Dear Members:
At Corporate One, we are committed to cultivating a robust organizational culture, ensuring our workforce is intentionally connected and engaged while working in different parts of the country. In 2022, we introduced a brand-new, in-person staff event called “Connection Days.” This annual event brings everyone together in one place for three days to connect and build relationships with each other and receive important company updates (while also having a bit of fun).
Connection Days are one of my favorite times of the year. I enjoy seeing everyone together and interacting in person. This year’s event included a variety of informative workshops, educational sessions, volunteer events, and fun evening outings. I thought you’d enjoy seeing some of the highlights, which I’ve included in my note this month.
Sharing a mid-year business update
Along with my fellow executive leadership team members and senior managers, I enjoyed providing a mid-year business update on company performance and goals. In addition to outlining our successes over the past six months, we recognized staff members for milestone events and discussed current and future business objectives.
Left to right: Christine Mayes, EVP, Chief Member Engagement Officer; Barb Kren, VP, Member Success Executive; Rick Fritz, VP, Investment Sales Manager; Perry Jones, VP Portfolio Manager; and I share information with staff.
Hearing from members
We love hearing from our member credit unions, and this year we were delighted to feature Brandynn Adams, VP Chief Experience Officer for Bridge Credit Union. She shared how her credit union makes a difference in its community and how the services and support they receive from Corporate One staff help her credit union achieve its mission.
Volunteer opportunities
We partnered with Nationwide Children's Hospital this year to assemble and donate 50 "Comfort Buddies." These stuffed animals are provided to children enduring a hospital stay, adjusting to foster care, or coping with a traumatic event. In addition to stuffing each animal, our staff included special messages of hope and encouragement and gave each animal a unique name. .
Left to right: Staff members Dan Caggiano, Erica Eyen, Olivia Albers, and Amy Gordon create their “Comfort Buddies.”
Below: Corporate One staff members display their finished “Comfort Buddies.”
Having some fun
Speaking of animals, we had a real one as a special guest this year. Gabe, an Australian Shepherd therapy dog owned by our EVP, Chief Financial Officer Denise Brown, stopped by to hang out. Gabe definitely brought a smile to everyone’s faces.
Denise Brown (far left) and staff enjoy a meet and greet with therapy dog Gabe.
Prashanta Pradhan, EVP, Chief Information Officer, and Gabe pose for a photo.
New this year was an optional evening event called the “Pedal Wagon.” Staff members enjoyed pedaling through downtown Columbus while exploring some of the city’s best breweries.
Corporate One staff members get ready to board the pedal wagons
Carrying on with business as usual
Despite all the fun we had (or maybe because of it), we still found time to carry on with business as usual and get a lot of work done together in person. Our finance and accounting team (below) captured some quality work time with each other.
Overall, this year’s Connection Days were a rousing success, an engaging time for our staff to recharge with each other and strengthen those working relationships that ultimately cultivate happy, satisfied members. We’re already looking forward to next year.