– Third time in six years company has been honored as #1 –
Livonia, Mich. – Oct. 04, 2007 – Quicken Loans/Rock Financial has once again been ranked #1 on the list of the “101 Best and Brightest Companies in Metro Detroit by the Michigan Business & Professional Association (MBPA). The company previously received the honor in 2002 and 2005, and has been named to the list of “101 Best and Brightest Companies in Metro Detroit” five times.
The MBPA said Quicken Loans was cited as the top “Best and Brightest company to work for” from among more than 1,000 nominated organizations because it excelled in every category of consideration, including communication, employee training, community involvement, benefits and work-life balance.
“Elite companies don’t just acknowledge employees with competitive compensation and benefits, they place emphasize on communication, work-life balance, diversity, community initiatives, and other key factors,” said Jennifer Kluge, COO and executive vice president of the Michigan Business & Professional Association. “And they keep these initiatives at the forefront of their company culture. Our Association is proud to provide a forum for these elite companies to be recognized and honored.”
Kluge presented the award to Todd Lunsford, who served as Vice President of Human Resources before recently transitioning to his new roll as Chief Marketing Officer.
“Our company believes success is built on putting the right people in the right position to succeed, and then nurturing their growth within a strong, entrepreneurial culture,” says Lunsford. “We believe if you explain what you want folks to accomplish and why, and then allow them to use their own creativity to determine how to do it, they’ll be highly engaged and leave work each day with an extraordinary sense of pride”.
“We also believe that as a result of high morale and empowerment, our people also take great care of our clients,” continues Lunsford. “As leaders, all we really need to do is provide the tools, resources and guidance needed, reward team members for their accomplishments, but then otherwise step out of the way and let folks do their jobs.”
The MBPAs selection process evaluates the feedback of anonymous surveys it sends to a large sample of each company’s employees. In this case, Quicken Loans provided the email addresses of its more than 4,100 employees, and the MBPA determined who would actually be surveyed. More than 400 Quicken Loans team members then received anonymous surveys about Quicken Loans’ workplace, and while the company was not able to see the results of those surveys, Kluge said the results were favorable.
Perks such as award trips to exotic locations like Puerto Rico and the Bahamas, tickets to concerts and sporting events, free slushees and cappuccinos, flexible work schedules and the ability to telecommute, were among other items that made Quicken Loans stand out in the judges’ eyes. Employees also referenced a three-day orientation focusing on culture, client service and communication that is led by Chairman and Founder Dan Gilbert and CEO Bill Emerson.
This award represents the third major recognition Quicken Loans has received as a “great place to work.” The company recently ranked in the top 20 of FORTUNE Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” in America for the fourth consecutive year, and is #1 on Computerworld Magazine’s list of the “100 Best Places to Work in Information Technology” for the third straight year.
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About Quicken Loans
Quicken Loans is the one of the nation’s largest retail mortgage lenders, closing loans for clients in all 50 states, and closed nearly $18 billion in home loans in calendar year 2006, up from more than $16 billion in 2005.
To learn about Quicken Loans and its culture, visit the company’s team member blog at www.whatsthediff.com or its career site at www.quickenloanscareers.com.