VGM Group, Inc.

Although there’s only a few days remaining of Employee Ownership Month, our Employee Ownership Games have reached their end. But not before a final week that was full of fun. Last Saturday, employee owners and their families were treated to a special showing of the film, Miracle, under the lights at VGM headquarters.  The closing ceremony for the Employee Ownership Games was held on Wednesday at the VGM Farm. Teams battled it out in a friendly competition, testing their knowledge in Trivia with a Twist. Congratulations to Strategic Samurais for capturing the Gold Medal! Thank you to all employee owners for participating in the Employee Ownership Games and continually Owning Your Ownership day in and day out.  

The Employee Ownership Games are nearing the final stretch, but there’s still so much to celebrate—including our employee owners. VGM has nearly 1,600 employee owners across 40 states and Canada, and last night, we celebrated over 400 milestone anniversaries with the company. 282 reached their one-year anniversary, and two employee owners reached an incredible 35 years with VGM! The power of employee ownership is always something worth celebrating—whether someone has been here for one year, 35 years, or anywhere in between, everyone has the power to Make a Difference every day. 

Earlier this year, VGM made a commitment to providing 3,000 volunteer hours to the communities we call home. And over the last few months, we’ve been spotlighting employee owners that are continually Making a Difference through their volunteer work. Meet our October Volunteer Spotlight: Melanie Tournier, senior account executive with Strategic Imaging. Melanie has dedicated much of her life to volunteering, including fostering children.  Over the last decade, she has focused on her daughters’ organizations, Furries 4 Fosters and Let’s Start Talking. Furries 4 Fosters, started by her daughter Aaliyah, donates stuffed animals and blankets to foster children, providing comfort and security. Let’s Start Talking was founded by her daughter Tehya, aiming to raise awareness for suicide prevention through events and discussions, providing a safe space to those who need it. Melanie plays a crucial role in organizing events for both nonprofits and assisting wherever needed. She finds joy in seeing the positive impact on others and passing on the values of kindness and passion to help others.  Thank you, Melanie, for Making a Difference in our community! 

Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, aligning with the independence of several Latin American countries. It’s a time to celebrate the rich culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Watch the video below to hear from several of our employee owners, and why this celebration is important to them. 

VGM Group has once again been named an Employer of Choice by the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier! Being 100% employee owned has its benefits—every employee owner has a stake in the company, and they’re the ones who drive our success. Thanks to the Courier for the recognition, and congratulations to all businesses that were named an Employer of Choice! To read more about all the Employers of Choice winners, click here: https://bit.ly/4eUImYi  

Today, in recognition of Metastatic Breast Cancer Awareness Day, VGM will be lighting our building in green, pink, and teal. VGM will join over 200 locations around the world illuminating our building to #LightUpMBC in 2024. To learn more about how you can support or raise awareness, visit https://lnkd.in/gAMgmcHh. 

The first two weeks of Employee Ownership Month are officially in the bag. Our month started off with an employee ownership pancake breakfast the morning of Oct. 1. That day, we also officially rang in Employee Ownership Month with an opening ceremony, where we unveiled our new 100% Employee Owned Flag.  This past Tuesday, Oct. 8, we had a few opportunities for employee owners to get engaged with their employee owner status. A virtual game of Kahoot! was available throughout the day for employee owners to test their ESOP knowledge for a chance to win prizes.  Later in the day, we had a special Stories of Ownership Panel, consisting of employee owners in various stages of their career with VGM to provide their perspectives on employee ownership and the ESOP. It’s been jam-packed month so far, and we’re not slowing down yet!  

Registration for Medtrade 2025 is now open! Save the date: Feb. 18-20.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and tonight VGM will be lighting our building pink in recognition. VGM was once again a sponsor for this year’s Annual Pink Ribbon Run, which took place this past Saturday, Oct. 5., in Cedar Falls, Iowa, hosted by the Beyond Pink TEAM. To learn more about the Beyond Pink TEAM and how you can get involved, visit www.beyondpinkteam.org. 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month! The question is no longer if it will happen to you, but when? Did you know that over 75% of cyberattacks begin with an email? Learn about the latest methods and how you can protect your business in our new blog https://lnkd.in/gDEs3b4w