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28 B E S T P L A C E S TO W O R K 2 0 2 0 Northeast Charter & Tour Co., Inc. Northeast Charter works tirelessly to engage all of its associates in daily updates. Transparency is key: With regularly scheduled active listening sessions, employees get direct access to the company's founder and president. It has been through those listening sessions that the company has learned how best to engage employees and im- prove communication, creating processes and policies to suit long-term growth and greatly reduce employee turnover rates. Positive feedback recognition is much appreciated. If an employee re- ceives positive customer feedback, the company president writes the employee a personal note of thanks. Every year, the company treats staff to a Sea Dogs baseball game. An annual company wide cookout, along with the annual holiday party, round out the year! www.northeastchartertour.com Katahdin Trust Company At Katahdin Trust, employees enjoy an annual Employee Appreciation party that includes games, prizes and give-aways. Monthly Fun Fridays show appreciation for employees in the form of a treat and/or gift. Recent Fun Fridays in- cluded celebration of Maine's birthday with whoopie pies, hourly give-aways and a flower-growing competition. Employees receive annual performance bonuses, health insurance, matching 401(k) plans, and employee stock ownership through an ESOP. The company has most recently extended its vacation policy and added bereavement leave, and instituted continued banking services upon retirement. Employees are also recognized on a regular basis on the intranet system, with photos and/or write-ups of employees volunteering, new grandbabies, and personal achievements such as graduating college. www.katahdintrust.com Avesta Housing Avesta Housing strives to create strong teams, meaningful career growth, and outstanding work envi- ronments. It offers generous time off, a 6% match on 401(k) contributions, up to eight weeks of paid parental leave and a tuition reimbursement program. Staff have the option to trade up to two weeks of their time for a cash payout. Avesta values training, mentorship and professional growth. Aves- ta offers LEADS, a leadership training program for employees who want to expand their skills and knowledge to position themselves for advance- ment. Employees enjoy free parking in Portland, with specially designated spots closest to the door for expecting mothers. Individual work spaces are customized to each employee's prefer- ence of sitting or standing desks. www.avestahousing.org DeBlois Electric DeBlois Electric created an in- house education center and a regis- tered Maine Apprenticeship Program. Students receive incremental pay in- creases for each level of proficiency. The average length of employment at DeBlois is about 15 years. Examples of growth from within can be seen in the leadership team: six of them started in entry-level field posi- tions. As a family-owned and operated business, Deblois is in the process of moving to an employee stock-ownership program. Employees enjoy a team atmosphere and are encouraged to have a voice in the company. Family needs are sup- ported with flexible scheduling. Com- pany activities are designed to appeal to both the office and field crews. For example, the office staff attends many dinner events, while field crews have an annual fishing weekend. www.debloiselectric.com # 24 # 25 # 26 # 27 MEDIUM EMPLOYER (50 - 249 U.S. EMPLOYEES) WWW.AVESTAHOUSING.ORG/CAREERS That's why we hire the best and make sure they have the tools necessary to thrive. Our staff is passionate about affordable housing and the positive impact it has on people and communities. OUR MISSION DEPENDS ON OUR PEOPLE 2020 2018 2019 2020 S E L E C T E D A S O N E O F M A I N E ' S B E S T P L A C E S TO W O R K ! www.debloiselectric.com Building Lasting Relationships Since 1967