Nov 29, 2007
Sundance Vacations is the Best Place to Work in Northeastern PA
Congratulations Everyone, Sundance Vacations is the best company to work for in Northeastern Pennsylvania! We finished eighth in the statewide employee poll for large-sized companies (251 or more employees), but ranked highest among area companies. The announcement was made during the Best Places to Work in PA dinner at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center in Hershey, Pa on November 27th, 2007.
The statewide survey and awards program serves to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Pennsylvania, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses. To be in the top 10 is an amazing accomplishment. The Best Places to Work in PA list is comprised of 100 companies split into two groups: 50 medium-sized companies (25-250 employees) and 50 large-sized companies (251 or more employees).
Hundreds of companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the 100 Best Places to Work in PA. I worked hard on the first part, which consists of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, philosophy, systems and demographics. This part of the process was worth approximately 24% of the total evaluation. The second and most important part is where you came in. It was an employee survey to measure the employee experience. I know many of you remember my nagging you to complete the survey; but it was worth it, look at what we accomplished! Nearly 20,000 Pennsylvania employees filled out the survey. The combined scores determined the top companies final ranking.
“It’s the employees who make this award so honorable,” explained Dave Schankweiler, publisher of the Central Penn Business Journal and Emcee of the awards presentation. The attendance at the dinner topped 1,000 people from 100 companies throughout Pennsylvania.
“This is a testament to our belief that if you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of your customers and the bottom line will take care if itself,” stated Sundance President John Dowd. Sundance provides employment for 350 employees in NEPA. “It was a great night for Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania’s workers,” said John P. Blake Executive Secretary, PA Department of Community and Economic Development.
John, Tina, Morgan and Madison Dowd accepted the award for Sundance. It was an exciting, yet nerve racking night, made more intense as one by one, each company’s standing was announced. If all goes well, we may even be number one next year!
Thanks for your help and cooperation in making our first experience with this program such a success!
Kathy O’Mara
Communications Director
komara@vacmail.com
This is a great accomplishment! It is so exciting!! Doing the survey was actually fun. I’m looking forward to doing the survey again and hoping for #1 next time!!!
I am so happy that we were even nominated but to actually be in the top 10 is AWESOME!!! Congratulations to everyone at Sundance Vacations for all your hard work.
Congratulations Sundance! Ranking #8 was quite an accomplishment! When a company works hard and takes care of its employees they should be recoginzed for their dedication. Everyone should feel proud of what we have acheived! I know I am!!
I can truley say .. as far as the company goes . sundance vacations is the best to work for. they do so many great things for us all year round. im here for 7 years , and i will be here for another 7 more, im not going anywhere. i love going into work everyday. so congrats John and Tina Dowd on the award you guys really do deserve it
Wow, what an amazing accomplishment! I have to say, I absolutely love when people ask me who I work for because there are soo many wonderful things I can tell them, so many awards and benefits. This is by far the best company I have ever worked for and I am soo grateful for the opportunities I have been afforded. Congratulations John and Tina on creating an awesome company!! I can’t wait to see us number 1 next year!
It’s easy to make clients happy when you work in a great environment with great co-workers! I’d say it’s a piece of cake but we took the whole top tier!!
Congratulations to Sundance Vacations!!!!
It has been a very rewarding experience for Lisa and me to see all of the positive changes throughout the years to make this accomplishment possible. John and Tina should be very proud.
I am so happy for Sundance!!! This company is by far the best company I have ever worked for! I know it all starts with our CEO’s but I believe what also really makes our company great is all the wonderfull people that work there!! Congratulations to everyone!!!
Sundance Vacations has been a wonderful opportunity for me. I started at Sundance Vacations in January 2007. I actually started out as the receptionist for the Harrisburg office and within a month I was promoted to Sales Representative. I love sleeping in so the hours work for me perfectly! The sky’s the limit with this company and I’m glad I got a chance to work with the team we have here at the Harrisburg office. I’ve gone through a lot this past year and Sundance was a tremendous help with everything. To work with people that care so much about you just makes you want to come to work everyday. That’s why we won 8th out of the Top 50 Best Places to Work in PA, the energy and enthusiasm this company has for what they do is remarkable. I’m glad I showed up for my interview in December 2006.
Abigail Wheeler
Sales Representative/ Receptionist
Harrisburg Office
After being a nurse since 1985, I thought I would retire in my field. Well. Life has changed in large way – I have found my new home!! In February of 2008 I will have been with Sundance Vacations for 6 years. Our leader John Dowd and his wife Tina are visionaries beyond what one could imagine. Wholesale vacations are sweeping the nation and we are in the forefront of that change. We have been chosen this year as the 8th best place to work in Pennsylvania. Based on the ethics and integrity behind Sundance Vacations. We have also won the Torch Award and Stevie Award because we care about the clients and we have great customer service. As I mentioned, wholesale vacations are sweeping across America. Thanks to the Dowd’s and Sundance Vacations thousands are enjoying trips of a lifetime they never thought they would be able to take with their families. What a Blessing! When you love what you do and do what you love, Life is great. Again I HAVE FOUND A HOME!
Barbara Kasper
I started with Sundance Vacations in April of 2005 not knowing what the future held. What I’ve found is a vibrant, growing company with lots of opportunities. A year after I started was given an opportunity in management which also came with a very nice pay increase. Sundance Vacations founded by John and Tina Dowd has done a fantastic job of constantly growing with new properties as well as new offices in new areas. Sundance Vacations is recognized by the Better Business Bureau for outstanding customer service and business ethics. Wholesale vacations, what a great idea! To be able to travel in condominiums, villas and suites at 70% less than retail price is amazing! Sundance Vacations finished 8th in the top 50 companies to work for in Northeastern Pennsylvania. When you love what you do it’s not a job but an opportunity.
James Lambert
Sales Manager
Harrisburg Sales Center
I answered an ad in the paper back in 2002 as a salesperson with Sundance Vacations. I had been involved with a marketing company for several years previous and found the same old corporate “blah” prevalent throughout my experience there. This opportunity seemed very interesting; wholesale vacations, travel, good commissions, and a chance to better myself. What I soon found was a growing, vibrant company, expanding everywhere with opportunities galore! Within a year I was promoted to a manager, which carried with it, a very nice raise in pay. I was ecstatic. Not only was I exceeding my financial goals, I could travel to exotic destinations and stay for “70% off”, literally! Soon I saw that “customer service,” was Very Important to our owners. We win awards for customer service and that’s very important to me, especially when you want to retire with organization. My latest experience is that our company was voted the # 8th rated best company to work in Pennsylvania, by the Employees!! I agree, I found a company that is totally committed to our clients and employees. Like my wife, I have found a HOME!
Mike Kasper
I was a very new employee when we won the best places to work award. I was excited even then but did not really realize what a great place this is!! I have worked for other companies large and small and I have never seen the motivation,inspiration interaction, and cooperation that I see working here. The more that I get to know about the company the more and more I begin to learn about the company the more I love it. I am the kind of person who (I think) embraces change and growth. This is going to be not only a job for me but a career that i can grow with!!!
Looking forward to many successful years with the best place to work!!!!!!
Outstanding article. Are you Jesus?