On March 22, 2021, AGM Container Controls Inc. (AGM) CEO Howard Stewart was the featured member on the Arizona Technology Council’s podcast TechFocus. Listen to the podcast episode now.
Howard spoke about AGM’s history, product lines, industries served, future goals, keeping employees safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some of the things he credits for his company’s continued success over its 51-year history: AGM’s college tuition reimbursement program and AGM’s dual retirement plans.
AGM operates a robust college tuition reimbursement program for its employees. The value of such a program, Howard says, is easily seen in the company’s many successes.
“As employees start taking classes in math, English, technology and engineering, and sciences, they become more capable,” said Howard. “The employees that avail themselves of this tuition reimbursement program suddenly deliver better presentations, think more clearly and critically, they learn advanced computer skills. Personally, I think there’s a lot of value in it and I’ve seen the gains filter through my company.”
Another facet of AGM’s success, says Howard, are the two retirement plans that the company employs: An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and a Defined Benefit Pension plan. According to Howard, each plan fulfills different objectives.
“[The] ESOP allows AGM employees to become employee owners and have a personal stake in the success of the company, while helping them learn to think and act like owners. The pension plan is backed by the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation so it operates as a safety net in the event that something was to happen to the company. Together, both of these plans help bolster employee retention, while also helping AGM to realize strong, consistent growth through the efforts of its employee owners.”
To learn more about AGM and Howard Stewart, visit the company website at agmcontainer.com.
