Three County Businesses Net Top Honors
By Earl Bugaile
for the Washington County
Chamber of Commerce
There are many qualities that
make for a good employer, but
none as important as one who recognizes
the importance of family in
the lives of their employees.
The Washington County Early
Care and Education Community
Engagement Team of SPHS/Connect,
Inc. / Washington Family
Center recognized three of Washington
County’s most familyfriendly
businesses on June 23,
with the presentation of their annual
Family-Friendly Business
Award at a luncheon held at the
Washington Golf Club.
Recipients of the 2009 awards
were Cameron Wellness Center,
Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania
formally known as United
Cerebral Palsy of Southwestern
Pennsylvania and RRI Energy of
Canonsburg. They were chosen
from nearly a dozen surveys returned
from area businesses to
gauge their degree of familyfriendly
practices. Each business is
evaluated on seven different areas,
according to Tammy Thompson,
Project Coordinator for the Washington
County Community Engagement
Team.
“We have always tried to reach
out to businesses to stress the importance
of family through the
Community Engagement Team,
and this is a way to recognize them
for their efforts,” Thompson said.
“We also hope they will act as a
voice in the business sector to
show the importance of family in
the lives of their employees.”
Sandy Ullom & Anne Reynolds of Pathways of Southwestern
Pennsylvania & Debbie Roytas of Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center
of The Washington Hospital accepted awards given by Tammy
Thompson of Washington County Community Engagement Team.
Cameron Wellness Center was
recognized for their efforts to provide
resources for strong families,
such as providing opportunities for
family enrichment activities including
sporting events, family
passes and picnics. Pathways of
Southwestern Pennsylvania was
recognized for policies that included
maternity leave, paternity leave
and family leave.
RRI, a Texas-based company,
stood out for its company policies
that also included educational assistance
and an assistance plan for
employees attempting to adopt
children.
Community Action Southwest
was also recognized for their support
of family-friendly policies and
the program.
“The scope of family-friendly programs
and policies are endless,”
said Jeff Kotula, President of the
Washington County Chamber of
Commerce, who addressed the
group. ”Everything from familycentered
company cookouts to
workplace childcare options to
working at home are all options we
are seeing in the county and the
region. The theory is by reducing
the out-of office stress of the employee
will perform better and be
more productive.”
“Employers that listen to the
needs of their employees, understand
the outside stresses being
placed on them, and work jointly
with their employees to adopt family-
friendly practices will gain a
substantial return in productivity,
loyalty and retention of talent,”
Kotula added. “Businesses that
want to thrive should look for simple,
economically feasible ways to
support employees struggling to
balance the responsibilities of both
work and family. Just as we are experiencing
a new positive trend in
Washington County’s growth, our
long-term success will depend not
only on our products and services,
but also on the visionary management
and talented employees that
make them.”
This is the fourth year that the
Community Engagement Team
has recognized Washington County
businesses for family-friendly
policies. It is part of the Team’s ongoing
effort to provide childcare
knowledge and resources to families
of Washington County.
“Our goal is to educate, assist
and involve Washington County
families, businesses and communities
in understanding and valuing
the important role that quality,
early care and education plays in
determining future success,”
Thompson said. “Through the
Team, families will have access to
convenient and quality child care
services.”
Information about the Community
Engagement team and the
Washington Family Center is
available by contacting the center
at 724.229.7410, or by e-mail at
ECE@sphs.org. Ms. Thompson
may be contacted directly by email
at ECE@sphs.org.