By Bo Wulf The Business Journal

HIGH POINT — The close-knit, family atmosphere at Advanced Laser & Electrolysis is unique not only in its camaraderie but in its makeup.

“Everybody gets along very well, which is not always the case when you get a group of women together,” says Trudy Brown, founder and president. “Sometimes I tell the girls they love each other too much.” Advanced Laser is a medical spa, meaning it operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional. Employees at the medi-spa for skin care and hair removal with locations in Greensboro and High Point are afforded a bevy of notable perks.

I just have always tried to treat people the way I’d like to be treated,” says Brown, who started the company by herself in 1974. “It’s worked really well because our employees stay with us a long time. There’s not a lot of turnover.

Among them are higher-than-industryaverage pay, generous Christmas bonuses, birthdays off with pay, free procedures on many of the services offered by the company, discounted procedures for family members and discounts on products sold at the medi-spa. The company also pays for continuing education and licensing fees.

“I just have always tried to treat people the way I’d like to be treated,” says Brown, who started the company by herself in 1974. “It’s worked really well because our employees stay with us a long time. There’s not a lot of turnover.”

Beyond the benefits and the workplace culture, there is another important reason that Advanced Laser & Electrolysis scored a 99.06 on the surveys filled out by employees from both Triad locations, making the company the top-ranked small employer, and, notably, the highest scorer of all employers, regardless of size.

“We’ve got top-of-the-line equipment,” says employee Jennifer Boaz. “They’re always on top of what’s the latest stuff out there, and that makes our jobs a lot easier.”

Brown is quite proud that Advanced Laser can offer several services that, to her knowledge, no one else in the Triad can provide. Two examples are the Blu-U noninvasive acne treatment and Fraxl, the “gold standard” of skin rejuvenation lasers.

“We’re constantly researching the best procedures, and I think that’s why the girls like to work here so much. They have the opportunity to work with the best, high-tech equipment,” she says.

To Brown, treating employees well is simply good business.

“If you have a happy employee, you’re going to get their best work out of them,” she says. “And the clients see that, too, which makes them happier and keeps them coming back.”

Advanced Laser & Electrolysis

Address: (Headquarters) 3750 Admiral Drive, Suite 106, High Point 27265; 2105-B W. Cornwallis Drive, Greensboro 27408

Phone: (336) 288-5660

Description: Medical spa for skin care and hair removal

Web site: www.advancedlasernc.com

Head of Organization in Triad: Trudy Brown, founder and president

Year established in Triad: 1974

No. of full-time employees in Triad: 11

2007 revenues: Undisclosed

Incentives and rewards: In addition to above-industry-average pay, employees are given their birthdays off with pay, substantial Christmas bonuses, as well as free services. The company also pays for the continuing education of its employees and their annual licensing fees.

What makes your company a finalist? “I just try to provide a real positive working environment for my employees to help them succeed in their profession and reach their goals in their particular specialty,” Brown says.

What employees say: “I enjoy working for a company with such a fabulous reputation. We have a wonderful group of employees that truly work together like a big family. We have fun at work and respect each other to the highest degree.”