With decades of experience helping organizations navigate the human side of work, Employee Assistance Network (EAN) has become a trusted partner for employers across Western North Carolina. Built to support both employees and leadership, EAN provides high-quality Employee Assistance Programs that help workplaces manage stress, behavioral health challenges and critical moments with care and confidence. Dawn Marie shares the story behind EAN’s mission and how community care (and a therapy dog named Lulu) are at the heart of it all.
Read on for our Q&A with President and COO Dawn Marie Klug….
Tell us about your business and the role you play in it.
EAN has more than 30 years of experience helping employers and employees manage the human stressors that impact the workplace and cause disruption to work environments. Through our high quality Employee Assistance Programs we offer the regional must have employee benefit to help attract and retain the highest quality employees. Dawn Marie Klug is the owner, President and COO at Employee Assistance Network and has 25+ years working as a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Employee Assistance Professional. She has assisted Human Resources Professionals, Business Owners and Executive Directors manage the landmines of employee behavioral health issues in the workplace, navigate critical incidents and traumatic events and build strong foundational leadership skills to create dynamic, thriving workplace culture.
Our goal is to be partners in productivity by helping employees and management maintain healthy, thriving, and productive workplaces.
Where did your vision begin? How has it grown?
Employee Assistance Network is rooted in Asheville and Western North Carolina, originating out of the community’s need to provide mental health support to local employers and their employees and family members. Employee Assistance Network started almost 40 years ago as a joint effort of community mental health centers in Western North Carolina to help local employers manage behavioral health issues in the workplace. Through mental health reform EAN became a private company under the ownership of John Howard, who mentored Dawn Marie Klug to take ownership in 2020. Employee Assistance Network has been an integral part of the community, providing support and care for our region’s largest and smallest employers throughout the years.
What has been your greatest challenge? Your greatest victory?
Employee Assistance Network has remained a strong force in the culture of Asheville and surrounding regions and has thrived through changes in local economy. We are the support behind many employers and help support others during pandemics, hurricanes and all of life’s challenges.
What is a little-known fact about your organization?
Employee Assistance Network touches the lives of most employers in Asheville and has been the support to help employers and employees thrive for over 3 decades.
If you had to give one piece of advice to someone just starting out in your field, what would it be?
Always remember that we are here to serve others, often in the most challenging times of their lives. And there is no greater honor than supporting others during the most challenging times of their lives.
What does the word “community” mean to you?
Everything. At EAN, we work with so many employers of all different types, from healthcare, manufacturing, government, tourism, education and non-profits. The great pride we take when working with one of our client companies and know that we help support them in the work that they do, means everything to our staff.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your business?
We have the most amazing little therapy dog named Lulu. She greets everyone who arrives in our office with a wagging tail and welcoming snaggel toothed grin. She sits patiently with people during their hardest moments and brings a smile to our staff and clients on a daily basis.