Nominator Haley Lasseter (pictured on front row in grey shirt) is proud of the local philanthropic work supported by company owners Paul Friedman, Jr. and Mark Friedman (back row, second and third from left) and the City Paper team.
Top Executives
Paul Friedman, Jr., CEO/President and Mark Friedman, COO (joint owners)
Type of Company
Distributor
Location
Headquarters in Birmingham, Alabama; additional office in Atlanta, Georgia, and reps in Texas, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Tennessee
Website
www.citypapercompany.com
Year Founded
1897
Total Employees
38
Company Motto
“A Customer Should Last Forever”
Perks
Vacation and sick leave package
Quarterly employee awards with bonus opportunities
Free and discounted promotional items
Casual dress code
Healthcare benefits
Matching 401 (k)
A fun, casual atmosphere that welcomes creativity
WHAT EMPLOYEES SAY ABOUT CITY PAPER: “I love working at City Paper Company because of the people,” says nominator Haley Lasseter, who has been at the company for two years. “Every day feels like a gathering of close friends and family who happen to work side by side. There is a great feeling of camaraderie among employees that is not limited by departments or titles. This is truly the first place I have worked in my career where we have fun virtually every day even when the stress levels are up, the deadlines are looming and the phones won’t stop ringing. In fact, I would say that is when we have the most fun.”
City Paper Company first opened its doors in 1897 and is now run by the fourth generation of the Friedman family. “Our history makes us one of the oldest companies in Birmingham and in the state of Alabama,” Lasseter says proudly. “Over the years, our owners have sustained the business through world wars, the Great Depression and a number of recessions, and through it all, the company pushed the envelope to survive. [Last year] was one of our best years ever in our 119-year existence.”
What truly makes City Paper different from other companies is the amazing team of people that walk its halls every day, she adds. “The commitment, enthusiasm and desire to succeed together as a team, the creativity and ideas we share and the laughter that flows throughout our halls all translate to our customers. As a result, they experience a genuinely warm and responsive City Paper team. Plus, how many people have live music and a dancing Santa Claus with elves (our warehouse guys) at their holiday party?”
HOW IT DIFFERENTIATES ITSELF AS AN EMPLOYER: Lasseter says her team loves to win. “And we love to watch each other win. That truly is my favorite part of City Paper and our culture. We share wins on a mobile app called GroupMe, where we post new logos and welcome customers to the City Paper family. Ideas are constantly exchanged through this app as well. It generates healthy competition, along with a great support system.
Lasseter also credits the company’s generosity in its community as another reason she nominated it for PPB recognition. “A few years ago, at the request of many employees, the company created City Paper Supports, a philanthropic division that raises money, awareness and donates time, clothing, food and support to those in our community, our state, our nation and our world,” she says. “Homelessness, specifically women and children who are homeless, is a cause that I truly believe in supporting,” she explains. “I voiced this to our CP Supports team and this past December, shortly after Christmas, our entire team packed up boxes and boxes of food, toiletries, clothing and toys and brought them to Jessie’s Place women and children’s shelter, where we also served meals.” She says it was a good feeling for employees to be able to share their successes and blessings, plus a number of promotional products and apparel samples, with those who needed help. In the past few years, they have supported organizations and causes like Child Aid Africa, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, Jimmie Hale Mission Homeless Shelter for Men, Jessie’s Place, the YWCA of Birmingham, United Way, YouthServe of Birmingham, The Lupus Foundation. “Soon we’ll be doing our very first Habitat for Humanity [project]. Our executive team believes that more we grow, the greater our responsibility becomes to share our successes with those who need it most.”
THE EXTRAS THAT COUNT
The City Paper Celebration Committee showers employees with City Paper promo items, lunches, birthday cakes, baby showers and celebrations to mark anniversaries and other milestones. The company also regularly recognizes employees who go above and beyond each quarter with the City Paper Employee of the Quarter award. “This further contributes to the supportive feeling that circulates throughout our company,” says Lasseter. From chili cook-offs to breast cancer awareness walks, the team just genuinely enjoys being together, she says, adding that everyone in the company, plus customers and vendors, are all considered a part of the City Paper family. “Many of them have been with us for decades, which is in itself a testament to our organization.”
