Electri-Cable Assemblies Playmakers Team LIVES UNITED and Impacts the Valley Community

Electri-Cable Assemblies (ECA) of Shelton is making a noticeable impact in the Valley community. Their corporate teambuilding and fundraising events are planned by the Playmakers – A team of five dedicated employees who continue to make a difference. The Playmakers philosophy is to motivate, elaborate and celebrate while sharing ideas to foster a great workplace environment. “We all work hard and we all play hard,” said Cheryl Patrick, HR Manager and 2008 Captain of the Playmakers. “The Playmakers have the responsibility of hosting many fun events, most of which are done on site.”

One of the biggest events executed by ECA and the Playmakers this year was their Thanksgiving Food Drive. The Playmakers Team raffled off tickets for full and half vacation days as well as office Starbucks cards. These cards are used to accrue points based on innovative decisions, actions of leadership and many other productive ideas, which can later be used to purchase items from a company catalogue. The Playmakers raised over $400, which was enough to provide food and turkeys for 10 families in connection with the Spooner House; a Valley United Way funded agency. “This was a very fun event where employees could even reward each other with their purchased Starbucks Cards,” Cheryl said. “It’s easy to coordinate these events when you have a team creating them. Because our team changes every year we have had some great new fundraising ideas.”

ECA’s Playmakers Team is also looking towards Christmas to make further community contributions. After the successful food drive, Playmaker, Christine Sorrentino, contacted Patricia Tarasovic, Director of the Volunteer Action Center at Valley United Way, to search for a family in need during the Christmas holiday. Pat provided ECA with a family to sponsor and a detailed list of merchandise they required. The Playmakers went to work and printed out color pictures of toys and merchandise with price ranges, laminated the photos and attached them to Christmas tree ornaments. ECA employees are currently encouraged to select an ornament from the tree, purchase that item and bring it into the office, unwrapped, for donation.

Although Electri-Cable Assemblies has been in business for over 30 years, the company has been under new leadership for almost two. The Playmakers Team was formed in January of 2007, after ECA was purchased in October by two former employees and a third partner. The team changes members each year and includes 4-5 employees from different positions. Based on EAC’s involvement, there is no shortage of creativity in this year’s group.

Some past fundraising events planned by the Playmakers include a Halloween scavenger hunt, Cinco de Mayo festivities, American Cancer Society contributions, raffles and other food drives. While there are no specific events planned quarterly, fundraisers and teambuilding events usually occur every other month at ECA. Electri-Cable Assemblies continues to raise the bar on how companies can LIVE UNITED in the Valley.