Civiltech among ISPE's "Best Engineering Firms to Work For"

SPRINGFIELD, IL – As national eWeek kicks off to celebrate the work of engineers, an Itasca-based engineering firm is among six companies recognized by the Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE) in its 2014 “Best Engineering Firms to Work For” competition.   Civiltech Engineering ranked as a “High Achieving” firm in the competition. 

Civiltech Engineering, established in 1988, employs 85 professionals at locations in Itasca, Chicago and Crystal Lake.   One Civiltech Engineering employee said: “My co-workers are not only some of the brightest people I have met, but some of the nicest people to be around as well....The creative environment here only pushes you forward. I couldn’t have asked for a better start to my GIS (geographic information systems) career.”

“We are excited to receive this recognition.  It is a tribute to all the good people we have in our organization," said John Breitsameter, PE, President, Civiltech.

Engineering Enterprises, Inc. (EEI) of Sugar Grove, a 36-employee company founded in 1974, ranked highest among its employees in the anonymous employee satisfaction survey conducted by ISPE. 

“The Illinois Society of Professional Engineers is proud to celebrate the exceptional professional engineers and engineering firms in Illinois.  This competition is intended to shine the spotlight on engineering firms that receive the highest marks from their employees,” said ISPE President Claude H. Hurley, PE.  “During this eWeek, ISPE congratulates the winning firms and others who took part in the competition.  They are advancing the practice of engineering in the state of Illinois.”    

Other firms that ranked as “High Achieving” in the “Best Engineering Firms to Work For” Competition are:

Shive-Hattery

Year Established: 1895

Illinois locations: Bloomington, Chicago, Downers Grove, Moline

Key employee comment:  “The key thing here (is) they really treat you like a professional. They just trust that you are going to do your job.”

URS Corporation

Year Established: 1951

Illinois locations: Chicago, Decatur

Key employee comment:  “As URS evolves along with an ever-changing sustainability movement, I’ve been given the support and leeway to merge my passion for sustainability into my career growth, allowing me to help green our company as well as provide forward-thinking solutions for clients. Every day I get to work with smart creative experts who work with me to create lasting change in their fields. I am always looking for fresh ideas to help URS build on its commitment to sustainability.”

Farnsworth Group, Inc.

Year Established: 1890

Illinois Location:  Bloomington (Corporate Office), Normal, Peoria, Champaign, Effingham, Pontiac, Shorewood

Key employee comment:  “I have worked for many different companies, each with their own corporate culture. I have been most impressed with the way Farnsworth Group truly values its employees. There is a discernible respect for all team members involved in a project. There is an emphasis on client relations and producing a quality product.”

Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc.

Year Established: 1966

Illinois Location: Dixon, Rockford, Freeport, Moline, Joliet, Sterling

“For me a large benefit for working for WHA is that there is a broad base of disciplines, which brings a broad base of clients and a variety of projects. It also means that the collaboration required on a large project is much easier, as it is a short trip across the office to answer questions instead of a long drive or long distance phone call. The casual but professional atmosphere makes for a relaxing environment to complete the tasks at hand, without the added pressure of micromanagement.”

The competition rankings were developed through a methodology that ranked those firms that chose to participate in the competition.  Engineering firms were required to self-nominate in order to participate, and nominated firms were required to circulate an anonymous employee satisfaction survey. A panel of Professional Engineers (PEs) who are members of ISPE analyzed anonymous data and ranked the firms. The first place firm and high achieving firms were selected based on this analysis.

These firms will be recognized at the ceremony for the state’s newly-licensed Professional Engineers at the Governor’s Mansion in May.  They will also be recognized among their peers at the 2014 ISPE Annual Convention, July 10 & 11, in Normal.

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Illinois Society of Professional Engineers – Quick Facts

The Illinois Society of Professional Engineers (ISPE), established in 1886, is a professional association representing engineers from all fields of practice.  ISPE, headquartered in Springfield, includes among its membership: licensed professional engineers, licensed structural engineers, licensed land surveyors, engineer interns, graduate engineers and engineering students.

ISPE also works closely with engineering schools to promote academic achievement and licensing.  The Society conducts the national MATHCOUNTS program which is a unique coaching and competition program for 6, 7, and 8th Grade students in Illinois.  The program reaches hundreds of schools and thousands of mathematically-gifted children.