Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City

Salaries and benefits do not in themselves make a great place to work: “It’s our employees themselves” that set Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City apart, says David Gentile, president and CEO of the health insurance market leader. “We couldn’t be the best without them and what they bring to our company and our community. They are the friends, family and neighbors of all of our customers.” And yet, the benefits offered by Blue Cross shouldn’t be overlooked. In addition to a competitive compensation structure, employees are presented with training programs, personal enrichment, and opportunities for growth and development.

As a health insurance company, employees are encouraged to “walk the talk”—to take good care of themselves so they can take good care of their customers. Gentile says that the most recent addition to the employee benefits package is “a cadre of wellness programs and incentives to really drive home the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.” That includes a 24/7 fitness center, lifestyle coaching, bi-monthly lunch ’n’ learns, free cooking classes and online wellness Webinars, just to name a few, and they’re all located on-site. Blue Cross’ dedication to its employees’ health and well-being led to Platinum Level recognition in the American Heart Association’s Fit Friendly Program, something only two other companies in Kansas City could achieve.

Using three-tiered programs, Blue KC aims to develop future leaders. The company engages universities, mentoring relationships and community partners to encourage fundamental leadership quality development. Its evaluation system allows employees to give themselves self-appraisals and to work on goal management. The programs help facilitate alignment of goals throughout the organizational structure.

To be sure, changes in the health-care industry have had an impact on insurers themselves. Blue KC has responded to the reform by looking at its culture and environment, seizing the opportunity to remake its work environment by conveying the importance of healthy lives to employees. One thing that hasn’t changed: the company’s commitment to being a good corporate citizen. Employees support multiple nonprofit organizations, including United Way and Art at Work, throughout the year with annual campaigns. To double their impact on the local community and to support a healthy lifestyle, Blue KC matches the funds raised by employees for walks and runs.

Lockton Companies

Think of a circle, and you’ll understand the geometry of success at Lockton Companies. Let Ron Lockton explain: “Because we are an engaging place to work, our associates remain loyal,” says the president of Lockton’s Kansas City property and casualty operation. “In turn, our clients remain loyal.” Knowing that their associates are their greatest asset, the leadership has established a wide range of benefits and a work environment that retains and recruits great employees. Benefits range from medical plans to company-paid international accident insurance to a consumer-driven health plan with a health saving account.

The company recently implemented the Vitality program, a comprehensive wellness and fitness program that promotes exercise, healthy living and weight loss. At the Gold Level, employees receive 20 percent off their 2012 insurance premiums, a goal that 70 percent of associates achieved in 2011. But Lockton says culture, not compensation, “is at the heart of what has made Lockton successful.” That culture was inspired by the notion that creating “an environment that gives associates the freedom and the tools to do their job well” is vital to the success of the firm, he says. That leads to Beer Fridays, a tradition of gathering on a few afternoons to toast accomplishments and chat with colleagues. Weekly massage therapy visits to the office keep stress levels low, and associates go shopping for their 10-year anniversary Rolex together. “We have fun as a group with volunteer activities and celebrations,” Lockton says.

Management aims to “keep bureaucracy to an absolute minimum to allow associates the freedom to make decisions in the best interests of clients,” says Lockton. “It creates a deep sense of responsibility and an environment where really good people can achieve and be successful.” Over 250 professionals have been added to the company roster in the past four years, prompting new programs to help advance their careers: continuing education groups in risk management and employee benefits, on-site study classes, cash incentives for passing exams, a leadership program, an entry level program for college graduates and a producer leadership program.

J.E. Dunn Construction Co.

Before you build, know. That goes to the heart of the work environment at J.E. Dunn Construction Co., the largest general contractor in the Kansas City region and one of the Top 20 in the U.S. As a national leader, then, Dunn has a rich training program, including an on-site training center, for its associates to be trained in leadership, project management, diversity, technology and even outside enrichment courses. “I think our best offering is our overall commitment to employee growth and development through training programs, community involvement, and safe, healthy living,” says Terry Dunn, president and CEO. Officers are required to do a two-year training program to ensure they remain current in all aspects of the business.

“We have a strong commitment to teamwork and collaboration, servant leadership and community,” says Terry Dunn. “We want all J.E. Dunn employees to have a sense of pride in what we can accomplish as a team. This was the inspiration for sharing ownership in the company with employees through an employee stock-ownership plan.” The ESOP, he said, drives the benefits package offered to employees, a part of the company’s commitment to ensuring that they “have the best benefits programs and compensation we can provide.”

J.E. Dunn opened its new corporate headquarters office in Downtown Kansas City in 2010. The headquarters offers employees free, nutritious lunches, a fitness center complete with locker rooms and showers, free parking, and a recreation room that has everything from a basketball court to pool tables to arcade games. The headquarters, says Dunn, is what really sets the company apart. “It’s been a wonderful environment to foster creativity and collaboration for our employees,” he said. The building is the first in Kansas City to attain LEED Gold status.

It may be a tough economy for construction, but J.E. Dunn has maintained its sales goals, broken into new markets and offered services more suited for this economy, and still stands at the threshold of $2 billion in annual billings from its 20 offices nationwide.