Giving is a remarkable thing and gosh, if feels good.

One of the great things about working at C&A is the giving spirit that permeates our workplace throughout the year.

Our most widespread effort is AurElves, an annual C&A tradition. During the month of December, teams and departments across the company, including our regional offices, worked together to fulfill needs, instill hope, spread cheer, and just lend a hand. Together, we reached hundreds of families, children, seniors, and men & women of all ages. It’s hard to find words to explain the spirit and energy present at C&A during this time, other than “extraordinary.”

One team held a holiday concert and purchased gifts for the residents of Maple Crest Nursing Home. Another donated thousands of diapers to Lydia House, one of our local shelters for women and children. Other departments sent cards to troops overseas; volunteered time at outreach centers, the Salvation Army Toyland, The Food Bank for the Heartland, and Open Door Mission; served meals; and purchased supplies for the Ronald McDonald House, Ted E. Bear Hollow, and Rainbow House. And, of course, many teams adopted families through organizations such as the Salvation Army, Angels Among Us, the Visiting Nurses Association, and WCA, among many other acts of kindness and generosity.

Now that we’re full throttle into 2012, I know there are activities on the horizon and more ways that C&A employees can make a difference outside of our workspaces, such as the NAMIWalks in June, which raises funds for the Nebraska chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and other events. In fact, our NAMI Committee is already busy coming up with a slate of fun ideas that will get our co-workers involved and energized.

Stay tuned for these accounts. The year has just begun!

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Mary Carrick is a Sr. Communications Specialist with C&A, Industries. In her role, she’s responsible for crafting spot-on copy for internal and external audiences, coordinating public relations efforts, co-producing videos, and various other special projects. Outside of her career at C&A, she’s a professional singer, an actress, and a mom.

C&A’s annual weight loss competition, Weigh-to-Goal, has kicked off and nearly one-quarter of our workforce is getting serious about diet and exercise. Two weeks in, weekly weigh-ins have begun and already we can hear more “healthy speak” in the breakrooms and around the water cooler.

In this competition, nobody gets kicked off and leaves the ranch. And, we’ve done away with awarding top finishers based on percentage, so as to encourage weight loss that’s achieved in a healthful way, without extremes.

This year, the contest focuses on personal goal-setting with prizes going to those who meet their mid-point goals and a grand prize drawing for those who meet and exceed their goals at the end of the 12 and 18-week tracks.

It’s early yet but if history rings true, as a group we’ll shed hundreds of pounds. It’s one of those times when it’s great to be a loser. We’ll keep you updated on our progress!

Hundreds of C&A employees converged on the Embassy Suites LaVista to recognize outstanding performers, get excited about our future, and celebrate the accomplishments of our organization over the past year. An entire event dedicated to our employees. It was inspiring and a lot of fun.

Everything from the configuration of our meeting room, to décor and hors d’oeuvres played off of our zen-like theme, “Satori: Enlighten & Ignite” (def. “satori”: sudden enlightenment).

Cy Wakeman, a nationally known writer and speaker kicked things off with a dynamic presentation that challenged all of us to consider whether or not we’re ready to use the abilities and talents we have to seize the opportunities presented to us. She pulled from her personal experience running a marathon and delivered it in her trademark straight forward yet humorous style. I know I was motivated and others I talked with afterwards were as well.

After Cy’s presentation a series of individual and team awards were presented, including our President’s Club, Outstanding Team Achievement, and Employee of the Year awards, among many others.

As employees moved to the post-awards reception, we were greeted by a rumbling “fire and ice” sound and light show. For a while I thought I was in Las Vegas. It was also fun just to mingle the crowd and talk with fellow employees and spouses about the event and just catch up a little.

It’s always amazing how many people work for C&A when you see them all together in one room. It was also a perfect opportunity to personally congratulate the award winners and thank those who worked so hard to organize the event.

As I was driving home, I was glad that our senior management team understood the importance of this recognition event. Even in a tougher economy, when many companies are cutting out the frills and extra expenses, they made sure that employees were recognized for their contributions, understood the vision for our future, and had the opportunity to celebrate accomplishments. I can’t wait to see what this upcoming year has in store for all of us at C&A.
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About Bret Williams: Bret began his career at C&A in 2002 as a recruiting manager. He was awarded C&A’s highest honor of Employee of the Year in 2005 and has continued to grow with the company as it has expanded, now serving as the Director of HR, a position he’s held since 2006. Bret has a bachelor’s degree in HR management is an active member of both The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the local Human Resource Association of the Midlands (HRAM) organizations. Away from work, family, church, and basketball consume most of Bret’s spare time. He serves as an Elder in his church and volunteers for many of its activities and committees. Bret also coaches girl’s basketball and is currently in his third season as head coach for one of Millard West girl’s feeder teams. When he’s not spending cherished time with his wife and two kids, Bret jumps on his Harley Softtail and goes for a ride or grabs a fishing pole and heads for the lake.

Being an artsy, music person, imagine how jazzed I was when I found out that C&A was a sponsor of Jazz on the Green, one of the hip and happening spots to enjoy some hot fun in the summertime. 

And – with glee – not only were we a sponsor, but C&A was going to make one of the dates a family affair, line up a reserved area on the lawn, and spring for dinner onsite.

I decided to bring my two year-old with me and make it a mother-son outing.  And the temps cooperated and dipped below 90.  Boy, this summer has been a scorcher. 

Employees, their families, and guests began arriving around 5:30 p.m., straight from work.  We enjoyed sandwiches and munchies on the lawn, mingled with each other, and took in the scene.

The featured entertainer, Steve Raybine and his band, began at 7:00.  You could really sense a cool vibe and the feeling of community out there on the lawn as newbies mixed with veteran attendees. 

Despite a light shower, the spirit certainly wasn’t dampened.  It was a fun place to be.  And great to know that C&A was a part of it. 

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Mary Carrick is a Sr. Communications Specialist with C&A, Industries.  In her role, she’s responsible for crafting spot-on copy for internal and external audiences, coordinating public relations efforts, co-producing videos, and various other special projects.  Outside of her career at C&A, she’s a professional singer, an actress, and a mom.

The series has also become a tradition at C&A.  As in past years, C&A hosted a fun-filled family event at the ballpark on June 17^th, the night of the CWS Opening Ceremonies.  It’s a celebration we look forward to every year – a time for us to come together outside of the workplace and be a part of the excitement that is “America’s pastime”, baseball.

We gathered at the Pavilion, a tent near the stadium.  Employees ate, laughed, admired each other’s kids, and let our hair down a bit.  Afterwards, most headed to the ballpark to catch the ceremonies and the grand fireworks display.   

At this writing, teams are still in action, swinging for a place in the finals.  I’m using some vacation time today to catch an afternoon game with my hubby.  I love the CWS tradition.  And it makes me feel good that the company I work for loves it, too.

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Mary Carrick is a Sr. Communications Specialist with C&A, Industries.  In her role, she’s responsible for crafting spot on copy for internal and external audiences, coordinating public relations efforts, co-producing videos, and various other special projects.  Outside of her career at C&A, she’s a professional singer, an actress, and a mom.

Over 20 people walked with the C&A team, raising nearly $5,300 for the cause!  And C&A was honored to be at the front of the line, leading the walk with our “Knock Out The Stigma” t-shirts.

A big thank you goes to the C&A employees who either participated in the event or contributed in some way to this great and very worthy cause. Overall, the NAMI Walk raised over $54,000! We are proud to have been a part of it.

Maybe it’s the time in which we live and all that’s going on in the world.  When something big happens, it’s comforting to think about someone thousands of miles away reading virtually the same headline in the daily paper and feeling the same angst, fear, exuberance, or sense of hope as you.   

I’ve also been thinking about my own workplace – the people I regularly work with and also those I pass in the hallways, give a “hey” to at the copy machine, and chat it up with while in line for the microwave in the break room. 

We have quite a few causes that we support at C&A.  Some are “corporate” driven causes and others are spearheaded by employees.  But, it’s most inspiring when there’s a cause that’s deeply rooted in the corporate “who we are” but is also passionately supported by our employee family.  It connects us and unites us – people from different departments and across all levels of the company, including our execs on the top floor. 

The NAMI Walk is one of the big events of the year for us.  You may not be familiar with NAMI, but chances are you know someone who is affected by mental illness. 

NAMI provides education, support, and advocacy for those who are suffering from mental illnesses as well support for their caregivers, family members, and friends.  It’s an important organization that does extraordinary work on behalf of those who are struggling, are in a dark place, and need somewhere to turn. 

One of the ways C&A supports the work of NAMI Nebraska is through the annual NAMI Walk.  We’ll be there on June 11th in Omaha’s Elmwood Park.  C&A is a corporate sponsor, but the real shout out goes to our employees who support the walk with great passion and fervor. 

Our enthusiastic committee members have planned a slate of activities to engage our colleagues and raise funds.  So far, we’ve had a breakfast, a grill-out, and next week we’ll each kick in some cash so we can spend a couple of work days in our comfy jeans.  We’re getting really close to our fundraising goal. 

And, of course, there’s the C&A contingent who will walk together at the event.  Some will have their kiddos in tow.  Others may bring their spouses or significant others. 

It’s inspiring to see compassion in action.  It’s inspiring to see that common thread bring people together.

We’re crossing our fingers for a bright and sunny day. Sunshine would be fitting for the NAMI Walk.  But regardless, together as a C&A community we will have helped make the future a little bit brighter for people who really need a ray of light. 

Learn more about the NAMI Walk.

About Mary Carrick:

Mary is a Sr. Communications Specialist with C&A Industries, Inc.  In her role, she’s responsible for crafting spot on copy for internal and external audiences, coordinating public relations efforts, co-producing videos, and various other special projects.  Outside of her career at C&A, she’s a professional singer, an actress, and a mom.

For most of us, our days are full, overflowing actually, between our responsibilities at work and at home.  So often, life moves at a feverish and frantic pace.  We hardly know if we’re coming or going.  For me, it seems like wellness is the first thing to fly out the window. 

I’m the classic, “I’ll do better tomorrow,” person.  It’s nothing for me to swap a workout for a lunchtime errand or opt for the Mc D. drive-thru on those days when the morning rush leaves little time to prepare my lunch ahead of time.  I need to make a conscious effort or wellness – my own personal wellness – doesn’t take a seat at the VIP table. 

This makes me appreciate, even more, the work of our wellness worker bees and banner wavers at C&A. 

Just recently, the AurHealth team organized a Poker Walk.  What a fun way to get employees up and moving over the lunch hour.  Participants took to the 1-mile course and earned playing cards along the way.  Those with the best hands at the finish won prizes.  The event was the precursor to our recently launched Walking Club, which will be active during the lunch hours over the spring and summer months.

Earlier in the year, employees lost more than 500 pounds during our annual Weigh-to-Goal contest.  Thanks to the weekly weigh-ins, a great prize to shoot for, and the support of my fellow participants, I shed more than 25 lbs. in 12-weeks!  This was a huge accomplishment for this life-long dieter.

Our annual Health Fair here at our corporate headquarters in March was awesome.  Employee attendance was up, due in large part to Wellness being even more present at the office, the improvements made to existing programs and events, and the many new ones this dedicated team comes up with throughout the year.

And just this morning, I was reading the latest “Stall Street Journal” issue about making an active lifestyle a family affair.  It gave me some ideas that I can try out at home with my little ones.

More than a great employee perk, I think our Wellness program is a necessity.  When I’m healthier I’m happier and when I’m happier I’m more productive in all facets of my life, including at the desk where I sit writing this post.  I know my co-workers feel the same. 

I may not participate in each and every Wellness event, but knowing that they are available to me goes a long way.  And, it’s a constant reminder – that kick in the pants that I seem to need – to make my own health a priority.

About Mary Carrick:

Mary is a Sr. Communications Specialist with C&A Industries, Inc.  In her role, she’s responsible for crafting spot on copy for internal and external audiences, coordinating public relations efforts, co-producing videos, and various other special projects.  Outside of her career at C&A, she’s a professional singer, an actress, and a mom.