Generation Cos. Voted Again as One of the Best Places to Work
The Generation Companies was voted for the second, consecutive year one of the Triangle Business Journal's Best Places to Work. The following article about the prestigious win was featured in the journal's September 24, 2004 edition.

October 26, 2004
The Generation Companies is a hotel management company with firms throughout North Carolina and Virginia. It also has a few other locations in Florida, Kentucky and Tennessee. Between 40 and 45 employees work in the real estate development and operating branch in the Durham office, a branch that manages more than 260 employees working at other locations in the company.

The president of the company, H. Mark Daley, believes The Generation Companies is unique among companies in the Triangle.

"We are perhaps more overt about our mission and values. Therefore, we attract team members that are like-minded and self-motivated toward company goals. This in turn helps create and reinforce a working environment characterized by teamwork, mutual respect and excellence," he says.

"Everyone here shows a sincere commitment to working for the good of the team, our customers and our investors," says Daley. "I also believe we generally avoid some common corporate pitfalls such as office politics, internal gossiping and emphasizing form over substance."

Employees have shown enthusiasm about working for The Generation Companies and its team environment.

"Our company has a unique blend of integrity, openness, and hardworking, dedicated individuals both at our corporate service center and at all of our properties. We are blessed to have the great group of people that we have in every faced of the company," says one employee. "It is a great place to work. I wish everyone could be surrounded with the kind of people that we have at our company."

Another staff member recognizes the respect with which the company treats its employees. "I have worked for various employers and none can compare to The Generation Companies. They promote balance between your personal and professional life, which a unique philosophy in corporate America. They recognize you for your achievements by giving out end-of-the-year awards and by awarding incentives on a quarterly basis. In addition, recognizing employees for their length of service and tenure is another form or recognition that The Generation Companies takes pride in."

The Generation Companies does not require new hires to have a college education. "Our company values work experience as an invaluable training ground for our employees," says Daley. "The requisite college degree, so important in other fields, does not necessarily factor in as a given for many people who come to work for us."

The Generation Companies also tries to support its employees by providing them with The MarketPlace Chaplain Program. "A local chaplain is assigned to each facility and is available to assist in matters such as weddings, funerals, prayer and visits to sick family members," Daley says.

Employees are also provided with health and dental insurance coverage. The company contributes to a simple IRA retirement plan for its employees.

Some other benefits are given to The Generation Companies' employees. They include catered in-house lunches for special training events, onsite fitness facilities for employees to use what at work and reduced hotel rates for travel.

The Generation Companies is a real estate developer, manager and operator of extended-stay hotels in North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and Florida. Generation has more than 2,300 hotel rooms and $115 million in real estate assets under management, and employs over 275 associates at 19 properties. For more about Generation, visit www.generationcompanies.com.