ACET, Inc. Blog

Summer may have the reputation of being lazy and relaxing, but between kids, beach parties, and vacations, everyone knows that summer is a crazy time! As fall arrives, we at ACET wanted to share a few highlights from our sunny and warm-filled summer.

Kirsten: Like most summers, my husband (Zack) and I were very busy! We had another family wedding this summer up on the North Shore (near Gooseberry Falls). We started driving in the heat of a lazy August afternoon (after visiting two more of Minnesota’s excellent vineyards!) but by the time we got to Duluth, we were driving through fog. Zack thought it was excellent – the cool fog reminded him of Britain! In July, we adopted a dog from a local rescue group. Casey is a one-year-old Siberian Husky/Border Collie mix. Casey’s been a great addition to the family – he loves the other dogs in the family and adores going up to the cabin to swim in the lake. And, if that weren’t enough, we’ve recently started some painting projects at home!

Joseph: My summer was spent catching up on some projects I have been dying to complete, as well as enjoying the outdoors. I was able to polish off a few books I was reading (I’m always in the middle of several books!) as well as spend some time listening to podcast lectures from UC-Berkeley to supplement some of my more challenging reading material. I also worked on some writing projects: a screenplay, a bit of a standup routine, and some film character analysis. And, as always, my dog Zelda demanded my attention; luckily Minnesota has a plethora of dog-friendly trails. We discovered a brand new one where dogs and horses can cross paths – that was an adventure!

Cassie: I work two jobs, so I spent a good portion of my summer indoors, unfortunately. However, I did give myself a few necessary diversions! In May, my partner, Doug, and I went on vacation in California. Although it was unseasonably cool, we spent a week enjoying the ocean, visiting old friends, and experiencing the culture of the San Francisco bay area. In July, I also spent a long weekend with Doug in Winona, MN. If you’ve ever in town, definitely check out Bloedow’s Bakery for some tasty (and addictive!) treats. Lastly, I picked up a new summer pastime – tossing Frisbee!

Stella: My husband, Jason, and I like to spend our summers on Lake Minnetonka. Our favorite places to frequent on the lake are Maynards and Lord Fletchers. We also spent a lot of time this summer working on our lawn and going to Home Depot – we’ve been having difficulty getting grass to grow in certain spots in our front yard! Although I’m sad that summer ended so quickly, I’m looking forward to catching up on my reading over the fall and winter.

How did you spend your “lazy” summer days? We’d love to hear all about it!

We at ACET love to keep up on news and events in the Twin Cities, which is one of the reasons we read the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal (MSPBJ). The latest issue of MSPBJ celebrates the Best Places to Work 2010. For details on the reviewing and nomination process, check out the Editor’s Note: http://twincities.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2010/08/30/focus56.html

In each company highlight, MSPBJ listed tips on “How to Get a Rockin’ Workplace.” As ACET’s Office Manager, one of my unofficial roles is employee relations, so I always find these tidbits to be particularly interesting! Listed below are some ways to make your workplace rockin’:

Team-Building:

• Give back by donating services, volunteering or raising funds. Community involvement is good for a company’s spirit and creates the best kind of team-building experiences. – Reside
• Foster social connections through birthday lunches, happy hours, group charitable activities, parties/dinners, etc. – Dale Carnegie Training Minnesota
• Each Monday morning we all come together to share breakfast at our kitchen table – as well as some of the sordid details of everyone’s previous weekend adventures – before digging into our upcoming week’s schedule. – 20 Below Studio

Straight from the CEO’s mouth:

• For every negative critique, [give] two positive attributes. – Hayden & Co.
• Care about your staffers. Encourage their passions outside of the office and offer your support through thick and thin. – Preston Kelly Inc.
• Make sure that staff members laugh frequently, and that they can laugh at and with the boss! – West Suburban Teen Clinic

Celebrating the little things:

• Celebrate everything from company milestones to National Backyard Games Day – even the smallest events can create an atmosphere of camaraderie. – Preston Kelly Inc.
• Recreational/stress reduction activities which include dart board games, ping pong games, access to Timberwolves and Twins tickets to take their families and our customers. – KaiserComm Inc.
• We provide programs that allow employees to recognize one another. We have “WorkatHealth” contests throughout the year to promote a healthy lifestyle. We host social events, educational seminars and book club events. – Solution Design Group Inc.

What are some ways your organization “keeps it rockin’”?

Cassie

Joseph, my husband Jason and I recently joined Bolder Options on a staff boating event on Lake Minnetonka. Bolder Options is a nonprofit organization devoted to improve the lives of youth. The outing was a great opportunity for Bolder Options staff to celebrate all the hard work and achievements in matching mentors and mentees and in coordinating youth meetings and activities to help youth set and achieve goals. ACET has provided evaluation services for Bolder Options for over five years and we were excited to be a part of their celebration! Below are a couple of pictures from the event. What does your organization do to celebrate achievements?

Stella