Everyone is Family in Our Haus!
Published: 07/27/2009 by Montgomery County Life
In 1964, Alpin Haus opened its doors in Amsterdam, NY. What started as a small family-owned ski shop with one full time employee and a few part-time employees has now grown to four locations with 200 employees. In addition to the Ski Shop, Alpin Haus now sells RVs, boats, snowmobiles, ATVs, pools, spas, and fitness apparel and footwear. Alpin Haus is still owned and operated by the Heck family, however at Alpin Haus “Everyone is Family in Our Haus” – employees, customers, and suppliers.
Not only does Alpin Haus sell “fun”, but they live it as well. Meetings are started and ended with loud music and dancing, and there are always activities going on after working hours for employees to take part in. The most popular activities are poker night, paint ball, golf day, ski day, day at the Saratoga Race track, and the employee Christmas party. Fun is not something that can happen on its own; it can only be achieved when everyone has common values and goals and acts as a cohesive team supporting each other. Alpin Haus has worked hard this past year to bring all 200 employees together, working as one team, one family. Just as sports teams display unity by wearing team jerseys, Alpin Haus employees also sport team jerseys. They have learned a lot about teamwork at a retreat in Wildwood, Georgia that nearly 100 employees have attended. The “Paul Cummings: Sustaining Excellence” retreat reminds people how to be the best person they can possibly be, and how to help others be the best they can be.
Upon their return to Albany Airport, they are greeted by their family. Not just their immediate family, but their Alpin Haus family all in their green Alpin Haus team jerseys! Alpin Haus has a success library with over 100 books (paperback & audio) about how to be successful, overcome the odds, and improve yourself. Employees take pride in their work and for the people they work with and for. This became very evident when Alpin Haus was nominated two years in a row as one of the “Great Places to Work” in the Capital Region. This year, however, based on the comments received by over 100 employees, Alpin Haus ranked #1 in the 151-500 employee range for the “Great Places to Work” contest.
If you’re ever curious if the people at Alpin Haus are enjoying being at work, just give them a call. They will tell you “It’s a great day at Alpin Haus”.
