It’s finally that time of year again when little ghosts and ghouls roam the streets, but who says Halloween is only for kids? On Tuesday, October 31, Allegius Credit Union’s Valparaiso, Hobart, Michigan City, and Burns Harbor branches went head to head in an annual Halloween costume competition.
“Everyone has a great time: we let our staff get as creative with it as they want, we hold potlucks, we bring in treats, and our members can join in if they want. It’s just a fun day,” said John Figueroa, member development and marketing manager at Allegius’ Burns Harbor branch.
Walking into each branch, it was clear every employee poured their soul into the holiday. Every inch of the wall, and in some cases even the floor, was covered in decorations, turning the branches from typical offices into uniquely themed lands.
“I love that everyone dresses up and participates. As you get older, it sometimes feels like Halloween isn’t the same as when you were a kid, but getting to do a competition like this makes it fun again,” said Fernando Jimenez, lead teller at Allegius’ Hobart branch.
The Valparaiso branch set the bar high and created a rock n’ roll Halloween. All the employees dressed up as Kiss and Hershey’s Kisses.
“Last year we dressed up as Wizard of Oz and before we were even out of those costumes we were already working on what our theme for this year was going to be. This has been a year in the making,” said Kimberly Hall, member relations specialist at Allegius’ Valparaiso branch.
Hall has been with Allegius for over 18 years and loves how the event brings everyone together.
“It gets everyone involved. Whether it’s at this office or another office, we all love to spend time together and feel like we’re a part of a family,” said Hall.
The Michigan City staff decided to “creep” it real and wore matching cozy, cute Halloween shirts. It meant a lot to them to have a day to relax a bit and just have fun.
The Hobart team originally thought about doing Barbie-themed costumes but ended up deciding that they wanted to keep it more classic. After some voting, they went with the Addams Family, which couldn’t have been more fitting considering their close friendships with one another.
“We’re not just coworkers here—we’re a family. Getting to come to work every day, spend time with these guys, and feel comfortable is the best feeling. It doesn’t even feel like a job,” said Jimenez.
The Burns Harbor branch definitely took on the mentality of going big or gourd home. Because Burns Harbor is a bigger branch, each department chose its own theme to battle with the others. Between Beetlejuice, cops and inmates, and old ladies, the competition was fierce.
Ultimately, Allegius Credit Union’s annual Halloween costume contest was the perfect way to bring its staff together for a day of rest, childlike fun, and, most importantly, connection. Everyone can’t wait to see who the winner of this year’s competition will be and is grateful to be part of such a unique work culture.
“It means a lot to work for a company that allows its staff to do something like this. I’m very appreciative to get to work here,” said Figueroa.
Make sure to head on over to Allegius’ Facebook page and vote on your favorite costume! Each one was truly an eerie-sistible sight. You can visit the Facebook page at the link here.
To learn more about Allegius Credit Union and its spooky, close-knit team, visit www.allegius.org.
