CDW goes to market

Like other businesses, computer giant CDW is exploring ways to keep its workforce healthy.

But what the company has in store this summer is new territory — its own private farmers market for employees.

“They seem to be taking it to a higher level,” said Mike Atkinson, Vernon Hills' building commissioner, noting the company will bring in vendors to offer fruits and vegetables to promote healthy eating.

There will be no outdoor signs or advertising and the food stalls won't be visible from adjoining roads because this bounty won't be open to the general public.

On Tuesday, village officials gave the go-ahead for the company to operate an outdoor farmers market from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays, from June 16 to Oct. 20 on its property at 200 N. Milwaukee Avenue.

Business owners in Vernon Hills need village board approval to operate an outdoor establishment. CDW made its pitch on May 17 but was asked to clarify some details, including what it would do if inundated by local residents.

Kelly Caraher, a CDW spokeswoman, said the market will be available to about 2,200 CDW workers at its Vernon Hills headquarters and sales facility in nearby Mettawa.

“We do think it's important to make that investment in our employees. It's new ground for us,” she said

In a letter to the village, Dennis Berger, senior vice president of co-worker services, explained why it had to be kept in house.

“Considering our core business is in technology and technology services and that this is our first attempt at this approach, we are not in a position to offer this to the general public,” he said.

There also was “too much liability risk” to invite the public onto its property, he added.

Market vendors will ask to see CDW badges before each purchase. If more than 10 percent of the customers are members of the general public, the company will post a security guard at the entrance to limit access.

The program is part of an integrated health wellness initiative to encourage better eating practices. The company said it discovered during health screenings last fall there was room for improvement.

“We've done a lot of things on the physical wellness front,” according to Eric Martinek, a senior benefits specialist. “Even though we're a young company, we have a lot of areas of opportunity — high body mass, high cholesterol, high blood pressure.”

The company said it encourages workers to take more accountability for individual health and use the tools CDW provides to take the next step.

The board approved the measure 3 to 1, with Trustee Jim Schultz dissenting.

“We've had a lot of interest expressed by the community for a farmers market. We just couldn't get it off the ground ourselves,” he said Wednesday.

“If they were going to do something, I was hoping they would open it up to the community.”