Lincoln Industries (lincolnindustries.com), renowned for its unique wellness culture, continues to set the bar high. Fifteen years ago, the company received national recognition as one of the “Healthiest Workplaces” in the world at the 5th Global Healthy Workplace Summit in Singapore.
Their innovative wellness program soon caught the attention of CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who showcased the company’s wellness program in a special segment, which offers a fully paid trip to climb a fourteen-thousand-foot peak, also known as a “14’er.”
The company is currently in the final stages of planning its 19th Go Platinum! Climb. On Sunday, July 21, over 100 team members will embark on an ascent of Mt. Democrat and Missouri Mountain, two prominent 14’ers on the Continental Divide of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains.
Vice-President of People Resources, Scott Miller, reflects on the continued popularity of the event. “Last year’s climb was so well attended that we had to split the climbing teams across multiple mountains. We had over 150 people ascending three different mountains, making the logistics comparable to a small military operation,” Miller said humorously.
Health and Wellness Director, Aaron May, led the coordination efforts, supported by a dedicated group of climb support team members, affectionately known as the “sherpas” of the event. They handle everything from planning the hiking routes to organizing transportation to the trailheads.
“The team’s responsibility is to ensure that all participants are wellprepared for this adventure and have a memorable experience with top-notch lodging and food. We aim to instill a mindset of overcoming adversity and relying on each other to achieve extraordinary results, just as we do daily at our manufacturing facilities,” May explained. One of those dedicated sherpa’s is Environmental Services Manager, Aaron Lemke. Lemke wasn’t always a wellness advocate. Reflecting on his transformation, he shared, “I used to smoke, was overweight, and wasn’t into fitness.” Now, he is a regular at the company’s onsite gym, does yoga and just completed a 10 year-stint on the climb support team.
Accounts Receivable Team Leader, Kayelynn Roche, vividly remembers her first summit. “Coming up over the ridge of rocks to reach the summit was overwhelming! Multiple emotions hit me, exhilaration, joy, extreme pride and peace. I cried! What made my climb even more special was that I got to share the summit with my boss(es) and climb with one of my best friends.”
While many companies continue to face workforce challenges in today’s employment market, with US worker engagement at an 11-year low according to Gallup, Lincoln Industries stands out by maintaining a strong commitment to its culture and achieving high employee engagement scores. This dedication has earned the company a place on Newsweek’s 2024 list of “America’s Greatest Workplaces.” To further explore Lincoln Industries’ innovation, visit lincolnindustries.com.