Eight years. That’s how long Tower Federal Credit Union has been racking up Great Place to Work® Certifications—and if you’re keeping score at home, that’s basically the employment equivalent of winning an Oscar every single year since 2017.
But here’s the thing that makes this actually meaningful: this isn’t some award decided by a panel of industry insiders or a trophy you can buy your way into. Great Place to Work® Certification comes straight from the people who show up every day—the employees themselves. And when 88% of your team says you’re a great place to work (compared to just 57% at the average U.S. company), you’re clearly doing something right.
It’s All About the People
According to Tower’s President and CEO Rick Stafford, this latest win reflects what the credit union has been building all along: a workplace where people actually want to be.
“We’re proud to earn this recognition again because creating a great employee experience is a top priority for us,” Stafford explained. “We listen to feedback and want Tower to be a place where people can build their careers and enjoy coming to work. Our employees go above and beyond every day for our members, and for each other. We celebrate and thank them for all they do to earn this incredible recognition.”
Translation? Tower isn’t just paying lip service to employee satisfaction. They’re actually putting in the work, year after year, to make sure their team feels valued and supported.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
The certification itself comes from anonymous employee surveys—because nothing says “tell us how you really feel” like guaranteed anonymity. Employees rated everything from Tower’s leadership and company initiatives to its overall direction and day-to-day culture.
What stood out? Employees consistently praised the welcoming atmosphere, supportive culture, and access to real resources and training that help them actually do their jobs well. No one wants to feel like they’re flying blind, and Tower seems to get that.
Beyond the Office Walls
But it’s not just about what happens inside Tower’s doors. Employees also highlighted the credit union’s community impact, particularly through the TowerCares Foundation. The foundation supports military service members, Veterans, and children in need—causes that clearly resonate with the team.
“Our employees have been passionate supporters of the TowerCares Foundation mission since day one,” Stafford noted. “Their enthusiasm and generosity continue to make a real difference in our communities.”
Turns out, people like working somewhere that stands for something beyond the bottom line. Who knew?
Why This Certification Actually Matters
Great Place to Work® isn’t just handing these out like participation trophies. They’re the global authority on workplace culture and employee experience—the kind of organization that studies what actually makes companies successful, from revenue growth to employee retention to innovation.
Sarah Lewis-Kulin, Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place to Work, put it plainly: “This certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience. By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that Tower stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees.”
In other words, eight consecutive certifications isn’t luck—it’s proof that Tower has figured out how to create a workplace where people genuinely want to show up and do great work. And in today’s job market, that’s worth celebrating.