SANTA ROSA -- Summit Engineering, Inc., is the North Bay's third-largest construction-related engineering organization, with 37 employees and $6 million in revenue last year.
Started in 1978, the company has six principals and four divisions for civil, structural, wastewater and water, and electrical engineering.
The staff and the clients make Summit a great place to work, according to Greg Swaffar, P.E., president and principal.
"They are not only great engineers and professionals," Mr. Swaffar said about the employees. "They are fabulous people -- interesting, smart, engaged, enthusiastic and just plain nice people."
The average length of time an employee has been with the company is seven years, and after that time Summit pays greater portions of the benefits premiums for employees' dependents.
"Everyone works hard, plays hard and respects each other," an employee said. "Management fosters a culture where people feel valued and appreciated."
Several employees said they appreciate the company's 9/80 work schedule. It's one of the alternate arrangements the state allows employees to work nine- and eight-hour days over two weeks in such a way to get an extra day off.
Activities designed to keep employees engaged include monthly "Wine Down" gatherings, bowling outings, office olympics, kayak trips and oyster barbecue, holiday party, family summer picnic, company baseball team, "Lunch 'n Learn" programs
Charitable efforts include canned-food campaigns for Redwood Empire Food Bank, golf tournament for American Red Cross, sponsorship of the concrete canoe competition at engineer recruiting ground California Polytechnic University at San Luis Obispo and sponsorship of Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County and a fundraising Cabernet Cookoff at Hall Winery.
