Employees driven by next-person-upmentality
From how to enter apartments safely to handling soaring volumes of household trash, the Morgan Group pulled together as a team to tackle a host of problems when the pandemic began, its leaders said.
The staff were primed for the challenge because they already worked so well together, said Philip Morgan, the company’s chief executive.
“I think it speaks to our team and how we carry ourselves,” he said.
The company placed fourth among midsize companies, earning honors for a fifth year on the Chronicle’s Top Workplaces list. The private property management company employs 222 people across 15 locations in the Houston area and about 500 globally. Specializing in high-end properties, Morgan Group has developed more than 50 projects and more than 16,000 units.
Philip Morgan recently took the reins of the company founded by his grandfather, William “Bill” Morgan, in 1959. Philip’s father, Michael, ran the company for more than 30 years before he recently retired.
At Morgan Group, employees say they feel encouraged to grow and are supported along the way. Philip Morgan said his grandfather steeped the company in philosophies of respect and appreciation.
“It takes a long time to build a culture, and I think it all starts with my grandfather,” he said.
The company also fosters a kind, family culture by hiring “smart, hardworking people.
People who truly care about doing the right thing and treating everyone with respect,” said
Karen Thomas, vice president of human resources.
A next-person-up mentality — of stepping up when others need support — has been crucial during the pandemic, Philip Morgan said. As people were out due to illness and quarantines, their colleagues have taken on new roles to bolster the team where it was needed.
Part of the company’s strategy is to train people to take on new roles and encourage them to grow along their chosen path, said Shelley Watson, senior vice president of national property management.
“And be ready” she said, “because you never know when you’re going to get called in to start.”