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.

The buzz of the announcement scurried through the hallways and our employees were noticeably excited.  Our senior management team walked through all departments handing out “3-peat” cookies and personally congratulating employees.

I looked through the results we received and was impressed with how we scored in Trust, Goal Alignment, and Individual Contribution.  With that said, we certainly have things that we need to work on, but when your employees vote you as one of the “Best Places to Work” that speaks volumes about your mission, values, and culture.  It also acknowledges the effort we’ve put into organizational communication and soliciting employee input on a myriad of issues affecting the company and its workforce.

I believe there’s a correlation between company performance, employee retention, and the satisfaction of your employees.  As we’ve moved into 2011, C&A is well positioned to have another successful year. 

If you’re interested in a career where you can influence the lives and careers of people everyday and work for an organization that engages its employees to be the best, then check us out on our corporate website at www.ca-industries.com.  

Maybe you, too, can be a part of something special.

Bill is an experienced runner, having competed in three half marathons and a full marathon over the last three years. The Chicago and Omaha half marathons and the San Antonio full marathon are some of the races Bill has run in. He started running a few years ago to get back in shape. To keep himself motivated, he started signing up for races. While training, he runs 1-2 times a week and supplements his workouts with other cardio such as spinning and stairs. He also lifts weights a couple times a week.

Bill says that staying focused on the weekly mileage on a consistent basis is the most difficult thing about training, but that the amazing feeling of accomplishment when finishing a race keeps him going.

For those wanting to run any distance race, Bill offers, “Be realistic with your goals. My first race, my goal was to finish.”

While this will be Rory’s first race longer than a 10K, a half marathon is a challenge that he is ready for. Over the past few years, he has put a larger focus on getting in shape and living a healthier lifestyle. In that time, he has lost around 40 pounds! With the increase in cardio workouts, Rory was able to increase his running distance and set a goal of running a half marathon in 2011 and a full marathon in 2012.

Because of the Nebraska winter weather, most of Rory’s training has been mostly on the treadmill. Each week he sets a new goal for distance and time, aiming to stretch out his endurance a little at a time.

When asked what the most rewarding aspect is of training/running a half marathon, Rory said, “A couple of years ago I would have never thought I would be able to do anything like this. The high that you get from checking something like this off your ‘list’ is awesome.”

Both Bill and Rory have set a goal to finish within an hour and 50 minutes, which is about an average of 8:40 a mile. Good luck to both!

Each December, teams and departments from across C&A join together to reach out, infuse joy, and make the season just a little bit brighter for hundreds upon hundreds of people throughout the community.  It’s safe to say most all of our employees participate in some way, whether volunteering their time, shopping for gifts, or writing a check.

We call our Holiday giving initiative “AurElves”.  To explain, the prefix plays off of the names of several of our company divisions that also begin with “Aur”. 

This year, our many AurElves touched the lives of children, struggling families, senior citizens, and other men and women in need.  Some are homeless, some have sought shelter from domestic violence, some have children undergoing medical treatment, and others just need to know that someone cares. 

Here’s a glimpse into the Holiday magic that took place.  Then read on to learn more about our specific efforts. 

2010 QUICK STATS:

• 3,500 diapers donated
• Thousands of meals served
• 76 individuals adopted
• More than $800 cash donated
• Hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items donated
• Clothing, paper and health products donated
• Craft items donated
• Through community specific events, collected thousands in cash donations and hundreds of pounds of food donated
• Hosted a craft hour with children
• Sponsored a holiday party
• Stocked and cleaned pantries/kitchens at shelters
• Decorated facilities for the holidays
• Assisted individuals shop for gifts for their children
• Donated teddy bears, craft items and gifts for stocking stuffers

 AURELVES IN ACTION:

Aureus Medical Divisions:

• Rehabilitation Therapy and Speech Branches volunteered at the Open Door Mission/Timberlake Outreach Center.  One team member noted, “Once we arrived we were immediately inspired to do what we could to help. After meeting with the volunteer coordinator we learned how important their services are to those in need. Our first task was to compile 300 sack meals for the overnight visitors they expected. I was really impressed to see how quickly the team broke up and started helping out. Everyone pitched in however possible, from mopping the kitchen floors to serving dinner.  Before the afternoon was over, we were already talking about when we could help out again.”
• Quality Assurance Team and Physician Search Division decorated the MICAH House in Council Bluffs for the Holidays.
• Medical Laboratory Branch donated 2,400 diapers to the Lydia House, a shelter for women.
• Radiology Branch adopted a family through the organization, Angels Among Us.  The family has a 6 year-old girl who has been battling cancer for several years. 
• Radiology Branch visited the Children’s Respite Center and presented them with a gift card to Target, which they planned to use to buy presents for the kids and given to them at their Holiday party. 
• FocusOne Solutions adopted the same thankful family they have adopted for the last several years; nine children (ages 1 – 17).
• Cardiopulmonary Branch, with the help of AurStaff and Sonja Markle, worked with the Stephen Center, which partners with the community, families and individuals to overcome homelessness, addiction, and poverty.  The team provided a chili lunch for more than 40 residents on December 17, including pies, corn bread, chips, and cookies for the rest of the day. The team also collected non-perishable food items and other necessities; delivered more than three SUV loads of donated clothes and supplies; and Hy-Vee provided a grocery cart full of donated food.
• Nursing – East Branch helped out at the Salvation Army Toyland event on Friday, December 17.  They assisted parents, grandparents, and guardians who had registered for the program as they gathered gifts for their children.
• Nursing – SW Branch donated 1,092 diapers for the Lydia House.
• Nursing – Mountain West and Advance Practice teams volunteered at the Food Bank for the third year in a row sorting food in the warehouse. One team member noted, “It is an honor to give back to the community and help an organization that greatly impacts the less fortunate.” 
• Nursing – Midwest Branch hosted a craft hour at Children’s Hospital.
• Nursing – California and Midwest Branches – adopted a family with a very sick six year-old child (“Meme”) who was born with Chronic Ideopathic Intestinal Pseudo Obstruction.  He has undergone two transplants, suffered from organ rejection, and endured many surgeries.  He is now dealing with graft-versus-host rejection and recently decided that he would rather, “dance with the angels” than be put through more treatment.  He’s been given only six more months to live.  The branches raised more than $400 dollars and received a $50 gift card donation from the Amazing Pizza Machine. The branches purchased personal items for “Meme” and also gifts for his mother and sisters.  Said one team member, “When meeting Meme, it was hard to believe that he had gone through as much as was told to us.  His spirit was uplifting, he was full of personality, and he made us all laugh. His mother said this was the first Christmas in six years that she is able to spend with all three of her children together. A bitter sweet Christmas.”
• Administrative Team served lunch at the Open Door Mission. Stacey Steyskal indicated that the people they served were so thankful and appreciative of them being there to help. 

 Celebrity Staff:

• Des Monies Branch volunteered for the Combat Hunger Food Drive sponsored by Des Moines radio station STAR 102.5.  Adam McCoy and Ben Nunnikhoven joined many other premier Des Moines employers on Thursday Nov. 18, 2010, and collected thousands in cash donations and more than seven pallets of food.  All donations went directly to the Food Bank of Iowa.  
• Lincoln Branch adopted a family of four through Matt Talbot’s Kitchen, providing the family an uncooked Thanksgiving meal.  The team also adopted the same family for Christmas. 
• Omaha Branch served meals at the Open Door Mission.

 AurHomes:

Purchased gifts and stocking stuffers for the Siena Francis House.

 Aureus Group:

Worked with Cooper Village in Omaha, which provides a highly structured academic and residential psychiatric treatment for boys aged 12 to 18.

There were 45 children in need this year. Aureus Group put together individual gift baskets containing a number of items that were a combination of fun and practical. 

In past years, Aureus Group provided Cooper Village with a projector television and a couple of Wii councils. This year they purchased four additional Wii games and a ping pong table for their community room. The kids will also be rewarded for good behavior through tickets to UNO, Creighton, and Omaha Lancer sporting events. Along with the gifts, the team threw the kids a Holiday party.

None of this would have been possible without the contributions made by Aureus Group employees who were kind enough to contribute anything they could to help these kids have a happy Holiday.  Along with Aureus Group, corporate sponsors provided donations, including Costco, CVS Pharmacy, Wal-Mart, Subway, Mr. Goodcents, Scheels, UNO, and Creighton.

 Corporate Departments:

• Executive Team served lunch at the Open Door Mission on December 10.
• Chris Orsborn, Natalie Nowak, Barb Ely, Lori Wolf and Dana Gross volunteered their time at the Salvation Army.  They registered families for aid during the Holidays (groceries and Christmas gifts for their children through the Adopt-a-Family program featured on Omaha radio station 104.5.)
• B&I team provided craft supplies to Ted E Bear Hollow to be used during their Tinsel & Tears day camps for children grieving from the loss of a loved one. 
• Training & Development adopted a family of five through the YWCA.
• Marketing Department donated blankets to the Lydia House and will be serving a meal at the Open Door Mission
• IS / IT teams donated 20 teddy bears to Children’s World Daycare and Respite Center for their Christmas party.  On December 1, a group of employees, spouses, and children donated their time at the Open Door Mission.  They were immediately put to work, serving food, cleaning out the pantry and washing dishes.  The teams also sponsored a family with six children from the Salvation Army. When talking with the mother about their needs, she indicated all she wanted and needed were groceries, nothing special for herself.  The team had fun shopping for all six kids’ clothes and a fun gift.  They also included a grocery card.

 Many thanks to our AurElves Coordinator, Chris Orsborn, for spearheading a very successful AurElves 2010 and for providing this recap of the remarkable and collective efforts of C&A employees.

I like to think we have something special at C&A.  In fact, I know we do. 

________________________________________

About Mary Carrick:

Mary is a Sr. Communications Specialist with C&A Industries.  In her role, she’s responsible for crafting 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.

Steve Wilson, account manager with Aureus Group, took advantage of the opportunity to not only enjoy the nice summer weather, but get some physical exercise and brought his family to enjoy the day with him. Steve shared a little about their day on the course.

Why did you decide to do the Corporate Cycling Challenge?
Bike riding is something that we enjoy doing as a family. This is a great ride and the day ended up being perfect weather for riding.

How many times have you completed the Corporate Cycling Challenge?
This is the fourth consecutive year that we have participated in the cycling challenge. My wife and two daughters, Jillian, 9 and Paige, 12, plus my brother and sister-in-law and their child joined us. My wife and youngest daughter completed the 10 mile, and my oldest daughter and I tackled the 25 mile course.

What type of training did you do for this event?
We usually ride about two times per week. The training definitely helps. We wanted to make sure that our daughters were prepared and able to complete the course, so we were very good about tracking progress. My oldest daughter and I trained and rode up to 23 miles to train, and my youngest daughter wanted to make sure she knew what she was getting into so she worked up to the 10.5 miles. She started the year on a bike with training wheels and couldn’t even ride a mile. With preparation and encouragement, she was able to complete the 10-mile course.

Is there any thing that you would do differently next time?
My oldest daughter and I are going to plan on doing the longest, 42-mile ride next year. I think with the proper training and preparation we will be able to complete it. Also, we are all going to invest in gel seats for our bikes. It would go a long way in making the ride more comfortable.

Did you set goals for the ride?
Basically, our goal was for everyone to finish the ride. We weren’t worried about coming in at a certain time – we just wanted to have fun and complete the course. After we all crossed the finish line, we always go to Louie M’s for burgers – everyone enjoys that!

In the video, you’ll hear testimonies from tenured staff employed with C&A for 5-10 years, but you’ll also hear from our most recent hires as well!  They chose C&A for a reason – whether it’s our team-oriented environment, our dynamic training program, having a rewarding career opportunity, or the company culture.  Find out by watching the video right here on our blog!

C&A employs people that are all dedicated to each other’s successes.  The people make C&A what it is today.  Our training program is 2^nd to none!  We provide all the tools and resources necessary for success!  We impact lives by offering a rewarding career that gives our employees a sense of accomplishment at the end of the day.  Finally, the company culture makes you feel like you’re part of a family.  We are a large corporation with that “small town” feel. 

So if you’ve been thinking about a new rewarding career, think about C&A Industries!  You should choose C&A!

About Melissa Gunset
Melissa began her career with C&A Industries in July of 2008 as a corporate recruiter. Working in the HR department, Melissa is responsible for hiring for internal positions across all C&A divisions. Melissa has a BS in marketing from Northern Illinois University. She is a Chicago native who recently relocated to Omaha, and she spends her free time with her husband and daughter.

Here’s what Mark had to say about their experience in training for and competing in this endurance event.

Tell us about the indoor Ironman competition you completed:
We had 10 days to complete 85 laps of swimming, 26.2 miles of running, and 112 miles biking.

How many other individuals competed in the event?
There were five others but this Ironman was based on an honor system. We could do any of the events in any order, as long as all of the events were completed in 10 days. As an example, we decided to “Eat the biggest frog first” and take on the swimming. We completed the 85 laps in 3 hours and 50 minutes on the first Saturday morning it started. It really surprised us that we could complete the 85 laps in one morning since both us are not proficient swimmers!

What made you decide to take the leap to such an intense event?
Both of us love to eat and drink and as a result, we are not in the shape we strive to be in.

How long did you train, and what did you do to prepare?
Paul trained by swimming 50 laps and running a couple miles over a couple weeks before it started. He figured since he had 10 days, it wasn’t that big of deal. However he experienced severe cramping during the last 10 laps of swimming and also had to miss 3 days. As a result, he had to run 8 miles and bike 50 miles on the final day to get through the finish line. That was tough. A week or so before it started, I really increased my intake of bananas & complex carbs.

Was it easier training and accomplishing this with a partner?
Definitely. We were able to talk to each other during the running and biking, making the time go by quicker. Of course we pushed each other being the competitors we are.

What recommendations would you share with someone thinking about accomplishing this same thing?
Get some really good running shoes, swimming goggles & ear plugs and drink tons of water a few days before starting and during.

The biking was more difficult than expected, primarily because of the small seat on the stationary cycle. Spend some time on the bike along with running & swimming before too.

How did you do? How close did you come to meeting your goal / time expectations set for yourself?
We completed the event on time and what makes me even more proud is we did not cheat 1 mile!

Would you do this again? And if so, would you do anything different?
I would do this again although bike more at the beginning so my rear-end can ‘recover’ until the next ride a few days later!

Sarah Bonow, May Employee on the Go

For this employee, remaining active is a way of life. Sarah Bonow, who is the Operations Manager of Celebrity Staff, likes to stay active by participating in group fitness classes at her gym, walking with friends, and also running. Like many people, Sarah has a hectic schedule so it can be difficult to find time to fit in her fitness.

“I have to just make time. Some weeks are easier than others, and I have to turn down a lot of happy hours, but I feel so much better for it,” Sarah says.  She also recommends finding the time of day that best works for you. For her, evenings work best and give her a chance to clear her mind and de-stress from the day.

Everyone has his or her own personal reason for staying active. For Sarah, it’s the feeling she gets when finished. “I believe I’m a lot easier to be around when I have worked out. It’s a great stress reliever, increases your endorphins, and just makes me more energetic.”

On May 2 Sarah completed her very first half marathon. In the past she’s participated in several organized events, such as the Corporate Cup, Susan B. Komen Breast Cancer walk/run, and the Memorial Day Run at Boys Town; however this will be the longest organized run she’s completed. Running the 13.2 miles is a huge accomplishment because of all the sweat and dedication that went into training for it.

“Training is tough, like everything else, you are on a limited and busy schedule, the weather does not always cooperate and life gets in the way sometimes. Luckily, I have several friends also participating in the run and they keep me motivated to keep working,” Sarah said.

In fact, group fitness is one of Sarah’s favorite ways to stay in shape. She participates in free fitness classes through her gym membership at Lifetime Fitness. Some of her favorite classes include Total Conditioning, which is an interval class, Kickboxing and Dance Jam. She says the classes challenge her to work harder. With an instructor she feels she is able to not stress about what to do next, rather she just listens and reacts.

When asked about her summer plans for staying active, Sarah is most excited about yard work and mowing her lawn. “I love mowing because you get to be outside, getting something done and getting a little work out in at the same time!”

Employee on the Go and AurStaff Account Manager, Mike Barnes

Keeping active has always been a top priority to Michael B. of AurStaff. He can’t stand to be in the house all day! Growing up he always wanted to play in pop warner baseball with his friends, but his Dad wouldn’t let him play because he was blind in his left eye and his father was afraid for him. It took him years to convince his dad, but in the summer of his 8th grade year his dad let him play telling him he better do a good job. After his first game his dad bragged to everyone about how good he was and that set in motion the drive to do well in all sports and even win a scholarship to college through football and track.

He likes to keep in shape to be a role model for his son Kollin, 11 years old. It means a lot to Michael to bond with his son in this way and it doesn’t hurt that it’s fun now too!  He doesn’t have to throw the ball underhand anymore when they play catch!  Kollin is proving to be a lot like his dad on the field too, just as intense, but a little more laid back.  “What can I say, the competitive spirit never dies!” says Michael.

When Michael was younger he traveled playing softball often playing 400 games per summer on a league. They were state champs in 1996 and 1997, qualifying for Nationals in 1994 through 1999.

Once Kollin was born Michael slowed down quite a bit and soon felt he was missing something. Now he’s back playing on his church softball team and enjoys it more than ever. He plays basketball with his church as well and loves being able to run up and down the basketball court with the twenty year olds. “I am by far the oldest player on the court and the guys keep telling me there is no way I am 42 years old. It really makes you feel good to know you can still keep up with ‘youngens’,” states Michael proudly.

When not on the court, Michael can be found on his Boflex tred climber at home, throwing in weight and various interval training to mix things up. He is keeping his body fit and is at the top of his game working full time and attending college to obtain his MBA in human resources.

All of Mike’s hard work staying in shape is paying off big. Mike recently won first place in the men’s category of C&A’s annual weight loss competition, Weigh to Goal. He lost an impressive 7.72% of his body weight during a three month period.