The Best of the Best: ZweigWhite Honors the Best Firms To Work For

Press Release: October 7, 2011 FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (October 7, 2011) – It’s impossible for a firm to be successful without great employees, and to have great employees, a firm has to be an excellent place to work. The Best Firms To Work For Summit, an annual event held by ZweigWhite, publisher of CE News and Structural Engineer, honors the best of the best –celebrating the winners of the Best Firms To Work For ranking. The Summit, recently held September 28-30 at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront, is a place for firms to share strategies, success stories and industry news. This prestigious ranking is based on comprehensive evaluations of firm culture, workplace practices, employee benefits, employee retention rates, professional development, and more – both from management and staff perspectives. All firms that apply are evaluated against each other, not a set standard. The top three overall winners in each discipline are ranked according to a panel of three judges. Firms are ranked objectively in size categories according to a numerical system based on survey results. The top winners are as follows: Architecture 1.) Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture (Denver, Colorado) 22 employees “Our commitment to our work, our employees and to our community has been the fuel that has kept the practice moving forward for nearly four decades,” says Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture principal, Katie Barnes. 2.) Corgan Associates, Inc. (Dallas, Texas) 282 employees 3.) BLRB Architects (Tacoma, Washington) 43 employees Top Small: Barker Rinker Seacat Architecture (Denver, Colorado) 22 employees Top Mid-Size: BLRB Architects (Tacoma, Washington) 53 employees Top Large: Corgan Associates, Inc. (Dallas, Texas) 282 employees Civil Engineering 1.) Bowers + Kubota Consulting (Waipahu, Hawaii) 102 employees "We have a passion for continuous improvement," says B+K CEO and President Brian Bowers, P.E. 2.) J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. (Orange, California) 92 employees 3.) Delta Airport Consultants, Inc. (Richmond, Virginia) 78 employees Top Small: J.L. Patterson & Associates, Inc. (Orange, California) 92 employees Top Mid-Size: Bowers + Kubota Consulting (Waipahu, Hawaii)* 102 employees Top Large: Freese and Nichols (Fort Worth, Texas) 472 employees (*Correction over previous release) Environmental 1.) Barr Engineering Co. (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 523 employees “Keep the team together” was a phrase often mentioned. Barr Engineering reports a commitment to try to retain “the team,” even in light of expected economic challenges. 2.) All4 Inc. (Kimberton, Pennsylvania) 26 employees 3.) Comprehensive Environmental Inc. (Marlborough, Massachusetts) 25 employees Top Small: All4 Inc. (Kimberton, Pennsylvania) 26 employees Top Mid-Size: A-C-T Environmental & Infrastructure (Bartow, Florida) 64 employees Top large: Barr Engineering Company (Minneapolis, Minnesota) 523 employees Multidiscipline 1.) MBP, Inc (Fairfax, Virginia) 293 employees “Fostering the development of entrepreneurial spirit in our people” was listed as a corporate goal at MBP. To achieve this they offer a multitude of training programs as well as bonus incentives for successful work. 2.) GATE, LLC (Houston, Texas) 27 employees 3.) Smith Seckman Reid, Inc (Nashville, Tennessee) 467 employees Top Small: GATE, LLC (Houston, Texas) 27-employees Top Mid-Sized: MBP, Inc (Fairfax, Virginia) 293 employees Top Large: Smith Seckman Reid, Inc (Nashville, Tennessee) 467 employees Structural Engineering 1.) ARW Engineers (Ogden, Utah) 22 employees Judges noted the frequency of updating technology, the firm’s philanthropic efforts, numerous options for insurance benefits, and a very comprehensive and clear mission statement. 2.) Barrish Pelham & Associates, Inc. (Sacramento, California) 14 employees 3.) Bracken Engineering, Inc. (Tampa, Florida) 15 employees Top Small: Bracken Engineering, Inc. (Tampa, Florida) 15 employees Top Mid-Sized: Degenkolb Engineers (San Francisco, California) 159 employees Top Large: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (Waltham, Massachusetts) 395 employees For more information about this event and to see a complete rankings list, visit www.zweigwhite.com/events/BestFirmsToWorkFor Press Contact: Christina Zweig christinaz@zweigwhite.com www.zweigwhite.com