In 1992 Karen Moore left a successful communications career in academia to scratch her entrepreneurial itch and open her own firm. Fast forward to today: Tallahassee-based Moore Communications Group is one of the largest independently owned communications firms in the Southeast with more than 30 employees and $7 million in annual revenue.
Moore’s secret sauce? A corporate culture that revolves around committed employees. “It’s about creating a great workplace that can attract and retain top talent,” she says.
Although Moore has been generous about benefits since day one, moving into second stage has enabled her to offer a wider, deeper pool of perks. Among these are:
- 100 percent healthcare coverage, including dental.
- A 401(k) plan where the company contributes up to 7 percent of the employee’s salary without requiring a match.
- Shutting down the office between Christmas and New Year’s.
- Flexible hours and telecommuting.
Perhaps the most popular benefit is “bring-your-pet-to-work Fridays.” On any given Friday, you might see a chihuahua, golden retriever, several mixed-breed dogs, a cat, and a goldfish named Jackson.
No surprise that Florida Trend magazine has named Moore Communications Group as one of the state’s best places to work for four consecutive years.
In addition to creating a quality workplace, Moore is adamant about community involvement. “As a startup, most of my clients were local, and it was a priority to give back to the community that was supporting me,” she says. “As we moved into second stage, we’ve expanded our Miami, Washington D.C., and Louisiana markets — which means our corporate responsibility has expanded as well.”