This week I was privileged to attend an Eat & Greet event at the General Mills headquarters in Minneapolis, MN along with an amazing group of “influential bloggers” from across the country.
Yea, this was a bit of an ego boost
It was a whirlwind trip that began shortly after arriving Wednesday afternoon. Our first stop was the Mill City Museum, a historical site that chronicles the flour milling industry.
Entering the Mill City Museum
We were treated to a private tour of the museum, followed by a festive dinner where we got a chance to mingle with fellow bloggers and members of the General Mills team. But my favorite part of the evening was standing atop the obersvatory, enjoying the cool weather and view of the city – breathtaking!
A piece of the Minneapolis Riverfront District
The night was still young, so we (@mominthecity, @adramaticmommy and I) decided to enjoy a bit of Minneapolis hospitality at Redstone American Grill and then closed down the Reserve Lounge at the Sheraton Minneapolis West where we were staying.
@mominthecity, @adramaticmommy and me!
The next day kicked off at 7:00 a.m. Our first stop – the Betty Crocker Kitchen where we sampled a variety of General Mills foods and mingled with members of their team. After a full tummy, we were treated to a tour of the new Photography Studio and learned just how they create “beauty shots” of their foods and products.
All of this was interesting, but as a former Human Resources professional and corporate cog, I was piqued by the unique and vibrant corporate culture I saw at General Mills. Their Web site touts:
We are highly committed to an environment that supports the varying needs of all our employees inside and outside of work, making us an employer of choice. It shows in the environment we create at work and in the types of resources we provide outside of work.
Although my visit was limited, I did see glimpses of General Mills’ commitment that makes me believe they are more than just talking about being an employer of choice, they are an employer of choice.
And in a fleeting moment of euphoria, I actually contemplated going back to a traditional full-time job (at General Mills, of course). But then, I wondered if I could stand the chilly Minnesota winters and changed my mind. But, maybe for the right position and salary…hm-m-m-m. 
Here are just some of on-site, lifestyle benefits I saw at the General Mills headquarters:
- Credit Union;
- Cafeteria;
- Coffee shop;
- Fitness center;
- Child care center (including back-up and sick child care);
- Dry cleaning;
- Automotive service center.
And this isn’t an exhaustive list. General Mills is clearly committed to their employees and from a Human Resources perspective (and working mom point of view), that translates into and engaged workforce that gives more and has less stress. Oh, and I was just tickled to meet Kim Nelson, a woman of color who leads the Snacks Unlimited division as President.
Bottom line: General Mills is committed to nourishing families through their broad range of consumer products, and also through their commitment to their employees and community action.
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Thank you to Allison Greco and the other amazing team from Coyne PR who helped organize and facilitate the General Mills Eat & Greet event. Thank to the many wonderful people at General Mills for opening the doors to their headquarters to us. Your hospitality is appreciated.
Welcome back, loyal reader! Thanks for coming back for more. Please join the conversation and leave a comment.
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Sounds like a great event.
I went to a NSHMBA event a couple of months ago and the director of diversity spoke to us. He was amazing and actually had me considering moving to MN but then I thought, “If I hate CT winters how am I going to survive?” Plus the grandparents would kill me if I took away their grandson.