WithersRavenel is proud of the engineering and consulting services that we provide to our clients across North Carolina. Another aspect of our company that we enjoy spotlighting is our culture, and the many groups and committees which allow our team members to boost their careers, assist co-workers, and uplift our entire employee-owned firm.
We encourage our employee-owners to take part in these groups by sharing information about how they can become members during onboarding and providing regular news and information through email and social communications on opportunities and events. Check out some of the internal groups at WithersRavenel that help define our collaborative company culture:
ESOP Communication Committee (ECC). WithersRavenel is a 100% Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, meaning that our employees truly are owners. The ECC committee promotes the employee-owner culture at WithersRavenel through education, team-building events, and the sharing of resources. One of the group’s most prominent roles is planning our company’s beloved annual Owners’ Day event.
“Our ESOP Communication Committee, or ECC, is made up of representatives from all offices and practice areas. The ECC focuses on educating employees about the ESOP and how their ownership impacts the ESOP plan. It is a great way to interact with people throughout the company you may not have the chance to work with otherwise.” Brandon Miller, Stormwater Engineer, Project Manager and ECC Co-Chair
The President’s Task Force for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity (IDE). This task force focuses on developing meaningful and impactful company goals to help WithersRavenel continue to become a more inclusive, diverse, and welcoming firm. In addition to hosting discussions and events, the task force’s purposeful approach reinforces our company’s core values of respect and community.
“I enjoy participating in the IDE Task Force because we are able to collaborate and make a positive impact on our company’s culture. Quite a few of our recommendations have been acted upon. In addition, meetings are an open discussion where we all learn more about each other and our unique backgrounds that brought us together here at WithersRavenel.” J.D. Freeman, Business Development Representative
Mentoring Program. This program brings value throughout the company, as each six months a new cohort brings together mentees and mentors. The pairs meet regularly and set specific goals, attained through personalized coaching and guidance. Mentees gain knowledge aligned with their goals from seasoned industry professionals, while mentors expand relationships and leadership skills.
“A WithersRavenel mentor has experienced a lifetime of successes and lessons learned that can contribute to the accelerated growth and development of our company’s workforce and future leadership. By participating in WithersRavenel’s mentorship program, an employee can be better prepared to overcome challenges as they arise, and provide exceptional value and overall experience to our clients.” Alicia Albini, Director of Large Scale Residential Development
Intern Program. At WithersRavenel, we welcome interns each summer and throughout the year across our service areas and office locations. Interns have the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and exposure to our employee-owner culture, while also receiving professional guidance and the resources geared toward their success.
“WithersRavenel does a great job including the interns in the daily workflow of the company while offering support and guidance. You feel like a valuable teammate as you are part of daily decisions and solutions. I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my real-world experience at such an amazing company!” Claire Lowe, Marketing Intern
Future Project Managers Academy (FPMA). A selective program, FPMA identifies WithersRavenel employees who will become future project managers for an 18-month series of specialized training. The initiative helps participants build a strong project management foundation, accelerating their development by sharing valuable industry information and project management best practices.
“My favorite part of FPMA was learning from existing leaders within our company. I enjoyed hearing real-life examples from people I knew which supported the specific project management topic for each class.” Elisa Rehak, Utilities Engineer and Project Manager
Remarkable Women of WithersRavenel. This employee resource group and community encourages leadership and professional development through speakers, conversation, and panels. Members can seek advice on a variety of issues, and the regular events provide opportunities to network across teams and departments.
“Participating in and supporting our Remarkable Women’s group at WithersRavenel is important to me as it provides a forum for us to elevate topics that are particular to women’s experiences in the modern workplace. We are excited to explore and evolve these discussions at WithersRavenel and love how this is a vibrant part of our culture.” Jess Vollmer, Chief People Officer
Thrive Wellbeing. WithersRavenel’s Thrive program is a panel of employees dedicated not only to their own wellbeing, but also to providing wellbeing resources and opportunities for others. Regular micro-training sessions and meetings, along with employee challenges, help foster a healthy culture where employees can grow personally and professionally.
“I love being part of our Thrive Wellbeing committee and community. The topics we discuss inspire me to take better care of myself and others around me, and it engages me to live a healthier lifestyle. This collaborative community is such a great part of our culture here at WithersRavenel!” Rebecca Stefano, Human Resources Generalist II
WR Works. At WithersRavenel, we value innovation throughout our service areas. WRWorks is a committee that gathers ideas company-wide, then explores the ideas and their potential value to the company. There is also the opportunity through these discussions to generate new, related ideas and refine existing ones; we also consider innovative ideas from clients. One of the ideas implemented involved both hardware and software that improves collaborative communication between stormwater engineers and construction staff in the field by providing quicker updates related to design work constructability issues, thereby improving operational efficiency.
“We get a lot of great, innovative ideas from clients and employees, and WR Works takes on the job of reviewing the biggest ones and collaboratively discussing the possibilities. The best part of WR Works is that it’s an open committee, meaning everyone across the organization can opt-in to review ideas they find the most interesting.” Nichole Howell, Innovation Manager
Young Professionals Group (YPG). Many young professionals in the AEC industry may have similar experiences, so the Young Professionals Group brings these individuals together and creates a space for them to network and connect with each other, both on the job and away from work. This group will work in combination with the many other groups at WithersRavenel to increase the support system for our employee-owners.
“I am excited to have the opportunity to connect with other young professionals, both professionally and personally. It’ll be really fun to get together and share our hobbies and learn more about each other!” Casey Dolan, Funding & Asset Management Engineer and Assistant Project Manager
Interested in finding out what WithersRavenel and our company’s culture is all about? Check out our current employment opportunities.