As the only MEPT engineering company in the nation to be included on this year's Inc. Magazine Best Workplaces list, KCL Engineering proudly wears this badge of honor where here, culture is king. One of only two Iowa firms on the list is another reference point for the selective nature of the process. Over 1800 companies applied with fewer than 300 companies receiving recognition.
The 2018 Inc. Best Workplaces Awards assessed applicants on the basis of benefits offered and employees’ responses to a unique, 30-question survey fielded by each of the applying companies. Responses were evaluated by the research team at Quantum Workplace who saw distinct themes develop:
Strong company cultures breed stunning individual and team performance.
Workers at the best companies don’t view their employers as sugar daddies. They aren’t mesmerized by whatever giveaways seem to be the latest fad – be it gourmet lunches or beer fridges.
When employees feel valued by their organization, they are far more likely to be engaged. This single factor proved to be one of the largest drivers of employee engagement.
“By including an employee survey into this year’s Best Workplaces selection process, we’ve really raised the bar. Companies that don’t score at the very top of their peer group don’t make the cut. So, our hats are off to the winners. They all excelled at engaging their workers, making them feel appreciated, and aligning them behind a mission. And remember, that’s not just our opinion: The employees told us that themselves.” says James Ledbetter, Inc. editor-in-chief.
KCL Engineering founder, Kris Kunze, finds the recognition as more of a validation rather than a surprise. "When I founded KCL Engineering ten years ago I set into place the type of culture, benefits, and workplace philosophy I desired to thrive and hoped others would as well," Kunze says.
Thrive the company has. With 30 employees and growing, KCL Engineering now has a sister construction management company, Denovo. A "hold my beer" attitude as led KCL Engineering into new, exciting markets including the firm's breakout Theme and Thrill lighting effects system that has gained international attention, most recently at Knott's Berry Farm.
Check out KCL's Inc. Magazine Best Workplaces Listing here: https://www.inc.com/profile/kcl-engineering
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