This year, The Vermont Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports presents the Vermont Business Wellness Leadership Award to Michael Nobles, President and CEO of Union Mutual Insurance Company. The Business Wellness Leadership award, traditionally presented at the Worksite Wellness Awards ceremony, recognizes one Vermont employer who demonstrates exemplary efforts to promote a healthy work-life balance for their employees. Nobles’ strong leadership and generous service to the community make him a role model in sustaining a culture of wellbeing.
Nobles is involved the Union Mutual Wellness and Charitable Giving program, which stands upon the values of employee appreciation and community giving. Nobles’ accomplishments include leading the 2020 Penguin Plunge fundraising campaign, guiding his team into the icy waters of Lake Champlain and individually raising over $22,000 for Special Olympics Vermont, as part of a larger team fundraising record of over $130,000. Michael has a lifelong connection to Special Olympics and both sponsors and volunteers with Special Olympics Vermont Summer Games.
Nobles instills a culture of wellbeing by taking time each workday to focus on health and wellness. He plays basketball with employees in the office parking lot and runs alongside employees in the office gym. Once a week, Nobles brings in a certified Pilates instructor to lead a class, free to all employees. Anna Grearson, Union Mutual Director of Communications & Community Relations, says “These interactions with employees not only set a tone of acceptance and support for worksite wellness activities, it also creates a lasting personal touchpoint between the employees and the CEO.”
“Showing Union Mutual’s employees it’s OK to take a wellness break and further invest in their wellbeing as a whole is part of leading from the top,” says Nobles, “I can’t be my best self without wellness, and I don’t expect it to be any different for our employees.”
Nobles’ generosity extends to both his business and the greater Vermont community. Not only did Nobles install bike racks for his employees to safely store their bikes, but he also did the same for students at nearby Montpelier High School, in 2019.
Michael Nobles is an excellent example of how Vermont employers can take initiative within the workplace to better the lives of their employees by encouraging worksite wellness activities. While the annual Worksite Wellness Awards ceremony will not take place this year due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Nobles’ achievements do not go unnoticed. Nobles will be mailed his award and will receive $100 from the Governor’s Council to give to the charity of his choice, Special Olympics Vermont.
