Woodhouse Day Spa

SMALL BUSINESS WINNER FEATURE

By Kim Chatelain | PHOTOS BY DAVID GRUNFELD

It may seem cruel and ironic that a business offering peace, comfort and rejuvenation was forced to shut down during the coronavirus crisis. Such was life for spas across the state.

At Woodhouse Day Spa, staff members help guests escape from the stress in their lives. To do that, the employees must create a relaxing environment that guests notice the minute they walk through the door. At Woodhouse, a repeat Top Workplaces winner in the Small Companies division, that peaceful environment is achieved because employees are in tune with the needs of both one another and the guests.

“Everyone sincerely asks each other how we are from day to day,” said Jason Porche, a massage therapist who has been at Woodhouse for eight years. “We all celebrate victories together and hurt together when someone is in pain.”

Woodhouse, which was founded in New Orleans in 2011, employs about 40 people who offer guests more than 70 spa services including massage, body treatments, facials, waxing and nail services. Employees say the spa is an outstanding place to work.

“The camaraderie I feel with Woodhouse is so special,” massage therapist Erica Gonzales said. “Whether its holiday parties, crawfish boils, or baby showers, spending time with my colleagues is truly enjoyable and makes me look forward to coming to work each day.”

In mid-March, Woodhouse and other similar businesses were forced to shut down for more than two months as part of an effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. General Manager Giselle McBee said she drove to Baton Rouge to help get answers regarding financial help for employees.

The business was able to get a loan through the Paycheck Protection Program that helped hold the workforce together. “We are thankful that we were able to receive the PPP loan to keep our employees on payroll

and have a job to come back to,” McBee said.

Employees said Woodhouse management served as a model of how an employer can help workers at crunch time.

“During the immediate aftermath of the coronavirus shutdown, amongst mass confusion about payroll and unemployment, management and ownership provided me with the money I needed to survive,” Porche said.

Gonzales said McBee stood by employees during the shutdown. “Giselle offered to help with those of us that were struggling, offering to bring groceries, help cover bills” and file for benefits, said Gonzales, who has worked at Woodhouse for five years.

“Management is always on your side to help you through the day,” said Melissa Martin (Lead Esthetician and a Woodhouse employee for five years). “They genuinely care and know how much of ourselves we give to people. We are real people and have real emotions and it’s important to have someone to listen and help when it’s needed.”

McBee said turnover at Woodhouse is low by industry standards, a fact she attributes to being attentive to the needs of employees.

“I constantly think about our team,” she said. “I think about ways to make their lives easier every day at work. I encourage all team members to keep open communication with me at all times and truly care about how they are outside of work. When you genuinely care, you can’t mess up.”

Stone Creek Club & Spa

MIDSIZE BUSINESS WINNER FEATURE

By Kim Chatelain | PHOTO BY MAX BECHERER

When employees arrive for work at Stone Creek Club and Spa near Covington, it’s not unusual for them to see General Manager Larry Conner picking up leaves in the parking lot or mopping up a spill in the lobby.

It’s not that the club lacks a maintenance staff. It’s that management at the upscale health and fitness center promotes a team-oriented “Disney World environment” that creates an atmosphere that is pleasurable for the club’s members and its approximately 200 employees.

The staff members at Stone Creek, the Mid-sized winner for Top Workplaces, say the team approach created by caring managers fosters a pleasant work environment that ultimately leads to a high standard of service for the approximately 5,500 members.

“Our philosophy has always been to take care of the team and the team will take care of everything else,” said Conner, who has worked in the local fitness and

hospitality industries for 30 years. “When we do surveys of our members, it’s clear they have a great appreciation for our employees who have adopted our approach.”

Marvin Gresse, the assistant general manager, said because all employees buy into the club’s mission everyone takes it upon themselves to promote hospitality. The staff refers to the approach as the “take care principle,” which helps create an optimal experience for members, he said.

For example, when a sudden thunderstorm this spring left a several tennis players huddled under a shelter, a couple of young employees instinctively grabbed umbrellas, rushed out into the downpour and walked the players back to the safety of the main building. They did so without being told by a supervisor, Conner said.

“That wasn’t part of our training or protocol,” Conner said. “They just did it.”

Like other health clubs and hospitality businesses, Stone Creek was forced to close its doors when the coronavirus crisis struck in mid-March. It remained closed for about two months and members’ dues were suspended.

While managers worked some from home and met regularly via Zoom, the vast majority of the employees were not able to work at all. However, they continued to be paid and kept their benefits throughout the closure.

“We didn’t want our employees to go away,” Conner said. “We paid them all the way through.”

Employee Lisa Familia said staying on the payroll throughout the shutdown is an example of the way Stone Creek treats its employees, who in turn are motivated to provide the highest possible service to members.

“Stone Creek’s management team is highly principled, member’s first and (is about doing) what’s right,” she said. “If you do what is right for the majority of people concerned, everything will fall into place.”

Madalyn Bilac started working at Stone Creek four years ago, when she was a junior in high school. Now entering her senior year in college, Bilac said the experience has helped her prepare for the future.

“Through the years I have had the privilege of meeting some of the most admirable and influential people,” Bilac said. “What I love most about Stone Creek is the sense of encouragement and teamwork we all strive to achieve as a whole. I am so thankful to be a part of such an amazing team.”

Both Conner and Gresse said that managers of health clubs from around the country have visited Stone Creek to study its model of organizational leadership.

“I’ve worked at different places during my career,” Gresse said. “In the end, this place is special.”

Thank you to all of our employees for making Christopher Homes a Top Workplace FOUR YEARS in a row!

https://www.christopherhomes.org/

THANKS FOR MAKING GALLO MECHANICAL A 2020 TOP WORKPLACE

Founded in 1945, Gallo Mechanical is one of the largest mechanical contracting firms in the Gulf South. We take great pride in the quality of our work and our dedication to our customers and employees.

Every employee is part of our Gallo family and their professional growth is a top priority Career opportunities for employee success and financial prosperity Our work culture is one of respect and inclusion

Top tier training and continued education available for our workforce