How This Springfield Company Uses Pickleball for Teambuilding

It may sound odd for a company that manufactures alarms and security products to have its own on-site pickleball club.

In the case of Springfield-based DMP (Digital Monitoring Products), however, fun is literally integrated in the company. One of its core values, alongside ideals like Innovation and Initiative and Teamwork, is Fun. A sentence in the mission statement even reads, “We have fun.”

This commitment to fun manifests itself in the form of DMP’s pickleball club. In a multi-purpose space inside the manufacturing facility, the courts buzz with dink shots and volleys twice a week as employees from various departments come together to play.

“It’s not often you can smack your COO in the head with a ball and walk away with your job still intact,” says Alicia Jones, document control specialist. Beyond the humor, Jones highlights a significant benefit to company culture: “Playing pickleball here is a good way to interact with people in different departments or higher up in the company, who you may not even see during your normal work day. It opens up more comfortable communication with those co-workers off the court.”

Adam Jones shares this sentiment: “It breaks down barriers in a good way, allowing employees to be more comfortable approaching management, while still keeping the aspect of respect in place. Pickleball is definitely a boon to our Fun core value.”

Family-owned and operated since 1975, and with that Fun value for just as long, DMP’s dedication to fostering community extends far beyond pickleball. The company regularly hosts events incorporating physical activity, the great outdoors or volunteering. From golf and cornhole tournaments to guided fishing trips and “PowerPack” sessions, where employees pack non-perishable food for local students, employees have plenty of opportunities to engage and connect with one another.

With players of all skill levels encouraged to participate or simply cheer from the sidelines, the pickleball club cultivates inclusivity and camaraderie—a perfect extension of DMP’s core values. Tournaments include beginner brackets and employees have the opportunity to take free clinics and lessons, in partnership with Hexa Pickleball owners Roberto and Alessandra Camara. General Counsel Wade Early estimates over two-thirds of employees have attended at least one tournament, quipping that “The Andy’s custard, churros and prize drawings may play a small part” in their high attendance rate.

Events Manager Angela Hudson organizes the tournaments, including, yes, the treats and prizes, as well as clinics and coaching opportunities. When asked to define her role in the company, she replied, “I work closely with our CEO to create incredible experiences for our employees and customers.” Her statement wholly embodies the spirit of fun and teamwork they’re working to achieve.

While it’s certainly fun and brings people together, playing pickleball has another benefit: improved physical health. In turn, this leads to increased productivity and fewer sick days, underscoring DMP’s holistic approach to nurturing its vibrant company culture.

At DMP, the pickleball courts are more than just a place to play. They’re a symbol of a thriving, supportive, genuinely fun workplace with an ethos centering around collaboration and community engagement.