From selective hiring with an eye toward teammates who value collaboration to regular team-building events and a culture of appreciation, according to surveyed employees, the Meridian Laboratory meets high standards by putting people first.
Think raw quotas and hovering bosses are the ticket to making widgets better and faster? Think again. Meridian Laboratory takes a totally different approach to get a leg up on competition.
From selective hiring with an eye toward teammates who value collaboration to regular team-building events and a culture of appreciation, according to surveyed employees, the Top Workplace meets high standards by putting people first.
“When I came in it was obvious that people are really the priority here,” says Nicole Biba, HR and purchasing coordinator, who joined the company in 2024. “There’s definitely an understanding that great people help make great products, so I feel like the entire vibe at Meridian is really people-focused and human-first.”
In addition to celebrating birthdays and anniversaries with gift cards, and a holiday party at the end of the year, Meridian Laboratory hosts all-company events almost monthly, Biba says.
“It’s great to be at a company that not only values its people but really walks the walk.”
The company has grown from fewer than 10 employees in 2013 to more than 40 today, but a company culture that prizes idea-sharing over hierarchical top-down management remains. Brian Morstad, vice president of operations, has been with the manufacturer, which makes electrical and mechanical components for automated machinery, throughout that growth.
“We are a very collaborative company,” Morstad says. “Everyone has a seat at the table. We are willing to be vulnerable. We design things, so we always have to throw out ideas, and people are willing to be vulnerable and throw ideas out there.”
Whatever an employee’s title, the individual and their ideas — whether the latter is put into practice or not — are respected, Morstad and others at the company say. Meridian Laboratory won the special award for “Clued In Senior Management,” reflecting a culture where employees strongly agree with the statement: “Senior managers understand what is really happening at this company.”
That’s certainly been Kristian Lopez’s experience. Lopez, a polyurethane production lead, has been at Meridian Laboratory for over six years. In all of that time, he says that he has always felt listened to by management and fellow employees.
“It’s a great environment. The people there are awesome,” Lopez says. “It’s very friendly, and people are always willing to help others and open to teach you whatever you want to learn here.”
At a glance
Meridian Laboratory: High-quality manufacturer of precision molded polyurethane components and high performance rotating electrical connectors (slip rings).
Founded: 1963
Special award: Clued in Senior Management
Madison-area locations: 1
“Everyone has a seat at the table. We are willing to be vulnerable. We design things, so we always have to throw out ideas, and people are willing to be vulnerable and throw ideas out there.”
From selective hiring with an eye toward teammates who value collaboration to regular team-building events and a culture of appreciation, according to surveyed employees, the Meridian Laboratory meets high standards by putting people first.
