Brooksville company Accuform Signs celebrates a culture of “yes we can” and Wayne Johnson describes his family-operated business as “light on rules where we can be” to empower the company’s over 300 employees. Brothers Wayne and Dave Johnson grew up outside of Toronto and relocated to Florida with their family in 1977 after selling their Canadian business a year earlier.
An industry leader, Accuform maintains a family-first environment by offering employees opportunities for engagement, empowerment, and personal growth. This positive employee culture is spread through strong customer, vendor and community relationships ensuring the continued success of the company.
The Johnson’s determined their company’s values early and have maintained those core values as the business has evolved and grown. The company encourages upward mobility for employees by providing Dale Carnegie leadership and motivational training to encourage personal and professional growth. During the hiring process Accuform seeks potential employees who will fit the company’s culture with emphasis placed on those who are not just looking for a job.
Amenities provided by Accuform rival some offerings typically associated with hot Silicon Valley companies. Employees enjoy fresh breakfast and lunch prepared on site in the company’s cafeteria where Internet stations are also available for use during breaks. Meals cost roughly $2.50 each to cover food costs and feature “a good balance of healthy and comfort foods,” says Wayne. A fitness center with showers helps employees maintain healthy exercise routines, and the company regularly awards employees and has monthly anniversary celebrations.
The culture at Accuform extends beyond employees to all stakeholders. Vendors who partner with the company to provide the best solutions possible to customers. Vendors are celebrated each year with an annual awards program.
Recently Accuform Signs partnered with the Hernando County School District to launch a school makeover program where large wall graphics installed at district elementary schools include educational and inspirational themes designed to improve student learning environments. The library and cafeteria of Eastside Elementary school was completed last week with all worked performed by, and expenses covered by, Accuform.
The school makeover is a natural evolution for Accuform because of an existing relationship with one Hernando County technical school. Nature Coast High School has been part of a company internship program with some students becoming full time employees after graduation.
Five years ago Accuform began using 100 percent digital printing to avoid the use of toxic inks and dated screen printing methods which has improved capabilities and turnaround time while also being better for the environment and lowering disposal costs.
All of these stakeholder initiatives have positioned Accuform as a regional community asset and this past June the company was recognized by the Sustany Foundation as a recipient of the 2015 Sustainable Business Awards at The University of Tampa. The awards recognize leaders and companies who demonstrate sustainable business practices based on the triple bottom line of – people, planet, and profit.