Family is an important pillar in how Mediacom operates across its footprint and at its Mediacom Park HQ in New York’s Hudson Valley. It starts at the top with CEO Rocco Commisso, whose Italian roots fuel his prioritization of camaraderie and loyalty among the employees at Mediacom. That mutual trust among colleagues is how the company has established a culture to foster growth, which has led to a fulfilling workplace in multiple facets.
Location is key, and Mediacom Park provides plenty of resources for employees to get that fulfilling work experience. Stationed at the top of a hill that overlooks a 200-acre farm, mountains and valleys, Mediacom’s corporate office space is designed to invite employees to build bonds with one another and encourage professional development. At times, it even feels like sharing a meal at a family gathering.
“The Commissos really wanted a family culture. They’re Italian, big-family people that always had that [mentality of] it’s about loyalty, it’s about friendship, it’s about camaraderie,” says Tom Larsen, Mediacom’s SVP, Government and Public Relations. “They are very big on promoting from within and building people throughout the organization and giving them opportunities after they gain experience within the company.”
The foundation Mediacom set allows it to pivot based on what trends emerge and what desires employees have. Commisso took the company private in 2011, which enabled Mediacom to be free about how it looked at the consumer and its company because there weren’t any shareholder-related pressures. Larsen added the move allowed Mediacom to focus more on what was right for the consumer.
“I think we’ve instituted some things in terms of culture, in terms of products, in terms of new build that we’ve done, that we probably wouldn’t have otherwise undertaken had we just been concerned about the bottom line,” Larsen says.
With a home base and culture in place, Mediacom adds to their employees’ experience with amenities like an on-site gymnasium, bocce courts (and a competitive bocce league), a walking trail, food facility and more. The overall experience offered for those coming into the office has helped them retain employees as they gain more experience.
Throughout the year, Commisso’s wife, Catherine—Mediacom’s GVP, Administration—will also put her touch on things with various holiday parties and annual picnics. Mediacom also has an annual Breast Cancer Awareness Walk each year as well as events for the American Heart Association and community initiatives.
“Here, we all eat together. We all talk together. It’s a place to share ideas over the dinner table and really get to know your fellow co-workers and hear about their projects, hear about their challenges and share ideas,” Larsen says. “It’s a special atmosphere that doesn’t really exist, I think, in a lot of work cultures anymore.”