By Todd Brown, Director of People and Culture at United Communications
A successful company is only as great as the people that work there, and the 180 employees that are part of the United Communications family are the heart and soul of our success. Every single employee plays a pivotal role in shaping our positive culture and delivering the best possible customer experience. Because of this, our leadership team is intentional about making United a great place to work by celebrating our achievements, investing in our team, and building upon our employee-centric culture as we continue to grow.
Intentionally Supporting Every Employee
Our culture and commitment to employees led directly to our recognition as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Nashville Business Journal in July 2023. Each year, the Nashville Business Journal honors companies and organizations that create a positive work environment for their employees. The list is compiled from employee surveys that evaluate factors such as team effectiveness, trust in senior leadership, and support from management. We are proud to be one of 11 companies acknowledged in the Giant Category (150+ employees).
What Makes United Communications a Great Place to Work?
As we celebrate this achievement, I want to highlight a few specific reasons that United Communications was recognized as one of the best places to work, along with several initiatives that have shaped our culture:
Our executive leadership and management teams are servant leaders.
At United Communications, you’re not just a number or an employee—you are part of a family. This belief starts at the very top of our organization and works its way down through every level of leadership across each department.
Every leader at United Communications approaches their role with a mindset of supporting the folks they manage. I’m proud to be a part of a team where our leaders believe “How can I help you?” is one of the most important questions they can ask.
We’ve continued to invest in professional development.
To ensure the success of individual employees as they help us fulfill our goals, we’ve increased our training and development budget by 70% this year to support employee development. These resources include a “new manager boot camp,” an upcoming leadership development series, and substantial investments in professional development training for those seeking to expand their areas of expertise.
We launched an interdepartmental Culture Committee and two resource groups.
We believe that every single employee should be valued for the unique experiences they bring. This idea led to the creation of our new Culture Committee and two resource groups that employees and allies can join to support one another—one group dedicated to serving our veteran team members and the other group supporting our women employees.
Our committees and resource groups consist of employees from different teams and backgrounds across the entire company, and their ideas help improve and impact the everyday lives of their coworkers and our customers.
What Our Employees Love About Working at United Communications
I recently asked a few colleagues about what they enjoy most about working at United Communications. Here’s what they shared:
“I love what United is doing for the community. As a Chapel Hill native, I’m really proud to be part of this great organization.” – Megan Hall, Plant Accountant
“United is a place where I feel like family and that everyone is working toward the same goal of making the lives of not only our customers but our employees better. I feel genuinely appreciated and that I am making a difference here.” – Steve Rowland, Sr. Manager, Information Technology & Security
“United’s culture is unlike any I have experienced in a workplace before. Whether you see your coworkers every day or occasionally, at company-wide functions, we all feel like a big family. I know that I can go to anyone, and they will either help me or find someone who can. I am so proud to work at United Communications!” — Kaitlyn Kerrigan, Community Engagement Coordinator
Connecting a Positive Work Culture with Employee Satisfaction
With more than 75 years under our belt, I recognize that our industry never stands still. That’s why the United Communications leadership team, including me, is committed to empowering our employees with a shared vision and the resources they need to grow as professionals in a rapidly evolving market. As we continue to grow, I’m excited to continue building our incredible culture to make United Communications the best place to work for our employees for many years to come.
If you’re interested in learning more about what makes United Communications a great place to work, I’d love to connect with you. We also offer digital resources to get an inside look into our company, check out our Facebook page, or explore new career opportunities.
Author Bio:
Todd Brown
Director of People and Culture at United Communications
Todd Brown brings over 20 years of HR experience to his role as Director of People and Culture at United Communications. In this position, Todd helps drive United’s employee experience strategy. Todd’s expertise in leading teams and identifying process improvements allow him to make a tremendous difference in the lives of United employees. He also enhances United’s workplace environment by supporting our company’s DEI initiatives and retention efforts. Todd received his Bachelor’s in Management and Human Relations from Trevecca Nazarene University and has lived in Middle TN for more than 30 years.