In our Creative Cultures series, writer Crystal Henrickson spends a day inside companies to learn how hiring, onboarding, and company culture play a role in employee happiness. From startups to design firms and all in-between, we’re pulling back the curtain on what it’s like to work in inventive and productive environments.
It’s not unusual to find someone challenging the ladder leader to an impromptu game of ping pong or for employees to be seen playing board games in the boardroom. Fun and welcoming, just like their restaurant atmosphere, RAMMP has designed their HQ with the same vibe in mind. The parent company for casual dining restaurant chain Mr Mikes Steakhouse Casual has a full plate. From orchestrating a successful campaign that challenged Jimmy Kimmel to drink a Caesar on Canada Day to developing a growing brand of steakhouses with more than 30 locations in Western Canada, and plans to build and scale across Eastern Canada.
Still as a relatively small head office, located just on the Vancouver/Burnaby border, you’ll find yourself working directly with every member of the 20 person team, plus Eddy, VP Bone Collector and office pup.
“On any given day I may find myself going from a meeting with our operations team to a meeting with our design and construction department and then to a meeting with the CEO – everyone works together which is a great way to learn and better understand the industry as a whole,” explains Sara Whitworth, Marketing Manager.
RAMMP Hospitality Brands was created by a group of senior restaurant industry specialists with over 100 years of combined experience. However, when it comes to creativity, everyone is invited to participate and it’s not unusual to find ideas from HQ being tested in their Corporate Restaurant and test kitchen recipes being tested on the team from HQ.
So woven into the fabric of RAMMP’s DNA, is the Family First modus operandi. Rick Villalpando, VP, Business Development shares: “Family first is basically where we operate from. The idea is to not allow the job to intrude on what’s important to you. We extend that out to the family of franchisees.”
If the Grand Opening Party conflicts with one of the Franchisee’s partners son’s tournament, they take their son to the tournament while the other partner stays at the function. Sheryl Pringle, VP of Finance, adds, “We’re a big work family and we’re all trying to help each other succeed in our common goal. I think that it creates a really strong and fun work environment when you have people that are on the same page and everyone is working together to achieve the same thing.”
Providing numerous opportunities for “family bonding” at RAMMP It’s common for staff to organize movie dates, gather around themed potlucks incorporating international cuisines and spend Friday mornings watching TedTalk videos for inspiration. They celebrate wins by going on company holidays. Next year they’re going to Mexico… as long as they hit their goal by December!
“Family first is basically where we operate from.” – Rick Villalpando, VP, Business Development
They give back to the community together as well. During the holiday season, RAMMP runs an employee program called Deeds Well Done in which employees compete for points for every good turn. And this sentiment doesn’t end with the core team. It expands to the Franchisees.
Working in alignment with their values: respect, being accountable, having fun and building momentum. This team works hard, but knows when and how to take a few minutes to have some fun along the way.