Pump controls manufacturer SJE released a new purpose statement and simplified set of values in a series of videos shared with its 443 employees via email, the company announced.

The new purpose statement, “United as employee owners, we improve lives and positively impact communities around the world by providing exceptional control solutions,” highlights the importance of corporate citizenship, according to Taunia Suckert, chief financial officer.

“That is a powerful statement, and I’m really excited to be a part of it, because we live it here at SJE every day,” Suckert says.

Through the SJE Foundation and the Charitable Funds Committee, SJE’s employee owners help choose how they would like to make a positive impact on the community. The company donates to many charities and events at its different locations, such as the United Way and the Heart Walk. Suckert explained that SJE also aims to generate wealth among its employee owners, with the intent of then spreading it further throughout the community.

The new values, unity, humility, agility, drive, and ownership, were released day-by-day in videos that Dave Thomas, president and CEO, shared directly with employee owners. Lighthearted in nature, the videos were presented as short cartoons featuring employee owners, including Thomas and Suckert, in theoretical situations that explain why each value is important.

“This is a project that’s been in the works now for over a year, and these values have been chosen very carefully to reflect our evolution as a company, as well as our goals moving forward as we write the next chapter in the history of SJE,” says Thomas.

“As an employee-owned company, we know that culture is really important and a big part of what makes a place great to work,” says Natasha Nodsle, vice president of human relations.

Employee owners were also presented with gifts featuring SJE’s corporate seal and highlighted by the new set of values, capping off a release designed to be a fun kickoff to what is intended to become a long-term part of company culture.

“We wanted to do something fun and different to really catch people’s attention with this release,” says Linda Norland, the digital designer who filmed the videos. “Values can be such a critical part of company culture if taken to heart.”

SJE markets three brands — CSI Controls, PRIMEX and SJE Rhombus — that deliver pump controls for a wide range of residential, commercial, municipal and industrial applications. The company, based in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, does business globally from multiple locations across the United States and Asia. SJE is employee-owned and privately held. To learn more, visit www.sjeinc.com.