Manson Focuses on Employee Health and Wellness

Since launching its Employee Health and Wellness (“EHW”) program last year, Manson has introduced a variety of events and topics designed to support a healthier, more connected workforce—its most important investment.

The EHW program centers on providing employees with tools that support physical, mental, social, and financial well-being. These resources include the company’s employee assistance program (“EAP”) Canopy, as well as webinars, guest speakers, blog content, and team-based activities.

While Canopy is a major component of the EHW, much of the content is developed by the EHW Team: Senior Vice President and West Coast Regional Manager Ryan King, Environmental Health & Safety Director Forrest Ray, Proposal & Marketing Manager Jimmie Collins, Northwest Office Manager Melanie Erdman, EHS Training Manager Doug Boehm, and Learning & Development Specialist Carey Shannon.

The team also pulls resources from trusted organizations such as the American Heart Association and the National Institutes of Health.

“The idea is to organize and present a lot of little pieces and resources that will add up to meaningful support for our employees’ personal health and wellness,” Jimmie explains.

Since launching the idea in October 2024, the team has worked diligently to put monthly programming together, on a variety of topics.

The Northwest Operations Team tested their lumberjack skills with some axe throwing during a team building event in Seattle. Pictured (L-R): Ben Tornberg, Brett Diener, Melanie Erdman, Drew Edwards, Erik Dolmseth, Monica Larry, Kurtis Jackson, Jeff Garcia, Mauryn Toole, Ryan King, Josh Ketterl, and Drew Paup. Photo credit: Melanie Erdman—Northwest Office Manager

January: Financial Planning

Launched as “New Year, New Budget”, this topic reminded employees about Canopy’s financial resources, including one-on-one coaching, budgeting tools, credit education, and identity theft protection.

“I personally have found the EHW program to be a constant reminder of the benefits offered by Manson for myself and my colleagues,” Melanie says. “The program is a clear indicator of how the company takes care of its people, first and always.”

February: Social Wellness

Several team members from the Long Beach office pose for the camera after taking a nice walk around the block. Pictured (L-R): Aryn Shaw, Angelli Martinez, Karissa Poitras, Edwin Grajeda, and Jennie Gudath. Photo credit: Karissa Poitras—Executive Assistant

This month was focused on strengthening personal and professional relationships. Employees were given ideas for maximizing their social circles, and managers were encouraged to host team-building activities.

Employees across the nation participated in several activities, including Manson’s Northwest Operations Team, who set up an axe-throwing event boosting morale and camaraderie.

March: Financial Wellness

In preparation for tax season, employees were directed to Canopy’s tax education materials and a directory of trusted tax professionals to ease financial stress and encourage smart planning.

April: Physical Wellness

Mills Ramseur took time away from estimating to participate in the annual Wine and Chocolate Run in Jacksonville, FL. Photo credit: Mills Ramseur—AutoCAD Estimator

Spring brought the Stride to Better Health step challenge, where employees completed a series of mini walking challenges. Participants received the chance to win gift cards ranging from $25 to $200, creating a fun and collective push toward better fitness.

May: Emotional & Mental Health

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, employees were invited to Canopy’s Mental Health Matters webinar, which covered key topics like self-care, support strategies, and local resources. Supplementary tools and materials were also shared.

“The goal of the monthly activities is to engage in continuous conversations with our peers about mental health and overall well-being,” Ryan says. “The more we discuss these topics, the more we realize that many of us are navigating similar challenges and that we are not alone. We have resources available to help us, and there are others around us who experience similar issues and can offer support.”

Spreading the Health

The move toward more open and candid conversations about health and wellness is beginning to spread throughout the industry. A strong advocate of the program, Melanie was recently invited to speak at the Associated General Contractors of America’s Culture of Care Seattle Forum.

“Speaking at the AGC Culture of Care Forum will be a great moment,” Melanie explains. “What started as a quick update on Manson’s EHW program turned into a chance to represent the company, share our story, and show the potential impacts of this program, which is a huge win.”

With a strong first half of the year behind them, the EHW Team continues to roll out topics focused on strengthening employee health and wellness across the board.