From the Top: Building Culture Beyond the Office

I was fortunate to join another annual team gathering at an outdoor ropes course and team-building activity in Sonoma. During the event, I saw firsthand the camaraderie, helpfulness, and the natural way team members shifted in and out of leadership roles as needed. The level of communication and absence of ego stood out, and I was reminded, once again, of how much I enjoy spending time with each of you, even outside of work.

After the event, the organizers approached me to share their thoughts. They explained how the ropes course and team activities are designed to push people out of their comfort zones and into semi-stressful situations, which can reveal a lot about a company's culture. They were struck by what they saw in us: the teamwork, communication, and lack of ego were unlike anything they usually witness. They said it was rare and unique, and I couldn't agree more.

Our strong culture outside the office is critical to our success as a company. The more we continue to demonstrate and reinforce these values—teamwork, communication, and humility—the more we solidify our foundation. This makes us more effective and an unstoppable force for positive change and continuous improvement within our industry. By living these ideals, we set ourselves apart and ensure that our impact extends far beyond the work we deliver.

One of the key takeaways from the ropes course was the idea of stepping outside our "circle of comfort" to expand it. This is just as true for our personal growth as it is for our collective success. As we challenge ourselves to grow, we strengthen our ability to contribute to TEECOM's culture. In turn, this growth expands our circle of influence within the industry, setting us apart and empowering us to lead with even greater impact. The more we embrace discomfort and push our boundaries, the more we continue to drive meaningful change—within ourselves, our company, and the industry.

On the ride back, one of our Executive Vice Presidents, Nicole, made a great observation: most participants joined TEECOM remotely, yet we've shown that building an even stronger company culture without physical offices is possible. In many ways, our culture feels more robust now than it did when we worked in person.

I'm proud to work alongside all of our TEEm, and I'm constantly impressed by how we live our culture in and out of the "office." Each of us contributes to what makes TEECOM so unique, and I'm incredibly grateful for every individual in our company.

David Marks

CEO