A Story About Power
“When he took time to help the man up the mountain, lo, he scaled it himself.”
-Anonymous
Ascending Vail Mountain, the team hiked towards the summit. Due to the challenging climb, they were forced to rely on each other, encouraging one another to push beyond their comfort zones as they undertook the highland climb. “The displays of teamwork throughout the day reinforced what kind of place Power Home Remodeling is, and further instilled the importance of perseverance,” said Chris Jordan, Vice President of Marketing at Power Home Remodeling. “The experience and natural beauty also inspired thought and introspection that you don’t get in the office.”
That leadership retreat was held in Colorado, but for Power Home Remodeling, the nation’s second largest exterior home remodeling company focused on energy efficient windows, siding, doors, roofing and attic insulation, taking employees on retreats away from their offices is not uncommon. (Power’s HQ is in Chester, PA, but the company has twelve regional offices.)
Last year, Philadelphia Magazine profiled Power in an article: “This 35-Year-Old CEO Wants the Happiest Workforce on Earth.” In this article, co-CEO Asher Raphael is quoted:
“To me, it’s actually very simple. Our motivations as a for-profit organization are very different from most. Most companies want to drive profitability.”
For Power, it is vital to consider both employees and end users. Raphael’s vision is to make Power the best place to work for their employees and in making that dream a reality, he acknowledges that Power is “going to end up making very different decisions than other companies.”
Power has even been voted the “Best Place to Work for Millennials” by Fortune Magazine. They take their whole company to Mexico each year, a trip that costs the company $2.5 million. In addition to that company-wide retreat, Power also holds two relatively expensive large-scale conferences each year. To some, who might doubt this strategy, Raphael says, “If you invest in people in that way, there’s no better return you can get. Our people become not only better at their jobs, but also become more dedicated to the organization.”
For Power, investing in employees’ education, training, and experience is an investment in their business and a way to ensure that customers have a positive experience. “[The employee] educational process starts on day one and continues throughout the employee’s tenure here,” said Jordan.
Training includes leadership skills and team-building, but it is also important for employees to remain cognizant of the latest technology and sustainable products. “An informed decision is the best decision,” says Jordan. “Homeowners need to understand how our sustainable products will help lower their energy bills, keep their homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and protect the environment.”
Because Power wants to provide the highest quality end experience for customers, sustainability becomes an important aspect in the company’s product development. To do this, Power partners with manufacturers who are currently developing products that exceed environmental testing standards. “We will continue to search for areas of opportunity as they become apparent to us and our evolving needs as a national business,” said Jordan.
For example, “Many homeowners don’t know that the day you install solar panels, you can start saving money,” says Jordan. Power recently added solar panels to their product offerings in many of their territories. Touting a sustainable product line is not a green marketing strategy. “It’s always been about doing the right thing all the time, especially when no one is looking. We don’t look at being green as a trade-off — we see it as a responsibility.”
As Power continues to incorporate more sustainable products into their work, they will have to continue to educate their team. Because of this, Power attracts the kind of budding sales-person who wants to stay educated and engaged. Power has worked very hard to intentionally develop a company culture. When it comes to a conventional understanding of the bottom line, Power has always pushed beyond a more traditional understanding. Some might accuse them of being misguided for how much money they invest in their employees’ development and experience but for Power, it’s an important part of their company culture and growth plans.
They believe that an organization’s success is linked to the emotional well-being — frankly, happiness — of the employees. Further, Power is not only developing individuals, but a strong team-based environment “where you’re working with your friends, you want everyone around you to succeed. This team-first culture creates a unique workplace atmosphere that benefits everyone,” said Jordan.
To learn more about Power, click here.
