Nominated Business: PACE of Southwest Michigan
Who are the owner(s) and/or principal leadership in this company? Mike Zdrodowski, Executive Director
Where is it located? St. Joseph
Nominated by: Natalie Amicarelli
How many people work at the company you are nominating? 93
Tell us the story behind the nominated company. What does it do, and what sets them apart from other companies in the region?
PACE of Southwest Michigan is a non-profit that provides coordinated medical to seniors in our community who want to remain living at home. PACE of Southwest Michigan opened in September of 2012 and has served over 759 total participants. Our PACE program was launched by a joint partnership between Corewell Health South, Region IV Area Agency on Aging, and Corewell Health Hospice and Palliative Care. These organizations identified a need for an alternative to the traditional nursing home model of care in our community. We started with a small staff of caregivers, physicians, and social workers and enrolled 64 participants during our inaugural year. Since then, we have expanded our team to over 90 professionals and currently serve over 240 participants throughout Southwest Michigan. Effective April 1, 2025, Region IV Area Agency on Aging and Brio Living Services have agreed to partner to support the critical community-focused work of the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) of Southwest Michigan. “Together, our organizations’ ability to share widely recognized best practices, knowledge and administrative leadership will achieve superior outcomes and create more opportunities for local older adults to participate in our program,” said Michael Zdrodowski, executive director of PACE of Southwest Michigan. “Our team members can focus on providing the best care possible, while Brio provides administrative support. It’s a win-win for all of us.” “We have worked thoughtfully to ensure not just the right skillset fit, but the right ethos and culture fit for all the PACE of Southwest Michigan team members and the people they serve,” said Steve Fetyko, Brio Living Services’ president and CEO. “We are deeply honored to partner with Region IV Area Agency on Aging to support the wonderful work of PACE of Southwest Michigan and are excited about our future together.” PACE of Southwest Michigan is unique in the fact that they are the only “one-stop-shop” for participant-centered, individualized care. PACE provides their participants with full medical coverage, as well as becomes their providers of care. PACE of Southwest Michigan treats their participants with the utmost respect and also understands the value that their staff hold in this unique model of care.
In your own words, why do you think this company deserves to be declared to be one of the 20 Best Places to Work in Michigan’s Great Southwest?PACE of Southwest Michigan has created a culture within their organization that promotes job satisfaction through not only the providing uplifting reminders of how important they are because of the work they do and the difference they make, but providing their staff with competitive benefits and making them feel valued.
What makes workers proud to say they work there, and keeps them a part of the team?
The rewarding work they do. PACE staff cares for people in their home setting and works hard each day to keep their participants aging in their home. Leaders in PACE are reminding their staff of the impact they make often by sharing optimal care stories.
Let’s pretend you’re writing a review for Google or Indeed. Give us your best recommendation for the nominated company that would make the rest of us wish we worked there, too.
Looking to work for a company that makes you sleep sound at night knowing you’re making a difference? PACE is the organization for you! As a valued employee, you will receive competitive pay and great benefits, including employer contributions to health insurance and retirement plans just to name a few.
What three key words best describe why this company is a Best Places to Work caliber company?
Supportive
Collaborative
Rewarding
As a Best Places to Work company “Super Hero,” what are the two most magical “Super Powers” this company seems to have on a day-to-day basis? (i.e., Ability to read minds, fly, invisibility, etc) And why?
“Power of healing” our interdisciplinary team of clinicians collaborate to provide healing interventions.
“The ability to be in two places at once.” Our participants receive care in their home as well as our day center
Tell us about the leadership of the nominated company and what they do in order to:
A] Keep spirits and motivation high? Leaders shareparticipant success stories shared frequently with staff to remind them why they do what they do
B] Keep innovation and fresh ideas advancing? PACE of Southwest Michigan promotes collaboration with other PACE programs in Michigan to share ideas and creative solutions
C] Keep communications open? PACE’s new Executive Director, Mike, sends out a monthly email keeping staff informed of what is going on in the organization. Staff appreciates Mike’s transparency.
Explain a specific “wow!” moment in this company’s history that is virtually “Hall of Fame” or “Best Practices” worthy, as an example to other companies in the region.
During the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, PACE programs across the nation (including PACE of Southwest Michigan) had a significantly lower COVID-19 death rate than skilled nursing facilities.
Best Places to Work have a reputation for not only working hard, but also for playing hard.
A] How does the nominated company honor or reward success? PACE promotes internally because they see the value in growing their existing employees. PACE also recognizes an employee of the month.
B] How does the nominated company socialize as a team? “PACE’s Aces” is a committee that coordinates staff functions such as themed lunches
C] How does the nominated company get involved in community events? PACE staff volunteers in the community with Rake a Difference each year
D] How does the nominated company celebrate life? PACE enriches each participants life as part of their organizational model
What one thing is special about your nominated company that most people in the community have no idea actually happens there, but should be shouted from the rooftops because it’s that cool?
PACE not only supports our participants, but supports our participants families and caregivers. The day center gives caregivers the respite and relief they need to stay charged and continue to partner with PACE to care for their loved one.
Give us three employee perks or benefits that you think make the company you have nominated worthy of a Best Places to Work trophy?
Benefit 1: Retirement Plan
Benefit 2: Parental Leave
Benefit 3: Staff organized social events
Anything else you’d like to mention about this company, its’ leadership, etc?
N/A
