The Importance of Investing In Your Employees: And How We Can Help!

Workplace culture matters. Though a positive workplace culture isn’t created overnight, we know that the intentional time and resources to foster one is worth it, because when you do – when your team is connected, engaged, and empowered – the outcomes are impactful. 

At the heart of every local business are its people—the dedicated individuals who pour their passion and energy into serving their community and supporting a bottom line. When we invest in our people, we invest in the wellbeing of our businesses.

An efficient way we can invest in this well-being is by taking the time to intentionally create a positive workplace culture. The results can foster a sense of belonging and connection among employees. It can also play a pivotal role in employee retention and satisfaction. During a time when turnover rates are a constant concern for businesses of all sizes, business leaders have the opportunity to differentiate themselves by prioritizing the well-being and growth of their team members. With a nurturing environment where employees feel supported and empowered, local businesses can cultivate loyalty and longevity among their workforce, reducing recruitment costs and ensuring continuity in service quality.

Another area we often hear about from our business community: recruiting talent is hard. Where to find folks, finding the right folks for the right seat, etc., has proven to be a challenge especially in the past few years. 

However, tackling this problem in community makes the path toward a solution a little bit easier. 

At this year’s Leadership Summit, we want to help you not only learn how to recruit new employees, but also cultivate a positive culture that keeps employees in the right seats and building your business! Through hands-on workshop experiences and panel discussions, we will be tackling some of the challenges our workforce faces today, including best practices for building a positive workplace culture and navigating retention and recruitment strategies. 

Expert culture builder, River Aaland, Director of Training and Outreach at Ophelia’s Place, will open our time together as our morning keynote speaker, sharing insights from her 15+ years of experience. Aaland has witnessed first-hand the importance of a positive workplace culture for businesses small and large alike, whether you’re an entrepreneur kicking off your business or a seasoned corporate executive. She shares this commitment through her training offerings at Ophelia’s Place, where she helps businesses and community organizations understand that professional development is key to empowering staff and service providers. We look forward to having her lay the groundwork for our time together! 

We are also thrilled to end our day with a closing keynote inspired workshop from Justin Freeman, owner/CEO of Bagels Sphere, and culture-building expert. Spending his career in food manufacturing and copacking, Justin has made it his mission to lead with kindness to support organizational success. Justin is known for his skill in empowering leaders and team members to lead with respect, kindness, and compassion while maintaining strategic organizational efforts. At the end of this summit, Justin will guide participants through a collaborative, day-end workshop that will help participants operationalize the day’s learning – providing the tools and confidence needed to implement these newly learned strategies into each leader’s workplace.

We know that a commitment to creating a positive workplace culture is foundational to employee wellbeing and meeting recruitment, retention, and hiring goals. During the Leadership Summit, we’ll work together to identify strategies to attract and keep top talent. Talented workers are drawn to environments where they can make a tangible impact and be recognized for their contributions, qualities that are inherent in businesses that prioritize fostering a positive culture. By showcasing their commitment to employee development and well-being, local businesses can attract skilled professionals who are eager to be part of a team dedicated to serving the community. 

Investing in building and maintaining a positive workplace culture is truly a cornerstone for long-term business success. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with some of our community’s brightest minds in leadership at this year’s Leadership Summit. Will you join us?