Tropical Recognition for EXCELLENT Employees

LPi • April 27, 2023
A large group of people are posing for a picture together.

183 LPi guests made their way to the Henderson Beach Resort in Destin, Florida in April of 2023 to celebrate outstanding accomplishments made by the sales team.


73 employees were recognized for their work at the annual “Circle of Excellence” trip. The location varies annually, this year the guests were greeted by Florida’s turquoise waters full of dolphins as they met, shared, and relaxed on sunny shores.


Organizer Jon Becker, Area Sales Director for LPi, shared that the Circle of Excellence trip is an opportunity to recognize salespeople who have successfully earned qualifying criteria. Becker says that the criteria and goals vary by department. While all the goals pose a level of challenge, they are also intentionally planned to be attainable with some effort.


Says Becker, “And we don’t cap attendance — anybody can earn the trip based off the criteria! We want as many as we can!”

A group of people in suits and ties are posing for a picture.

To further encourage newcomers, first-year sales people are provided with a separate, simpler set of criteria. Becker shared that a modified version makes the Circle of Excellence more attainable, and the salesperson can then interact and be encouraged by more seasoned employees.


Besides the warm weather and beach, Matt Inkmann, Senior Director for Ad Sales, relates that a highlight of the Circle of Excellence is the Awards Banquet, a formal event where each salesperson is recognized. LPi CEO, Joe Luedtke, takes the time to announce each earner, who is greeted with support and applause. 


“I took a brief pause during our awards banquet to look around the room and take in the scene,” said Inkmann, “in that moment I saw a room full of Circle of Excellence winners not focused on receiving their own award but genuinely thrilled and cheering for all their colleagues that were being recognized. That is the spirit of this team and the Circle of Excellence experience.”

A man is standing at a podium holding a microphone.

And for nex year? The team is already excited for the next location — in Cancun, Mexico!


It sounds like there may be more than 73 attendees at that location, according to Becker, “After just one quarter in 2023, we are trending higher for COE attendees then we were last year at this point!”


The future of sales is bright, just like the Mexican sun!


Interested in learning more about sales opportunities and how you can land a spot at next year’s Circle of Excellence? We’re expanding our team! Learn more here: https://www.4lpi.com/careers


Updated on 03-18-2024

Share

You might also like

LPi Blog

Photo of words in the Bible,
By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman June 26, 2025
At first, the Apostles try to dodge the question. When Jesus confronts them — and make no mistake, it is a confrontation — with the question “Who do you say that I am?” they act like a man whose wife has just asked him if she looks fat in these jeans. The evasiveness of their answer puts politicians to shame: “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Some say. But Jesus doesn’t let them off easy. He repeats himself. He wants an answer. “Who do you say that I am?” They all know the answer. They all believe the answer. And they all know the answer could get them thrown in prison or killed. Only Peter is brave enough to say it: “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” People have a lot of opinions about God. They always have. They have a lot of opinions about Jesus and the Bible, about the Catholic Church and the Pope. Some of these opinions are well-founded, well-researched. Some of them are based in ignorance. Many are born of painful misunderstandings. But they are all just that: opinions. Some say. We know who Jesus is. We know who the Eucharist is. We know what the truth is. Amid the chaos and the violence and the excruciating loudness of this fallen world and all the words it shouts into the void about God and Jesus and right and wrong, we know . But will we answer? ©LPi
A collage of images from WeCreate
June 25, 2025
This guide highlights how WeCreate can support some of the most common parish ministries found in churches across the country.
A stained glass window shows Jesus feeding the 500.
By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman June 19, 2025
It isn’t uncommon for me to get to the noon hour only to realize that I haven’t yet eaten anything that day.
More Posts