Memphis Top Workplaces 2020: Regency Homebuilders' 'awesome people' make the company
Memphis Top Workplaces 2020: Regency Homebuilders' 'awesome people' make the company
Dima Amro Memphis Commercial Appeal
At Regency Homebuilders, co-owners Sean Carlson and Jere Bowden work to keep their employees' and customers' desires front and center. That hasn't changed during a global pandemic.
"At the end of the day, it's everyone working together to make sure everyone is comfortable and safe and just keeping the team above everything else," Carlson said.
Carlson and Bowden founded Regency Homebuilders in 2007 with the goal to build dream homes for clients while maintaining a small business and family atmosphere.
Thirteen years later, Regency Homebuilders has been named the Top Workplace among small employers in the Memphis area for 2020.
"It's really about all the people that we've been so blessed and fortunate enough to hire," Carlson said. "They're the ones we all want to be better for."
He said Regency Homebuilders' 38 employees make the company and push the team to be its best.
Alix Kirk, who is part of Regency Homebuilders' warranty team, said the company is a family because of the way everyone pushes and supports each other.
"Our bosses want us to succeed and make sure we are given every resource we need to do so," Kirk said. "This place is an extension of home for us, and if you asked any of us, everyone’s response will be, 'I am never leaving this job.'”
This is the third consecutive year the Germantown company has made the Top Workplaces list.
"What makes our company is not the building, not the stuff, it's the people, and we just have awesome people," Carlson said.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Regency Homebuilders ensures its employees are safe and supported through these trying times.
About a third of the employees work in the office currently, and Carlson said despite employees' personal beliefs on the pandemic, everyone respects and protects their teammates.
He said although the pandemic has forced some people to work remotely, the employees find ways to make work exciting with different events.
"Halloween turned into a spirit week where every single day was a theme where the people in the office dressed up," Carlson said. "It's hard to get out in large groups but they're still doing things that bring a smile to people's faces."
Carlson and Bowden began Regency Homebuilders based on the idea that hard work pays off, and they run the company by following the Golden Rule — treat others the way you want to be treated.
Carlson said to make the business run in the best manner he "gets out of the way" and trusts the team to offer noteworthy service.
He said every employee harnesses creativity and intelligence to make the company go above and beyond.
In turn, Regency Homebuilders offers its employees perks for their dedication. Some include standard benefits like health insurance, 401(k) after one year of employment and paid vacation.
The business also offers a stocked "snack closet," monthly company outings, gym memberships, catered lunches and a recreational space furnished with basketball, video games, bean bags and a massage chair.
"We create a good open culture and atmosphere for everybody to work together and respect one another, and that's pretty much what a Top Workplace is about," Carlson said. "It's not overly complicated."
Dima Amro, who is the Collierville and Germantown reporter, can be reached at dima.amro@commercialappeal.com.
View the original article in the Commercial Appeal here.