Magazine names River Design 'best place to work'
During any given work week, river
survey technician Josh Lenderman might be camping near Mission
Creek, scouting rivers around Babb or floating the Madison River.
If time lends itself, he’ll sneak in a little hunting or wet a line
after the day’s work is complete.
For an outdoors fanatic like Lenderman,
it’s good to be an employee at River Design Group (RDG) in
Whitefish.
“My office space is Glacier National
Park, Ennis or Mount Hood, Ore.,” Lenderman said.
For the second consecutive year the
local company that specializes in river restoration and dam removal
has been recognized by “Outside” magazine as one of the best places
to work in the nation. The annual list ranked the company 22nd out
of 50 nominees — up from No. 27 last year.
Along with full health care and
retirement benefits, the company’s 18 professional-level employees
enjoy flexible schedules, a cubical-free work space, a large campus
with a dog park and an “unspoken” powder-day rule in the
winter.
“Outside” wrote, “At RDG...there are
steelhead days for midweek casting during times when rivers are
choked with fish but not other anglers.” The magazine noted their
best attributes as flex time, fitness opportunities, and community
and environmental support.
Hydrologist Jonathan Ferree spends
weeks at a time out at remote river sites — a duty he quite enjoys.
He recently spent a long stint in the middle of Oregon near the
John Day river. He was 50 miles from the nearest town, holed up in
a cabin with no cell phone service or water.
“They put me out there because they
know I like it,” Ferree said.
The “office athlete” brings along a
mountain bike, running shoes and good books to pass the down time
after work.
Ferree, who has worked at RDG since
2003, says his position at the company fits his outdoor lifestyle
well — maybe too well since there’s not much motivation to move
on.
“I could go work in Portland and make
more money,” he said, “but what would I give up in return?”
One of his life goals, he said, has
been to have a career in a ski town and “be happy.”
Administrative assistant Jessica Barta
calls RDG a family-friendly company that supports each of their
employee’s extra curricular pursuits. The company recently
sponsored her at an all-womens fishing tournament.
Controller Chris Long says she’s worked
at small businesses for 30 years and that “these guys are getting
it right.” She notes there is almost zero turnover — unless someone
leaves to pursue higher education — and the company’s progressive
benefits. Male employees enjoy paternity leave, a benefit she calls
“ahead of its time.”
Engineer Mitch Price notes the work
environment, both indoors and out. The company office is located on
a few acres off of U.S. 93 South in an old bed and breakfast cabin.
There are no cubicles in the two-story building, creating an open
flow between each department.
“We can bounce ideas off each other,”
Price said. “It fosters really good communication.”
Principal and founding shareholder Matt
Daniels says that the “Outside” award is a good reflection on
Whitefish, too.
“It says that we are able to sustain a
business here that is in demand,” Daniels said. “It would be
different if we were in Salt Lake City. The quality of life here is
important to us.”