For eleven straight years, AJ Veneklasen has been granted a place on the list of “Best and Brightest Companies” to work for in West Michigan. This repeating accomplishment is the result of our team’s creativity, hard work, and passion for supporting each other – as well as our belief that company growth happens when we invest in the skills and well-being of our people.

We live that philosophy in many ways. In our industry, a great workplace is defined differently depending upon an employee’s role. For our team in the office, it means a healthy and inspiring environment where people feel comfortable, appreciated, fulfilled, and supported in their work. For our teams working on jobsites, add the critical needs of safety, team comradery, and skills development to that list. For all of us, being part of a cohesive team is key to enjoying our work and feeling valued, which is why all our programs seek to unite our team around a shared purpose.

Here’s a few of the AJV programs that have contributed to winning the Best & Brightest Companies honor:

Fuel the Field – a monthly surprise delivery of food and fun to the crew at one of our jobsites. The event is coordinated by our office staff who enjoy visiting their teammates on jobsites as much as the crew enjoys their surprise lunch.

Volunteer Day – our entire team is invited to be hands-on with a local non-profit organization to make someone’s day brighter or to further a philanthropic mission. Participating isn’t mandatory, but each year, we have 100% participation in support of organizations like Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity.

Culture Committee Events – a series of social events organized by the AJV Culture Committee brings our team and their family members together several times each year. Even during a pandemic when we had to meet virtually, events like Holiday parties, chili cookoffs, and summer BBQ events keep our team smiling and feeling connected.

Toolbox Talk – a weekly gathering of our field crew to collaborate around how to use new tools and equipment safely and productively.  

Being honored every year for over a decade puts extra pressure on us to continue to perform so we are constantly re-inventing our programs – plus – after winning the Best & Brightest award for 11 straight years we really don’t want the streak to end. Every year we get more creative to improve our performance over the previous year.

About the Award

The mission of The National Association for Business Resources – founders of the Best & Brightest program – is to connect, educate, and empower businesses. According to their website, “Through the Best and Brightest programs, the National Association for Business Resources provides specialized business services, education, and resources for businesses throughout the United States.” From our point of view, the incentive offered by the Best & Brightest program is one of the things that motivates our commitment to a healthy and supportive workplace. However, our biggest incentive is to witness a happy and satisfied team advancing their careers by using their talents and gifts to help our company be the best it can be.