Being a student and working can be a demanding experience, but Jackson National Life Insurance Company’s The Zone models how to cater to students’ needs and the support community development along the way.
On November 18, 2013, Mike Wells, President and CEO of Jackson, MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon, and former East Lansing Mayor, Diane Goddeeris opened the doors to a new future at 333 East Grand River Ave: The Zone.
With Jackson’s corporate headquarters over in Lansing and locations throughout the nation including Denver, Nashville, and Chicago, The Zone stands upon a strong reputation of strong business practices and social responsibility.
“Jackson’s values match all of its commitments. We plan for the long term because people trust us with their retirement,” says Danielle Robinson, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at the Zone. “As the No. 1 individual annuity provider in the U.S. and with more than $206 billion in assets, The Zone is important to Jackson because the office mutually benefits everyone involved.”
Robinson says, “the part-time staff support company projects and the corporate atmosphere helps the students gain business knowledge.”
Located on the corner of Grand River Ave. and Charles St., the 33,000 sq. ft. office space houses 245 Strategic Support Associates and eight full-time staff members six days a week.
Employees’ motivation to succeed is highly valued at The Zone. With a starting salary at $12.50 per hour, students enjoy a flexible part time work schedule, skills training, community engagement events, five hours of paid volunteering time, a convenient location directly across from MSU, and potential opportunities to join the Jackson team full-time upon graduation.
“The Zone builds up a pipeline of talent for the company,” says Kelley Soeltner, Assistant VP of Data/ Forms Management and SOS Administration.
This “pipeline” starts with new hires ranging from college freshmen with little to no work experience to senior students with diverse backgrounds in business, education, engineering, finance, communication, and psychology. Upon successfully completing the keyboard aptitude test and face-to-face interview, individuals are offered a position on the spot. And, while Jackson collaborates with Career Services in the various colleges across MSU, such as the School of Business, the majority of its new employees come from its long list of referrals.
“Roughly 95-98% of our new hires are referrals from employees within the company,” says Soeltner.
Once employed students are required to work a minimum of 15 hours a week; this criteria is easy to fulfill, as the office is open from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
Even students with the busiest of schedules feel at home working at The Zone because of the flexibility.
“I can take time off of work without feeling bad or having to switch shifts with someone else,” says
Morgan Middaugh, a current employee at The Zone and a MSU junior in applied engineering.
Robinson says The Zone is an energetic place to work because of the students.
“Being here I get to find out what they want out of the program, what they’re looking for in their positions, and how to create even better connections with MSU,” she says. “Also, the city of East Lansing has been exceptional about visiting often and supporting our work at The Zone."
East Lansing is economically growing from The Zone occupying 333 East Grand River Ave. Mid-Michigan non-profit organizations are benefiting from The Jackson National Community Fund, housed at The Zone. In 2014, the Jackson National Community Fund has already contributed over $3 million and 11,000 hours of community engagement events, such as dinners at the Ronald McDonald House and Meals on Wheels for senior citizens through these organizations.
The Zone also supports environmental initiatives through its Go Green Program.
“Part of my job is participating in the Go Green Program by sending out emails to inform clients about policy information, annual reports, and service requests instead of paper products,” says MSU junior Chris Winter.
The “pipeline” model is working for everyone. Students are learning how to be financially savvy, communities are developing, and small environmental changes are happening. The Zone’s innovative business strategy is the model to learn from in East Lansing.
Winter says, “I’m interested in working for Jackson full time,” as he looks straightforward with clarity and enthusiasm.
“I’m very interested in staying with Jackson after graduation,” says Middaugh, smiling and nodding her head.
These students are the future of 333 East Grand Rive Ave: The Zone.
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Mirabeth Braude is an East Lansing-area freelance writer and Michigan State University graduate student in the Writing, Rhetoric, and American Cultures Department.
Photos ©
Dave Trumpie
Dave Trumpie is the managing photographer for Capital Gains. He is a freelance photographer and owner of
Trumpie Photography.