In today’s fast-paced business environment, listening to team members’ feedback is more critical than ever. J. Fletcher Creamer & Son recently exemplified this principle through a significant revamp of their town hall meetings. Recognizing the need to bridge the gap between leadership and team members, Creamer President Marty Downs and his team took the show on the road.
The initiative to transform town hall meetings came directly from team member feedback. Team members expressed a desire for more intimate and interactive sessions where local issues specific to their office could be addressed. This feedback was highlighted in the 2023 engagement survey, prompting the company to take action.
In June, Creamer held town hall meetings across their different office locations. This new approach aimed to make full company meetings feel more local and personable. Instead of gathering in a large lecture hall, the company chose smaller, office-specific settings. This shift allowed for more interactive sessions, where staff could bring up issues relevant to their specific office.
Erin Smith, Talent Acquisition Associate, and Chris Schubert, Manager of Talent & Retention, spearheaded the initiative. They worked with team members in the Linden, Hackensack, Wall, Folsom, and Beltsville Maryland offices to coordinate these meetings. The effort to travel around and hold more meetings in this new format required extra work, but it was deemed worthwhile as everyone felt more included and received pertinent information.
The feedback from these meetings was overwhelmingly positive. Team members appreciated the smaller scale and the opportunity to interact directly with the executive team. It was also beneficial for upper management to see where team members work daily, creating a deeper understanding and connection.
Chris Schubert noted, “Based on feedback we received from our annual survey, the premise is that we’re listening to our team members and taking their feedback and turning it into action. Making the meetings office-specific is important—just like the president and senior leaders taking time out to attend and connect with team members.”
The success of these revamped town hall meetings has set a new standard for team member engagement at Creamer. As the company looks to the future, there is excitement about how these meetings will continue to evolve and grow, further strengthening the bond between leadership and team members.
Creamer’s commitment to listening and acting on team member feedback has transformed their town hall meetings into a more effective and engaging platform. By bringing meetings to each office location and fostering a more intimate setting, they have shown that they value their team members’ voices and are dedicated to continuous improvement. This initiative not only provided relevant information but also enhanced the overall sense of community within the company.
