First Annual Forward Palooza
June 15, 2022 | Company News
June 15, 2022 – Last week, Forward Financing hosted its first annual Forward Palooza, gathering employees from across the country for three days of business alignment and team-building activities in Boston. Since the onset of COVID-19 and the launch of their Employee Choice policy, this was the first company-wide event Forward has put on for their team to connect in-person.
The main event, a Company Town Hall meeting, took place at the New England Aquarium’s Simons Theatre. The session featured presentations from leadership including a history of the company presented by Co-founder & CEO, Justin Bakes, an outline of the company’s vision and future trajectory presented by President, Michael Spinello, and more. The meeting gave the team an opportunity to recognize the accomplishments they’ve made so far this year, and drive home goals for the rest of 2022 and beyond.
“It was so great to have an opportunity to share curated content with employees in person and get people excited about our trajectory,” said Jessica Roden, Director of Marketing, who oversees internal communications at Forward. “Employee experience is really important to us, and sharing the right information at the right time is critical. We hope everyone came away with a clear understanding of where we’re going as a company and how their contributions are part of the big picture.”
People managers participated in training sessions where they completed a DiSC assessment to determine their communication profile. They workshopped to better understand their own profile and the profiles of others to help adapt communication styles and improve working relationships.
In addition to professional development, there were plenty of opportunities for team members to meet and connect with new faces from across the company, as well as build bonds within their teams. The week was thoughtfully planned to include organized activities with inter-departmental groups, as well as time for employees to connect with the people they work with every day.
The week culminated in a luau-themed summer party at the Omni Seaport Hotel where employees gathered to celebrate the year’s wins thus far, and rally towards future goals.
About Forward Financing
Forward Financing is a Boston-based financial technology company that provides fast, flexible capital to small businesses nationwide that have been long underserved by traditional financing options. By simplifying the requirements, streamlining the process, and using advanced proprietary technology, Forward Financing is able to deliver approvals within minutes and funding within hours — giving more businesses the financial opportunity they need to thrive. Plus, with their dedicated teams and award-winning service, customers get personalized support when they need it most.
Since 2012, Forward Financing has expanded Main Street’s access to capital by providing over $1.5 billion in funding to more than 35,000 small businesses. The company is A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau, with an ‘Excellent / 4.9 stars’ rating on Trustpilot.com. Forward Financing was named a Best Place to Work by the Boston Business Journal and Built In Boston and has been named by both Inc. magazine and the Boston Business Journal as one of Massachusetts’ fastest-growing companies each year since 2017. Forward Financing is committed to helping their people and the small businesses they serve to achieve their full potential.