THE LONGABERGER COMPANY

"We are a fast-growing, family-oriented, fun company."
– Deward Watts, Vice President, MIS

• IBM AS/400s, RS/6000s •
• RPG III, Sybase, C •
• Retail • Medium-size shop •

The Longaberger Company makes hand-woven baskets that are sold through home parties. Longaberger is a privately held corporation. Founded in 1973, the company has more than 4,000 employees and is based in Dresden, Ohio.

Longaberger has won the "Take Pride in America" award and the 1992 Inc. magazine's "Socially Responsible Entrepreneur of the Year" award. Longaberger's commitment to the community includes building 20 classrooms and the largest stainless steel swimming pool in the world. The company also supports the developmentally disabled.

Technology

Longaberger's hardware environment includes IBM AS/400s and hundreds of IBM-compatible PCs on a Novell Netware network. Programming is in RPG III, using the AS/400 database management system and the OS/400 operating system. The AS/400s are integrated with RS/6000-based client-server technology using SYBASE, PowerBuilder, and C. The company employs more than 80 computer professionals. There are no job titles. Seventy percent of the work is new development. Staff members recently rewrote the order entry system on the AS/400 and developed a new Order Fulfillment and Shop Floor Data Collection system.

Culture

Computer professionals work in cubicles with IBM 486 PCs on their desks. The company enforces a strict no-smoking/no-drugs policy. Mandatory drug and nicotine testing are required as part of the employee application process.

Typical office hours are 8 AM to 5 PM. There is very little need for travel and overtime is rare. Longaberger offers the opportunity to join a very fast-growing company (40 percent compounded growth rate) in a superb rural American setting, employing state-of-the-art, leading-edge technology in the retail industry. The company expects to be incorporating virtual reality by the turn of the century.

Longaberger observes 10 holidays. The company offers two weeks of vacation after one year, three weeks after five years, and four weeks after ten years. The company also offers medical, disability, dental, and life insurance; tuition reimbursement; and a retirement plan.

Employees receive discounts on baskets and reduced rates at a fitness and swimming center. The company has its own health center, staffed with doctors and nurses, available to employees at no cost. Counseling services are also available. The company provides free vitamins to employees in the winter. Longaberger has never had a layoff.

Candidates

Longaberger looks for candidates with proven experience in designing, developing, and implementing complex systems. Candidates should enjoy taking a system from concept to reality. Candidates do not necessarily need to have experience in an IBM AS/400 or client-server environment. Computer professionals at Longaberger have an average of eight years of experience and an undergraduate degree.

Longaberger does hire entry-level computer professionals. Candidates should have Associate or Bachelor's degrees. Longaberger expects to hire 15 to 20 computer professionals a year. Candidates are generally found through employment agencies.

Contact

Please send a request for an application form. Unsolicited resumes are not encouraged.

Mr. Jim Miller, Director, Employee Development

(614) 754-6300

The Longaberger Company

95 N. Chestnut Street

Dresden, Ohio 43821-9600

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