VEIC helps energy leaders nationwide meet their clean energy goals. As a nonprofit organization, VEIC works in the service of people and planet, designing holistic solutions that grow local economies, improve public health, and strengthen communities. For nearly 40 years, VEIC has decarbonized the nation’s buildings, transportation systems, and utility grids. They do this through their consulting practice and large-scale energy programs.
Industry: Nonprofit (Clean Energy)
Company Size: ~400 employees
Products Used: Performance, Goals, and Learning modules
Challenge: Gaps in Performance and Development
Before implementing Engagedly in 2022, VEIC faced multiple challenges across performance management, goal setting, and learning:
- Annual Goal Setting
- Teams created goals tied to organizational objectives, but no standardized process existed.
- How goals were defined (e.g., metrics, key results) varied widely, creating inconsistencies and fairness concerns.
- Senior leaders lacked a centralized view of goals for themes or progress toward organizational outcomes.
- Accountability for goal creation and completion was inconsistent.
- Performance Reviews
- Although quarterly check-ins were expected, there was no tool to document or track discussions.
- Performance discussions varied in frequency and quality across teams, with no formal documentation in place.
- Managers lacked guidance on what to ask or document.
- No formal self-review process was in place, preventing employees from reflecting on successes or challenges.
- Without standardization, equity reviews and calibration processes couldn’t be implemented – making it challenging to objectively rate performance consistently across teams.
- Learning & Development
- VEIC did not have a Learning Management System (LMS) in place.
- Employees had to navigate multiple locations to locate online training resources, often encountering outdated materials.
- There was no system in place to track online learning engagement effectively or assign relevant content to employees.
As VEIC headcount continued to grow (43% over the last five years), these gaps created challenges in equity, consistency, and accountability. Employees needed convenience and structure; managers needed clarity and resources; leadership needed visibility to support a more meaningful employee experience.
Action: Partnering with Engagedly
VEIC implemented Engagedly in 2022, launching the Goals, Performance, and Learning modules in a phased approach that aligned with employee activities throughout the year.
- Goals Module: Automatic integration of employees’ goals from the Goals Module into their review has been a “game change” for employees and managers. Employees receive an automatic customized review aligned to their goals and job.
- Performance Module: Launched in Q2 to align with quarterly performance conversations.
- Learning Module: Introduced in Q3 for HR annual compliance training and employee development.
Implementation Approach
- Training was multi-layered: live virtual training sessions, town call presentations, demos, PDF guides, tip sheets, recorded sessions, online courses.
- Employees were supported with Q&A sessions, office hours, and one-on-one troubleshooting.
- Key stakeholders (HR, leaders, technology, communications) worked closely on change management.
- The Engagedly team provided training materials, documentation, and configuration guidance.
- Early testing and bug identification helped ensure smooth adoption.
Performance Module Highlights
- Automatic pulling of annual goals into performance reviews.
- Flexible templates — e.g., conversation-focused mid-year reviews with no rating scale.
- AI capabilities to help employees craft measurable and meaningful goals.
- Seamless navigation between goals and reviews — a “game changer” for employees and managers.
“Engagedly has significantly elevated VEIC’s goal-setting and employee performance programs. Its intuitive functionality aligned seamlessly with our approach to annual goal setting and performance conversations, making implementation smooth and logical. Engagedly’s Goal, Performance, and Learning modules allow us to link metrics, performance, and professional growth in one centralized platform.”
— Kate McInnis, Director, Leadership and Development, VEIC
Results: Structured Growth and Cultural Impact
The adoption of Engagedly transforms VEIC’s performance culture:
- 100% Completion Rate
Every employee and supervisor completes reviews across seven cycles each year (mid-year and annual).
- Strengthened Feedback Culture
Every employee participates in at least two documented performance conversations annually, tracked through Engagedly’s sign-off functionality.
- Universal Goal Alignment
All employees create annual goals aligned with departmental objectives and organizational priorities. Professional development goals remain embedded in reviews and link to learning content.
- Professional Growth Metrics Improve
In the annual Great Place to Work survey, “Investment in Professional Growth” shows a 10% increase since 2022 — the largest gain across all employee metrics.
- Consistency and Fairness
Engagedly enables calibration processes, consistent templates, and transparent documentation — giving employees and managers shared frameworks for accountability and fairness.
“The implementation of Engagedly has fundamentally changed the quality of conversations happening between our supervisors and employees. The platform has created more transparent, honest dialogue about performance, challenges, and growth opportunities. Supervisors now have structured frameworks that encourage meaningful feedback and accountability. This hasn’t just improved our culture—it has deepened collaboration and trust across VEIC,” says Lisa Harris, Chief People Officer, VEIC.
Key Takeaway
By centralizing goal setting, performance reviews, and learning into one platform, VEIC achieved full participation, measurable improvements in growth investment, and more transparent, accountable performance conversations. Employees and supervisors now share a consistent, structured framework — making development fairer, feedback richer, and the culture stronger.
Book a demo with Engagedly today and see how our platform can help you achieve similar results.
