Counselor Top 40 distributor The Vernon Company (asi/351700) has made some key upgrades to its digs – and executives say the effort is centered on bringing employees together and fostering collaboration.

The Newton, IA-headquartered company announced this week the completion of the Vernon Commons, a project that transformed an out-of-date administrative area for the former Vernon Graphics into a newly designed 3,500-square-foot contemporary workspace.

Vernon Commons, a new contemporary workspace at the headquarters of Counselor Top 40 distributor The Vernon Company (asi/351700)

“We are extremely pleased with the project’s final results,” said Chris Vernon, president/CEO of The Vernon Company and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of the promotional products industry’s most influential people. “The feedback from our employees has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate the bright, modern design, enhanced natural lighting, vibrant colors and overall uplifting atmosphere. Additionally, the new Vernon Café has quickly become a favorite spot for employees to enjoy.”

Vernon Commons features modular tables and seating systems that can be reconfigured to different setups, enabling both large and small employee gatherings, client meetings and special events. Vernon Commons can host up to 120 people, “significantly improving efficiency and engagement,” the firm said.

“In a post-pandemic era,” The Vernon Company said in a statement, “where people were separated for health and safety reasons, this space promises to bring the Vernon team together to create a sense of unity and company pride.”

Founded in 1902, Vernon serves more than 50,000 customers nationwide. The company ranked 28th on Counselor’s most recent list of the largest distributors in the industry based on reported 2023 North American promotional product revenue of $81.3 million.