The following article was printed in the October 2009 issue of CE News.
Think Big. Go Beyond. For those who are unfamiliar with Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, Inc. (AE2S) this may appear to be just a tag line. But to employees, it encompasses the heart of AE2S. It represents a commitment to employees and clients to provide benefits and services that go beyond the “norm”.
Built on Big Thinking
AE2S was founded during heightened regulatory development under the Safe Drinking Water Act. CEO Steve Burian and President Charles Vein saw the need for specialized civil/environmental engineering consultants to help water systems navigate the regulatory ropes. The two founders handpicked specialized leaders to join AE2S and this set the stage for big things to come. Seven offices and 90 employees later, AE2S is a multimillion dollar civil/environmental engineering firm.
Small Things Add Up to Big Benefits
There are many reasons why AE2S continues to grow, but they all start with our people. Since its founding in 1991, AE2S has been committed to providing excellent benefits, and has offered employees 100 percent paid family medical insurance and matching retirement contributions. The firm has a wellness program, an aggressive pay-for-performance bonus plan, and profit sharing. Employees also have flexible scheduling to allow life balance.
The firm has a family atmosphere with offices having an average of 15 employees. Offices hold Christmas parties, picnics, pot-lucks, and monthly celebrations to recognize work anniversaries and birthdays. Employees that have a passion for volunteering and sponsorship are encouraged to do so through AE2S’ charitable giving program. In addition, offices support many worthy causes such as Relay for Life, Special Olympics, March of Dimes, and Water for People.
Beyond Benefits
Benefits are important to staff, but what truly motivates people daily is having a passion for what they do. AE2S provides student interns with project experience, and many stay with the firm after graduation. A significant number of employees are hired through an employee referral program. Employees receive bonuses for recruitment, and they take great pride in finding recruits that align with the culture of the firm.
AE2S may be a small firm, but employees have the opportunity to work on large, challenging projects. In 1997, the City of Grand Forks, ND, suffered a catastrophic flood. AE2S employees were called upon to get the water system back on-line so thousands could return to their homes. This past year, flooding threatened the City of Fargo, ND – where staff members promptly camped out at various points throughout the City to ensure the water and wastewater systems were not compromised.
AE2S staff members were also involved in a number of “firsts” in the region including the first membrane softening treatment plant for a rural water system and the first water treatment plant with UV disinfection, both located in ND, as well as over 40 award-winning projects.
AE2S continues its focus on water infrastructure along with specialized/supporting services such as Instrumentation and Controls, Utility Financial Management, Modeling, and Geomatics and Civil/Site Development. The firm is currently working on a $300 million project to provide clean drinking water to the Rocky Boys Reservation and surrounding communities in North Central Montana. AE2S is also playing a major role in the $500 million Red River Valley Water Supply Project in Eastern North Dakota.
Big Thanks
Being a Best Firm to Work For is an honor, yet none of this is possible without the commitment and dedication of our employees. We are thankful to our staff who invest their time to shape our culture and our firm. We are so thankful in fact, that we are giving everyone the day after Thanksgiving off to spend an extended weekend with friends and family. Go Team AE2S!
