Talk about giving back! Joe Lueken, owner of Lueken's Village Foods is retiring and is giving ownership of his three stores to his 400 employees. He is doing this wonderful move despite several large offers from national grocery store chains.
The Lueken's Village Foods website describes how Joe is transferring ownership through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP).
“My employees are largely responsible for any success I've had, and they deserve to get some of the benefits of that," Joe Lueken said in the Star Tribune. "You can't always take. You also have to give back."
Joe Lueken has run the business for 46 years, but will now enjoy retirement by traveling the world with his wife. He will give the CEO position to Brent Sicard, a longtime employee who started off as a custodian and worked his way into management.
This is such a wonderful story!
Peace & Love,
Jon
- The Good World News
He has a work ethic that is any company's dream. Morris Wilkinson, 91, is always on time, never calls in sick, and is always sharply dressed and ready to go! “He’s a good one,” Tommy Morrison, Wilkinson's supervisor states. “He’s always on time, and he never calls in sick. His shirts and pants are always pressed — no wrinkles — and his shoes are shined just like when he was in the Marines.” His work ethic may have started when he joined the marines in the 1940's.
Morris has always driven the same route in Birmingham, Alabama and is well known in the area. He doesn't waste any time and ensures that his mail route is always on schedule. “I like to stay busy,” he explained. “I don’t like to sit around and be idle". In fact, he would not even take an interview about his story until he clocked out!
He was recently honored for all his years of service. “He’s working on his eighth decade of service; it’s that kind of devotion to service that keeps somebody young,” stated Joseph Breckenridge, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service.
“I feel much better if I get up at the regular time and get dressed and go to work,” Wilkinson said. “It ain’t normal if I don’t. If I sat around at home and didn’t do anything, I would just gain weight and be miserable.”
Mr. Wilkinson's dedication is admirable!
Peace & Love,
Jon
- The Good World News
Who's the man? Howard Cooper is the man, the myth and the legend. Why? Read on :)
Howard Cooper, the owner of Howard Cooper Auto Import Center in Ann Arbor, decided to give his employees a special token of appreciation before he retired. Cooper, who is now 83 years old, ran his successful auto dealership for 47 years. In order to give his employees thanks for incredible service, Cooper gave all 89 of his employees $1000 per every year that they were employed!!!!!
On AnnArbor.com, employee Sandy Reagan said, “The lady behind me had tears running down her face. I sat next to a person who drives the parts van and he’s been here almost 28 years. He doesn’t make a ton of money, but he got almost $28,000. I watched his face and he just said, 'Oh my God,'" Reagan, who was been with the company for 46 long years, received $46,000!
His employees gave him a standing ovation when he distributed the checks. Bob Jenkins, who after 26 years of service received $26,000 responded, "I was shocked. You don't expect something like that. The whole place was just in shock."
The man, the myth, the legend, Howard Cooper!
Howard Cooper sold the business to Germain Motor Co., an Ohio-based company. His employees sure will miss him! Cooper stated, “I wanted to thank my employees and that was a way I could do it. I hope it makes a difference in their lives like they have made in mine."
Cooper definitely knows how to pay it forward. He has changed the lives of all of his employees. Way to go Cooper! Enjoy your retirement!!
Peace & Love,
Jon
- The Good World News