Engaging Young Talent: Winning Strategies for Sustainable Workplace Growth

1. “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 & Training 10am CST For Audio: Dial toll free: 866-740-1260 and enter Access Code: 3289796ReadyTalk Customer Care: 800-843-9166

2. Winning Workplaces • Founded in 2001 by co-owners of Fel-Pro. • Committedto building healthy, productive work cultures • Triple bottom line: Business, People, Community.

3. Winning Workplaces Core Areas - Information Clearinghouse - Consulting & Training - Business Webinars

4. Honoring Top Small Workplaces The Wall Street Journal Winners profile @ WSJ.Com/Entrepreneur Top Small Workplace Conference & Celebration

5. 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

6. Our Agenda Today • The Tale of Two Companies • Philosophies and Perspectives on working with the Younger Generation • Lessons Learned • Questions

7. Meet our Guests Tom WalterCEOTasty Catering David SchmitzGeneral ManagerSteppenwolf Theatre Co.

8. Tasty Catering • Developed 1989 • Based in NW Chicago-metro area • A character-based business

9. 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)

10. The Tipping Point Gen Y/Millennials replace Boomers as largest generation in 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

20. We employ Millennials to the benefit of the theatre

21. Really? • Enlivened by youthful energy • Creates environment of innovation • Pushes company to use current technologies • It’s fun- never a dull moment!

22. How We Engage the Next Generation • Professional Leadership Programs • Apprenticeship • Internship • African American Fellowship • As staff members • By turning challenges into opportunities

23. 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

24. 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)

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

29. Questions? Tom WalterCEOTasty Catering David SchmitzGeneral ManagerSteppenwolf Theatre Co.

30. Thank you for joining us. Please fill out a feedback evaluation form. www.winningworkplaces.org