Stephen Dukich is stuck at Advanced Integration Technology in the best of ways.
The director of controls has been at the company for more than nine years, and when asked what’s kept him there for so long, his answer was simple.
“It’s the sticky culture,” Dukich said.
What’s a sticky culture? Simply put, it’s a culture that keeps employees from leaving a company. That means having ownership that cares about its employees, strong bonds with coworkers, purposeful work and a collective and collaborative team.
But sticky cultures can attract, too.
That’s what happened with Jared Bodnar. He’s the VP of marketing at Tango Card, and he joined the company in May for one reason.
“Quite honestly, I joined for the company culture and people,” Bodnar said.
There’s something to be said about how the sticky cultures at these companies attract and retain employees. And the best part? They’re both hiring.
Read more about why you might want to get stuck at either spot.
What they do: Tango Card combines technology and an e-gift card donation catalog to deliver rewards for companies.
What was the deciding factor for you when you accepted your job at Tango Card?
Quite honestly, I joined for the company culture and people. In addition to Tango Card, I was being recruited by a huge Fortune 100 company and a fast-growth startup, and neither felt right to me. During the interview process, the people at Tango Card kept talking about the amazing team and culture. And guess what? They were right! Tango Card DOES have an incredible team and culture.
What excites you most about where your company is headed?
I’m super excited about the Tango Card vision and how we can help our clients spread joy to more and more people. We are going to expand into new countries, launch new products and open up new use cases. And the great news is that I will have a direct impact on that growth by helping to bring in new customers to Tango Card.
What they do: AIT is a provider of automation, factory integration and tooling solutions dedicated to the global aerospace, defense and space launch vehicle industries.
As a tenured employee, what has been the biggest reason you’ve stayed at AIT so long?
The biggest reason I’ve stayed at AIT so long is the sticky culture. It really does feel like family here, which is unlike any other company I’ve worked for. The team works together to overcome challenges and does whatever is needed to succeed. Everyone gets to wear many hats. The CEO helps the design team make decisions. The senior managers unload boxes off of the truck. Everyone is willing to help one another, even if it’s not in their job description. At AIT, there is always a new challenge or project. The job never gets stale. Also, I’ve gotten the chance to see how our solutions impact the production of our customers. That includes helicopters, fighter jets, business jets, commercial airliners and rockets all around the world!
What excites you most about where your company is headed?
I’m excited about expanding to more markets, like outer space! When I started at AIT, we were a small company. We’ve grown a lot since then, and I’ve gotten to be a part of that change. I’ve helped to develop processes to support this growth while mentoring and coaching our new talent. It’s very rewarding.
