It’s hard to believe that since we announced our last Champion of the Month on April 13th we have doubled our Champions enrollment for 2015! What does that mean in terms of numbers? A mere three weeks ago we had only 47 clients participating in Champions, both new and re-enrolled. We are now at 108! We could not be more excited to accept 2014 Champions back into the program this year and to continue to add new ones on a weekly basis!
But enough about Champions 2015 totals, we are here to talk about one of our most prestigious Champions. For two years in a row, The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has topped Champions at the Platinum Level. CEA works with 2,000 companies in the technology industry to help with market research, networking opportunities and advocacy. They also happen to organize the largest consumer electronics event in the world, the International Consumer Electronics Show, bringing nearly 170,000 attendees and 3,600 exhibitors to Las Vegas every single year.
In terms of alternative transportation, if there is an award, transportation benefit or means to increase environmental sustainability, CEA has pursued it in one form or another. That’s probably why they have been honored for 5 consecutive years as a Best Place to Work in Virginia.
CEA never hesitates to go above and beyond to make employees comfortable with their commutes and where they live. In fact, they go as far as offering a mortgage assistance program to help incentivize employees to move close to the office and improve their work/life balance. In fact, Jay Fisette, Arlington County Board member had this to say about CEA’s innovative program.
[CEA’s Mortgage Assistance Program] is very much based on one or similar to one that the County had for a long time and we are looking at reinstating this year which helps unclog the roads. It is a very smart housing initiative and smart roads initiative. I would love to see, personally, more of the businesses in the community that recognize the challenge of homeownership and the cost. . .[We want employers] to try and model what CEA has done for some of those employees to live in the community in which they work and reduce their commute time.
CEA doesn’t stop at offering mortgage assistance, they also happen to touch about every other facet of alternative transportation benefits. They offer direct transit subsidies, formal telework policies, compressed workweeks, flex time, bike racks, lockers, an on-site gym… (deep breath), reduced parking costs for carpooling, a corporate carsharing program and have even been honored nationally as a Best Workplace for Commuters. And that’s just for their transportation benefits!
It’s not hard to see why CEA is May’s Champion of the Month and why we look forward to working with them in the future!
Champions 2015
ATP is looking to honor even more Champions in 2015! If your business, residential community or commercial property is interested in joining Champions or re-enrolling from 2014, just email solutions@transpartners.com.
>> For more information about Champions, read our FAQ.