RiskSOURCE Clark-Theders: Caring is the most important element of culture

The power of a great company culture is that it makes a business stronger and more resilient in the face of adversity. RiskSOURCE Clark-Theders, a risk management and property and casualty insurance business, learned just how strong its culture was during the pandemic.

RiskSOURCE set out to create a culture that allows team members to thrive as whole people and it succeeded. The company has been a finalist for the Business Courier’s Best Places to Work every year since 2011, winning six times. When surveyed for the award each year, the number one word employees use to describe RiskSOURCE is “caring.”

Caring is so central to the company’s culture, that this year it’s celebrating the 15th anniversary of RiskSOURCE Cares, a program that keeps caring for its team, clients and community at the forefront of everything the company does. Through RiskSOURCE Cares, the company prioritizes the person and their well-being, invests in tools, training, and resources to develop them and offers HR policies, benefits, and programs that provide life-work balance, including paid time off for volunteer work during business hours and quarterly events that benefit the community.

Another key culture element is authenticity. The company recognized that the pandemic could impact job satisfaction and mental health. To ensure it was meeting employees’ needs, it started conducting monthly check-ins and surveys to hear their voices and implement changes based on their feedback.

Integrity is also built into RiskSOURCE’s culture. It’s about doing the right thing for clients regardless of profit, which stems from a belief that by looking out for their best interests, the business will thrive.

Finally, RiskSOURCE strives for flexibility. It values meeting people where they are, especially as the world adapts to a rapidly changing work environment. Employees have the option to balance time spent working from home and the office. A “Fun Committee” plans events to keep employees connected and RiskSOURCE built out its intranet to put resources at employees’ fingertips, no matter where they worked.

The results speak for themselves. Average employee tenure is more than a decade. Satisfied employees make for satisfied clients and RiskSOURCE enjoys a 97 percent client retention rate.

Featured image from left: Amanda Shults (President), Rick Theders (Founder), and Jonathan Theders (CEO) of RiskSOURCE Clark-Theders

The Goering Center is sharing this content as part of its 2022 Family and Private Business Awards celebration.