NewsVGM Group Named Best Place For Working Parents

VGM Group is excited to once again earn The Best Place for Working Parents® business designation in 2026. This is the fifth year in a row VGM has received this honor, demonstrating the company’s ongoing commitment to offering support for its working parents. As a 100% employee-owned company, VGM Group has a vested interest in supporting its employee owners and their families. 

“It’s incredible to once again be recognized for this honor,” said Chief People Officer Sara Laures. “VGM employee owners are our highest priority, and we are always looking to improve or implement new processes to make VGM more than just a place to work for them.” 

One of the most recent advancements for parents at VGM was the addition of the on-site child care center in November 2023, operated by Community United Child Care Centers. This alleviated the struggle to find affordable child care in the Cedar Valley for many employee owners. In 2024, this benefit expanded to include enrollment for children that had aunts, uncles, and grandparents that were VGM employee owners. 

Additionally, VGM offers direct support to the children of VGM employee owners through its annual scholarship program. Each year, VGM, in partnership with Waterloo Community Foundation, awards six scholarships of $1,500 to employee owners who are high school seniors or high school seniors who have a parent or legal guardian working at any VGM location across the country. 

VGM also offers a free health clinic for employee owners and their immediate families to utilize, regardless of their insurance. On top of this, VGM offers an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) that includes mental health visits and resources as well as financial literacy and education materials. 

There are also numerous employee engagement events throughout the year dedicated to family outings. These include tickets to sports events, family bowling nights, and movie nights at VGM Headquarters in Waterloo, Iowa.  

In addition to the support VGM provides to its employee owners: VGM’s employee owners also support one another. Implemented in 2021, the VGM Family Fund is completely funded by employee owners for employee owners who are going through financial hurdles due to personal hardships. Since its implementation, the Family Fund has raised and awarded over $300,000 for employee owners. 

“The best way to take care of your business, is to take care of your employees,” said CEO Jeremy Stolz. “This has been central to VGM’s strategy for the last 40 years, and it reached a new level in 2008 when we became 100% employee owned. As employee owners, everyone has a stake in this company and can create the future they see for themselves.” 

VGM’s continued family friendly, employee-focused efforts have earned the company recognition from several other organizations over the years as well. These include designations as a Cedar Valley Employer of Choice and an Iowa Top Workplace on multiple occasions.