Recruiting and retaining the best and the brightest employees – a goal that all businesses share.  But what’s the best way to accomplish that?  By increasing employee satisfaction!

And one way to increase employee satisfaction is to institute family friendly practices and policies that will help employees balance work and family issues.  Research clearly shows that family friendly initiatives work and are an investment in long-term benefits for the employee, employer, and the community.  

To recognize employers for “stretching” their businesses by implementing family friendly initiatives, the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce created the Family Friendly Employer Award, to be given on an annual basis.  Why apply?  Recipients will receive recognition as employers that care – to help with employee attraction and retention; and we’ll promote your workplace through the many information resources available to the Chamber. 

Jerome L. Yantz, a CPA with Weinlander Fitzhugh and a community leader, has spent his life dedicated to public education and inspiring others to be responsible for education of our youth.  Whether it involved reading to students or passing a millage for school improvements, Jerome was always willing to give his time and his resources.  He advocates community involvement in education and served for many years as the chairman of the Alliance for Bay County Schools, now the Chamber Business & Education Partnership. Jerome challenges the business community to become involved in education and is often heard suggesting that they “step up to the plate.”