Top Workplaces 2018: Working for Regency Homebuilders is 'a breath of fresh air,' employee says
When Sean Carlson and Jere Bowden decided to start Regency Homebuilders in 2007, the country was on the verge of economic disaster with the real estate industry at the epicenter.
Still, both men knew they loved the business and they wouldn't be happy doing anything else. They set out with the idea that if they just focused on doing the best work they could for their customers, the money would take care of itself, Carlson said.
Eleven years and 46 employees later, Regency Homebuilders has been named the Top Workplace among Memphis-area small businesses.
"I think this is the greatest award we've probably ever won," Carlson said, adding that he and Bowden had no idea their employees had entered the company to be considered among the Top Workplaces of 2018. "They did it behind our backs ... It's great to know that the people here care so much."
This is the first time the Germantown homebuilder had been named a Top Workplace.
"We've hired great people," he said. "Great men, great women, great leaders ... Everybody's input is needed, desired and appreciated."
Bowden and Carlson never had any conversations about how they would build their company culture. They just knew they wanted to treat people well.
"As we started adding people, we just looked at the Golden Rule and did what we would want done for us," Carlson said.
If the anonymous comments his employees submitted about why they love their jobs are any indication, treating others as they would want to be treated has laid the groundwork for an office that feels like a family.
"Honestly I’ve never worked anywhere like this before," one employee wrote. "It was like a breath of fresh air. It’s pretty amazing to see so many people work so well together. The leaders are always approachable and ready to help with anything.
"It was obvious to me within just a week of beginning my job there that taking care of employees in every way is a top priority at Regency."
Evidence of their culture shows up even in unexpected places. For example, no one has job titles printed on their business cards.
That's on purpose.
Carlson said that's part of the strategy to make sure all their employees know that their voice can be heard no matter their position at the company.
"We've hired great people," he said. "Great men, great women, great leaders ... Everybody's input is needed, desired and appreciated."
Carlson and Bowden also make a point of training employees so they understand a little about how every part of the company works, ensuring there is always room to grow with the company. He considers the company lucky to have found employees who believe that too.
Not only do Regency employees have standard benefits like health care, paid vacation time and access to a 401(k) program after one year, the job also comes with other perks. They have a fully-stocked snack closet, monthly outings, a gym membership, frequent catered lunches and a lounge space in the office with video games, bean bags and a massage chair.
"Everyone truly loves being there, working together," another employee said. "We are a growing family and it has been a great journey. The owners truly care about us, our health, and our families."
While the company has only 46 employees on staff, Regency Homebuilders also works with local vendors to build homes, creating opportunities for many other Memphians who are not on their payroll to find work as well.
Although Carlson says "dumb luck" brought he and Bowden together to start their company, it's no surprise that either of them ended up in the homebuilding business.
Before starting Regency, Carlson, who has now been in the business about 15 years, spent years as a laborer laying hardwood floors and installing trim. Bowden came from a family of homebuilders. His parents did it before he did. Still, he's worked in the industry more than 30 years.
The two met while Carlson was a baseball player at the University of Memphis, and he came to help work on a project with Bowden. Even then, Carlson knew he wanted to either become a professional athlete or a builder.
He jokes and says he may have started down the building path even sooner if someone would have mentioned that he actually needed talent to be a professional athlete.
Of course, home building comes with its challenges.
Each day his staff shows up to work is a little different from the last one. They have to learn fast and build trust with prospective home buyers.
Carlson said treating the people who work for him well has been essential to ensuring his employees treat customers well.
"It's not just about our bottom-line profit number," he said. "It starts with taking care of our employees. Happy people do better work and that spills over onto our homeowners."
The Top Workplaces award "is really a recognition of the people that are here," he added.
