At the TrueNorth Pole: Cookies, Cocoa and Colleague Cheer

If you wandered into our Cedar Rapids headquarters this December, you might have wondered whether you'd taken a wrong turn and ended up at the North Pole. That's because every year, TrueNorth welcomes Santa for an evening of photos, story time and plenty of cozy holiday magic — an annual tradition that gives our colleagues and their families a joyful, memory-making evening together. From reserved photo windows to gifts from the man in red himself, we do the little things to make the night special for our colleagues and their families.

A peek at the festivities

We decked our TrueNorth main floor with sparkling backdrops, candy-cane touches, pre-lit trees and soft glow lighting — think “storybook cozy” meets festive “picture-perfect.” Families flowed from the photo area to a cookies-and-cocoa lounge, then into the Learning Center for a reading with Santa and a present for each child in attendance from Santa, himself. It’s our favorite kind of holiday circuit: snap a photo, sip some cocoa or cider and settle in for a story. To keep lines short and smiles big, our colleagues reserved time slots in advance when registering for the event — easy, quick and designed to make sure every child gets their moment with the big guy in red.

A little extra holiday fun

This year, we added another layer of cheer: a festive scavenger hunt. For 12 working days in December, colleagues searched for a hidden tree somewhere in the building, with daily prizes waiting in our Compass Café. It's a lighthearted way to keep the holiday spirit alive between meetings and deadlines — and a reminder that joy can pop up in unexpected places.

Community is part of the magic

Our “TrueNorth Pole” fun sits alongside a deeper holiday effort we’re grateful to support: Operation Santa. Through a partnership with regional nonprofits — including Four Oaks and Foster Squad — TrueNorth colleagues helped fulfill wish lists and sponsor festivities for children and teens in foster care. This year, colleagues snapped up gift tags across Cedar Rapids and West Des Moines, and teams pitched in to make sure local celebrations were funded and full of cheer. It’s a reminder that the spirit of the season — and our One TrueNorth culture — extending beyond our walls.

Just as important, inviting families to join these celebrations reinforces our commitment to supporting colleagues in every part of life.  Over time, these gatherings become traditions our colleagues look forward to year after year, adding a little extra sparkle to the season and strengthening the bonds that make our One TrueNorth culture so special.

Moments that matter

The best part? Watching families soak it all in — little ones clutching cups of hot cocoa, parents laughing between photo takes and colleagues catching up over cookies. We cherish these moments because they reflect the workplace we’re building together: one that balances meaningful work with meaningful experiences. (And yes, St. Nick approves.)

Join us!

If you're looking for a career destination that blends purpose and connection with a healthy dose of holiday magic, we'd love for you to get to know TrueNorth. Join our team and take part in colleague appreciation events like Cookies & Coca and be a part of something greater.