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Though benefits like a free cell phone for every employee are nice, it’s the people and company culture that make U.S. Cellular Corp. a great place to work. says Laurie Haeder, a field marketing manager at the Urbandale office.

“It’s not just isolated to Des Moines,” said Haeder, who is responsible for the western half of Iowa. “We’ve got a very passionate group of people that work for the company throughout the country. All of it is due to our president, Jack Rooney, who shaped the culture when he came to the company 10 years ago. That vision has just become more ingrained in the company.”

The Chicago-based wireless telephone company provides service to more than 6 million customers nationwide, making it the nation’s sixth-largest wireless provider. In Greater Des Moines, U.S. Cellular employs about 150 people in sales and engineering positions, including about 60 who work at the office at 12020 Ridgemont Drive in Urbandale.

Every employee, whether part-time or full-time, is provided with a cell phone within 30 days of being hired. “It’s a benefit, but also a tool that we use to learn the ins and outs of the different phones that we sell,” Haeder said.

One of the most popular benefits is the tuition assistance program, which reimburses employees for 100 percent of their tuition costs to continue their education, she said.

U.S. Cellular also emphasizes training and development, Haeder said. “We give everyone an equal opportunity to move within the company,” she said. “We try whenever possible to promote from within, and there is a lot of opportunity both inside and outside of Iowa.”

Company values such as pride and empowerment are evident not only in the workplace but also through community projects that U.S. Cellular sponsors, among them the Calling All Communities and Calling All Teachers programs.

For the past two years, the company has provided $100,000 each to 10 schools across the country through the Calling All Communities program, based on votes cast by community members for their favorite public or private school. Each year, one Iowa school has been a winner, “which is something we’re also very proud of,” Haeder said.

Through the Calling All Teachers program, teachers can visit www.donorschoose.org to apply for funding for various projects. The program has awarded more than $75,000 for 130 projects in Iowa alone.

Additionally, U.S. Cellular has assisted charitable organizations in Iowa, among them Children and Families of Iowa, by providing free cellular phones and service, Haeder said.