This past week I was privileged to attend our annual retreat. This year we went to
Beaver Creek, Colorado for some fun in the snow. As always I enjoyed the team building and working sessions, but my favorite thing about the experience was building the bond and camaraderie with my fellow employees. My position has the advantage that I get to meet every employee. However, the retreat allows me to see them in action. I witnessed one employee cheer on another as they rock climbed and raced against the clock. I saw my group in the working session decide how they thought our company should spend millions of dollars in the next fiscal year. We were able to voice our opinions on where we need to put our focus the next few years to continue to be successful. I even got to swing dance with the President of Homestead!

My favorite moment of this experience was at the end of our celebration dinner when everyone had their arms around another employee screaming the song “Don’t stop Believing” by Journey. It could not have been a more appropriate message and moment to portray the feeling of attending a company retreat. Now that it is Monday morning and we are all back in the office, we have an unbreakable bond and the morale is through the roof. You could be a part of our amazing culture. We are always looking for fun, smart and inviting employees who would thrive in this type of organization.

In November 2007, Homestead rolled out a new wellness program- Now Walk It Out. Employees interested in participating all received pedometers. They then keep track of their weekly steps and report them in at the end of the week. Those that meet the monthly step goal are all entered into a raffle for a chance to win a great prize! Prizes in the past have included SpaFinder and Foot Locker gift certificates. We also have three walks that occur throughout the work week that allow employees to walk some extra steps and get a little fresh air.

Walking has tremendous health benefits. It is important in weight management, lowering cholesterol and blood pressure, alleviating stress, and strengthening muscles, bones and joints. However, the walking program is also beneficial in that it gives employees the chance to interact on yet another level. Employees from various departments attend the scheduled walks, and you can learn a lot about an individual, their aspirations and their passions on a forty-five minute stroll. You can also learn more about what projects they are working on and how it affects the overall business goal.

It’s a sunny day today…so get out there and walk it out!

Hi Everyone,

We have an exciting event approaching fast. We will be hosting an Open House at our Englewood office on April 9th. This is your chance to come meet face to face with members of our executive team and human resources. Stop by anytime between 11am-6pm. For more information please go to http://denveropenhouse.homestead.com/index.html.

 Hope to see you all there!

-Rachel, Human Resources Asst.

Company social events are a great way for employees to interact and get to know each other outside of their daily work. Homestead has monthly social events that range from tie-dying to magic shows! This month we had our social event at Blue Chalk Café, a restaurant in downtown Palo Alto. There was plenty of food and drinks, and we also had a team competition where the winners received free movie tickets! Below are some photos of Homestead employees kicking back and having some fun!

-Kelly McMahon, HR Assistant

Community Service is an integral part of Homestead’s culture, and something that the company holds near and dear to its heart. In fact, it is our third responsibility in the Homestead Creed-a responsibility to our community. It is our responsibility to better the community in which we work. At the end of 2007, Homestead employees partnered up with Family Giving Tree, a non profit organization in the San Francisco Bay Area that is dedicated to providing children with gifts that they may go without during the holiday season. Homestead filled children’s wish cards, and also volunteered at the donated warehouse, sorting thousands and thousands of gifts! It truly was a miraculous experience.

This upcoming month we look to continue our community service program by working with Hidden Villa, a nonprofit, 1600 acre organic farm and wilderness preserve that has multicultural and environmental education programs for children, youth and the community. As volunteers we will help maintain their farm during the month of March by making compost, planting and doing irrigation work. We have worked with Hidden Villa in the past, and it has always been an exciting and fun event!

Employees at Homestead truly care about giving back to the community, and we look to bring in candidates that hold that same value in their hearts.

Hidden Villa 2007

Family Giving Tree 2007