What does it mean to be an Employee-Owner? It means you take pride in your work. It means your everyday actions impact those around you. It means you get to celebrate Employee-Ownership month every October!
This year, we had a lot of fun celebrating and reflecting on being an ESOP. From Pie Day to the Road Rally to the annual Jeopardy, the month was filled with time spent with our fellow owners. Join us as we go on a journey through the month (in photos)!
Week 1 kicked off with a Dashboard Radio episode hyping everyone up and talking through the events of the month (and there may have been a fun hype video included):
Week 2 brought Pie Day. Everyone gets their “piece of the pie.”
Toby made sure everyone had PLENTY of ice cream.
Pie scooping crew!
Drew B. Martin following an expert tip: the microwave
Week 3 brought the Employee Owner Game Showdown featuring our custom board game, ESOPoly!
Dayton Rumbold, the bankerSeth Jacowski did an excellent job as host
Shawn Reischauer and Kyle Streitmatter are still on friendly terms as the game begins.
Dillon Hodel can’t seem to figure out his strategyBanker Jeremy Stickling grimaces at a poor move
Kelly Hayslett cheers as she scores another “bill”Sydney gasps in sympathyJerrid Knight, in intense concentrationSeth points out Bill’s Heat Map – how are the players doing?Joy Kinsinger checks on her “Rivian” assetThe table slowly clears of all properties except in front of Dustin HuberEric Hartter gains additional surprise points in a plot twist at the end of the game!Dustin Huber wins best overall score
The winning ESOPoly Team – from left to right – Zach Plattner, Dustin Huber, Jared Fehr, Sydney Swords, and Brenda Carr
Week 4 included the annual Jeopardy Contest. After scaring away contestants last year with challenging questions, Host Jeremy Stickling gave participants a study guide before the 2024 competition. This resulted in a speedy and fast competition, with Ryan Mara answering the vast majority of questions. But, did that result in a win? Scroll to see!
PS – If you’d like to watch the 2024 Jeopardy hype video, click here.
The IT Team deep in thought
Ryan Mara laughs in confidenceOps tries to figure out how to pull out of their slump
The watchful audience
IT scores their first points of the gameThe finals round participants are clear!It’s a good afternoon for FINAL JEOPARDY!CJ is lost in thought as his team tries to formulate an answerBrian Phillips and Jake Hausman can’t believe they’ve made it this farRyan Mara is still confidentIn the plot twist of the year, IT pulls AHEAD after the final jeopardy question!
Joy Kinsinger and Drew B. Martin can’t believe their good fortune!
Jake tries to wrap his mind around the win as Brian gives a reassuring patDrew is just happy to be hereJeremy crowns the winners with custom-made medallionsA special shout out to Justin Worden for creating these!
IT is in the house and they are WINNERS! L to R: Brian Phillips, Drew B. Martin, Jake Hausman, and Joy Kinsinger.
Week 5 (and the final week of ESOP Month!) wrapped up with the annual ESOP Breakfast.
Pancake crew: Jeremy Stickling, Bill Wettstein, and Neil BarbourSeth Jacowski mixing batterA few of the CAC crew enjoying their breakfast!Jeff King grabs a bite before classes startThe one and only Dale Littlefield!Caleb Gee mans the eggs as Justin Worden wipes a relieved brow
Jeremy and the iconic pancake flip
Toby Plattner mans the juice station
Month-long drivers participated in a Road Rally where they submitted pictures for a chance to win gift cards! Here is a round-up of our favorites!
Road Rally Top 12
Roger Kyler photographed “something red” at a rest stop in New YorkMatt Boers photographs his truck with a load of tires at a scenic pull offDrew Cawthon snaps a pic of an unusual load. We are still trying to decide what it is. 🤔Lola snaps a pic of Denver, CO mountainsDrew Bladzik captures the magnificent aurora borealis with a very fitting trailer in Sparta, MI.Jackie Bishop gets a pic of the Arizona State signDarren Winters captures the perfect rainbowMike Cline photographs an early morning cotton candy sky sunrise at a shipping facilityLola Albright takes a pic of a wildlife sighting far away from the roads of IllinoisSteve Spencer gets a picture with his little passenger😁Scott Daniel photographs some wildlife while on the roadScott Collard captures a picture over the George Washington Bridge
Thanks for following along as we reflected on one of our favorite months of the year. Remember to own it every moment and stay purpose driven!
