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Burns & McDonnell

Burns & McDonnell is a 100% employee-owned company made up of more than 7,500 engineers, architects, construction professionals, scientists, consultants and entrepreneurs with offices across the country and throughout the world. Only a small percentage of firms nationwide are 100% employee-owned, and even fewer have been for over 30 years, as we have. Our clients tell us our employee ownership translates into enhanced effort and extraordinary work. We strive to create amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for our employee-owners.

The Southeast is among the fastest growing regions in the country, and Atlanta is testament to that unrelenting growth. Rapid growth presents unique engineering, environmental and construction challenges for communities, governments and private businesses. From water to power generation and transmission infrastructure to aviation and industrial facilities, Burns & McDonnell, among the top 10% of U.S. engineering firms, is proud to serve the Southeast from Atlanta, delivering the experience that turns challenges into opportunities. For more than two decades, we’ve partnered with our clients to design and build cities of the future.
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Purpose

Burns & McDonnell is about creating amazing success for our clients and amazing careers for every employee-owner.... Read more

Vision

Improving the quality of life... Read more

Mission

To make our clients successful... Read more

Additional Culture Details

At Burns & McDonnell, we solve the most complex and challenging problems our clients face. For over 120 years, we have designed infrastructure, facilities and systems that improve the quality of life for communities around the globe. Since 1898, people have associated words such as engineering, architecture, construction and consulting with our company. And while these words may describe some of the things we do, they don’t scratch the surface of what Burns & McDonnell is really all about.

You see, this isn’t about building a new smart substation. This is about creating a sustainable solution that can serve as a model for the world. This isn’t about a new design for a structure. It’s about creating a space that will improve the lives of those who occupy it. And this isn’t about winning a new project. This is about helping clients uncover a solution they never dreamed was possible.

What we do isn’t about what we design and build. What we do is about making the world a more amazing place. And that’s exactly what we’ve done in the city of Atlanta since expanding our operations to better serve the Southeast region.

While most people take for granted the millions of details that go into making amazing happen, all of us at Burns & McDonnell know that it does not happen by chance. Behind every amazing act, there is an amazing person. Poring over every nook and cranny of the plans one more time. Catching a red-eye flight to work through a challenge face-to-face. Taking a calculated risk on new talent. Because, in the end, amazing is a mindset. The kind of mindset shared by people with an ownership stake in the future of our company and the world.

Because we own the company and have a personal stake in our shared success, we approach our jobs a little differently. Employee ownership is the engine of our growth, moving us to embrace uncharted opportunities and foster lifelong relationships. Only a small percentage of firms nationwide are 100% employee-owned, and even fewer have enjoyed that status for more than 30 years. Our mission statement is to “make our clients successful.” We are certain — and our clients tell us — that our people work harder to make clients successful due to our ownership culture. Our hard work leads to client success, which leads to our company’s success. It’s a beneficial cycle that circles back around directly to each employee-owner financially now and in the future.

Our team knows employee ownership means opportunity: to work on meaningful projects, to have ideas heard and to achieve a higher level of financial security. We foster a culture of transparent communication by regularly speaking and sharing information with our employee-owners through newsletters, division and department updates, two annual company-wide meetings and “Friday News” emails from our CEO and Chairman, Ray Kowalik. And after speaking, we listen. Regular surveys, meetings with managers and employee representatives exist to be an open channel of communication between upper management and employee-owners. Plus, our turnover rate is one of the lowest in the industry at 5%, and that’s because we work hard to give our people opportunities to advance their careers within the company. We value our fellowship with one another, our loyalty to one another and our collective success built alongside one another.

Our culture of ownership leads us to care for one another’s success in ways that go beyond comprehensive award programs or courses for career growth. It’s an attitude that permeates every project and relationship, a genuine interest in helping one another make deadlines, meet opportunities and find fulfillment. And when the hard work is done for the day, we take time to celebrate. Whether it’s enjoying an Atlanta Braves game together or going out for a happy hour, our close-knit family atmosphere leads to all kinds of activities in and outside of our walls. We also play on our employees’ competitive spirit by rallying the
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Values

Safety is First
We are all accountable for safety — accountable to our families, our co-workers, our clients and ourselves. A powerful commitment to safety — and health — is hardwired into each employee-owner. By striving for perfection in safety, we make it possible.

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