Norfolk District awarded 2010 Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads

Posted July 15, 2010
By Norfolk District Public Affairs

07/15/2010 - VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Norfolk District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers captured the Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads honors by Inside Business, the Hampton Roads Business Journal, in a ceremony here July 12.

More than 50 companies competed in three categories (small-, medium-, and large-business). A panel of judges named the Norfolk District Best Place to Work in the large business category as well as the overall Best Place to Work in Hampton Roads.

Colonel Andrew Backus, district commander, and several district employees attended the awards luncheon and accepted the honor on behalf of "Team Norfolk".

"The Norfolk District is the kind of organization we are proud to recognize," said Carol Lichti, editor of Inside Business. "We are in a recession and this is a good way to show our community the value of what businesses are doing to keep the economy moving. The Corps is leading by example and very engaged with the community and the well-being of their employees. That is what this award is all about," Lichti added.

This is the eighth year Inside Business has honored companies in Hampton Roads. How a company treats its most valuable asset – its employees – is a key element in the judging process. Employee survey input is another.

"Norfolk is a great district, mainly because of the people here. Our team members are dedicated, enthusiastic and talented people who stay actively engaged to support the Corps' mission -- not only in the Commonwealth of Virginia, but overseas well," Backus said.

The Norfolk District is responsible for military and civil construction projects, maintaining navigable waterways, protecting the environment such as coastlines, storm damage reduction, environmental restoration, hurricane and beach erosion protection, and infrastructure design and build in overseas locations such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

Along with a spectacular view of the Norfolk harbor, employees who work at 803 Front Street in Norfolk also find time after work to get together for field trips, camping, canoeing, cookouts and seafood roasts.

"This is a great place to work because of the people. We are a family and care about each other. I believe that is the key ingredient to any winning team," said Danit Carrier Tal, management analyst. Carrier Tal was an intern for four years before joining the Corps team fulltime a year ago.

Of the 404 employees, many have worked with the Corps for 25, 30 and 35 years. There are husbands and wives, parents and their children who work here.

"This is one of the best family-environment organizations I have had the pleasure of working at in my 22 years in the U.S. Army," said Backus. "I'm happy to come to work every day. It's unique to have such a diversified group of professionals -- their can-do attitudes, creativity and mix of seasoned and fresh-out-of-college employees is why we are successful. Knowing we are helping our community is very rewarding," he added.

The district opened its doors for business for the first time in Hampton Roads in 1879. Now headquartered in downtown Norfolk and Fort Norfolk – one of the last remaining harbor forts and recent site of the reenactment of the War of 1812 -- the Norfolk District has 22 field offices, including Fort Belvoir, Va., Fort Lee, Va., Joint Langley-Eustis, Va., and Great Bridge Reservation in Chesapeake, Va.