Presented by Vista College and The Eagle

25BESTPlaces toWork

Brazos Valley’s

2 | October 11, 2015 Best P l aces to Work 2015 T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E

Voted Top 3 Best Places to Work in the Brazos Valley

1) Baylor Scott and White2) Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX)3) Legal Monkeys

Honorary Listings of 25 Best Places to Work

Aerofi t Health and Fitness CentersAllen HondaBCR REALTORSBlinn CollegeBrazos Christian SchoolBrazos County Abstract CompanyBrazos Valley Center for Independent Living*Bryan Hose & Gasket IncC.C. CreationsCallaway-Jones Funeral Home*Cancer ClinicCollege Station Medical CenterCompassionate Care HospiceCraig Anderson, D.D.SH-E-BHilton Garden Inn College StationHome Instead Senior CareK2Share, LLCMarWay Business Services, Inc. *Messina Hof Winery & ResortNeutral Posture, Inc.Potbelly Sandwich ShopSanderson Farms, Inc.*Shannon Morton PhotographySt. Joseph Regional Health Center*Texas A&M Transportation InstituteUniversity Title Company

*Tied placements

Top 3

Honorary

Brazos Valley’s 25 Best Places to Work

By SHAUNA LEWISThe Eagle

Employee appreciation, training and a team atmosphere are some things that create a great place to work, according to winners in the 2015 Brazos Valley’s 25 Best Places to Work awards.

The top three winners, determined by voters in The Eagle’s second annual competition, are: Baylor Scott & White, fi rst; Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), second; and Legal Monkeys, third.

Jason Jennings, Baylor Scott & White president for the College Station region, said appreciation for employees helps make the company a great place to work.

“Appreciation can come in many forms,” Jennings said. “At Scott & White, the providers, directors, supervisors, managers and colleagues understand the value of each employee, and that allows everyone to be productive and feel part of the mission and vision of the organization. We hope that people will fi nd this a place where they feel rewarded, fulfi lled and motivated to do their best work.”

At TEEX employees listed making a diff erence in the community, job variety and

training as reasons the company is a great place to work.

Kathy Fraser, video production manager, who has worked at TEEX for 21 years, said, “I’ve worked here for so many years because the work is interesting and I really like my co-workers … Plus, there’s a lot of agency support for advancement. We have a variety of internal training programs and also support for continuing education.”

Legal Monkeys is a great place to work partly because of a “play as a team” approach, team members said. Its Spirit Team promotes company morale with several fun events. Legal Monkeys is also dedicated to growing and developing leaders within the company, and provides a free series of leadership presentations and workshops for employees.

Merten Rice, the company’s director of operations said, “When Legal Monkeys fi rst started six years ago, culture and taking care of our people was a fundamental building block. Today it is undeniable that we have stayed true to these foundational concepts in everything that we do.”

3833 S Texas Ave #100, Bryan, TX 77802 | Phone:(979) 260-9700

Compassionate Care Hospice of Bryan, Texas is proud to be oneof the Brazos Valley’s 25 Best Places to Work. We provide outstandinghospice care for the Brazos Valley. Our experienced caregivers providea wealth of services and are extremely friendly and compassionate.

Where Care

and Compassion

come Together

T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E Best P l aces to Work 2015 October 11, 2015 | 3

Many people would agree that making a difference in the world is vitally important to job satisfaction. At the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service, or TEEX, making a difference is part of the core mission. TEEX provides training in Firefighting

and Emergency Services, Infrastructure and Safety, Homeland Security and Law Enforcement and Economic/Workforce Development, and also sponsors Texas Task Force 1.

John Romero, Program Director for the Knowledge Engineering Center at TEEX, says, “When someone asks where I work, I’m so excited and proud to announce that I work at TEEX! Where else can an employee work that makes such a difference in the world? I usually can’t tell them fast enough that TEEX is saving lives, training our emergency managers, training essential people for public works jobs, training our police force, or helping municipalities with economic development plans to grow and create even more jobs. Or maybe I tell them we help people get a career and back on their feet, or maybe it’s that we are well-known in the cybersecurity world for providing training and assessments. Heck, we can even sell software to make people’s lives easier and more efficient.”

Kathy Fraser, Video Production Manager, has worked at TEEX for 21 years.

“I love this place! I’ve worked here for so many years because the work is interesting,

and I really like my co-workers. Where else could I shoot video of a huge fire in the morning and then electric utility workers climbing poles in the afternoon? Plus there’s a lot of agency support for advancement. We have a variety of internal training programs and also support for continuing education. It’s just an all-around great place to come to work every day!”

TEEX Director Gary Sera says, “We have great employees. We make a difference in people’s lives every day and have fun doing it. TEEX is a great place to work because we’re dedicated to improving the lives of our employees. We concentrate on a work/life balance through wellness initiatives, a tuition reimbursement program, employee recognition awards, flexible work hours

and telecommuting programs. We make a difference in the world because our training programs, our facilities and search and rescue operations help so many people. What we do makes all of our employees proud.”

Romero also says, “Why do I work here, and what keeps me here? It’s because there is no other place that I know of where we can all, as TEEXans, make a difference and CHANGE THE WORLD!”

For more information on TEEX or to apply,

visit www.teex.org.

Texas A&M Engineering Extension ServiceEmployees enjoy making a difference

Training in Firefighting/Emergency Services, Infrastructure and Safety, Homeland Security,

Law Enforcement, Economic/Workforce Development.

2nd Place200 Technology Way, College Station

979-458-6805 • www.teex.orgEmployees: 450

TEEX.org

Makes a Differencefor our Employees

VOTED #2BEST PLACETO WORK!

Economic & Workforce Development • Fire & Emergency Services • Infrastructure & Safety • Law Enforcement & Security • Homeland & Cybersecurity

4 | October 11, 2015 Best P l aces to Work 2015 T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E

Legal MonkeysCreative thinking company features ‘play as a team’ approach to work

We’ve built the most technologically advanced case

management tools to make medical records collection for law

firms simpler than ever.

3rd Place100 W. William J Parkway, Bryan

979-779-0520 • legalmonkeys.comEmployees: 85

Six years ago, with the leadership of CEO Corey Cormier and owners Danny Daniel and Jonathan Stark, Legal Monkeys was born out of the belief that there is a better way, and this company was built by creative thinkers who constantly strive to think outside the box, to innovate, and to be more than just another software company or records collection service.

Merten Rice, former Naval Officer and native of Dalhart, TX, is the company’s Director of Operations and is a recent addition to the Legal Monkeys family. He says he is excited for the company to have made it to the list because this is an opportunity for people in the community to learn about Legal Monkeys.

“Unless you are in the legal industry, it is

not likely that you know our name. For those looking for employment in this area, Legal Monkeys has definitely been, until now, a hidden gem,” according to Rice.

Ask any Legal Monkeys employee and they tend to sing the same tune. Shelly Landry has been a Medical Records Clerk at the company for the past three years, and she explains that the reason she loves her job simply comes down to the people and the culture.

“The support I receive from my teammates and the managers is amazing,” Landry continues. “One of our core values is ‘Play as a Team’, and we truly live that out here. We are all aligned to work towards the same goal and it is nice to have everyone on the same page and feel supported.”

What fosters this positive, play-as-a-team environment that is so unique to Legal Monkeys?

As Rice explains it, “When Legal Monkeys first started six years ago, culture and taking care of our people was a fundamental building block. Today, it is undeniable that we have stayed true to these foundational concepts in everything that we do.”

In the spirit of keeping the employees at the center of the company, Legal Monkeys has created their very own Spirit Team, responsible for promoting morale around the company. They coordinate events such as: Beer Fridays, Legal Monkeys Tailgating parties, Best First Week (for new employees), Tasty Thursdays, High Fives Fridays/Waffle Fridays, and the list goes on.

The company offers a lot more than

just a morale boost. Cormier is dedicated to growing and developing leaders within the company, and as such began the Legal Monkeys Leadership Series, a series of presentations and workshops on the subject of leadership that are free for all employees to attend.

Cormier has since inspired other young and aspiring leaders within the company to not only continue and further develop the Leadership Series, but also begin the Legal Monkeys Mentor Program, which assists new employees in acclimating to the culture and the work.

Interested in learning more about what it is like to work at Legal Monkeys?

Visit: legalmonkeys.com/company.

T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E Best P l aces to Work 2015 October 11, 2015 | 5

Home Instead Senior Care, placing in the 2015 Brazos Valley’s 25 Best Places to Work, focuses on relationships above all else.

Home Instead Senior Care, at 1908 Greenfield Plaza in Bryan, provides in-home care for seniors. Owner David Gest started the business in late 2001, and it opened in January 2002. The company is a great place to work, Gest said, and is looking to expand by adding 30 team members.

“The demand for caregiving has never been greater,” Gest said.

Gest said he was honored by the award because there are many great places to work in the Brazos Valley.

“We try really hard to constantly focus on our culture and what it means to have a place where people feel that they get to go to work as opposed to having to go to work,” Gest said. “We constantly stress that what we do is all about relationships, and we always place relationships above tasks. We feel this is important for both our clients and our

employees.”Gest said employees often spend more

waking hours with each other than their own families, and a supportive atmosphere helps to create an enjoyable work environment. Employees focus on the needs of both clients and team members each work day.

“We celebrate successes together – such as this one – and we pick each other up when we are down,” Gest said. “We know that a satisfying culture is created; it doesn’t just happen by itself.”

Home Instead also ensures employees are part of the team with open communication.

“I believe that our open door/open communications policy is really outstanding,” Gest said. “Nothing is off-limits to discuss, and many of our best ideas come from the least likely sources. We listen to our people and wherever practical, we implement great ideas, regardless whose idea it was.”

Home Instead hires the best employees, Gest added, which benefits staff as well as

clients. “Our goal is to have the highest paid and

happiest employees we can possibly have,” Gest said. “Many people, for example, apply to be a Home Instead Senior Care CAREGiver, but few are chosen. By creating an excellent staff, we can get so much more done than if we simply hired everyone who passes the

mirror test. This is a very personal business – taking care of someone’s mother or father is an extraordinary privilege – and we take our responsibilities very seriously.”

For more information on Home Instead or to apply, visit

www.homeinstead.com/bcs.

Home Instead Senior CareCompany seeks talented professionals

Seated, from left to right are: Chantell Shaw, CAREGiver, Cynthia Gendron, CAREGiver, Donna Williams, Director of Human Resources, Lula Paldo, CAREGiver. Standing, from left to right are: David Gest, Owner, Terry Knight, Service Coordinator, Adrienne Rhodes, Office Manager, Jessie

Lee, Director of Client Care, and Ed Hoff, Home Care Consultant.

6 | October 11, 2015 Best P l aces to Work 2015 T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E

The Eagle off ers many services, including matching businesses with job openings to people seeking employment.

The Eagle, at 1729 Briarcrest Drive in Bryan, fi rst opened in 1989. The newspaper was purchased in 2012 by Berkshire Hathaway Media Group (BH

Media Group), a division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is often known for investor Warren Buff ett, the company’s chairman, president and CEO. BH Media is a provider of information and news across print and digital platforms. It

operates 71 newspapers and other titles located in 10 states: Alabama, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Virginia. Besides The Eagle, the other BH Media newspaper in Texas is the Waco Tribune-Herald.

The Eagle has the extraordinary opportunity to provide readers with news each day of what’s happening in the Brazos Valley – in print, as well as on its website, mobile site, app and social media outlets. Each issue becomes part of history archives of the community, and countless readers over the years have saved newspaper clippings of things important to them, whether it’s a story about themselves or a loved one, a photo, an obituary or a wedding or anniversary announcement. Businesses are also able to reach The Eagle’s readers with print, online and email advertising, helping them to spread the word of their products and services, and to thrive in the area. Another important service is a variety of print and online classifi ed ads, including

employment ads.Online employment services include a

job network, where businesses can post job openings and job seekers can search for jobs by category and within a preferred distance range. Users can even apply for jobs or sign up for job alert emails on the job network.

Other features available, where employment ads can also be included with job postings, are in The Eagle’s Total Talent Reach/local and national job boards; Indeed; Google and other job search sites; diversity, social and college sites; Facebook; tweet my jobs; custom job videos; top jobs and featured employer. Employment ads are also in print in The Eagle and its weekly super saver, mailed out to 60,000 households.

For more information or to post an employment ad or search for job postings, visit bryancollegestationeagle.com, thejobnetwork.com or contact the classifi eds department at 979-776-7355 or classifi eds@theeagle.com.

The Eagle The Eagle provides services for job hunters, employers

Contact your Eagle Classifi ed Representative at 979-776-7355 for job packages and pricing

or go online to theeagle.com/classifi eds.

T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E Best P l aces to Work 2015 October 11, 2015 | 7

Teamwork and training are things that helped make Texas A&M Transportation Services a winner in the 2015 Brazos Valley’s Best 25 Places to Work competition.

Debbie Hoffmann, associate director, who has worked with the department nearly 17 years, said she felt honored by the award, especially because the department’s leadership team works hard to hire the right people and have incentives in place to create an environment where people get to know one another and enjoy coming together to do their jobs.

“At Transportation Services, we believe in teamwork and training employees so they understand our customer service philosophy and the part they play to bring it to fruition,” Hoffmann said. “When employees are confident in their roles, they are empowered to take ownership in making great outcomes happen. This fosters fun, productivity and

pride in the workplace.”To help keep employees connected,

the department has regular employee appreciation days, when the executive team goes to all the sites to visit with employees and serve them treats, she said. It also has semi-annual meetings where all employees gather for a meal and to recognize years of service or departmental award recipients. During semi-annual meetings, updates about the department are also shared so everyone knows about the department’s current major initiatives and recent accomplishments. The department also has “Did you know?” messages about daily things happening around the department and employee birthdays and an electronic bulletin board so employees can post items they want to share.

One incentive to improve productivity and to stay with the department is regular professional development opportunities so staff members are best prepared for interdepartme ntal promotional opportunities when they occur, Hoffmann said. The university also offers generous longevity, holiday and vacation pay programs, as well as

other extensive benefit packages. Several employees reflected that

Transportation Services is a great place to work because they enjoy their co-workers, as well as accomplishing tasks and helping people.

Pam Horner, assistant director for IT, has worked with the department for 34 years, and said she enjoys her job because she has seen its accomplishments and also because co-workers are “an extended family” and care for and about each other.

“The job is always interesting and with very little technology back in the ‘80s, we now have several enterprise apps that provide a multitude of services to the TAMU community that were not even remotely possible back when I started. It makes the job fun to see exactly how much we can accomplish,” Horner said.

Lynn Wiggs, department employee for 23 years and manager of special events, also said her department is a great place to work because of her co-workers and because she enjoys working with staff, guests and visitors to the A&M campus, as well as helping to plan events.

“This is a great place to work because the people are genuine and truly care about each other as individuals and not just someone they see at work,” Wiggs said. “Our leaders give us the opportunity to grow in our positions and gain knowledge to better ourselves. Our opinions and input are valued and considered.”

For more information on Transportation Services, visit transport.tamu.edu.

Texas A&M Transportation ServicesDepartment focuses on teamwork, training for enjoyable workplace

Fleet, parking and transit service provider for Texas A&M University.

1250 TAMU, College Station979-845-9700 • transport.tamu.edu

Employees: 164 budgeted; 350 student and wage

Now Hiring!

Moving Forward for You

Voted one of theBest Places to Workin the Brazos Valley!

Alternative TransportationFleet Leasing · GIS

Transit · RVParking Facilities · Traf�c Control

Special Events CashieringVehicle Maintenance

transport.tamu.edu/jobs

8 | October 11, 2015 Best P l aces to Work 2015 T H E B RYA N - CO L L EG E STAT I O N E AG L E

With over 360 retail stores across Texas and Mexico,

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