It’s common to hear folks talk about their “work families.” But to us, it’s so much more than that. In fact, one of our company’s core values is “Family: At Work and At Home.” We often joke that every day at Dix.Hite + Partners is like a Thanksgiving dinner—there’s always tons of food, lots of laughter and great conversation, and definitely some heated debate and constructive criticism. But at the end of the meal, we all feel grateful and fulfilled. 

We’re able to have these candid moments with one another because we know each other really well as people. Yes, we spend a lot of time with each other at the office, but we also have fun together outside the office. We know each other’s families, pets and life stories.

One of the ways we’ve gotten to know each other so well is through employee retreats, a tradition where all three offices get together every other year. In the past, we’ve gone on hiking trips to Bend, OR, where our co-founder Jeff Dix has a home. We’ve camped out at the Suwannee Music Festival in Live Oak, FL. We’ve even taken a cruise to Key West and Havana. This year, we spent a beautiful three days at the Palm Island Resort in Cape Haze, FL.

Dix.Hite Shines Bright

The main goal of this year’s retreat was to shine a spotlight on the company’s individual team members, all of whom contribute to making our firm such a success. 

When everyone arrived at the resort, they were greeted with personalized gift bags filled with branded swag—a t-shirt, Corkcicle tumbler, hat and beach towel. We then hopped on our golf carts and drove to the end of the island for dinner and drinks on the beach. And after a sunset swim, we headed back to our resort for a night of fun and games.

Over the next few days, there were countless adventures to be had. We went on a kayak eco-tour to explore the mangrove tunnels and beaches of Don Pedro State Park, and took a boat excursion to explore Gasparilla Sound and made stops at Dog Island near the Boca Grande sandbar and Stump Pass Beach State Park. But along with exploring the island, we also explored our relationships. A “Secret Sand-ta” gift exchange helped employees get to know one another, allowing them to make connections they may not have made otherwise.

On our final night, leadership thanked our staff for their hard work and explained how each individual contributed to the team’s success. Chris Hite, Sharon Lamantia and Gail O’Connor (our CEO, COO and CFO) gave impassioned speeches that made pretty much everyone tear up. Afterward, awards were given to recognize random acts of kindness that had secretly been observed throughout the week. Everyone was then awarded a “Studio Superlative,” which celebrated each individual’s unique contributions to their team—like “most likely to approach a problem with a can-do attitude” or “best person to have on your team in a high-stress situation.” The awards were printed with the Dix.Hite core values on the back so employees can be reminded of how they help to live the firm’s values. And the display was made from oak cubes branded with the Dix.Hite leaf icon (which was originally modeled after a Turkey Oak) to symbolize how even though we’re always rooted in our history, we continue to grow and evolve.

As expected, the end of the trip was bittersweet. Although we’re always energized and inspired by each other, we hate seeing our time together come to an end. But, just like a family, we can look back on these inside jokes and fun memories to stay motivated through the tough times. And despite a few minor injuries, some sunburns, a couple of hangovers, and literally hundreds of bug bites, these experiences enhance our bonds and bring us closer together. When you truly know your coworkers as people, it really does take your team to the next level.