For the engineers at GeoEngineers Inc. in Springfield, the perks go beyond the usual lineup of benefits and compensation to encompass challenging work projects that take them all over the country, and sometimes around the globe. The company has 15 U.S. offices, serving clients in myriad sectors, from federal government to transportation development to the energy market.
An employee-owned and self-insured firm, GeoEngineers covers 100 percent of its employees' health insurance premiums and 50 percent of dependents' premiums, says Matt Clarich, human resources generalist at GeoEngineers' headquarters in Redmond, Wash.
The company encourages healthy habits by reimbursing employees $20 a month toward health club memberships, yoga classes, recreational sports leagues and other physical activities.
There's also a 401(k) plan in which the company matches 50 percent up to 6 percent of salary. The plan is open to part-time and full-time employees, and enrollment is offered quarterly.
GeoEngineers also sets aside a portion of its profits for annual bonuses, for which all employees are eligible. Salary increases, which are based on annual performance reviews, range from 3 percent to 7 percent.
The company helps employees develop professionally, kicking in 50 percent tuition reimbursement for higher education.
"We're working on building a more robust internal training program," Clarich says. "That's something ... we're setting to be a priority going into 2010 and beyond."
GeoEngineers entered the Springfield market in 2004 when it acquired Advantage Professional Services.
Geotechnical engineering is a branch of civil engineering that comes into play when man-made structures interact with the natural environment, says Springfield Managing Associate Jon Robison, a professional engineer.
GeoEngineers works with retaining systems - retaining walls, building foundations, bridge foundations - and horizontal directional drilling, a type of trenchless design, for pipeline companies.
"Probably 70 percent to 80 percent of our work is with trenchless design," Robison says.
"Say you wanted to cross a major river. We've got a couple of jobs going on the Mississippi right now where pipeline has to get from one side to the other. You can't stop the river, and you don't want to dig a big hole in the river because of environmental concerns, so we design a trenchless crossing to basically drill a hole down underneath the river, pop out the other side and then pull the product pipe through that hole."
GeoEngineers' domestic projects include work in Louisiana, Texas, New York City, Virginia, Washington and Oregon.
"We're also helping out a client with some work in Argentina," Robison says.
GeoEngineers' relationships with such international clients as BP, Chevron and Shell Oil often result in work abroad.
Good benefits, compensation, challenging work and a touch of international travel combine to create a satisfying workplace, Robison says.
"I think it's a great place to work for people who are passionate about what they do," he adds.Total Score: 106*
Scores by Category
Incentives: 61
Family Friendly: 10
People Development: 10
Corporate Culture: 25
* Tie broken by essay
Choice Employers, 5 to 24 Employees No. 2: Sapp Design PC
2009 Choice Employees Honorees
