Employees gathered for a resource event at Wawona Frozen Food's Clovis location. Heartland Compass helps workers get access to financial assistance, reliable transportation, mental health services and more. Photo contributed The personal life of an employee is not the traditional place you would a find business owner.
But a local group of industrial employers is marking its first year of doing just that as a way to keep their workforce intact. Last year, local manufacturers and food companies launched Heartland Compass to assist members in providing resources and support for workers in times of need. Free and confidential to employees, Heartland Compass can help workers get caught up on mortgages or rent as well as offer finance and budgeting assistance.
They can refer for stress and mental health resources and help connect to resources for medical bills, car repairs and transportation. They can even help in buying a home or car or point toward addiction treatment. Kendra Devejian, CEO of Heartland Compass, said the organization’s first year surpassed her expectations.
“Part of this is to absolutely meet the needs of employees, but also to see what we can learn and understand about their needs and how those interplay with the world of manufacturing and businesses as a whole,” Devejian said. The inspiration for Heartland Compass comes from Mark Peters, CEO of Michigan-based butter producer Butterball, Inc., the keynote speaker at the “Valley Made” Manufacturing Summi.
