Vertex President and CEO shares his thoughts about how the company’s CSR attracts the workforce needed to grow the business.
As an astute, results-oriented business leader, David DeStefano recognizes that CSR strengthens communities and provides numerous benefits to the business. One of these is attracting and retaining top talent for keeping Vertex continuously evolving and growing.
“At Vertex, people are our greatest asset, so we have to think of everything to be a step ahead of other employers. Every single day, our intellectual capital walks out the door, and they make a choice to come back,” says David.
Vertex’s corporate philanthropy program serves as a formal vehicle for harnessing the company’s charitable contributions. Causes and nonprofit partners are selected based on comprehensive research and employee feedback. This enables the company to make a more meaningful impact in key areas that are important to both employees and shareholders alike.
“We see our philanthropic activities as an investment in our employees and in the communities where we work.”
“We either dedicate dollars or volunteer time to a worthy cause. When investing in time, these are hours not being used for building a product or providing a service to our customers – we are investing in a Return on Individual. This shows up in higher retention rates in a competitive market due to the satisfaction employees derive from working for a company that not just supports their volunteer efforts, but facilitates them.”
“It’s not just millennials who are attracted by CSR.”
“In our diverse environment, almost everyone appreciates a company that shows commitment to the community. It attracts the type of people we want to become part of the Vertex team.”
Vertex candidates meet 7 – 12 people throughout the interview process
The intention, according to David, is to give them a strong lens into the company culture.
“Corporate giving and being in service to a broader purpose is a strong part of our culture, and this message comes through loud and clear during interviews. Our ideal is that it shows up as an attracting force. Candidates hear a consistent and enthusiastic message of Vertex that often aligns with their own beliefs and creates an additional desire to bring their talent to our team. We want the word to spread outside of Vertex that we are a great place to work, and this is one of the key ways to do that.”
Partnering with the Main Line Chamber of Commerce
As a learning organization, Vertex has made a four-year commitment to the Developing Talent Initiative program with their nonprofit partner, the Main Line Chamber of Commerce.
“We give to them not just because we want to support a valuable organization, but our employees also very much benefit from the development programs they provide. The Main Line Chamber offers several leadership programs. They afford Vertex participants many opportunities to hear other smart people talk about what they are doing successfully. Being proponents of consistently developing talent, we have lots of graduates of Main Line Chamber programs walking our hallways.”
Why Vertex chooses to be a member of the Satell Institute
“I was attracted by the passion and purpose of the Institute, and I think there is strong excitement from business leaders about what the Satell Institute is doing,” says David, who is a member of the Satell Institute Advisory Board.
“What’s great is that it’s passion with defined purpose. You need to have passion to fuel you because you’re going to go through some tough times, and you’re going to need to have a defined purpose to steer you toward your goals. There is also clear direction how the Satell Institute is going to bring that passion to life in the community. That really resonated with me. My initial reactions are that both Ps (passion and purpose) are there, and I am really looking forward to Vertex getting involved with the Satell Institute.”
Vertex is the leading and most trusted provider of comprehensive, integrated tax technology solutions for corporations worldwide
Since 1978, Vertex has provided tax technology and services that enable companies of all sizes to realize the full strategic potential of the tax function by automating and integrating tax processes. They provide cloud-based and on-premise solutions that can be tailored to specific industries for every major line of tax, including income, sales and consumer use, value added and payroll.
A privately held company, Vertex employs more than 900 professionals at their headquarters in King of Prussia, PA. The company has offices in Europe (London), South America (São Paulo, Brazil), Atlanta, Dallas, Fort Collins, Naperville, Phoenix, Sarasota and Washington, DC.
The Stan & Arlene Ginsburg Family Foundation joins The Satell Institute
The Satell Institute is proud to welcome the Stan & Arlene Ginsburg Family Foundation as a member of the Collective Force of Businesses & Nonprofits for the Greater GoodTM.
The Stan & Arlene Ginsburg Family Foundation is a private foundation.
In joining the Satell Institute, the Stan & Arlene Ginsburg Family Foundation has pledged a yearly sum for four years to the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia, Foreign Policy Research Institute, Middle East Forum and Hillel at Drexel University.
In addition to being generous contributors to several other nonprofits in the Greater Philadelphia area, the Ginsburgs support Israel especially the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Israeli Defense Fund.