Hinesville’s public works contractor, CH2MHILL/OMI, has made Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for a sixth time in the past 10 years. Local OMI Director Gregg Higgins said his company
previously made the list of best employers in 2011, 2009, 2008, 2006 and 2003.
Higgins credits CH2MHILL’s 30,000 employees for making the company a global leader in consulting, design, design-build, operations and program management for government, civil, industrial and energy clients. CH2MHILL/OMI first contracted with the city to operate its water-treatment plant in 1984. In 1992, the contract was expanded to include operation of public works.
In addition to the recognition by Fortune Magazine, Higgins said OMI won the Malcolm Baldrige Quality Award in 2002 as well as other awards by environmental and trade magazines.
“When our company wins an award, it’s based on all of its business groups,” Higgins said. “We’re the only operator-maintenance company to win Malcolm Baldrige. To be a leader in industry processes, if you’re not good at winning good talent, people will go to another company.”
According to a company news release about the Top 100 recognition, 259 firms representing more than 277,000 employees participated in this year’s survey. Two-thirds of the survey asked questions related to employees’ attitudes about management’s credibility, job satisfaction and camaraderie. The other one-third was based on responses to detailed questions about pay and benefits programs, hiring practices, methods of internal communication, training, recognition programs and diversity efforts.
The release said any company that’s at least five years old and has more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible to participate in the annual survey.
CH2MHILL Chairman and CEO Lee McIntire congratulated his global employees.
“I believe this is an indicator that we are on the right track to accomplish our vision of being the best place to work and, hopefully, encourages all of us to work even harder at it,” McIntire said.
He noted the company was recognized for receiving particularly high scores in pride and camaraderie. He credited several employee-centered programs, including a back-to-school website, transparency between leaders and employees, and recognizing safety milestones and employee contributions.
“I really think, overall, that opportunity is the No. 1 driver for our company,” Higgins said. “CH2MHILL is so big. There are companies in other states, giving our employees opportunities for advancement and transfer. People also want to work for a company like ours for our training and safety programs. We have a lot of programs that focus on our people.”
While talking about the Top 100 list, Higgins added that OMI will be taking over the maintenance of the Liberty Transit System buses. He said it was an indication that the city recognizes his company can perform the maintenance more efficiently and at lower costs.
The transit system’s nine buses will be moved to the OMI facility this week with maintenance beginning next week, he said. He also pointed out that construction has begun to replace OMI’s driveway entrance, which will make it easier for workers and staff to enter and leave from E.G. Miles Parkway.