“Engaging Fresh Young Talent in the Workplace”

Dave Schmitz, General Mgr, Steppenwolf Theatre Company Tom Walter, CEO, Tasty Catering

Moderated: Diane Stoneman, Dir., of Consulting & Training10am CST

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Founded in 2001 by co-owners of Fel-Pro.

Committed to building healthy, productive work cultures

Triple bottom line: Business, People, Community.

Winning Workplaces

Winning Workplaces Core Areas

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Honoring Top Small Workplaces

The Wall Street Journal

Winners profile @ WSJ.Com/Entrepreneur

Top Small Workplace Conference & Celebration

Why Small Business cares about Gen Y

75 million (ages 16-29) in US

25% of labor force and growing

Small business positioned to meet needs/desires: meaningful work, continuous feedback, active say, and work life balance.

Skills that match the entrepreneurial spirits

Our Agenda Today

The Tale of Two Companies

Philosophies and Perspectives on working with the Younger Generation

Lessons Learned

Questions

Meet our Guests

David SchmitzGeneral Manager

Steppenwolf Theatre Co.

Tom WalterCEO

Tasty Catering

Tasty Catering

Developed 1989 Based in NW Chicago-metro area

A character-based business

Four Focus Areas

Food/beverage service for Chicago’s leading event planners

11,000 events during 2008 55 f-time & 150 p-time

(seasonal/weekend)

The Tipping Point

Gen Y/Millennials replace Boomers as largest generationin workplace

Veterans (1922-1945) – obligation driven Boomers (1946-1964) – driven by exciting adventure Gen X (1965-1985) – entrepreneurial & personal challenge Millennials (1981-2000) – work is a means to an end

Engaging and empowering the millennials will be critical for sustainability

Staff Recruitment & Hiring

Hires virgin or broken talent Supports high school students, counsels

and hires best & brightest Food class workshops for 8 high schools New staff assigned mentors Culture and application part of initial

training Culture= decision-maker, defines behavior

expectations

Work Environment

70% of US employees are apathetic

US service denial, not service-Irritating workers who are people pleasers

Employees treated as production units, not sensitive souls

Retaining Millennials

Allow freedom and responsibility Challenge their minds – used to solving games Work with “friends,” not just workers Fun – both at work and outside Respect and recognize Flexible – do not adapt to strict scheduling

Leading Young Talent

Lead, don’t manage

Earn respect, don’t demand it: Anticipate, communicate, delegate, motivate

Provide transparency, practice open book management, share the risk & reward

Employee Created Culture

Core Values Moral, ethical and legal

Treat others with respect

Quality in everything we do

Competitiveness

High customer standards

Culture of discipline

Freedom and responsibility

Employee Created Culture

Core Purpose Experience thrill of success through teamwork,

innovation and community involvement

Big Hairy Audacious Goal Build great, enduring company with one of the

most recognized and respected brands in our industry

Vivid Description Evolve into recognized and profitable corporate

catering company through careful planning and controlled growth while enriching employees and satisfying our customers

Entrepreneurship Entanglement

5 start-up companies in past 3 years:

That’s Caring – eco-responsible gift basket

T.F. Processors – co-pack commercial baking

Touhy Capital – an employee assistance fund

N. 44th – an Arizona estate investment

Rios Trucking – truck leasing

We employ

Millennials to the benefit of the theatre

Really?

Enlivened by youthful energy

Creates environment of innovation

Pushes company to use current technologies

It’s fun- never a dull moment!

How We Engage the Next Generation

Professional Leadership Programs Apprenticeship Internship African American Fellowship

As staff members

By turning challenges into opportunities

Professional Leadership Programs

Paid learning experience (Apprenticeship, Fellowship)

Introduction to working

More than filling, faxing and coffee making

Monthly professional development

Cohort group created

Independent projects

Professional Leadership Programs

Steppenwolf enlivened by youthful energy – creates an environment of innovation

Junior staff gets experience managing staff

Next generation of theatre managers trained (good for Steppenwolf & community)

As staff members On-boarding

PL Programs – Jr. staff gets mgt. experience

Embrace their passion for theatre as a profession

Create teams focused on their talents

Turn “challenges” into opportunities

Embrace willingness to blur lines between work and play

Look to them to communicate on our behalf to their age co-horts

Turn challenges into opportunities

Create opportunities to de-silo company – develop great teams / de-silo operations

Harness the FUN and ENERGY they bring to the job

Questions?

David SchmitzGeneral Manager

Steppenwolf Theatre Co.

Tom WalterCEO

Tasty Catering

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