Businesses around the Valley are hosting holiday parties, exchanging gifts and cookies and wrapping up the year. For Mobile Mini employees today, rather than visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads, they experienced visions of lightsabers, Wookies and Jedis instead.
“Our President and CEO, Erik Olsson, is a longtime ‘Star Wars’ fan,” explains Chris Miner, Mobile Mini senior vice president and general counsel.
In fact, the company uses Star Wars code names for all special projects and acquisitions, such as “Project Tatooine” and “Project Dagobah.”
So it’s probably no surprise that Miner’s suggestion to rent out Arizona Mills’ Harkins theater was heartily accepted by Olson, thus satisfying the anticipatory spirits of many a Mobile Mini employee today.
“We scheduled a 9:30 a.m. showing and another one at 1:30,” Miner said. “We really wanted everyone to be able to stay on the clock and be able to enjoy ‘The Force Awakens’ (and a free drink and popcorn).”
Mobile Mini goes beyond entertaining employees, by also offering means of accommodating their overall health and wellness.
“We believe wellness and happiness is essential for our employees,” says Ryanne Tezanos, senior vice president, customer and operational excellence. “We offer yoga, bootcamp and other team-building solutions that not only lower absenteeism, but also encourage better overall lives for our employees.”
Judging by the laughter and smiles during and after “The Force Awakens,” it appears the attention given to Mobile Mini employees is working. It may not be a far stretch to say, “the force is strong with this local company.”
