CEEK helps make wishes come true

The story

CEEK LLC’s mission is to redefine and pursue organizational wellness using core values of passion, integrity and creativity. The company offers organizational assessments, training workshops, leadership coaching, performance support systems and related consulting services. They choose to work with clients and partners, like Insperity, who are passionate about serving others to achieve goals.

CEEK initially sought Insperity to consolidate its HR services, risk mitigation assistance and to provide its employees with access to better benefits. President and Chief Catalyst of Wellness Steve Wiley adds that the mesh of culture and values between the companies and the resulting support from Insperity have become cornerstones of CEEK’s relationship with Insperity.

“Our Insperity Business Performance Advisor remains someone I admire and respect; someone who reflects Insperity’s belief that people are the greatest asset of any organization. That aligns with CEEK. And we’ve always felt that Insperity people are there to serve,” Wiley says.

“Over time, the expert support (from Insperity) in so many areas has proved to be crucial to us.”

His thoughts are echoed by Jennifer Hughes, chief gardener of people at CEEK, who emphasizes the importance CEEK places on the Insperity team “getting to know us and being detailed. They work with us to adapt items (like a standardized employee manual) to work for our company.”

Wiley continues, “I really like that Insperity connects me with others in my community – an effort that goes above and beyond. Through Insperity, I’ve been asked to speak to different business groups, and I’ve been invited to community events and learning opportunities. Those little extras are much valued and appreciated.”

Being an Insperity 2022 Community Hero was a pleasant surprise and validation of the work CEEK is doing. Wiley says knowing the company is making an impact in its community – but not something “we were looking for or putting our name forward for – makes the honor more powerful.”

“We don’t do what we do for acknowledgment. Being a Community Hero fits our mission of helping organizations redefine and pursue wellness. We are a for-profit company, and we want to be successful, but that’s not what drives us.”

“Being named a Community Hero also helps us spread our message –  that conscious capitalism and servant leadership are good and effective models for sustainable success – in a world where we see bad examples of leadership every day. We must recognize, though, that there are plenty of good examples out there to share.”

Wiley says he tells peers looking for HR support that people remain the most important asset of any organization, and that’s why Insperity can be such a good fit. “You can comparison shop all you want, but at the end of the day, with Insperity you get people who care. They embrace the servant leadership model. And Community Heroes is an intentional way that they promote and support impactful community engagement.”

Community impact

To that end, the Make-A-Wish Foundation is CEEK’s priority charity of choice. Wiley heard a podcast several years ago that encouraged listeners to “do for one what you wish you could do for many.”

He and his wife embraced the sentiment and realized that what broke their hearts was children who suffered through no fault of their own. Make-A-Wish is now near and dear to the Wiley family, as well as to the CEEK family.

CEEK selects one child and one story each year through Make-A-Wish. They organize a community event to raise money and awareness to adopt the wish of a child facing a life-threatening illness and to promote positivity in the community.

Their annual Sports with Santa fundraiser is a community favorite. CEEK rents a local sports field, gets a couple dozen employees and friends to dress like Santa, and local kids challenge Santa’s helpers to reindeer games in a fun atmosphere for everyone.

CEEK employees support and contribute to a number of other charitable interests as well. Employee interests range from animal welfare (several employees are involved in rescue and foster efforts), support of service men and women, volunteer photography services and more.

Hughes adds, “We’re all pretty service-oriented people. We’re at different stages of life, so our interests look different for each person. We put time and energy into what makes sense for each of us.”   So, it makes sense that CEEK is one of Insperity’s outstanding honorees of the 2022 Community Heroes program.