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Hankins and Anderson’s leaders, President Mike Matthews and Senior Vice President Dennis Standbridge, value employee insight and interaction and always keep employees in the know, whether it’s by using HA|TV (the firm’s internal news network), hosting bi-monthly CEO breakfasts, or casually chatting with staff members.

After corporate and employee surveys, evaluations against set criteria, and review by an experienced judging panel, the top 14 Multidiscipline A/E Services Firms To Work For were selected and ranked. Defined as firms that provide work in a minimum of two disciplines, such as mechanical, electrical, plumbing, industrial, systems, lighting, process, landscape architecture, communications, and/or planning, these firms go above and beyond in their workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, and other attributes.

To celebrate these achievements, we’re honored to name them this year’s Best Multidiscipline A/E Services Firms To Work For.

Participants
In times like these, it’s common to receive fewer applications than normal for the Best Firms To Work For program, whether it’s due to layoffs, a down year, timing conflicts, mergers and acquisitions, or major management changes. However, in the Multidiscipline A/E Services category this year, we received two more applicants than in 2009 (31 firms applied this year). Seven new firms appear on this year’s list.

The firms range in size from 28 to 980 employees, and offer each other some stiff competition. Read more about the firms on the following pages, learn from their methods, and find out why they’re among the Best Firms To Work For.

Congratulations to the top 14!

The top three
First place: Hankins and Anderson, Inc.
What employees wouldn’t love to have a Nintendo Wii in their office? Providing services in electrical, mechanical, plumbing, civil, structural, life safety/fire protection, security design, and telecommunications, Hankins and Anderson, Inc., purchased Wiis for both of its offices. But they’re not purely for fun — they come as part of the firm’s new wellness program. The wellness plan also offers half-price employee and family gym memberships to any gym of their choice and wellness seminars in the office, the company said.

MBP team members attend a site visit at the new National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency headquarters in Alexandria, Va. Site visits are held companywide, and are open to all team members, including administrative and corporate staff.

Another benefit to employees is the “Designing Excellence” awards program, which recognizes employees for going above and beyond their expected duties.

All of these factors equal out to a profitable firm. “We have realized a five-year compounded annual growth rate of [more than] 18 percent for the past seven years,” said CEO Michael Matthews, P.E.

Judge Pamela Britton, principal at The Knowledge Environment, commented on this accomplishment, saying, “[I’m] impressed at their ability to not only stabilize, but actually grow their organization during this recession.”

And even when the firm was forced to be the bearer of bad news — the firm was unable to provide staff bonuses this year for the first time in 10 years — only one of more than 230 employees resigned.

“Morale suffers most when employees speculate and spread rumors about what they think might be going on,” Matthews said. “Communicating both good and bad news allows management to explain the ‘why’ to go along with the ‘what.’ Even when the news is bad, employees are very understanding if they are treated like the responsible adults they are by being told the reasons for a particular situation.”

Judge John Felkins, P.E., owner of Accelerant Consulting, added, “The lack of turnover and layoffs says a lot.”

Part of their employees’ “understanding” comes from the full-time communications department Hankins and Anderson created in 2009. This includes weekly e-blasts to all employees, flat-panel TVs scrolling current events and company news, and improved public relations to the external world, Matthews said.

The firm also offers a “robust employee benefit plan including a safe harbor 401k plan,” said Judge Tim Cooper, senior vice president of employee benefits at Beecher Carlson. This is in addition to three medical plan options with the HMO and PPO dental plan being offered for free for the employee, said Patricia Beasley, HR manager at Hankins and Anderson.

When it comes to technology, the firm upholds its high standards.

“In our fast-paced government design/build world, it’s often more important to be fast and cheap than innovative,” Matthews said. “However, innovation certainly plays a part in delivering a project on a tight schedule and a fixed budget. We do have some opportunities for technical innovation and have been recognized with numerous ACEC/Virginia and ACEC national design awards.”

The firm offers training on the new BIM platform as well as Autodesk REVIT to meet client needs.

Second place: McDonough Bolyard Peck, Inc.
In 2009, McDonough Bolyard Peck (MBP) was named one of the Best Small Companies to Work For in America by the Great Place To Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. And if you ask the firm and its employees, it’s one of the most secure firms to work for, too.

Britton was “impressed they navigated this economy with no layoffs. [I’m also] impressed with their commitment to a wellness program and improved orientation.”

“[They’re] one of the few employers that continue to pay 100 percent of employee and dependents’ health and dental insurance,” Cooper added.

The construction management services firm also continued a 20-percent match to its 401k program for its employees. Other accomplishments in the last year include an improved new team member orientation program; improved in-house training programs; diversity, inclusion, and harassment awareness training; updates to its code of business ethics; and strategic new-hires with respect to its technical services and corporate management team, said Blake V. Peck, president of MBP.

“The result has been stronger retention above the industry average, improvement of the team through strategic hires, improved recruiting due to the overall culture of our firm, and for the last two years, we have been recognized as a top 25 small company to work for across the U.S.,” he added.

The PSC Permian Basin Regional office building underwent extensive renovations, creating both a welcoming atmosphere for clients and embracing an open sense of family for the employees.

The firm’s human resources director recognized the company’s strengths and how it valued its employees before she came on board.

“Prior to becoming an MBP team member, I was a sub-contractor for them for seven years,” said Julie C. Detwiler. “I watched the company grow during that time and saw how the existing team members were treated, and the opportunities for advancement that were provided to them.”

It’s clear that employees at MBP think it’s one of the best firms to work for.

“Employees consistently use words such as ‘value’ and ‘family’ to describe what makes MBP a great place to work,” Cooper said.

Third place: Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc.
“In 2009, we reorganized our entire organization to market sectors,” said Joseph R. Rapier, P.E., president and CEO of Parkhill, Smith & Cooper (PSC). “Prior to this time, half of our practice was geographic-based and the other half was focused on specific markets. We now are sector focuses with a goal of extending each business line into every geographic location and beyond … Now the entire organization and our clients understand how we are organized and the new format has given young professionals a clear path for success.”

“[I’m] impressed with their commitment to restructure their organization to improve performance,” said Britton. “[It’s] not an easy thing to do.”

Another impressing employee incentive is the firm’s profit sharing retirement contribution.

“In my 19 years, the lowest contribution to the employees’ retirement account has been 11 percent of the employee’s gross salary, with the highest being a record 22.5 percent, with the contribution being pre-tax,” Rapier explained.

The firm also offers summer hours, social outings, and a career development program.

“We are focusing a lot of attention on our career development — including a clear and concise career ladder, new and more accurate job descriptions, and a training program to support the individual development program,” said Jennifer D. Williams, PHR, human resource director at PSC. “The initial program is an intensive course of study focused on leadership/managerial skills.”

As a result, PSC has remained stable in this economy with almost zero turnover, and 80 percent or higher repeat clients, Rapier said.

But the firm isn’t satisfied in these incentives alone. It’s developed a plan for the future called StepUp2012, which details initiatives focused around organization, employees, clients, and future growth and success, the company said.

Continually striving to improve, it’s no wonder that PSC made the top three this year.

Conclusion
Thanks to ZweigWhite for conducting the research for the Best Firms To Work For program. We’d also like to offer a special thank you to all of the applicants, their staff, our judges, and the winning firms for participating in the 2010 Best Firms To Work For. Congratulations, again, to the top 14!

The Judges
Tim Cooper Senior vice president of employee benefits Beecher Carlson Portland, Ore.	Pamela Britton Principal The Knowledge Environment Aspen, Colo.	John Felkins, P.E. Owner Accelerant Consulting Bartlett, Tenn.
Superlative spotlight The following superlatives celebrate the noteworthy individual successes of firms for specific achievements, independent of their overall ranking: Best Employee Survey Score GATE, LLC Best Professional Development Program Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering Best Collaborative Environment Winzler & Kelly Best Employee Recognition Program Hankins and Anderson, Inc. Best Recruiting & Retention Program Hankins and Anderson, Inc.
Best Firms To Work For ranked by size Firms on the top 14 list range in size from 28 to 980 employees. While these firms share the same fundamental business model, firms of different sizes can offer their staff unique qualities, and gain advantages and disadvantages, dependent on their size. Therefore, we break out the top 14 to give firms a standing among like-size firms.
Top 3 Small Firms (<100) 1. GATE, LLC 28 2. E.K. Fox & Associates, Ltd. 57 3. Allana Buick & Bers, Inc. 98   Top 3 Mid-Size Firms (100-299) 1. Hankins and Anderson, Inc. 234 2. McDonough Bolyard Peck, Inc. 269 3. Parkhill, Smith & Cooper, Inc. 230   Top 3 Large Firms (≥300) 1. Smith Seckman Reid, Inc. 480 2. Merrick & Co. 470 3. Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture & Engineering 316
Mark your calendar! If your firm didn’t apply this year, if you didn’t make the list, or even if you are a ranked firm, you are encouraged to apply next year. To be sure you don’t miss out on the 2011 application information, sign up today for our Contact List at www.bestfirmstoworkfor.com/2011. We’ll notify you directly via e-mail when the 2011 applications are posted online. One important note to newcomers: Rest assured that the names of firms that apply but do not make the list will not be revealed. Hope to see you on the list in 2011!