Benefitfocus Customer Success Center earns national kudos

Benefitfocus prides itself on establishing what company executives describe as a “winning culture” for its employees and customers. What’s their secret? Well, you could say the writing is on the walls. Being able to express ideas when inspiration strikes on strategically placed white boards throughout its buildings, including inside stairwells, is just one way the Daniel Island-based company encourages teamwork and creativity. There are plenty more. In the Customer Success Center (CSC), for example, you can grab your co-workers and pile into a vintage VW bus on the first floor to celebrate milestones, spend some time in a glass enclosed, 80s-themed workspace known simply as “Bueller,” or brew up some Starbucks coffee and gather on several cozy couches for an impromptu brainstorming session. Benefitfocus has demonstrated that you don’t have to travel to the West Coast to find the same ultra-cool work vibe that tech savvy companies like Facebook and Google are famous for. Designed by ASD | SKY, the CSC has a wow factor all its own. In fact, the building is so impressive that the American Institute of Architects has taken notice – recently recognizing the 145,000 square foot structure for its modern, comfortable, and collaborative design. “Community was the design goal,” said Nina Sossamon-Pogue, vice president of community and culture at Benefitfocus. “It was important to achieve that social work space that would reflect our culture and that balance of collaboration and focus.” Benefitfocus provides its clients with a cloud-based benefits management platform that simplifies how organizations and individuals shop for, enroll in, manage and exchange benefits. The CSC building opened just over a year ago and is the newest structure to rise on the Benefitfocus campus. There is also a Design + Engineering (DE) building and a corporate headquarters building. Another DE structure is in the planning stages, as well as “Community Table” campus restaurant. All reflect the company’s mission and values – provide anticipatory service, respect the individual, and celebrate…together. “It feels like a college campus,” said Sossamon-Pogue, who often grabs a company bike to travel from building to building. “You get that campus feel of getting together, sharing knowledge, and sharing ideas.” Features like an open staircase in the center of the CSC are both symbolic and functional. “That’s that signal that we’re all in this together,” added Sossamon-Pogue. “There is no upstairs-downstairs mentality. We are open and collaborative.” Another key design found in the CSC is a raised access floor that houses all electronic wiring, cables, and air conditioning/heating conduits, increasing the building’s mechanical efficiency. You’ll also find an artsy décor that features natural or reclaimed materials, such as fishing nets, bike wheels, and hammocks. Other features that make this a nifty nest for doing business include furniture that moves freely to increase mobility among employees, multiple micro-kitchens that offer quick-stop beverages and fresh fruit, bathrooms with showers and changing areas, an outside patio with a fire pit for company celebrations (which happen frequently), thought-provoking themes on each floor, and a “genius bar” for employees to troubleshoot computer and equipment problems. In the cafeteria, there are “tuck” walls or cubbies with seating, a large community table, a wall dedicated to displaying the company’s signature cowbells, and a large fish tank maintained by staff members. All were design suggestions gleaned from employee input. “We think about how to care about our people,” said Sossamon-Pogue. “And those types of niceties attract and retain talent…We need the best of the best…You want the brightest minds and you want them to be in a place where they can do their best work, because we want the best for our clients.” And employees appreciate the extra effort put forth by the company to create a workspace that is engaging, fun, and inspiring. “I like the openness, not just with regard to the desk space, but the natural light I think gives it more of a sense of openness,” said Kadedra Kiner, senior director of customer management. “There is just a real connection with what’s inside and outside…That definitely leads to a high degree of energy, and that’s always important! I think the space also lends itself really well to being creative.” “I love coming to work every day because of the people I work with, but our environment makes it that much more enjoyable,” added Courtenay Cone, senior director and account general manager. “…I also love getting my Starbucks coffee in the morning. And then it’s more of a cultural thing – I love being able to see people walk around with their dogs (on bring-your-dog-to-work days)! It’s real casual and you can tell people just enjoy working here.” “There are very few projects here that you do by yourself,” said John Wilson, director of enterprise portfolio management. “We have lots of community meeting spaces. The open rooms. The random couches…The white board walls. That really helps productivity for sure!” Stephanie Mangini, corporate communications manager, has been on the Benefitfocus team for just three months, but already the campus has made an impression on the new staffer. “(We have) beautiful buildings!” she said. “It’s an amazing place. I love it. You don’t have to be tied to any building…It just feels good.” For Mangini and the more than 1200 other employees Benefitfocus has hired since 2013, the “winning culture” is clearly scoring big points. As the company states throughout its marketing materials and in other places on its campus - “Benefits are good.” And that’s certainly proven to be true for both customers and employees. “There are days where I just stop and go…this is really nice!” added Sossamon-Pogue.