Mack Molding (Arlington, VT) was recently recognized by the Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for promoting healthy lifestyle initiatives throughout the company. The Gold award for workplace wellness was presented to Mack’s health services manager, Kathy Hall, RN, at the council’s annual conference.

The custom plastics molder, which supplies contract manufacturing services, has developed several programs inspired by its overarching wellness theme, “take personal responsibility for your health.” The motto not only has served as a launching point for these award-winning initiatives, but also reflects the company’s view on healthcare. “At the end of the day, we are all healthcare consumers,” says Jeff Somple, president of Mack’s northern operations. “So it is in everyone’s best interest to make healthy lifestyle choices that will lead to more productive lives and lower healthcare costs.”

And he’s not kidding about being productive. The company’s initiatives include a 12-week weight-loss program, company gardens, an on-site fitness center, and ongoing efforts to promote healthy behavior and disease prevention. Created to help participants make lifestyle changes that they can maintain, the company’s 12-week Eat Right, Stay Fit program is focused on healthy eating habits. The program has resulted in 50 employees losing a combined weight of more than 400 pounds.

While they’re getting healthy, they’re also rolling up their sleeves and getting a little dirty in the Mack Community Gardens. Supported by a local nursery with planting tips and discounted seedlings, the company’s 15 gardens are planted and harvested by Mack employees. The local nursery has also helped by providing cedar beds and gardening tools and facilitating easy water access. To draw in more employees and enhance the usefulness and aesthetic of the area, the company has added a volleyball court, a driving range for golf, picnic tables, and barbeque grills.

Whether work-related or not, the company’s initiatives have emphasized the importance of understanding healthcare issues and the science behind healthy behavior. The company’s Promoting Health and Wellness program includes guidance from an on-site physician with weekly office hours. Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine, Brian Timura, MD, is an occupational medicine specialist and primary care physician brought in to support employees’ wellness goals and overall health. The fitness center at the company’s headquarters is open to employees and their families and is equipped with squash and racquetball courts, strength and cardio exercise equipment, and regular aerobic and yoga classes.

“We encourage employees to take personal responsibility for their health—eat lean, exercise regularly, practice safe work habits—and we try to offer fun, creative programs to support their efforts, says Somple. Having been recognized for these efforts twice before, and now receiving this gold award, the 90-year-old company continues to demonstrate ways to support quality healthcare practices within its own walls as well as within the industry.