You won’t find spacious, finely appointed partners’ offices at Ovation Benefits’ Farmington headquarters, or many traditional offices at all for that matter. Openness is what counts most to this three-time consecutive winner of the Hartford Business Journal’s annual Best Places to Work in Connecticut award, whether it’s office space layout or employee communications.
“There’s a belief here that your space doesn’t dictate how important you are,” said firm partner John Carew. “We’re not trying to create a traditional corporate environment. Everything is done to foster as much collaboration and creativity as possible.”
This means you’ll find lots of natural light filling the floor from large wrap-around windows, multiple white boards in conference areas, narrow stand-around tables throughout and a well-stocked, attractive café all designed to encourage employee interaction, brainstorming and provide a place to sketch out the spur of the moment idea.
“As we’ve grown, our philosophy has evolved,” said firm partner Bill Carew, John’s brother.
“When we were small, it was about the partners and how we were building the business,” he said. “It’s evolved now very much into a team approach. Our vision is: The place to be in benefits. To achieve this, we have to rely on the contribution of the many and how well we work together and communicate.”
According to Lisa Rehmer, Ovation’s human resource manager, people tend to stay once they’re hired.
“It’s a place where people really like to come to work,” she said. “There’s a sense of satisfaction here that you can make a difference; that you have value. You’re challenged and new ideas are always welcomed.”
That’s true for Hannah Aron, a 10-year employee. Once the firm’s office manager, Hannah is now Ovation’s financial administrator.
“The work-life balance is really important here and is something strongly encouraged by the partners,” she said. “You’re allowed to grow here and progress from one position to another.”
Rehmer said the company acknowledges employees’ contributions to the firm’s success in many ways includng its annual October off-site company anniversary gathering, an individualized bonus program and its Patrik Award, a quarterly peer-nominated honor in which winners are awarded a cash bonus and a company donation to a charity of their choice.
Employees also are regularly recognized on the company intranet site.
Employee spirit spills over into the local communities, Rehemer noted. The happier employees are in their workplace, the more they tend to volunteer and donate to good causes, she said.
Favorite company charities include the Nutmeg Big Brothers and Sisters, the CT Breast Health Initiative, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
In addition, the company sponsors a toy drive in the fall and adopts needy families during the holidays.
Partners and employees also participate in the Pan-Mass Challenge, a bike ride across Massachusetts to raise money for charity.
Remarking on this year’s “three-peat” award, Bill Carew said, “It really comes down to our people, our unique culture and our passion to be ‘The Place to Be in Benefits.’
Type of business: Independent benefits provider
Connecticut employees: 52
Connecticut locations: 1
Headquarters: Farmington
HR contact: Lisa Rehmer, human resources manager
Top local executive: Brian Driscoll
Founded: 2002
