Merkle CEO David Williams Named 'Best Boss' by Winning Workplaces and Fortune Small Business Magazine
Monday, 02 October 2006
Merkle, one of the nation’s fastest-growing database marketing agencies, announced that its President and CEO David Williams has been recognized as one of the country’s “Best Bosses” of 2006 by Winning Workplaces, a non-profit organization. A related story will appear in Fortune Small Business magazine. The 18 honorees were announced yesterday evening during the Best Bosses Conference and Celebration in Chicago.
The annual program recognizes innovative leaders of small and midsize businesses nationwide who have created tightly knit workplaces and inspired intensely loyal workers. Winning Workplaces evaluated this year’s finalists based on employee satisfaction, benefits, investment in workers, and various other measures.
Williams has served as president and CEO of Merkle for nearly 20 years, since raising the funds to acquire the company at the age of 25. Today, Williams oversees more than 800 employees at Merkle’s Lanham, Maryland headquarters and in additional offices in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Seattle.
At Merkle, Williams supports an “open-door” communications policy for all staff, which encourages employees to make suggestions, share ideas and give direct feedback.
He also implemented the Merkle Institute of Technology (MIT), Merkle’s unique in-house educational program in which employees take and teach classes on a wide variety of topics related to professional and personal development.
Merkle employees are also recognized for their achievements and contributions. For example, each year the winner of the Chairman’s Award receives a lease on a brand-new BMW sports car. Other annual awards recognize team contributions and the top new employee, among other categories.
In addition, manager-level employees are eligible for Merkle’s “Dream Grants” program, in which employees are able to embark on a new experience or adventure that they have always wanted to experience but never had the time or resources to make their dream a reality.
Williams said, “I’m extremely honored to be recognized for this distinction. I believe the key to Merkle’s success has always been rooted in a positive and supportive work environment that allows all Merkle employees to reach their individual goals. At Merkle, we continuously work to promote a culture of learning, achievement, service, and teamwork. The satisfaction of our employees is one of our main priorities – so much so that we actively measure and track our employees’ opinions and attitudes to ensure we are successfully fulfilling our roles as managers and leaders.”