CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — For the first time, Van Meter Inc. is named to Training magazine’s “Training Top 125” list. The
international ranking, announced at the Training Conference & Expo February 15 in Orlando, Florida, is conducted annually to assess and recognize excellence in employer-sponsored training and development programs.
More than 500 companies were up for consideration. Van Meter claimed the 125th spot for 2016, joining companies like
Aetna, Inc., AT&T, Best Buy, ConAgra Foods, Inc., DaVita HealthCare Partners, Edward Jones, Genentech, Inc., MasterCard,
Northwestern Mutual and Vistage International. Van Meter is the only Iowa-based company recognized in 2016.
“We help our people be their personal best,” said Alicia Murphy, Vice President of Organizational Effectiveness at Van
Meter. “Through our comprehensive learning and development programming our employee-owners are well-trained and
skilled so that they can be their best at work, and optimize our business success.”
Now in its 16th year, the Training Top 125 ranking is based on myriad benchmarking statistics such as total training budget;
percentage of payroll; number of training hours per employee program; goals, evaluation, measurement, and workplace
surveys; hours of training per employee annually; and detailed formal programs. The ranking is determined by assessing a
range of qualitative and quantitative factors, including financial investment in employee development, the scope of
development programs, and how closely such development efforts are linked to business goals and objectives.
Van Meter spends approximately $500,000 per year on employee-owner education and training. The company offers live
trainings communicated through an annual training calendar and online courses through a Learning Management System.
Additionally, employee-owners are encouraged to pursue development through offsite conferences and training courses,
as well as tuition reimbursement for ongoing education. Other highlights include an Emerging Leaders program and an
annual internship experience.
“Offering a comprehensive learning and development program serves as a recruitment and retention tool at Van Meter,”
said Jenn Bleil, Manager of Learning and Development at Van Meter. “Learning and growth opportunities help employee owners
be their personal best and attain a sense of fulfillment personally and professionally.”
“The 2016 Training Top 125 winners have found the recipe for success,” noted Training magazine Editor-in-Chief Lorri
Freifeld. “They utilize innovative methods to deliver training and engage learners; they link training to the achievement of
corporate strategic goals; and, most important, they measure the results. We salute these organizations—including 28
newcomers to the list—for their dedication, passion, and commitment to training. Clearly, they understand that Training
Matters.”
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