CHG is sometimes referred to as a "big, happy family." For some employees, however, that phrase rings very true -- they work each day with their family, whether it be a spouse, sibling, son, daughter, mother or father. Get to know our real-life CHG families in this series of weekly stories, We Are Family!
We Are Family: Tying the Knot
Hilla Araujo and Cristian Ground, both CHG employees in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., recently took employee engagement to a new level. Cristian proposed to Hilla at sunrise on a beach in Key West, Fla., August 13.
"Hilla has always had a love affair with the beach," Cristian, a consultant for the OB/GYN subspecialty division at Weatherby Healthcare in Fort Lauderdale, shares. "While we were standing on Smathers Beach watching the sunrise, I asked her to turn around and face the ocean and pose for pictures. While she posed, I scrambled and prepared the ring. I asked her to turn around, and there you have it!"
While the happy couple works for two separate divisions in the company, Hilla, administrative assistant on the pediatrics team at CompHealth permanent placement, says her co-workers are very happy for both of them.
"When I first started dating Cristian almost two years ago, I had a lot of criticism from co-workers (all in good fun)," Hilla recalls. "But now that they've gotten to know him, they know he's a great guy and that he will take care of me. In other words, they were looking out for family."
Cristian says there are no challenges associated with working for competing brands, especially as he and Hilla work in different business units, and believes they have an advantage.
"We are both familiar with the way the competing brands operate, which in essence makes us more intelligent in our day-to-day roles representing the CHG family of companies," Cristian expresses.
Though Hilla and Cristian originally met on an elevator in the Fort Lauderdale office (and were subsequently set up by co-worker Tanya Piker Kabat), they now carpool to work and enjoy lunch together each day -- though these are just a few of their favorite things about CHG.
"I love the group of people that I work with, and I love assisting everyone. Also, I like the flexibility to go to school and, of course, the tuition and books reimbursement," Hilla shares. "I am currently in school to obtain a networking administration degree from Palm Beach State College in Boca Raton."
Cristian, who likes both his co-workers and leaders, says he also appreciates the work environment.
"CHG gives me all the tools I need to be successful, including training, support and motivation. I have the ability to do what I love -- recruiting and selling for Fortune's No. 27 best company to work for!"
As they look toward their future together, Cristian and Hilla are both excited to grow, travel together and experience plenty of adventures -- including children one day.
"I look forward to having a beautiful and long life together, full of fun, laughter and happiness," Hilla expresses. "Even in hard times, we have each other. As long as there is love, all else will prevail."
