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Firm to Work For award will bolster our na- tional reach. In addition to recruitment of talent, the award acts as a reminder to our current employees of the incredible culture and firm they are helping to build. Retaining current talent is at the forefront of our future strategies,” Jones says. WHAT ARE “COLLABORATORS” SAYING? Audie Bates, architect and senior professional, has worked for the company for eight years. He says that they provide a flexible environment to take calculated risks, work independently within set parameters, and challenging opportuni- ties to stretch limits beyond one’s comfort zone. “The camaraderie resembles family rivalry with a desire to support one another in ef- forts in place of the anticipated ladder-climb- ing competition found in architectural firms of similar size. Other design firms are highly risk-adverse, and the environment stifles in- novation, exploration, and discovery; all of the key elements required for award-winning design and creativity. This makes The Collab- orative an exciting and enjoyable environ- ment to develop a career,” he says. Keith Russeau, architect and principal, joined the firm 18 years ago, when he was in college. “I stayed here because of the care that was shown towards advancing my career. That ex- perience, working beside senior leaders who went out of their way to provide insight and opportunities for professional growth, was invaluable. This award celebrates and pro- motes the value that The Collaborative has, for so many years, placed on mentoring, professional enrichment, work-life balance, and the culture that makes us so unique. It provides us with additional validation that should prove beneficial as we continue to seek out and recruit talented and top-tier profes- sionals at multiple office locations,” he says. Jones adds that the Best Firms to Work For award provides proof that what the employ- ees declare, is actually true. “Announcing this award to potential, future collaborators at career fairs and social media outlets will build buzz around our firm. At the very least, the new recruits will wonder: ‘What’s so special about The Collaborative?’ I say: ‘Come on by, and you’ll see!’ ” THE COLLABORATIVE , from page 11

Past top-ranking Best Firms to Work For have included:

❚ ❚ Multidiscipline: Bowers + Kubota Consulting Inc. ❚ ❚ Structural Engineering: Barrish Pelham & Associates Inc. 2012 ❚ ❚ Architecture: ACAI Associates Inc. ❚ ❚ Civil Engineering: Bowers + Kubota Consulting Inc. ❚ ❚ Environmental: Hodges, Harbin, Newberry & Tribble Inc. ❚ ❚ Multidiscipline: GATE Inc. ❚ ❚ Structural Engineering: Degenkolb Engineers

2014 ❚ ❚ Architecture: Davis Bews Design Group Inc. ❚ ❚ Civil Engineering: Bowers + Kubota Consulting Inc. ❚ ❚ Environmental: EHS Support ❚ ❚ Multidiscipline: Bowers + Kubota Consulting Inc. ❚ ❚ Structural Engineering: Hinman Consulting Engineers Inc. 2013 ❚ ❚ Architecture: Davis Bews Design Group Inc. ❚ ❚ Civil Engineering: Affinis Corp. ❚ ❚ Environmental: Comprehensive Environmental Inc.

APPRECIATED PERKS IN OUR INDUSTRY Respondents to Zweig Group’s 2015 Policies, Procedures & Benefits Survey of A/E/P and Environmental Firms were asked if their organizations provided any special benefits that employees especially appreciated. Responses included*: Vacation/tip off/trips: 84 percent Social events/celebrations: 79 percent Fitness/wellness benefits: 46 percent Financial benefits : 45 percent Tickets/passes to events: 26 percent Parking/transportation: 23 percent Some participants elaborated on the special benefits offered by their firms: Vacation/time off/trips: Flexible work hours or time off for family Paid time off to participate in community service Work remotely/from home (telecommute): 70 percent Breakfasts/lunches/free food: 50 percent Patient advocacy program to assist with healthcare management Financial

Financial wellness program Licensing cost-sharing Professional education reimbursement

“In good years, we send one employee to Italy for study

Social events/celebrations:

Other

Bicycle tune-up benefit event

9/80 work schedule, with every other Friday off Casual dress policy Employee assistance program Employee recognition program

Fitness/wellness:

On-site biometric screenings and health risk assessments On-site flu vaccination program On-site gym

*Totals sum to more than 100 because answer choices were not mutually exclusive.

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THE COMPLETE LIST OF ZWEIG GROUP’S 2015 BEST FIRMS TO WORK FOR

8. Cornerstone Structural Engineering Group 9. GACE CoConsulting Engineers 10. Simpson Gumpertz & Heger 11. Baldridge & Associates 12. Reaveley Engineers + Associates 13. Eclipse Engineering 14. DH Charles Engineering

15. Beaudette Consulting Engineers 16. PES Structural Engineers 17. O’Donnell & Naccarato 18. Jaster-Quintanilla 19. Bliss & Nyitray

THE ZWEIG LETTER AUGUST 10, 2015, ISSUE 1115

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