In the fall of 2022 the Water Resources team from Christopher B. Burke Engineering had two experiences outside with SUM. Four years later, hundreds of employees and interns across the broader Burke Group have gotten outside with SUM for wellness mornings, mindfulness sessions, team retreats and more. SUM’s Josh Ellis recently sat down with Lucinda Sanchez, HR Benefits and Compliance Specialist - and a frequent participant in SUM experiences - to talk impact, lessons and advice for anyone else looking to make restorative time outside their new normal.

Josh: You have a robust employee wellness program, and we’re very glad SUM experiences outside are an integral part of it. Where do you think the firm’s commitment to wellness stems from, and how do you think it affects your team culture and employee experience?

Lucinda: Our firm’s commitment to wellness stems from the desire to provide a well-rounded support system for our employees, the same way we desire to provide a well-rounded support system for our clients. By building wellness into the workplace, both team culture and employee experience excel. Wellness brings individuals together, encourages empathy for the wellbeing of those we are working with, and provides a strong community.

Josh: How do you think the experiences SUM leads - whether we’re talking team retreats or morning forest walks - complement the rest of your wellness programming? How do they help you meet your organizational wellness goals?

Lucinda: The experiences that SUM leads complements our wellness program very well. SUM events allow employees to log wellness points (which they can earn money for), and support two of our three wellness pillars - physical wellness and emotional wellness. Additionally, these events help us meet our organizational wellness goals by promoting socialization, physical activity, taking a break from the office walls and spending time among the very areas our employees are working on every day, such as forest preserves and bike trails.

Josh: Fours years into this partnership, what do you see for yourself, and what do you hear from others, about the impact and value of SUM experiences?

Lucinda: I have witnessed first-hand how our partnership with SUM has continued to flourish over these last four years as we have worked closely together to mold our SUM events to fit the needs and asks of our employees. The impact of SUM has been an integral part of our wellness program, providing unique opportunities that have supported a wide variety of asks. Employees who have attended SUM events value the experience they are provided, often coming away feeling refreshed, happy that they attended, and looking forward to the next event.

Josh: Across society the challenges of “slowing down” and “stepping away” are always named as barriers to wellness. People feel compelled to go go go. SUM definitely hears some of that when we work with the Burke Group, but we also see more and more people figuring out how to slow down and step away now and then. At the same time the firm is growing in multiple states, hiring more people and winning awards. Taking the occasional breath and organizational excellence just don’t seem at odds with each other. What’s your take on that, and what do you see as the lessons from the Burke Group’s simultaneous pursuit of wellness and excellence?

Lucinda: I couldn’t agree more that there has become a real issue across the workforce with society struggling to step away. With computers and phones in the palm of our hands, it can seem nearly unavoidable at times. However, when a company is intentional about their commitment to wellness and quality work, it is certainly obtainable, especially when working in conjunction with an organization like SUM.

The Burke Group understands that in order for an employee to produce their best work, they must feel their best. We provide excellence for our employees so that they feel energized to provide excellence for our clients. Employees cannot pour from an empty cup.

Josh: We’ve tried a lot of different things - different days, locations, activities, and more. I think we’re learning and adapting together. What advice would you give someone else looking to incorporate more time outside and offsite into their wellness offerings?

Lucinda: Firstly, you have to come to terms with the fact that you will not be able to please every employee, and that is okay. What is most important is meeting them halfway, where the demand is seen. When specific events are a success, stick to them. For events that are less successful, learn from them. One of the best things you can do is approach wellness from the top, down, and foster a working environment where managers understand the importance of wellness. When leadership supports wellness, employees will follow.

Josh: Any personal favorite SUM experiences for you?

Lucinda: One of my personal favorite SUM experiences was in 2023, when we visited Pine Dunes, which is a project of our very own Vice President and Environmental Resource Senior Project Manager, Jedd Anderson. It was truly enjoyable to explore a forest preserve that one of our colleagues invested years into. His passion in talking about the project was admirable. It really put into perspective the work that our organization does and the impact it has on the surrounding community. Our engineers came away with a greater sense of pride, seeing the types of projects they are putting energy into, while also enjoying time outside.

Josh: Thank you Lucinda! See you - and lots of your colleagues - outside real soon!