| Businesses in the hospitality and food and beverage industries face many challenges.They ride the ups and downs of the economy more closely than the healthcare, government, or high-tech sectors, and average two to three times the rate of employee turnover, according to 2012 numbers from the Society for Human Resource Management. One small business in Georgia continues to overcome these hurdles. Futren Corporation is a private-club management and operations company with around 200 employees, based in Marietta, Ga. Despite industry challenges and the 2008 recession, Futren has continued to prosper and expand. The company manages Indian Hills Country Club and The Georgian Club, and acquired Woodland Hills Golf Course in Cartersville in February 2013. Past projects have included the Ashford Club, Brookstone Golf & Country Club, World Trade Center Atlanta, City Club of Buckhead and the 1818 Club. Futren attributes its success and low turnover rates to numerous factors, but foremost to its commitment to be "more than fair" with its employees, treating them as people first, employees second. "We try not to just say that we care, or rely on gimmicks or cheerleading," said Futren CEO and President Mitch Rhoden. "We want to demonstrate with our actions that we are looking out for their best interest." Rhoden is a second-generation executive. His father, Jim Rhoden, purchased Indian Hills Country Club from Continental Bank in 1978. The country club lies in the heart of Indian Hills subdivision, a massive 1,600 single home development. Over the years, other projects followed, as well as the founding of the National Alliance of Private Clubs, which has 41 member-clubs in Georgia and 700 worldwide. Here are some steps Futren takes to create a high-retention, high-performance organization: - Values. Futren has a clear set of values that permeate its corporate culture. It believes in leading by serving- its employees, its members and its guests. The leaders in the company aim to empower and equip their staff. Relationships matter. Rhoden, a former U.S. Marine, attributes his military service and his father's example to the mindset.
- Training. Along with the expected new employee orientation classes and required certifications, Futren places a high value on informal training and open communication. Managers meet regularly, not just annually, with individual employees. Feedback is reciprocal. Futren also provides some creative training. It sends a group of its employees to Dave Ramsey's Financial Wellness classes every year. Rhoden believes the classes result in a happier, more productive employee, which in turn, benefits the company.
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