People and culture set Phillips Plastics Corporation® apart and make us unique in the marketplace. Because people are our most valuable resource, Phillips has developed and nurtured an environment respecting all people and the jobs they perform. Laying the foundation for the “People Process Culture” – a phrase coined by Founder, Chairman of the Board, and Chief Executive Officer Robert F. Cervenka – are the tenets “All People Are Important“ and “People Working Together Achieve More.”
Robert and Debbie Cervenka expanded the People Process cultural vision in 1997 with a private $1.5 million endowment to the University of Wisconsin-Stout. This endowment led to the establishment of the People Process Chair position currently held by Kari Dahl. This critical position provides the initiative, resources, and focus to research and teach the People Process Culture at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The Cervenka’s endowment supports the belief in personal and professional development that continuously improves the quality, productivity, and services offered by employees, students, and organizations adhering to the People Process Culture philosophy. “The Cervenka’s support of the People Process Culture Chair position has been phenomenal. So many of their efforts have directly and indirectly given significant contributions to our university’s extension services, our faculty, students, graduates, and organizations in Wisconsin and throughout the nation. They have allowed the University of Wisconsin – Stout to use Phillips Plastics Corporation’s training facilities to conduct workshops for hundreds of managers and executives,” explains Charlie Krueger – original People Process Chair, 1997.
Julie Thole, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Stout who completed the People Process courses, offers her views on the People Process Culture.
“Organizations that take part in a People Process Culture possess integrity. The People Process demonstrates investment in a workforce, acknowledgment that people are an important aspect in and for the organizations future, and allows for each person to enhance their knowledge, skills, and abilities to their fullest potential.
Implementing the People Process Culture offers numerous benefits to an organization such as:
• Increased employee retention – employees feel like part of the team and wanted/needed at their job, thus reducing turnover
• Employees are the experts at their jobs and their suggestions for improving processes can lead to creative changes; increased profitability
• Employees who are delighted with their job will give 110% every day
Initially, I wasn’t sure what to expect of the People Process Culture classes offered at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. Not only was it interesting, but being able to see a People Process Culture first hand was invaluable. The classes held at the Phillips Plastics Origen™ Center in Menomonie, WI are ones to remember, as they exemplified a hands-on display of what a People Process Culture can do for an organization and the individuals in an organization. I was so taken with the first section of the class that I eagerly signed up for the next. It is a class that I recommend to everyone. It’s nice to see that there are organizations that take pride in their workforce.”
To guide its People Process Culture, Phillips Plastics makes significant investments, from a dedicated training facility and devoting over 3% of its annual payroll to education and development to providing approximately $200,000 annually in tuition assistance. The company’s state-of-the-art facilities, combined with a culture dedicated to the development and growth of each individual, ensures our customers receive high quality components manufactured and assembled by a well-trained, dedicated work force.
