More than 2,300 companies were nominated or asked to participate in the 2018 Top Workplaces contest by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and its partner, Energage (formerly Workplace Dynamics). Employees across the metro area responded to print and online solicitations that began appearing in September.
Using survey results, a list of 150 workplaces was compiled, consisting of 25 large companies (listed below; 500 or more employees), 50 midsize companies (150-499 employees) and 75 small companies (149 or fewer employees).
Cheryl Fleetwood, a loan underwriter, joined Supreme Lending - Southeast Region five years ago, after working with regional operating partner Pat Flood for 25 years at HomeBanc Mortgage.
At the time HomeBanc closed its Atlanta offices, Fleetwood was vice president and regional operations manager. A licensed and ordained elder, Fleetwood then took a job as senior director of operations at New Mercies Christian Church in Lilburn, before rejoining the mortgage sector and Flood at Supreme Lending.
Q: Joining a new company has its risks, so was it knowing Pat that made you take that step?
A: HomeBanc was great, I believe, in large part because of Pat's leadership — his direction, his vision, his commitment for service excellence, for production excellence. I said, if I'm going to be in this business, I'm going to be with the best.
It’s a great fit — to see others grow and to see that service mission that Pat embodies just demonstrated through the company. I had seen that at HomeBanc. I knew that the name, the shingle outside may be different, but I knew the core of the people were the same — and that’s what made a difference for me.
Q: What sets Pat apart as a leader, and how does it make Supreme Lending a top workplace?
A: His personal mission is, leave everybody that he comes in contact with better than he found them. And it extends from him in every decision that he makes. That naturally permeates the rest of the atmosphere. He's a coach. He's a builder. He's a supporter. He believes that we can be the best.
Q: What do you see on a daily basis at Supreme Lending?
A: You have support from the leadership team and also from other team members. It's just second nature for someone else just to jump in and help. It's a great family atmosphere. Everybody here wants to be their best. We want to be the best mortgage company in America. The methodology, the process, the flow that we have that allows us to be as efficient as we can. Those things are important, but at the core of everything else is that while production and profit, of course, are the goals of every company, what for me makes a company unique is I know I'm cared for as a person and that I bring value.
Q: How does the company assist employees on a personal level?
A: There's just a level of care that people have for you. Your production is important, but you're important as a person. They care about your development, your work, the balance in your home life. Pat's motto is, "Don't be a workplace martyr." We want you to be here and be productive, but we also want you to understand that there are other facets in your life that are important. We want you to have family time. Kids get sick. Kids need parents to come to school. There's a lot of flexibility and support to do that. We show up every day, and we do our best. We show up to serve each other and to serve our customers. Well, when you know that there's understanding, I think it relieves a lot stress.
Q: It sounds like the company fosters well-being within and outside of the office.
A: Your personal life, your professional life, your spiritual life, your fun and recreational life, your fitness and your financial goals. We do goal setting every year at the beginning of the year, and everybody is encouraged to participate. It's called being your personal and professional best. Those are the six areas that we focus on. You write goals down and do a chart for yourself and you have internal accountability partners and external accountability partners. We look at it quarterly. There's prizes awarded for you reaching a goal, sharing your story. It's very rewarding.
Q: Has the new office changed your work experience?
A: The new building is phenomenal. We love it. It's pretty swanky. It's very nice and open. Everybody is visible, everybody's accessible. You can see one another and everything's at eye level — I think that that helps with the environment. It also helps with young people who are just coming on board.
Q: What would you say makes Supreme Lending work?
A: Things come up every day. Problems arise. How do you respond? Everybody is part of the team — and everybody is willing to extend themselves. I think it's what makes it all work.
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