While many of the small companies (those with fewer than 125 employees) in Middle Tennessee’s 2024 Top Workplaces list are familiar, there are still several newcomers to the top 10 list this year, including HNTB Corp., EvidenceCare, The Speaker Lab and All American Pest Control.

HNTB Corp. is an engineering company based in Kansas City, Mo., with 44 employees in Middle Tennessee and 5,000 employees in offices across the country. Specializing in infrastructure projects from bridges and highways to rail transit and tunnels, the company has been in business for more than a century and credits its philosophy for its long-lasting success.

HNTB’s mission statement is at the core of its daily operations. The company has identified 17 characteristics it looks for in its leadership, including being success oriented, proactive and having an interest in developing others among them.

“Our vision, philosophy and culture describe the firm’s heritage and essence of success, and are the principles that we live by everyday,” it says.

The company believes it is stronger as a team than as individuals and counts a commitment to technical excellence, integrity and continual development of employees as a few of the factors important to company culture. HNTB encourages its employees to expect more of themselves, take personal responsibility for making success happen and collaborate with everyone.

Employees report that they love the way their jobs challenge them.

“I have a specialized role here,” says one of the employees surveyed. “My co-workers are among the best talents in the industry. The office culture is great. My skills are challenged every day. Even though I’m not a manager, I am an important leader for others.”

Another unique aspect of HNTB is its Ownership Plan, which it initiated in 2000. An opportunity for employees to invest in the company as shareholders, company leaders created the program to encourage the technical excellence and commitment to innovation that are an integral part of the company.

According to its website, “The HNTB Ownership Plan is an opportunity for employees to build long-term wealth by sharing in the financial success of HNTB. That shared benefit unifies employees in the firm’s commitment to provide exceptional service to clients and deliver extraordinary projects for communities across the country.”

The HNTB Ownership Plan has been an important part of solidifying a shared purpose and connecting employees with a firm’s long-term success. The program creates a direct connection between employees, their work, and financial gain, encouraging a deeper commitment to the success of clients and of the firm, resulting in sustainability.

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Another important aspect of HNTB’s internal philosophy and culture is its commitment to inclusion, diversity and equity. Diversity in age, culture, gender identity, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, experience, thought, unique perspectives and other factors are part of the founding blueprint and vision at HNTB. An inclusive environment where all perspectives are considered makes not only the company better, but is of value to the clients and communities HNTB serves, company representatives say.

In 2010, HNTB created its Partners Program, a 12-month structured curriculum including planning, project management, sales, marketing, operations and financial management with mentoring and coaching from HNTB’s leaders. The program was created to provide opportunities for historically underutilized businesses and veteran-owned companies to build their businesses and pursue projects with major transportation companies, according to leadership.

HNTB doesn’t just encourage its employees to lead important conversations about how to advance inclusion, diversity, and equity in the infrastructure industry by participating in various industry and local organizations, but it engages in educational outreach programs to create interest and awareness and opportunities for women and minorities by creating K-12 STEM curricula. Outreach includes site visits, job shadowing, mentorship, sponsorships, competitions, college outreach (it actively recruits at HBCUs) and curriculum development programs.

HNTB also partners closely with the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) Intern Program to monitor the diversity of each intern class. In fact, COMTO recognized HNTB as its 2023 Corporation of the Year.

About the award, the company said, “HNTB is committed to an inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace where all employees have opportunities and support to succeed and grow. We provide a meaningful and welcoming learning environment that values, respects, and honors everyone.”

This encouraging and supportive philosophy and company culture is further reflected with another employee’s comments: “I am able to work in my area of expertise and make a meaningful difference through my work,” they said. “My coworkers are fun to work with because they are engaged and excited about the work we’re doing, and I feel like they genuinely care about my well-being. My boss quickly responds to any questions or concerns I have, and our office’s leadership consistently communicates policies and updates.”

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: HNTB engineering firm workers find challenge, camaraderie, ownership