For the Schout family, the Street Performer Series on Thursday evenings in downtown Holland has been one way they have enjoyed the summer together.
The series’ last evening of the season provided an extra dose of fun when they discovered a block party in front of the Holland Civic Center that offered free food, live music, games and fun giveaways.
Nathan Schout says the block party was a nice way to end the season. He and his young son, Will, enjoyed some free ice cream, and Will watched Chuckles make a free balloon animal for him.
“I didn't know this was going to happen, but it’s a nice surprise,” says the Holland resident.
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Nathan Schout watches his son, Will, get a balloon from Chuckles. (Shandra Martinez)
Gentex Corporation not only sponsored downtown Holland’s Street Performer Series but capped off the fun with the block party.
Seeking events with a broad audience
It’s just one way Ottawa County’s biggest employer is supporting community-building efforts across West Michigan. Last year, the Zeeland-based manufacturer sponsored 64 events, and this year that number is expected to increase, says Daniel Quintanilla, Gentex’s director of talent acquisition.
The goal, he says, is to find “events that not only draw people from all demographics and ages, but are also a lot of fun to attend. If it is a popular event, we want Gentex to be involved.”
Not surprisingly, his team is busiest during the summer when outdoor events are at their peak.
“The last couple of years, we have been intentional about increasing our community engagement. A lot of that has to do with the vision of our leadership team, my team's vision and how we would like to make an impact in the community," Quintanilla.
As with the block party, many Gentex employees step up to support the community outreach.
One of those volunteers is Myrna Meyer, a training specialist for Gentex’s new Spanish-speaking production lines, which create an inclusive environment to hire and retain employees who predominantly speak Spanish. She gave out candy, greeting people in Spanish and English.
“This is fun. Everybody's really happy, and it’s such a beautiful day,” Meyer says, adding that her co-workers were just as excited to help out with the event.
Employees happy to join the effort
Activities have ranged from sponsoring the West Michigan Whitecaps "Copa de la Diversion" Hispanic fan initiative to Zeeland’s Music on Main concert series.
“Having Gentex be there and not just the HR team is pretty cool,” Quintanilla says. “It's really about people who love Gentex who say, ‘Hey, we're helping, do you want to be part of this?’ and then the number of people who want to go into the community and help out.”
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An aerial view of Gentex's Block Party. (Gentex)
Gentex employee Lisette Phonsana came to the block party after hearing about it at work.
“I’m very proud to work for Gentex,” says Phonsana, who attended the event with her partner, Darah Kok, and their two kids, Shavy and Jaelyn. The 4-year-old girls were gleeful when they met and had their photos taken with Disney characters Moana, Ariel, and Belle.
Even leadership is taking part. Gentex CEO Steve Downing and general counsel Scott Ryan showed up at the block party and volunteered to sit in the dunk tank for one throw. That offer resulted in each getting dunked. Both, who were wearing suits, continued on their way to a dinner event afterward in their wet attire.
“I don’t think people forget that,” says Quintanilla. “We had a lot of team members who were like, ‘That was awesome.’ And it shows you the heart and the humbleness of our executive team to be able to do that.”
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Gentex President and CEO Steve Downing and VP General Counsel Scott Ryan took a seat in the dunk tank in their suits. (Gentex)
Attracting needed employees
For Gentex, community support is part of its recruiting strategy. In a tight labor market, it appears to be paying dividends.
“It’s important for our team to make an impact where we live, where we work, where our team members call home,” Quintanilla says.
Gentex’s 5,400-person workforce is growing. The company recently announced an expansion that will create 500 new positions. And there’s growth beyond those hiring needs to keep up with the increasing demand for its tech products.
Production workers are in high demand, with pay for second and third shifts starting at $17.50 an hour. All new hires are also eligible for $5,000 in company stock after a year of service if hired by the end of 2022. Other perks include quarterly bonuses, excellent benefits, air-conditioned facilities, and a 10,000-square-foot wellness center.
At the community events, Gentex recruiters share information on career opportunities at the company and the work the company is doing in technology. Gentex develops and manufactures high-quality products for the automotive, aerospace, and commercial fire protection industries.
“When I am recruiting people, I make sure they see what we do and how Gentex supports the community. I let them know I want them to be a part of our team,” Quintanilla says.