Habitat staff celebrate their 2026 Best Places to Work win at their administrative office.
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties was recently named one of the 2026 Best Places to Work in Southwest Florida! This regional survey and awards program is a Gulfshore Business and Best Companies Group project designed to identify, recognize, and honor the best places of employment in Southwest Florida, benefiting the region’s economy, workforce, and businesses.
Our staff and Board of Directors are honored to achieve this outstanding accomplishment! At Habitat, our mission is to bring people together to build homes, communities, and hope, and it’s a mission our employees live out every day.
“What makes Habitat a great place to work is our strong commitment to our core values: integrity, teamwork and staying mission-focused,” says Chief Operating Officer Karen Rodriguez. “That impact is only possible because of the dedication and heart of our staff.”
Employees are consistently reminded of these values through a weekly internal newsletter from our Chief Executive Officer, and team members who exemplify these values are recognized throughout the year. Staff also participate in peer-to-peer recognition and honor each other through written submissions for annual core value awards, reinforcing a culture where people feel seen and appreciated.
The result is a workplace that feels less like a job and more like a shared calling. “We have built a culture where we treat each other, our stakeholders, our donors, our volunteers, our customers and the families we serve with respect and kindness,” Karen added. “We support each other like family and work together toward a shared purpose.”
Companies across the region participated in a two-part survey process to determine the Best Places to Work in Southwest Florida. The first part evaluated each nominated company’s policies, practices, benefits and demographics, accounting for 25% of the total evaluation.
The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience with an in-depth set of 77 statements that employees responded to, along with two open-ended and eight demographic questions. This survey makes up the other 75% of the overall score.
The combined scores determined the top companies and the final rankings. Best Companies Group managed the registration and survey process, analyzed the data, and used their expertise to determine the final rankings.
Habitat for Humanity of Lee and Hendry Counties will be recognized in the June edition of Gulfshore Business magazine, where the rankings will be revealed for the first time, along with profiles of each winning company.
Here at Habitat, the goal for every employee is simple and meaningful: do what you love, with people you love, while finding personal purpose within the mission. As Karen put it, “every person has the opportunity to learn, grow and feel the true satisfaction of making a difference.”
