Training with Segway puts workers in another world

TINA MARKOE KINSLOW/Courier-Post Leaf Financial employees (from left) Laura Conway and Stephanie Lorusso of Philadelphia, Traycee Mayfield of Lindenwold and Jim Stott of Philadelphia roll around on Segways as part of a team-building exercise. ON THE WEB I Glide Tours and Rentals: www.iglidetours.com Team Builders Plus: www.teambuildersplus.com

John Ercolino whizzed around the parking lot of Burlington County College on a Segway® PT, leaving the thought of work behind him. Ercolino traded his day in the accounting department of Leaf Financial Corp. in Philadelphia for a day of play at the college's Enterprise Center.

Just finishing an obstacle course while riding a Segway, the 53-year-old Marlton resident wasn't playing hooky. Instead, the Leaf Financial Corp. staff was competing with him in a team-building exercise, promoting cooperation and boosting morale among his co-workers.

Like Leaf, local companies are using different techniques during training exercises, getting away from the boring seminars and same-old "get to know you" games.

"We're always looking for fun ways to build skills," said Ken Blackwell, the staff's instructor for the day. Blackwell, a trainer with Cherry Hill-based Team Builders Plus, used the Segways in his exercises to give the employees a unique experience outside of the office.

But the Segways, at about $3,500 to $5,000 a pop, don't come cheap. Team Builders partnered with I Glide Tours and Rentals, which provided the Segways, and the training needed to operate them.

"You see people's personalities come out, their human side," Blackwell said. "It's a little challenging to operate (a Segway) at first, but if there's no challenge, there's no fun."

Lew Robbins, I Glide's CEO, saw branching out into corporate events as another opportunity for the company that gives tours around the Art Museum area in Philadelphia.

"We knew we could apply this to the workplace," Robbins said of his one-year-old company based out of Bensalem, Pa. "This was a perfect fit."

As teams play games such as "Two Truths and a Lie," and "Simon Segway," they're getting to know each other, outside of the daily office routine.

That's just fine with Mickleton resident Janine Lewandowski, who works in Leaf's collections department. "It's nice to be outside," said Lewandowski, 39. "It's a good stress reliever."

For Blackwell, who has trained groups with Team Builders Plus for 15 years, keeping his clients engaged is the focus of his work.

"Most groups have done everything -- this is fresh."

Reach Katie Grasso at (856) 486-2478 or kgrasso@courierpostonline.com