By BETH CHAPMAN / Community Columnist

What has 12,000 part-time employees, 33 full-time employees, has operated in more than 500 venues, works with top name celebrities, served 50 million patrons at more than 3,000 thousand events and offers a full physical fitness program besides the U.S. Military?

Shelby County’s Event Operations Group owned and operated by Helena’s own Mike Jones.

Since starting his business only five years ago, Jones’ company has been one of Shelby County’s most award-winning businesses. He has been named to the Top 40 Under 40, received the Rising Star Award and the Fastest Growing Company Award by the Birmingham Business Journal. His most recent award is the Birmingham Healthiest Employer Award.

When moving into the new location in Oak Mountain Business Park in February of this year, Jones had a full service gym set up at his corporate headquarters. He felt it was a good investment in the health and lives of his employees.

Jones said workplace wellness is important for multiple reasons. “A healthy employee is a happy employee – a good, solid employee. They have a consistent record of service, and they save themselves and our company much needed funds that would otherwise go toward high-rising health insurance costs,” Jones said. Jones said it also adds fun and affords his employees a way to relieve stress brought on by everyday life both in and out of the office.

Birmingham Business Journal teams up with Healthiest Employers, Inc. to recognize healthy employers and to award them for their efforts. Winners will be featured in the Birmingham Business Journal Nov. 11, after a luncheon being held in their honor on Nov. 10.

Event Operation Group joins an impressive group of healthy businesses: Adam and Reese, LLP, Alabama Power Company, Baptist Health System, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, Burr and Forman, LLP, City of Birmingham, El Paso Corp., EMC Insurance, Hinton Financial Consultants, Homewood City School System, IMS, O’Neal Steel, Inc., Protective Life Corp., Robins and Morton, Simply Fashion Stores, Ltd. and the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Mike Jones has created not just a business, but also a healthy business and one that has a proven track record of award-winning success.

For more information about Event Operations Group visit eventoperationsgroup.com.

Beth Chapman, Alabama’s secretary of state, is a Shelby County resident and writes a weekly column for the Shelby County Reporter. You can reach her at bethchapman@bellsouth.net.