Togetherness was the theme of Surf Internet’s company picnic on Sunday, August 27. As countless employees, along with their friends and families, gathered at Four Winds Field in South Bend for an afternoon of baseball, bonding, and celebration, it became clear that Surf Internet is more than just a team--it’s a family.
“Culture is very important to us at Surf, and the main tenant of our culture is family. Looking around and seeing all these people who are impacted by the business or are a part of the business just makes me proud,” said Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf Internet.
Over 225 people came out to join in the festivities. Everyone enjoyed a delicious ballpark meal while laughing and mingling. Because Surf Internet has been growing so quickly and now has eight offices across Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, many of the employees don’t get to see each other every day, especially in such a relaxed setting. The picnic was a great way for everyone to make some new friends and develop even deeper connections with their co-workers.
One remote employee, Director of IT Jessi Bracey, came all the way from Missoula, Montana, just to have the opportunity to hang out with the people she’s worked with for so long.
“It’s so fun to come out here and see everyone that I normally only get to see on a screen. Connecting with people outside of work is great. It’s nice to get to know people more and meet their families. Even though we’re starting to grow, our company still has that small family feel,” said Bracey.
The day was also a great way for the team to celebrate all that they’ve accomplished in the past couple of years. Surf Internet has grown tremendously--it just passed 30,000 customers and is currently working to bring fiber-optic internet to 30 new communities. This feat will greatly expand access to high-quality internet in towns across the Great Lakes region and provide an equal opportunity for success.
“By bringing fiber-optic internet to these communities, we’re giving them an equal chance. I love that about Surf Internet--that we can make a difference and provide a chance for equality to businesses and homes that don’t currently have it due to their lack of internet access,” said Deborah Crawford, COO at Surf Internet.
Overall, Surf Internet’s company picnic couldn’t have been more meaningful. Everyone was excited to have the opportunity to come together, bond, and celebrate their accomplishments not just as a team, but as a family.
Surf Internet’s management just hopes everyone leaves feeling valued and united. But if all the laughs, smiles, and hugs were any measurement, there is no room for doubt that this goal was achieved.
“I want them all to know that the company cares about them and appreciates what they do every single day. Seeing all of our employees’ families today reminds us that that’s what this is really all about. People work to provide for their families and if we can make sure Surf is a great place to work, they’ll go home happy and their families will be happy, too,” said Crawford.
Even the South Bend Cubs employees could tell how much the day meant to everyone. Mick Luce, who was working as a catering attendant, has been a Surf customer for two years. He loves Surf Internet and everything it stands for, and seeing the company picnic only affirmed his feelings.
“When I saw Surf Internet was on our schedule I thought it was super great. They couldn’t have picked a better way to create a good family experience. It’s nice to see companies show appreciation for their employees,” said Luce.
Surf Internet is grateful to the South Bend Cubs for helping make this special event possible. And, as a corporate partner to the team, Surf looks forward to working with the Cubs for years to come. Currently, Surf Internet is holding a public contest in which visitors to Four Winds Field can take a picture of the right field lawn seating area with Surf’s logo and post it as a comment in the featured post at the top of Surf’s Facebook page. Following a few other simple contest instructions provided on their page will enter you into a drawing for the chance to win some South Bend Cubs swag. The contest will run through the rest of the 2023 season.
Surf Internet is also grateful to all of its customers. Without them and their support, everything Surf has accomplished wouldn’t be possible.
“I just want to thank all of our customers for welcoming Surf into their communities. We have over 30 new communities that we’re building fiber in right now and each one of those communities has welcomed us--we’re grateful for how they’ve embraced us,” said Crusie.
To learn more about Surf Internet and its tight-knit team, visit surfinternet.com.To find out if Surf Internet’s services are currently available for a specific address, visit shop.surfinternet.com.
