Lettershop Invests in Employee Health Improvement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:
Scott Hoopes, Production Manager
Telephone: 316-265-0879
FAX: 316-263-5824
Email: info@mailcci.com
URL: www.mailcci.com

Contemporary Communications Incorporated Invests in Employee Health Improvement

WICHITA, KS – Contemporary Communications owner, Kay Dawson, is waging a war on escalating health costs. According to the National Coalition on Healthcare, insurance premiums are rising at four times the rate of inflation, which hits Dawson’s $6 million annual sales hard. “Insurance agents told us that keeping employees healthy would help,” Dawson said, “as it’s been proven that employees that exercise, participate in stress management, weight control, and disease screening have fewer sick days and doctor visits.”

Rather than passing the costs onto the employees, she tackled it another way. In October CCI began offering employees a worksite wellness program.

While many employers turn to outside sources, Dawson designed her own employer managed health care plan. “We decided to take a proactive health improvement approach and build our own wellness center for our employees,” she said. The goal is to provide employees with the knowledge and resources they need to maintain their own personal health.

Dawson, one of Wichita’s most successful women entrepreneurs, started her company in 1974 when she was searching for a name list to do a mass mailing for her hair salon. “I was using the phone book, association lists and any other list I could find, and thought there should be an easier way.” With three full-time employees, she started compiling lists, coding them for specific markets, and started the direct mail business. By 1988 she was working from a 25,000 square foot building and today she operates from her own 87,000 square foot building with 60 employees, specializing in direct mail, marketing and communications serving national and international clients.

Scott Hoopes, CCI production manager, heads up the wellness committee. “We surveyed the employees to see how much support we’d have, and with a favorable 80% response, we were off and running,” he said. Hoopes reported the employee’s level of interest in the wellness program and the exercise facility is above average.

October 11, employees attended the grand opening of the first phase of the $30,000 onsite wellness center. The center includes free weights, exercise bikes, treadmills, and elliptical trainers, and bathrooms with showers. Participants enjoy cable televisions with DVD players, carpeting, and conditioning while exercising or attending seminars on health, nutrition and stress management.

Dawson personally adds to the center by offering home-cooked soups and fruit in the canteen discouraging the once routine lunch of chips and high fat foods. She also offers a smoking cessation program from an acupuncture therapist.

Response has been great. “I’ve never joined a health club because they’re so expensive, so I’m deeply grateful,” said Joyce Berger, account manager for CCI. Berger leads a yoga class two days a week at the wellness center.

Employees use the facility during breaks, off hours, evening and weekends, and pay only $10.00 per month to cover maintenance, cleaning and towels. Phase II will incorporate walking clubs, wellness seminars, and blood donation drives.

Contemporary Communications, Inc.
630 N Pennsylvania St
Wichita KS 657214

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