Environmental Works celebrates successes

Robin E. Melton knows how to say thank you.

To celebrate her company's recent milestones and accomplishments, Melton is taking her staff on an all-expenses paid vacation to Cancun, Mexico.

Her company, Environmental Works Inc., won the 2002 W. Curtis Strube Small Business of the Year Award, presented by the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. The company also is celebrating its 10th year.

Melton began working out of her home as an environmental consultant in 1991. In September 1992, she co-founded Environmental Works Inc. In 1993, the company added its first employee. Melton bought out her partner in 1995.

"I started at the kitchen table, so to speak," Melton said. "In the early days of the corporation, we did everything from field work to licking envelopes."

Environmental Works Inc. provides a variety of environmental services, including consulting, environmental compliance, remediation, due diligence assessments, emergency response and site investigations.

The company has grown to 29 employees in the Springfield office. In November, Melton has also opened a one-person satellite office in Kansas City.

Melton's constant attention to employee needs has made a difference, according to Rita Neff, marketing coordinator for the company.

"She's been very generous in keeping employees happy and meeting our personal needs," Neff said.

Besides good benefits, employees are treated to ice cream parties, early Fridays off on occasion and flexible schedules to allow for family time.

But the biggest perk begins Oct. 11 when Melton will take 44 people employees and their spouses or guests to Cancun for a four-day, three-night vacation. All Springfield employees with Environmental Works as of July 1 are eligible for the trip.

"I knew that I wanted to do something special with 10 years," Melton said. "Then when we won the Small Business of the Year award, it was like, Oh my gosh, we've got to do something really big.' I wanted to do something for the people here, because they're the ones who have made our success possible. I wanted to give some back."

The cost for the trip is about $50,000, according to Melton. The company is paying for airfare, accommodations at the five-star Cancun Palace Hotel, meals, drinks, and tours to Mayan ruins and other local tourist sights. Souvenirs are the only expense for employees and guests.

Even the announcement of the trip was presented in a special way. A treasure hunt was organized with rhyming clues planted inside and outside the building. After the hunt, participants lined up and were then each presented with a gift bag which revealed the secret.

Assisted by Great Southern Travel, Melton shopped for a number of vacation packages before she decided on Cancun.

"If she was going to give a gift like this, she wanted to do it right," said LeeAnne Herd, company controller.