PPB June 2015

30 / 108

28 • PPB • JUNE 2015 INNOVATE
Greatest Companies To Work For 2015
WHAT EMPLOYEES SAY ABOUT IMAGE
MASTERS (UPIC: IMASTERS): “Whenever
employees refer to their co-workers, they use
the term ‘work family,’ says Holly Lourenco,
an eight-year employee. “There is a strong
bond between employees because many have
been with Image Masters for a long time—
some as long as 20 years. This company must
be doing something right to have so many
employees stay with the company for such a
long time.”
HOW IT DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF AS AN
EMPLOYER: Image Masters stands out from
other promotional products companies
because there is a huge focus on education,”
explains Lourenco. Employees attend and
graduate from programs such as Customer
Service Academy sponsored by the local
community college and paid for by Image
Masters. The company also sponsors
employees who participate in the local
Leadership Merced program put on by the
local chamber of commerce. Employees are
also encouraged to attend industry shows
such as The PPAI Expo, and industry train-
ing involving safety standards. Another way
the company distinguishes itself is with its
ongoing commitment to the community.
Staff members help to coordinate canned
food drives and clothing drives to benefit the
local food bank and rescue mission. This past
December the company visited a senior cen-
ter where CEO Tim O’Neill dressed up as
Santa, and the employees sang carols and
passed out Teddy bears. “Participating in
activities such as these benefit the local com-
munity, but also help create a sense of family
at this great company,” she says. Another dif-
ference at Image Masters is the creative
employee titles such as director of customer
delight, finance wizard and promotional
guru. It’s a bit more to live up than the ho-
hum titles every company uses.
Top Executive
Tim O’Neill, CEO
___
Type of Company
Distributor
___
Location
Merced, California
___
Website
___
Year Founded
1989
___
Total Employees
10
___
Company Motto
Smarter Marketing.
Remarkable Results.
___
Perks
Flexible work schedules
401k matching program
Staff at Images Masters know they will be encour-
aged and supported in their efforts to learn more
and be better; the distributor pays for employees to
attend programs sponsored by a local community
college and by the city’s chamber of commerce.
THE INSIDE STORY | The company pulls the
entire company together for lunch once a month as
well as serves breakfast on each staff member’s
birthday. In December, the company hosts a dinner
for employees and their families complete with
gifts, and each summer treats staff and their fami-
lies to a trip to a destination such as a Giants base-
ball game or the Great America theme park in near-
by Santa Clara. “Last summer the trip was to Santa
Cruz Beach Boardwalk where we got lunch, ride tick-
ets and a custom beach towel,” remembers
Lourenco, adding that this kind of reward has a
number of positive outcomes for employees.