WellLink’s Commitment to Positive Workplace Culture Earns National and Regional Workplace Recognition

WellLink is proud to announce it has been recognized with seven national and regional workplace honors this past quarter, reflecting the organization's ongoing commitment to fostering an exceptional workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported and empowered to grow.

Based on employee feedback, the seven workplace awards represent the collective effort to create a workplace where individuals can do meaningful work, develop their skills and contribute to a mission that matters.

These awards acknowledge the culture WellLink has built, distinguishing the organization as a top-tier employer nationwide, a leader in workplace excellence and a trusted organization committed to supporting its employees and communities it serves.

Building an Award-Winning Workplace Culture

For WellLink, exceptional culture has been an important part of the organization’s more than 100-year history. In today’s workplace, culture plays an increasingly significant role in attracting and retaining talented professionals as employees search for environments where they feel respected while having opportunities to grow.

WellLink believes the employee experience shapes every aspect of the organization. When employees feel engaged and supported, they are better able to collaborate, solve problems and provide exceptional service.

The same values that create a strong workplace also strengthen the relationships WellLink builds throughout the healthcare community. As WellLink continues to invest in its people, those investments are reflected in the dedication and expertise employees bring to every relationship, helping deliver meaningful value to members, partners, suppliers and sponsors.

By creating opportunities for employees to grow, WellLink continues to foster an environment where employees feel connected to the organization’s mission and empowered to build rewarding careers. 

At WellLink, investing in leadership development helps build stronger teams by giving employees opportunities to expand their skills and pursue new challenges.

Through a partnership with PuzzleHR, a leading name in the human resources solutions space, WellLink has provided a series of leadership development trainings designed to equip leaders with the skills and tools needed to support their teams and drive results.

The program began with interactive sessions focused on core leadership competencies, including emotional intelligence, adaptive management, effective communication, accountability, SMART goal setting, performance management, correcting performance issues and individual development planning. These training sessions provided leaders with practical strategies they could apply immediately to strengthen team performance and employee engagement.

In 2026, the curriculum expanded to include additional sessions designed to help leaders adapt their management approach to individual employees, build stronger teams, navigate a multigenerational workforce and support employee growth and development.

Employee development extends beyond leadership training. WellLink invests in learning opportunities for team members across the organization, providing role-specific training that strengthens technical and professional skills while supporting individual growth

Team members across all departments receive professional development focused on navigating change, building resilience, strengthening communication and adapting to evolving workplace demands. These opportunities reinforce WellLink’s commitment to continuous learning and ensure employees at every level have the tools to succeed.

Professional development is one of many ways WellLink invests in its people. Equally important is building an environment where employees genuinely feel respected, heard and empowered to do their best work.

The organization’s culture emphasizes inclusion and belonging because diverse perspectives improve collaboration and lead to more impactful ideas. WellLink also emphasizes the importance of listening to employee feedback, understanding that the people closest to the work often have valuable insights into improvements.

Employee Feedback Shapes WellLink’s Workplace Culture

Feedback continues to shape the opportunities and initiatives WellLink provides. Through culture conversations and other engagement efforts, the organization gathers input from employees to better understand their experiences and identify ways to improve the workplace based on what employees value most.

Employee focus groups comprised of team members from across the organization are regularly convened to discuss topics that are important to the workplace experience, including professional development, recognition and opportunities for growth. These conversations provide valuable insights that help inform programs and initiatives designed to support employees and strengthen the WellLink’s culture.

This year, employees also played an important role in updating WellLink’s corporate values, working together to define the principles that represent the organization at its best. Through discussion and voting, employees collectively selected the four values that will serve as the foundation for WellLink’s culture moving forward.

“Our employees are the heart of WellLink, and these recognitions affirm our commitment to building a workplace where people feel valued and empowered to grow,” said WellLink Chief People Officer Lesley Forneris. “We are intentional about engaging with employees, listening to their feedback, investing in their development and creating programs that support their success. When employees share insights into what matters most to them, we listen and develop ways to turn that feedback into meaningful action.”

One example is the launch this year of WellLink’s new mentorship program, which was created specifically based on employee feedback. The program provides opportunities for employees to build relationships, gain and share knowledge, and receive guidance on their career objectives. It also strengthens the organization overall by encouraging employees to learn from other departments and support each other’s growth.

Connection to Mission and Community

WellLink continues to invest in resources that support employee well-being, ultimately strengthening a workplace where employees feel empowered to make a meaningful difference in the communities they serve.

That connection to WellLink’s mission extends beyond employees’ day-to-day roles. Throughout the year, team members have opportunities to engage directly with the communities WellLink serves through group volunteer events, while dedicated volunteer paid time off gives employees additional time to support causes that are meaningful to them.

That focus on creating a meaningful employee experience is also reflected in WellLink’s broader workplace culture. As shown in employee feedback and these workplace recognitions, WellLink is committed to creating an environment where employees feel comfortable sharing ideas, offering different perspectives and working together to solve challenges.

Those qualities are reflected in these workplace awards. A culture that encourages collaboration and new ideas helps employees deliver exceptional service while strengthening the relationships WellLink builds with partners and the communities across the region.

“Our culture is one of our greatest strengths,” said WellLink President and CEO Brian Lane. “These workplace awards are meaningful because they reflect the voices and experiences of our employees. When employees feel engaged, supported and connected to our mission, they are empowered to bring their best ideas, service and collaboration to every relationship, making WellLink an organization others choose to work alongside.”

Together, these awards reflect WellLink’s continued investment in its people across all divisions, including WellLink Group Purchasing, Health Alliance, Innovations, and The Healthcare Council, to create an environment where employees feel respected, supported and empowered to do their best work. 

Modern Healthcare Best Places to Work 

Modern Healthcare selected WellLink as one of its Best Places to Work in Healthcare for the third time. The national award program was created to acknowledge companies that continuously strive to improve their work environment and increase employee engagement, satisfaction and retention through innovative changes in the workplace. 

The Plain Dealer’s Top Workplaces in Cleveland 

WellLink has been named to the list of Top Workplaces in Cleveland for the eighth time. The evaluation for the Top Workplaces Program is based upon feedback from an employee survey containing questions about values, leadership, management, benefits, pay, growth potential, appreciation, work-life balance and retention. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a confidential third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage, LLC.  

Great Place to Work 

WellLink has been recognized by Great Place to Work four times. This prestigious designation is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at WellLink. Having surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide since 1992, Great Place to Work is a global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, retention and increased innovation. 

Best Companies Group Best Places to Work for Career Growth 

WellLink was recognized by Best Companies Group as one of the Best Places to Work for Career Growth, a national award highlighting organizations that create meaningful opportunities for employees to develop new skills, advance their careers and reach their full potential. The recognition highlights WellLink’s commitment to clear career pathways, continuous learning and opportunities for professional growth.  

Best Companies Group Inclusive Workplace Program 

WellLink has been recognized as an “Inclusive Workplace” by Best Companies Group five times. Based on employee feedback, this award honors organizations where employees feel included, heard and valued. Companies are evaluated based on their survey results and only those that earn a high score are eligible for this significant recognition. Recipients of this award have demonstrated leadership in advancing workplace inclusion and belonging in their respective industries. 

Crain's Best Places to Work in Ohio

WellLink has been recognized by Crain's Cleveland Business for the seventh time since 2019 as a company that excels in creating outstanding workplace cultures. Spanning a broad range of industries from financial services, insurance and accounting to law, technology, engineering and healthcare, the honored workplaces share a strong commitment to their employees that fuels productivity, loyalty, innovation and better customer experiences.

NorthCoast 99 

NorthCoast 99 recognizes Northeast Ohio organizations with exceptional policies and practices that attract and retain top performers. This is WellLink’s ninth time earning NorthCoast 99 recognition. Each year, 99 organizations in Northeast Ohio are honored with this award for excellence in workplace culture, talent development, compensation, innovation and organizational performance. 

WellLink was also recognized by the Ragan HR Awards as an “honorable mention” in three categories: Top HR Workplace, HR Professional of the Year (Lesley Forneris), and Community Impact. 

To learn more about WellLink’s awards, visit welllinkcommunity.com.