Herschend Enterprises Honored with goBeyondProfit 2022 Champion Award

Nation’s largest privately-held themed attractions company puts love in action – from care for employees and guests to supporting communities.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--goBeyondProfit, a first-of-its-kind business leader initiative that highlights corporate generosity, today announced it has honored Georgia-based Herschend Enterprises as a winner of the goBeyondProfit champion award for 2022.

Herschend Enterprises, a 70-year-old entertainment business and its CEO Andrew Wexler, were nominated and selected for this award by fellow Georgia business leaders because of their exemplary generous work to improve the lives of others.

Past award winners include Gas South, Creature Comforts Brewing, H.J. Russell & Company, Aflac, W&A Engineering and Cox Enterprises.

Herschend Enterprises, which own venues and organizations such as Silver Dollar City®, Dollywood Parks and Resorts® and the Harlem Globetrotters®, was nominated for its business and community focus called “Leading with Love” – a core principle for decision-making in good times and bad.

Herschend cares for its employees with their new Herschend GROW U. program which provides all U.S. based employees with 100% free tuition, including books, fees and supplies for more than 100 degree, diploma and certification programs – starting day one of employment.

During the pandemic, the company also maintained health insurance for all furloughed employees – despite no revenue earned.

“Love is demonstrated in what you do for others and there may be no better business example of love in action than Herschend Enterprises and its CEO, Andrew Wexler,” said Megan McCamey, President of goBeyondProfit. “At goBeyondProfit, we are eager to raise up exceptional companies that show this generosity mindset that not only prioritizes community needs but is central to guiding business decisions inside the company.”

In an interview, CEO Wexler offers constructive insights for other Georgia business leaders on how to show love for others – including employees. For example, Wexler discussed how to make core business values consistent across an organization through defined language, clear expectations and a purposeful structure that ensures all 11,000+ employees understand and can align around the values.

“Our team really believes in leading with love and they act on it,” Wexler said. “This idea of love in action -- treating people with respect, dignity, taking care of each other-- that’s how we take this timeless concept of love and operationalize it in our day-to-day business,” Wexler said.

The story of Herschend Enterprises begins in 1950 with the leasing of a single cave that launched an entertainment business that’s now known as the country’s largest privately-held themed attractions corporation. Each of the 26 business units across the US and British Columbia that make up Herschend Enterprises today, embody the company’s foundational values that positively impact the 11,000+ employees, and define the experience of their guests and broader communities.

goBeyondProfit is a statewide alliance launched by business leaders for business leaders to spur corporate generosity and improve people’s lives. To submit a nomination for future goBeyondProfit Champions, visit the goBeyondProfit website and nomination form.