Along with incorporation came ownership to a select group of employees who were given the opportunity to purchase a substantial amount of Colle's original holdings. Little did they know how well employee ownership would affect the growth of the company. Along with employee ownership CMI decided to create a completely participative culture. The combination of ownership and participation has boosted CMI's billings dramatically. Every computer at CMI comes up with the company mission statement before anything else.
Committees also plan all major events and select pro-bono community projects.
Keep the communications flowing - Have a weekly employee newsletter, written and produced by employees, if possible. Gather everyone for periodic company meetings to update any necessary information. Students learn all about the various departments in the company, the history, and employee ownership financial information. Each graduate gets a diploma and a letter sweater at the annual shareholders meeting. There are also other programs teaching financial planning and personal skills.