John Triscoli, senior vice president and CIO at Erickson Living, says his company offers the right mix for workers. "There's a great mission to rally around. We have a diverse application set, and IT can have an impact on the business, so the work is very exciting," he says.
The Catonsville, Md., operator of retirement communities has a comprehensive benefits package for its workers that includes 40 hours of paid volunteer time annually. The company also offers flexible work schedules, tuition reimbursement for degree programs, and health centers on some of its campuses.
Kelley Gurley, a senior business analyst, says that while the benefits are great, it's her colleagues who make the company a great place to work. "If there's a hit to be taken, you take it as a team. If someone receives the glory, we all do," she says, adding that Erickson seeks out people who fit into its team culture. "[Work] never feels like it's a chore, or a paycheck. We go in every day and really work well together."
Annual goal-setting, individual development plans and training opportunities help ensure that each employee is moving forward, says Danielle Junker, service manager for enterprise applications. And in addition to formal training, she adds, "there are always interesting projects to work on, so you're always learning about the new technology."
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