October is Employee Ownership Month! And with the 2024 Olympics in Paris fresh on our minds, let’s come together and celebrate all the benefits of 100% employee ownership with a little friendly competition. Welcome to the Employee Ownership Games!
Throughout October, similar to the Phishing Tournament, you’ll compete as business units to show how you Own Your Ownership by completing activities and taking part in company events. At the end of the month, we’ll find out which business units made the podium. Just remember, regardless of who takes home the medals, everyone is a winner thanks to VGM employee ownership.
To kick things off, every employee owner will receive $20 of eCash. Throughout the month, you will have an opportunity to not only build on your knowledge of VGM’s ESOP and life-changing wealth, but also earn additional eCash – as much as $105!
Let the games begin!
To Protect Our Company, we’re avoiding open flames like the Olympic torch. We have an even better way to open our Employee Ownership Games, though—by unveiling our 100% Employee Owned Flag! Join us out on the lawn at VGM Headquarters between the pergola and the parking ramp or on Facebook Live. We’ll celebrate Employee Ownership by handing off the new flag that will wave high at all our locations. There will be a group photo at each VGM location so wear your favorite VGM apparel.
As employee owners, we like our flapjacks like we like our cash…stacked to the sky. Grab a bit of breakfast before or after the opening ceremony. Chris Cakes will have the griddle going in the P2 parking ramp at VGM Headquarters. Don’t miss out! Remote locations, keep an eye out for communications on where and when your location will be serving breakfast.
Have an idea for our 2025 tagline? Submissions are due by Oct. 18. The winner will get to work with the Corporate Communications & Events team on designing the 2024 poster! Employees who submit a tagline will receive $10 in eCash! Submit here.
Test your knowledge of employee ownership and the Olympics in this competitive round of Kahoot! Attend the Stories of Ownership panel (in-person or virtually) to play (see sign up above) OR you can play at any time by clicking the PLAY KAHOOT text below. Winners in each pool and company-wide will take home the glory and the eCash!
Pools: 1) VGM/2RM; 2) ALO; 3) BNA; 4) MDT; 5) PHX
eCash Prize: 1st - $25, 2nd - $20, 3rd - $15
Overall winners: Top scores company-wide
eCash Prize: 1st - $50, 2nd - $25, 3rd - $15
Click below to test your ESOP & Olympic knowledge. To ensure you receive eCash and are eligible for the additional prize money, please use your work email AND enter your First and Last Name when it asks for your Nickname. This will help us identify who participated.
We talk a lot about the life-changing wealth and free money that come with employee ownership. But there’s so much more to celebrate. Learn what employee ownership really means at Stories of Ownership. Our panel of VGMers in various stages of ownership will share inspirational stories from the experience—whether they’re recently retired or recently vested! Join in-person* in the Jim Walsh Theater or online. Attendees (whether in-person or virtual) will earn $10 eCash.
Panel: Brad Werkmeister (Retired after 33 years – Freedom Link 2023), Julie Heuton (Two Rivers Marketing – Part of 3 different ESOP companies), Lucy Choplin (Corporate Accounting – Retiring in 2025), and Missy Paar (HOMELINK – Recently 100% Vested)
Moderated by: Mike McGill (CC&E) & Molly Chicchelly (VGM Insurance)
Register Here
*Space is limited to 50 in-person attendees
The ESOP is a huge benefit—especially here at VGM where contribution levels have averaged 25% of annual compensation over the last several years. That’s a lot of life-changing free money. But what impact does this have on your ability to retire? Find out in this virtual-only webinar from the Accel Group. Not only will you get $10 eCash for attending, but you’ll also learn how to ensure you’re ready to cross that finish line into retirement. Benefits Director, Lucy Choplin will be available to answer your questions.
Employee ownership gets better every single year. During the Employee Ownership Games, let’s take time to celebrate those important milestones. If 2024 marks your first year or a 5-year milestone anniversary at VGM, watch your email for an invitation to celebrate this momentous occasion!
Last call for ESOP Poster Tagline ideas! Get your submissions in by midnight tonight! Employees that submit will earn $10 eCash. The winner will get to work with the Corporate Communications & Events team on designing the 2024 poster! Submit here.
Employee ownership impacts more than VGMers. It also impacts their families and loved ones. Celebrate VGM employee ownership—for everyone—with a family movie night under the stars. Join us at VGM’s Main Campus for a showing of Miracle. Come on over starting at 6 p.m. to grab your concessions. We’ll have popcorn and some of your favorite movie snacks. The movie will start promptly at 6:30 p.m. after sundown. Feel free to watch from your vehicle or bring your own lawn chairs or blankets. You won’t want to miss it!
What better way to close out a month-long celebration than with one more competition? We’ll close down the VGM shed for the season with Trivia with a Twist, hosted by VGM’s favorite DJ, DJ Cubbie. Grab three of your fellow employee owners to make up teams of 4. Don't have a team but want to play? Please sign up on any of the open places and we'll take it from there. Trivia starts at 7 p.m. and concludes at 8:30 p.m.
Beverages and an assortment of hors d’oeuvres provided.
Thank you to everyone for Owning Your Ownership and Making a Difference every single day.
You should be proud of the work you do and the future you’re helping create.
Cheers to 16 years of 100% employee ownership, with many more to come.
