status, these companies are linked by their mutual emphasis on a desired quality of life for their employees. For young professionals, they offer more than the tangible numbers negotiated in contracts; rather they stand behind an inherent value of hard work and full life. Take a step away from the daily grind and discover the Midwestern mentality that drives some of the nation’s best businesses.

SC Johnson racine
When they say "SC Johnson, a family company," they’re not just referring to the management. Joining this team of ambitious business people means you join a family, too. For the past 119 years, SC Johnson has remained a family-owned, family-managed company bringing consumers products like Windex, Ziploc and OFF! But what does it really mean to be family-owned? For SCJ, it means taking care of its employees and ensuring a balance between work and personal life at their headquarters in Racine and around the world. So it shouldn’t be any surprise that the company has ranked among the 100 best companies for working mothers for the past 17 years and in the top 10 for the past three years. “People are attracted to family values,” says SC Johnson spokeswoman Petrell Ozbay.

If being one of the family isn’t enough, SC Johnson proudly boasts its environmental consciousness and its effort to “work toward economic vitality, environmental health, social equality and whatever else influences how we do business,” Ozbay says. In fact, it is so important to the company to remain environmentally safe and efficient, that in 1975, SC Johnson voluntarily and completely eliminated chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from their aerosol products because of the chemical’s deteriorating effects on the ozone. They instituted this policy three years before a federal mandate required it of all companies. Since 1990, 460 billion pounds of waste have been cut out of products and processes by using recyclable materials and less harsh chemicals. Steve Langer, senior manager of global platform service, sums up the company’s position: “SC Johnson has been doing what’s right for the environment because it’s the right thing to do.”

Lands’ End dodgeville
It’s hard to resist a phrase like “satisfaction guaranteed.” In the reusable, disposable, all-sales-final world of today, consumers don’t often get the feeling that the “quality” product they buy will really stand up. Thankfully, Lands’ End clears up that confusion. Being a direct merchant, they eliminate the middleman and work exclusively with trusted suppliers. This not only establishes strong bonds with what they call their “allies,” but it shaves off extra cost for consumers.

Lands’ End places emphasis on the quality of their employees’ lives in and out of the office through the flexibility of their benefits. “Our aim is that these programs will provide our employees with financial support and time away from work, enabling them to balance their work and family responsibilities with peace of mind,” says Bernadette Schnell in Employee Services. Most admirable about the company is the enthusiasm it has for its product. From its establishment in 1963, Lands’ End has continued to stand behind its products with confidence. And why not? As they say, "It's guaranteed. Period."

Broadjam madison
Never heard of it? You will soon. Providing online services for musicians and the music industry, Broadjam’s services are threefold. The biggest aspect of their business focuses on the 40,000 indie musicians and bands who can upload their music and refer producers and fans to a website (www.broadjam.com). For music lovers, the site features intensely specific search options including female/male vocalist, genre, subject, mood and 40 other categories. Broadjam also caters to the music industry, working closely with labels like Warner and Billboard. Most impressively, they took responsibility for the voting for the American Country Music Awards this year. Their final aspect, though currently in the working stages, will involve selecting the best artists on their site and working with music licensing. Impressed yet?

Still in its early years, the staff seems small at 16 employees, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t expanding. Planning to launch a nationwide public relations and marketing campaign in 2006, Broadjam hopes to spread its name outside the music industry to the general public, and Elkins says they’ll be looking to take on multiple new staff members. “We tend to hire young people and let them have a lot of responsibility early on,” Elkins says. “And it’s responsibility they wouldn’t have gotten from other larger corporations.” Open creativity, casual office and pizza lunch every Friday. Doesn’t sound too bad.

Kimberly-Clark neenah
To put it simply, “We’re big league,” says Director of Distribution Mike Kalinowski. “There is a tremendous amount of opportunity at Kimberly-Clark. It’s a global company with global-scale issues and opportunities,” he says. With products sold in 150 countries and manufacturing in 37 countries, the little paper mill founded in Neenah has exploded into a major global player in health and hygiene products. Boasting milestones like the first paper towel and Huggies diapers, Kimberly-Clark has continued to grow and change with the times.

The close-knit, amiable atmosphere has the characteristics of a privately owned company, which is reflected in employees’ attitudes about their work. Their exceptional benefits are unlike most other companies, with a special focus on accommodating their employees. Along with the standard week vacation, employees have the option to buy extra weeks of time off. So if someone wants to take an extra week of vacation, that week’s salary will be prorated and subtracted equally over the course of the year. Kalinowski thinks this is an extra perk for young professionals who may want to travel but lack the time because of work commitments. Another unique benefit includes access to financial counselors from Ernst & Young, who assist young professionals in preparing for future financial security. These exclusive opportunities make Kimberly-Clark an especially attractive company to 20-somethings with a focus on their career but also the other things in life.

Direct Supply milwaukee
One of the beauties of being a privately owned company is that employees can concentrate on their quality of work instead of reporting to shareholders, and can make out with some phenomenal benefits. At Direct Supply, they take pride in proclaiming that every employee is an owner (through their exceptional 401(k) plan) and should be treated as a business partner. Sales Recruiter Tina Hanneman says this mentality ensures employees are responsible for their work, not wanting to risk letting the entire team down. It’s important for them to treat co-workers with respect because they extend that attitude to their communication with clients. As the nation’s leading equipment supplier for the health industry, Direct Supply provides every aspect of nursing home care “from the front door to the back door,” Hanneman says. This includes anything from furniture to life-sustaining oxygen containers.

The Milwaukee-based company just celebrated its 20th anniversary and expects to have 1,500 employees in the next five to 10 years. Hanneman says they are always looking to hire, but warns that the process is competitive. They look for potential employees with brains, character, drive and experience—referred to within the company as the Bs, Cs, Ds and Es. And it is through their unique employees that they create their valuable work environment where, according to Hanneman, promotions are based on merit and not tenure. Part owner at 29—why not?

CUNA Mutual Group madison
It’s common knowledge that young professionals are said to average only two to three years at a company before moving on (and often up) in a different business venue. And while this may be an exciting and appealing life for some, others may look for stability and constancy in their careers. CUNA Mutual Group offers just that: a chance to grow and evolve but remain in the same organization. “It’s not just a place to get a job, but a place to get a career,” says Media Relations Manager Phil Tschudy. He has been with the company for 21 years and still hasn’t found a reason to leave. Coming out of school with a journalism background, Tschudy was first hired by CUNA Mutual in product management and later switched to public relations.

Clearly, this mutual group is not only stocked with number crunchers. Corporate Recruiter Nicki McCurdy says CUNA Mutual hires employees with a wide variety of backgrounds including information technology, marketing and human relations. Headquartered in Madison, the company has 6,000 employees worldwide working for the leading financial services provider to credit unions and their members. With competitive benefits—including an extremely generous 401(k) plan—and endless opportunities to grow, you might want to consider making your next career move your final one.

Epic Systems Corporation madison
“Do good,” reads the company’s mission statement. It may seem oversimplified, but it honestly reflects the way Epic does business and treats its employees. It begins within the company itself, with “a company of overachievers” as Human Relations Representative Jennifer Peterson says. They try to humanize their workers as much as possible through respectable dress codes and more office spaces rather than closed off, depressing cubicles. They also “do good” in their day-to-day business as a healthcare software company that deals specifically with patient care, which includes registering, scheduling and all aspects of the billing process. Peterson says Epic is “attractive for smart, successful people to work with other smart, successful people.”

In the process of moving to a new campus in Verona, just under 15 miles from Madison, Epic has attempted to “do good” in this venue as well. When constructing the new facility, they installed a geo-thermal cooling and heating system, which uses underground wells to deliver water. This method is not only cheaper to run, but also uses half the energy of conventional heating and cooling methods. They also chose to build underground parking that maximizes green space instead of a 20-acre pavement parking lot. And possibly most impressive, during the construction process, Epic and its construction company proudly boast they have managed to recycle 65 percent of the waste. So it seems that the two little words mean much more than doing good—they represent a way of life.

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network milwaukee
Twenty-five years old and stuck in a cubicle isn’t exactly what anyone would call, “living the dream.” But don’t be fooled–there is life beyond the cubicle. Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (called "The Network" by those who know it well) offers the freedom to curse the cubicle and find a new way of life. The Network is the sales and distribution arm of the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Through its financial representatives, The Network helps clients meet personal and business financial goals. The unique aspect is that these financial representatives are contracted, not hired, and though contracted, financial representatives still receive all major benefits comparable to competitors.

But The Network doesn’t hand just anyone a financial representative badge. They make sure the candidate is a perfect match for the company. Director of Campus Selection Melissa Moody thinks the company’s recruitment process, called selection and development, is one of the best things about the company. She says it’s a multistep mutual selection process that “allows us to understand a candidate’s skills and goals, which help us mutually determine if this business is a good fit for their skills.” After ensuring a perfect match, The Network gives each financial representative the training needed to work efficiently and independently. Say goodbye to the cubicle—life is waiting.

M&I Bank Marshall & Ilsley milwaukee
When Samuel Marshall and Charles Ilsley joined forces in 1849, they could only have dreamed their brokerage business operating out of half a cobbler’s shop would turn into Wisconsin’s largest banking presence with just under 200 banks throughout the state. Though the company has been in business more than 150 years, they have not lost their founders’ principles of quality and commitment to the community.

Providing the highest quality both in business transactions and in employees is of utmost importance to M&I. They trust their employees’ opinions so greatly that more than 40 percent of their hired employees were from the company’s referral program. And with benefits like 30 percent of M&I stock and eventual profit-sharing, this bank is one you can put your money on.

New England Financial waukesha
Too much cash on your hands? Worried about how to manage your ever-growing bank account? Probably not. New England Financial focuses on high-net-worth individuals and small businesses that need help managing their finances. But they also work with the less prosperous financial situations of young professionals and offer first-year commissions and a training allowance.

At its Waukesha office, New England Financial focuses on the needs of the community. This branch was established in 1846 and now reigns as the state’s oldest financial services firm. Recruiting Director Jackie Parrott says the company pairs new financial representatives with managers to have one-on-one meetings and experience fieldwork together. “This gives them credibility when dealing with clients,” she says. With their outstanding recruitment website and enthusiasm for new reps, New England Financial takes care of their employees. For more information visit www.beafinancialplanner.com.