2008 Choice Employers, 25-100 Employees, No. 2: Environmental Works Inc.

Robin Melton, president and owner of Environmental Works Inc., isn't interested in anything less than the best.

"That means we have to have the best - the most excellent employees we can get; the best scientists and the best engineers," she says. Her corollary to that is, "If you want the best, you have to treat them the best," she says.

Melton, who has twice treated her entire staff and their guests to all-expenses-paid trips to celebrate company anniversaries, is something of a legend when it comes to showing appreciation to her staff.

"Obviously, we can't take a cruise every year - I mean there are limits to what we can do - but I think it's important to share what we can," she says.

Beyond taking her employees to Cancun, Mexico, or on a Royal Caribbean Cruise, Melton makes it a point to motivate and reward them through everyday workplace policies, programs and benefits.

"If you can find great talent and then do everything you can to nurture that, help them develop and provide opportunities for them, make them happy, make them productive, it's a win-win for the company and the individual," she says.

Environmental Works holds quarterly Service Magic luncheons, where co-workers can recognize their peers for excellent internal or external customer service. Those recognized receive gift cards and cash prizes for their efforts.

Because healthy employees are happy and productive employees, Melton also provides incentives for healthy behavior.

The company's wellness program works on a point system that awards participants with gift cards. The program, launched in August, "is encouraging employees to be more healthy, be more active, to try to achieve a higher level of health in many different ways," says Kassia Travers, marketing manager.

Environmental Works also offers a wellness library with information on health and fitness, and there is a budget for healthy snacks.

Environmental Works likewise provides partial reimbursements for gym memberships, weight loss programs and aerobics, yoga or Pilates classes.

But the company's dedication to health doesn't stop there. The company pays more than 50 percent of employees' health care premiums and 100 percent of their dental premiums, plus up to 50 percent for dependent health and dental coverage.

Annual salary increases for Environmental Works employees average 7 percent to 9 percent, and the company has been awarding quarterly bonuses for about 15 years, Melton says.

"I like the quarterly, better than annual, bonus because it's more timely recognition," she adds.

Travers, who joined the company in July 2007, says Melton's big heart and giving nature are what make Environmental Works a great place to work.

"Robin shows us that she cares about us in so many ways," she says.

Environmental Works will relocate to new, larger headquarters by year's end at 1455 E. Chestnut Expressway.[[In-content Ad]]