Celebrating PAEA’s Workplace Culture and Staff Impact

If you had the chance to meet any members of the PAEA staff—whether at the 2025 Education Forum, Regional Education Meetings, volunteer activities, or during virtual events—you likely recognize their kindness, professionalism, and commitment to supporting our member programs and each other.

In recent years, PAEA has dedicated resources to advancing our strategic goal of sustaining and strengthening a positive, healthy organizational culture and operational backbone. The results are evident: this investment is paying off.

Great Place To Work® Certification™

This fall, PAEA proudly received the Great Place To Work® Certification™ for the second consecutive year. This certification is awarded annually to top U.S. companies and recognized globally as the benchmark for identifying and celebrating high-trust, high-performance workplace cultures, based entirely on employee feedback.

According to Great Place To Work® survey results, an impressive 96% of PAEA’s staff reported that PAEA is a great place to work, compared to just 57% at a typical U.S.-based company. In addition, PAEA achieved a perfect score in areas such as supporting staff’s professional development and recognition.

“At PAEA, our people are our greatest strength. This recognition reflects not just where we work, but how we work—together, with care, purpose, and respect for each other. I am so proud of what we have built,” said Kendall Williams, MPA, chief people officer.

Fostering a Staff-Centric Culture

Kendall and Christine Vucinich, instructional specialist, recently presented at the Association for Talent Development (ATD) OrgDev Conference on “Practical Strategies for Cultural Transformation,” sharing PAEA’s approach.

Their presentation highlighted key initiatives and best practices they utilize to foster a workplace culture that values, supports, and empowers staff to thrive, including:

• Investing in every staff member’s professional development through individual development planning and dedicated professional development funding
• Organizing an in-person annual staff retreat for our remote-first team to connect and learn together
• Enhancing internal communication through a revamped intranet and open office hours
• Creating engaging opportunities for staff interaction, such as virtual coffee breaks and quarterly activities

PAEA Staff Move with Purpose

PAEA has a tradition of incorporating movement challenges into its wellness programming. This year’s challenge focused on promoting physical activity while aligning with our core values of well-being and collaboration. The initiative encouraged staff to be more intentional about reducing desk time and increasing physical activity in their daily routines—all while supporting a cause chosen by the team.

Christine noted, “Our team thrives on healthy competition and values collaboration to support a meaningful cause. This year’s challenge was a testament to that spirit.” For every mile logged, PAEA committed to donating to a charity selected by the group, fostering a sense of community and collaboration.

Staff tracked their physical activities—whether walking, running, hiking, or biking— using an app called Charity Miles. The group selected No Kid Hungry, a national campaign dedicated to ending childhood hunger by ensuring every child has access to three nutritious meals each day, all year round. In just one month, PAEA staff collectively logged 2,973 miles, resulting in a $500 donation to No Kid Hungry.

In addition to logging miles, staff participated in mini-challenges with prizes, including sharing their favorite charities and discussing wellness topics such as podcast recommendations, music, and meditation. Staff were encouraged to prioritize breaks, participate in virtual coffee breaks to foster connection and dialogue while working remotely, and maintain motivation.

Special recognition goes to Lynn Heitzman, vice president for human resources and operations, for earning the highest contributions towards No Kid Hungry. Lynn expressed, “I am so happy to be a part of this great team and to have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact for such an important cause.”

Celebrating and Strengthening Our Culture

PAEA is committed to providing a supportive and engaging workplace. With initiatives that blend professional development, employee well-being, and community building, PAEA stands out as a leader in talent development and employee culture. PAEA is proud to celebrate our staff and their positive impact every day.