Ujinrock International.

Medium Company // Non-profit

Winrock International was created in 1985 through the merger of three Rockefeller family organizations--the Agricultural Development Council (ADC), the Winrock International Livestock Research and Training Center and the International Agricultural Development Service.

Winrocks mission to empower the disadvantaged, increase economic opportunity and sustain natural resources is based on the foundation of the predecessor organizations. The commitment to improving the lives and livelihoods of others has been a part of Winrocks commitment since the inception of the organization, and this commitment applies not only to the work but also to the staff.

"Our people are our most valuable resource, and we do our best to make it clear to them that they are the foundation of our success," president and CEO Frank Tugwell said. "If our staff members are satisfied with their work, have a safe and pleasant work environment, and know they have the flexibility to assure that their families receive the care and attention they need, we will perform well as an organization and, in turn, be better able to fulfill our mission. There are no tradeoffs in this; our people are everything."

The three most common words used by new employees to describe the culture at Winrock International are camaraderie, family, and passion.

The passion comes from helping people help themselves in over 50 developing countries throughout the world. The camaraderie is enhanced by employee participation in "goodtime gang" activities, an open work environment where even the CEO works out of a cube and employee advisory teams to help review benefit decisions and explore ways to reduce Winrocks carbon footprint.

Winrock fosters its family environment through a number of initiatives including the recent provision for two-week, paid "parental leave" for staff members with a new child. Employees arc also granted a flexible starting time combined with every other Friday off and four weeks of vacation after two years. Additionally, 90 percent of employees have a personal computer to support work at home options.

Employees most commonly mention their appreciation for their fellow employees and being part of the Winrock Team that helps others throughout the world. Secondly, employees cite the degree of accommodation or flexibility, as over 10 percent of Winrock's workforce is telecommuters located from Hawaii to Vermont.

Virtually all of the telecommuting arrangements were created as a result of a personal situation which required an employees relocation.

Finally, employees cite the comprehensive employer funded benefits which are all effective on their first day. The health plans feature no co-pays or deductibles and a sliding premium scale based on salary; wellness is further encouraged with an annual health fair that includes cash incentives and access to walking trails, mountain bikes and shower facilities.

FRANK TUGWELL, President & CEO