The Alexandria company behind your favorite brands wants you on their team
Besides living where she used to vacation, Hannah Doherty is an employee owner at a multi-million-dollar business, she’s moving up in the company, and she’s helping others do the same.
Sound like a great job? She thinks so too. Hannah is an HR specialist at Douglas Machine in Alexandria, Minnesota — and she’s pretty passionate about it. “I appreciate working for a company that’s willing to take our ideas and let us run with them,” she says. “And I really enjoy the people I work with — everyone’s just so kind and caring.”
Sound like a great job? She thinks so too. Hannah is an HR specialist at Douglas Machine in Alexandria, Minnesota — and she’s pretty passionate about it. “I appreciate working for a company that’s willing to take our ideas and let us run with them,” she says. “And I really enjoy the people I work with — everyone’s just so kind and caring.”
“It’s a very friendly atmosphere.”
Brad Brunkow, Douglas
She’s not alone. Brad Brunkow, a senior maintenance technician at Douglas says, “I can honestly say there isn’t one day in the last five years of working here that I’ve dreaded going to work.”
As the largest private employer in Alexandria, with over 700 employees, Douglas is a popular place to work.
Known worldwide as one of the best
Many local Alexandrians don’t realize this homegrown local company is sought after by companies around the world. Douglas designs, engineers, and manufactures the high-tech automated packaging equipment used by brands big and small, from Ocean Spray to Nestle Waters to Bob’s Red Mill.
“We don’t put the water in the bottle, but we’ll take that bottle and figure out how to put it into a case or shrink wrap to go to the Menards and Walmarts of the world,” says Hannah.
Tony Jensen, the company’s HR director, says, “Service techs will tell me they always know a Douglas machine in the factory — because everything else is really loud, and it’s shaking and it’s vibrating. Douglas machines are just solid all the way through.”
“I love being part of a company that’s leading-edge. That’s important to me — to know we’re doing something that matters in our industry.”
Tony Jensen, Douglas
Employee ownership makes a difference
Another thing many people don’t realize is the company is 100% employee-owned — so when the company does well, everyone benefits. Douglas employees receive annual stock allocations, no-cost medical visits and prescriptions at a company-owned clinic, excellent retirement benefits, tuition reimbursement, paid time off for volunteer work, and other perks.
And being owned by employees creates a uniquely collaborative culture.
Nicole Fernholz, director of the Alexandria Area Economic Development Commission, describes it this way: “It’s not a top-down kind of mentality. It’s ‘Let’s work together and see what we can do to make this a good workplace.’”
Douglas is growing so fast that they’re hiring for more than 100 open positions, from engineers to technicians to marketing professionals.
A great place to build a career
For many employees, Douglas starts providing career coaching before they’re even hired. When Hannah and her team see a great applicant, they’ll work together to find the position that fits them best, even if it’s not what they applied for.
And, once hired, every employee has support to map out a path for success.
“We facilitate the discussion on career growth,” says Hannah. “So we’ll ask, ‘What are your interests? What are your values? What are you looking for in your career?’ And then the supervisor will ask, “Are you in a spot that you can accomplish those things? Or should we start looking at what your next steps are?”
Eric Koenig, who’s moved from wiring machines on the shop floor to servicing machines as a traveling technician to, now, serving customers as a tech advisor, says, “There’s tons of hands-on training here. I mean, if you’re willing to learn, there’s somebody willing to teach you.”
With so much emphasis on growth, the company promotes mostly from within. Last year they promoted over 100 of their employee owners.
“There’s unlimited room for growth. If you have a strong suit or you’re interested in it, they’ll assist with schooling.”
Eric Koenig, Douglas
The icing on the cake: Living in vacation country
One of the best perks for Douglas employees is the location — right in the heart of Minnesota’s beloved lake country.
“Alexandria is a great place,” says Hannah, who moved there for the job. “It has the small-town feel, but has everything you need in one area. The family feel here is great. And then you have the beautiful lakes and a great downtown area. There’s not much to not love.”
Work that matters
Douglas puts a high emphasis on doing work that makes a difference—for their customers, their community, and their employees. If you’re looking for a fresh start in a job that’s designed to grow with you, check out the opportunities at Douglas. They’re currently hiring for over 100 positions.
“I would absolutely recommend working here,” says Brad.
“At Douglas Machine, you’re building equipment that’s impactful — not just locally, but globally,” says Nicole. “You’re really making a mark.”
“What’s the slogan for Alexandria? Easy to get to, hard to leave? Yeah, we definitely hit that.”
