NEW YORK, March 13, 2023 – Paramount Group, the owner, operator and manager of Class A office properties, has a unique perspective on the importance of a close-knit workplace.
“We are firm believers that people accomplish the most when they come together to support a cause, solve a problem, or advance an initiative,” said Wilbur Paes, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, Paramount Group.
So, it’s no surprise that Paramount is a long-time participant at the J.P.Morgan Corporate Challenge in New York’s Central Park.
“We have been participating in the Corporate Challenge for years because the event directly aligns with our longstanding commitment to promote teambuilding and wellness inside and outside the workplace,” Paes said. “The shared experience of running in this event and celebrating with your colleagues afterwards is energizing and memorable.”
And Paramount will be at the Corporate Challenge starting line again when the event enjoys its 44th edition in Central Park on Wednesday, May 31 and Thursday, June 1, 2023, with 6:45 p.m. starting horns each night for the 3.5-mile team road race.
Registration is open now and eligible employees may secure their spots on their company teams through April 25. The entry fee is $59 per person, and each entrant must join a company team, with a minimum of four entrants per team. Hospitality reservations are now also being accepted with a variety of options.
The hospitality setting in Central Park creates the opportunity for a unique company outing that many, including Paramount, find has high intangible value.
“We are proponents of any event, gathering or corporate function that brings a workforce together to interact in ways that drive meaningful ideation, productivity, teamwork, and bonding,” said Paes. “This type of engagement is necessary to foster a healthy corporate culture, cultivate career growth and build a community of people who are aligned around the same goals. This philosophy is fundamental to our business, and it is the reason we are all back in the office working together.”
That togetherness was missing in 2020-21 when the Corporate Challenge took a sensible break for COVID-19. But it made a triumphant return on June 1-2, 2022 when a combined 20,148 entrants from 502 companies competed over the two nights.
Among the proud participating companies on the second of those two evenings was Aon, a multinational financial services firm that also brought large teams to Corporate Challenge Series events in Chicago and London in 2022.
“Aon takes pride in its annual participation in the Corporate Challenge,” said Erik Bagin, Aon’s New York team captain. “Wellness is a core focus for the firm. Our colleagues from our five solution lines in the Greater New York region look forward to this event to prioritize their physical fitness and foster new personal relationships.
“Events like the Corporate Challenge create a sense of energy, community, and camaraderie for our colleagues,” Bagin continued. “It provides a great balance to remote working and allows our colleagues to participate in purpose-driven events that matter most to them.”
Aon also took great pride that it had a place of prominence in the New York team results. Last year, it had four runners among the top 100 finishers by gender, and one of the fastest Mixed teams over the two nights.
“We are proud of our Mixed Team’s finish in last year’s race and are promoting that internally to encourage greater participation,” Bagin said. “Our goal every year to grow our team and share the incredible Corporate Challenge experience with more Aon colleagues.”
And though all companies are rightly proud of their fit runners, you don’t have to be quick to participate in the J.P.Morgan Corporate Challenge. It is a truly all-inclusive event – open to racers, joggers, walkers and all athletes with disabilities. It is a formula that has been attractive to businesses like Paramount Group and Aon since the Corporate Challenge’s 1977 debut in Central Park.
