#15 Joel Warady Group
A great Generation Y workplace doesn't have to mean video games and on-site pet grooming. Gen Y craves work environments that encourage them to grow their skills and express their unique talents--environments that embrace growing and developing. At Joel Warady Group, employees spend a tremendous amount of time learning about marketing from the inside out.
"When I first started, I thought that this was just a job," says Kasey Klippstein, a Marketing Associate. "Working with Joel, I realized that I need to constantly push myself and learn more. He helps me better myself and the work I am doing for clients." As a result of this on-site education, Klippstein figures she's far ahead of where some of her peers are on the career ladder. "The job that I have here would take years to obtain at a large corporation. I get to do exciting things I never imagined I'd be doing, like give marketing presentations to clients overseas."
For Joel Warady, CEO and Founder of the company, Generation Y talent is essential to the very fiber of the industry. "From a corporate standpoint, we understand that Generation Y is the future market," Warady says. "They are consumers, too. We also rely on Gen Y for fresh ideas, and [because of them] are able to stay current on trends, technology and fashion."
However, the company's trust in Generation Y goes far beyond trend casting. " We let Gen Y develop our programs," Warady says. "I will offer guidance, but our Gen Yers can take command and manage the projects. The Gen Y employees are the ones running the business--it's their voice."
And while Warady says he'd rather spend time working on interesting projects than putting in a video game console, the employees have plenty of distractions if they need a mental break. "The outside deck is great," says Hanna Soltys, a Marketing Associate who has been with the firm just a few months. "The creative cafe, too--when you walk in there, it's like you are in a completely different space. You can relax and forget about work for a few minutes."
"At my last job I was pigeonholed," Soltys says. "Here, I am constantly developing new skills and interests. The projects we work on are exciting and unique." No video games needed.
