NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of American’s that are affected by mental illness. The organization advocates for access to services, treatment, support and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raising awareness and building a community of hope for all of those that are in need. Visit NAMI Nebraska’s website for more information.

I began volunteering to be able to spread the word and create awareness of mental illness. Volunteering for the fire department along with my wife working for the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Department has exposed me to people who have been affected by mental illness in one way or another. This instilled in me a want to participate in and become involved with NAMI. It is often a disorder that is missed and many people can benefit from the services that NAMI has to offer.

Each year, C&A recruits employees, family, and friends to participate in the Nebraska NAMI Walk, held in June. Countless amounts of volunteer time go into organizing and putting together different NAMI fundraising events for our company. C&A’s NAMI Committee holds bi-weekly meetings to discuss fundraising efforts and ways to create enjoyable activities for employees to participate in. A few examples of our fundraising events include; breakfasts, cupcake wars, jeans days, and barbecue hosted by a nationally known BBQ team located here in Omaha (one of the team members also happens to work for C&A!). Thanks to the generosity of our employees and others, our company team is on target to meet our goal of raising $5,000!

The need for volunteering is greater now than ever throughout the Omaha community and the nation. I would highly encourage anyone who has spare time to step up to the plate and volunteer for the many different organizations that desperately could use your help to keep their operations up and running.

The 2012 NAMIWalks Nebraska will be held Saturday, June 9th at Turner Park in Midtown Crossing, Omaha. Learn more about how you can walk with the C&A Team and support this great cause!
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Lee Kortus has been with C&A Industries for five years. He currently serves as a Team Lead in the Cardiopulmonary division of Aureus Medical Group, an affiliate of C&A. Lee and his wife, Michaela, have been married for almost three years and will be celebrating their daughter’s 1st birthday in June. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, as well as visiting the zoo and children’s museum. Lee volunteers with the LaVista, Nebraska Volunteer Fire Department.

Fast forward five, ten, fifteen years and here we are – many of us are in careers that line up with our goals as people and as professionals. Others may be in transition, looking for that great company to call home or for a better place to land.

Regardless, at some point you’ve probably reflected – maybe over your morning java – on where you are now and what you envision for yourself down the road. Could be you were triggered by the pomp and circumstance during the month of May or maybe you’re in a rut and in need of a workplace pick-me-up.

But, it’s important to remember that our growth and education doesn’t end once we settle into a career. It’s really just beginning.

One of the things I value most about C&A is the value they place on me and that’s reflected in the myriad of personal and professional development opportunities available to me and my co-workers (make note, new grads and job seekers).

At C&A, we have a dedicated training department, Aureus University, that not only provides initial training for our new team members but continued, career-long training for all of us. We keep them very busy.

For example, recently a class of 31 completed an 8-week Professional Development course. And soon a new group will begin our Pathways to Success course, which prepares employees who are interested in progressing to leadership and management roles. (Yep, we train our employees to become managers. This is huge.) Then Level II of Professional Development will begin and in the meantime, we’ll welcome a group of new employees and they’ll start their 12-week training journey into becoming rock star sales people. Oh, at some point in the middle of all of this we’ll add a handful of new books and DVDs to our corporate library, upload some new online training sessions to the Aureus University website, and probably host a guest speaker.

Not to get off-point, but while our training department is busy doing their thing, our wellness committee is knee deep in scheduling lunch-n-learns and health-related activities, all to help us achieve a work-life balance.

The best thing – our employees take full advantage.

So, for you readers who aren’t part of the C&A team, what can you do to keep moving forward as a professional and as a learner?

First, be an information sponge and seek out opportunities for learning. They don’t always fall in your lap, you may need to take the initiative. Read your industry trade publications and grab some books; find out if your company supports professional development seminars, workshops, or online courses; and visit reputable websites related to your business and field. Lastly, don’t ignore your personal self. Taking care of your body, mind, and spirit will help nourish your professional life.

Though your cap and gown may have collected dust, your role as a student has not. It’s a life-long thing, but only if you want it to be.

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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.

Twenty-two employees from across C&A participated in a fierce Cupcake Wars competition to determine who could create the best tasting and best looking cupcake confection. Entries were judged on presentation, originality, and taste on a scale from 1 to 10 with the three top highest scorers receiving prizes.

Congrats to (1st) Keisha in Aureus Allied Health (“It’s 5 o’clock Somewhere Margaritas”); (2nd) Jennifer in Marketing (“Over the Rainbow”); (3rd) Rebecca in Aureus Nursing (“Chocolate Chip Surprise”)!

In conjunction with the competition, more than 400 cupcakes, donated by C&A employees and local bakeries, CuppyCakes and TaylorCakes, were sold within our Omaha offices and generated funds for the upcoming 2012 NAMIWalk.

C&A is the Presenting Sponsor for the annual walk, to be held Saturday, June 9th at Turner Park in Omaha. The event is the major fundraiser for the Nebraska chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).

Want to walk with the C&A team? Click here to sign up!

The publication’s annual “Best of B2B” awards, with results based on readers’ votes, recognizes the top businesses and service providers in the Omaha area. B2B is Greater Omaha’s premiere business publication, featuring the latest business developments as well as features on Omaha’s most prominent business leaders.

Our CEO, Scot Thompson, says it best. “This recognition means a great deal to us because it’s a direct reflection of the outstanding and dedicated group of employees at C&A. From our account managers and recruiters to those across our entire organization, our focus is on helping our clients and candidates achieve success in business and in their careers. Being the very best in our industry would not be possible without our employees’ passion for our business and commitment to excellence each day.”

In addition to “Best of B2B”, C&A was recently named among Omaha’s “Best Places to Work”, an annual competition sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Baird Holm. C&A was recognized for the fourth year in a row.

Needless to say, it’s been a great Q1 for all of us at C&A. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings!

This is the fourth year in a row that C&A has received Best Places to Work distinction in the category of companies with more than 200 employees. And let me tell you, it feels great. I’m not one to get all “braggy”, but four years? That says something. And to celebrate our “4-Peat” (do people even say ‘4-peat’), senior management distributed cookies while they thanked each of us individually for being a part of the company’s success.

One of the best things about being on the “Best” list is knowing that my co-workers were involved in the process. So, it’s not like an outside entity was judging our company with only surface-level knowledge about what it’s like to work here, but rather our own team members took part in a confidential survey and were able to be candid about C&A as an employer. I don’t know about you, but generally I like sharing my opinions so when I’m asked, I’m happy to participate.

I’ve always felt good about telling my friends and acquaintances where I work. And I’ve referred friends, too – one of them starts his new job here next week. When I mention C&A, some recognize our big building off the Dodge Expressway in West Omaha. Others have seen our name associated with various community events. And of course others know of C&A as one of the Best Places to Work. Me? I just know that I love coming to work each day, that I feel valued, and that what I do means something.

The other perks of working here – great Wellness program, summer events, family outings, first rate training, and lunches with our CEO? Those are nice, too.

Omaha’s annual Best Places to Work initiative is sponsored by the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce and Baird Holm.
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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.

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.