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Employees say thanks QA Cafe owner surprised with party, dream boat [Foster's Daily Democrat, Dover, N.H.](Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, NH) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) June 17--PORTSMOUTH -- The owner of a small software company that treats its employees in a big way received a surprise gift from them for the firm's 10th anniversary. Joe McEachern, owner of QA Cafe, walked into Clay Hill Farm in Cape Neddick for dinner with his wife Friday night, June 1, to discover a crowd of employees, friends and family members. The surprise celebratory meal was topped off by the gift of a kayak employees had hidden on the side of the party room's deck for McEachern. The 14-foot blue Necky Manitou was purchased with their own money, a testament to how they feel about their workplace and their boss. Zach Chadwick is a software developer who's been with the company the longest, nine years. It has grown from just Chadwick and McEachern to a total of 11 employees now. Chadwick said McEachern has "kept the business small, flexible and a great place to work." For QA Cafe's fifth anniversary the business celebrated with a river cruise. This time, employees started planning in December to do something special for McEachern and wanted it to be a surprise. McEachern's wife Deirdre told him they were going to a birthday party for one of her friends. He indeed was surprised to find 46 employees, family and friends there when the McEacherns walked in. All were on hand to say thanks to him and celebrate the firm's success. Office Manager Malisa Yakes said QA Cafe is just a special place to work with flexible scheduling, allowances for family time, and lots of other bonuses. "Joe's always going above and beyond for us and planning special things," said Yakes. In short, he's the kind of boss "that's hard to come by," she said. After dinner, while employees got up and gave speeches the kayak was brought in from its hiding place and presented to McEachern. He was delighted, as he's wanted his own kayak for some time. He took it out on the water last weekend near their home in Kittery. A graduate of Traip Academy and the University of New Hampshire, McEachern started QA Cafe after working for Silicon Valley and Boston-area start-ups. He set out to create a firm that treats employees as he always wanted to be treated. QA Cafe often hires people with connections to the UNH InterOperability Lab. It pays them well, offers a health plan with vision and dental, a matching 401(k), life insurance and four weeks paid vacation, said Deirdre McEachern. "This is pretty rare in a small 11-person tech company," she said. Her husband said the night was especially heart-warming when employees got up and recounted stories about how they came to work for him and about the firm. He's been fortunate, he said, to be able to attract really good people. "I wanted to have an environment that I'd like to work in ... flexibility, responsibility for their own work and work quality. We depend on people being self-motivated and respectful of what others are doing," he said. "When it all comes together it's really great." For more information go to www.qacafe.com. ___ (c)2012 the Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) Visit the Foster's Daily Democrat (Dover, N.H.) at www.fosters.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |