- Discover
-
Expertise
-
Alternative Delivery
- I-275 at I-4 Downtown Tampa Interchange Design-Build
- Wekiva Parkway Section 8 Interchange
- US 17/92 Interchange at SR 436
- SR 9B Extension from I-95 to US 1
- A. Max Brewer Bridge Replacement
- I-95 Widening from the Indian River/Brevard County Line to Malabar Road
- SR 528 (Beachline Expressway) at Innovation Way Interchange
- SR 570 Polk Parkway Widening from I-4 to Pace Road
- I-95 Express Lanes and Ramp Signals – Phase 3A-1
- Pollard Road Extension over Peace Creek
- I-485 Widening from I-77 to Rea Road
- Monroe Bypass/Connector Design-Build
- Construction Services
- Ecological Services
-
Federal Services
- Range of the Future Study
- US Coast Guard Air Station (Clearwater)
- Ascension Island Fire Station Renovation
- Patrick Space Force Base Water Lines Repair
- Patrick Space Force Base Living Shoreline Restoration
- P-505 Electrical Hardening and Black Start CHP at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
- Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay Survey Services
- Repair Phillips Parkway and Speed Limit Study
- Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield Surveying and Mapping Services
-
Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Thermal Design/Comprehensive Campus LiDAR Collection
- Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) Strategic Commerical Land Development Program
- University of Florida Sanitary Sewer GIS Mapping
- Ascension Island Auxiliary Airfield GIS Integration
- Santa Rosa County School District's School Transportation & Capacity GIS Analysis
- Gainesville Community Redevelopment Agency Socioeconomic Analysis and Site Suitability Report
- Real Estate Site Suitability and Development Analysis
- SR 836 (Dolphin Expressway) GIS Asset Inventory of Pre-Post Construction
- Alachua County Public Schools GIS and School Planning Professional Services
- Patrick Space Force Base Living Shoreline Restoration GIS Analysis
- Florida Army National Guard Readiness Center GIS Inventory & Integration
- Comprehensive Transit Study Puerto Rico GIS Analysis
- Land Development
- Structural Engineering
-
Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE)
- Thermal Design/Comprehensive Campus LiDAR Collection
- P-505 Electrical Hardening and Black Start CHP at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort
- Resurface & Safety Improvements Turnpike Mainline
- University of Florida Rabon Utility Mapping
- FP&L Subsurface Utility Engineering Continuing On-Call Contract
- Lockheed Martin Subsurface Utility Engineering Services
- Palm Coast Parkway Subsurface Utility Engineering Services
- Surveying & Mapping/Geospatial
-
Traffic Impact Analysis
- 505 West Chapel Hill Street
- 5th Street Station
- Beale Farm Industrial Park
- Blue Mountain Mist Resort
- The Villages at McCullers Walk
- Fredericksburg National Baseball Stadium
- Hendrick Southpoint Auto Mall
- Apex Friendship Elementary School
- Whole Foods Center
- Barclay West
- Grove 98
- Pullen Drive Extension/Catholic Diocese
- Trails/Parks & Recreation Facilities
- Transportation
-
Utilities Engineering
- Ascension Island Fire Station Renovation
- M-1 Canal Water Main Extension
- 5th Street Bridge Utility Replacement
- Captain’s Cove Wastewater Plant Revisions & Permit Renewal
- City of Fort Myers Downtown Utility & Streetscape Improvement
- Florida Caverns State Park Lift Station Rehab
- Tween Waters Inn Wastewater Plant Permit Renewal
- City of Fort Myers Wastewater Capacity Studies
- Patrick Space Force Base Water Lines Repair
- Big Lagoon Boat Ramp Wastewater System
- St. Joseph State Park Septic Tank Replacement
- WildBlue Development Wastewater Modeling
- A-1 Gator Wastewater Capacity Increase
- Visualization Services
- Water Resources/Stormwater Management
-
Alternative Delivery
- Careers
- News
- #DRMPerspective
- Team With Us
- Locations
« Back
Ewire Featured Story: Boomerang Employees Reflect DRMP’s Strong Culture and Leadership
July 31st, 2024
The idea of the "boomerang employee" in today’s job market has become a trend. These are employees who leave a company, gain new experiences elsewhere, and then come back. At DRMP, we've seen this happen with our team members. This trend drives home just how strong our workplace culture is and the value of the relationships we build at our firm.
According to a Harvard Business Review study examining 3 million employee records from over 120 large organizations between 2019 and 2022, most boomerang employees return to a previous employer within 13 months. Additionally, 26 percent come back within seven months, and more than three-quarters return in 16 months.
Boomerang employees return for various reasons, but the common thread at DRMP is often the people and the unique work environment they left behind. Scott Stagg, a Construction Engineering and Inspection (CEI) Project Administrator who initially left DRMP for career advancement opportunities, was inspired to return because of the firm’s tight-knit work culture and strong leadership fostered by his former supervisor who has since retired.
“He was an incredible supervisor, incredible person, quality person, and it was a pleasure to work with him, so when I had the opportunity to come back, I couldn’t say no to that,” Stagg said.
Leaving the Door Open
Stagg’s story mirrors a common sentiment among returning employees: the genuine connections and supportive culture at DRMP are unparalleled.
For many boomerang employees, leaving and returning proves beneficial to their careers. Roadway Chief Engineer Ron Wallace, PE, who left DRMP to gain experience in the public sector, found that his time away provided invaluable insights and perspectives.
His work at the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and as a City Engineer allowed him to bring back a wealth of knowledge and a renewed appreciation for DRMP’s supportive environment. Wallace’s story demonstrates how external experiences can enhance an employee’s skills and contribute to DRMP’s growth when they return.
“I always knew I would come back to DRMP,” Wallace said. “I stayed in contact with a lot of people at DRMP. We would talk on a regular basis. I was inspired to come back because DRMP has a culture of encouraging work-life balance, and they truly care about the value and needs of every employee.”
Wallace said when he first joined DRMP, a smaller firm at the time with about 150 employees, the supportive culture and strong leadership were key in shaping his career. Now, DRMP boasts 700 employees across the Southeastern United States.
“What’s really in common about all those individuals (who helped shape my career) is that they’ve been with the company for 20 to 30 plus years, so that’s an attribute to the type of company and environment that was established,” Wallace said.
Although his public sector experience was initially a culture shock, it clarified his career goals.
“There were so many rules, procedures, and of course, government red tape. But I think now returning, it actually opened my eyes to what I really wanted to do,” Wallace said.
Another returning employee, Survey Crew Coordinator Jason Stidham, CST III, shared that his initial experience at DRMP was marked by a learning curve in surveying. Upon his return, he brought back more experience and a stronger work ethic, significantly strengthening his contribution to the team. His story shows the importance of continuous learning and the positive impact of external professional experiences.
“You realize that it’s not always greener on the other side,” Stidham said. “So, when you come back, you realize, ‘oh wow,’ it was really great here when I first left.”
Leading the Way Back
The camaraderie and friendships formed within the firm play an important role in our boomerang employees’ decision to return. Employees often mention the sense of belonging and the strong interpersonal connections they missed during their time away. This sense of community, combined with the company’s supportive leadership, creates an environment where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute to DRMP’s success.
CEI Inspector Whitney Arrington first came to DRMP as an intern and then left the firm to pursue an opportunity as a designer, a career choice she said she later regretted.
“Now that I’m back with DRMP, I feel like I appreciate the company culture more,” she said. “I feel like as an intern I just genuinely thought that everywhere you went that you were always going to meet people that just were such a good mesh. But once I’ve been away, I realized how actually unique it is here at DRMP as far as the company culture goes.”
Leadership at DRMP is instrumental in fostering this environment. Arrington’s return was significantly influenced by the leadership of Erica Jernigan, a Senior Vice President and Construction Services Director who mentored Arrington during her internship.
“I had always just really valued how smart she was and how successful she was in anything that she ever did,” Arrington said. “And I knew that DRMP was going to be the place for me to do my career switch back into Construction Services.”
Stagg said his supervisor embraced new ideas and incorporated beneficial practices from other firms that he suggested upon his return. This openness to improvement and the focus on employee well-being were key factors for him that make DRMP a desirable workplace.
“Learning how other firms treat their employees is beneficial to any supervisor,” Stagg said. “So, when I came back one of the things I requested with my supervisor was that I’d like to incorporate those things into our culture, and he embraced that, and I appreciated that.”
As DRMP continues to evolve, the insights and experiences brought back by boomerang employees are invaluable. They contribute to the company’s growth by sharing best practices from other organizations and helping to maintain a culture of continuous improvement.
A positive work culture, strong leadership, and genuine employee engagement create a boomerang effect where former employees feel valued and are welcomed back, ensuring their potential contributions always have a place in the future.
Posted in the category All.
Related Articles
- Sep10DRMP’s GIS Solutions Support Hillsborough County Public Schools in Planning for the FutureDRMP's GIS team supports Hillsborough Co...See Details
- Aug29DRMP’s Environmental Services Help Guide the Future of DeLand's Lake Moore Conservation AreaDRMP’s Environmental Services Group he...See Details
- Aug27DRMP's PD&E Study Supports Mexico Beach, Fla., Revitalization with Multi-Use PathDRMP's multi-use path project along SR 3...See Details
- Aug20DRMP Traffic Experts Provide Solutions for Safer School CommutesDRMP’s traffic engineers are dedicated...See Details
Categories
- All
- Featured Posts
- Alternative Delivery
- Construction Services
- Disaster Resilience and Sustainability
- Ecological Services
- Federal Services
- Geographic Information Systems
- Land Development
- NEPA
- Project Development & Environment
- Structural Engineering
- Subsurface Utility Engineering
- Surveying & Mapping
- Traffic Impact Analysis
- Transportation
- Transportation Planning/Project Development
- Utilities Engineering
- Water Resources/Stormwater Management
Contributors
- Michael K. Albano, PE
- Bruno J. Arriola, PE, ENV SP
- Brent Bass, PE, PSM
- Cody Bayer, PE
- Donald W. Brown, PE
- Kyle Brown, PE
- Michael Bywaletz, PE, CPESC, ENV SP
- Zach J. Carnahan, PE
- Brian Crowl, PE
- Patrick Day, PE
- Nick DeVito, PE
- Matt Floyd, PSM
- Deshon M. Fox, PE
- Scott Garth, PE, LEED AP ND
- Ryan M. Grab, CST II
- Robyn Hartz
- Jim Highland, PE
- TJ Lallathin, Jr., PE, DBIA
- Kelly Marton, GISP
- Meaghan McCarthy
- George McLatchey, PWS, CEP
- Michael McNeese
- Jeff Miller
- Ryan Mitchell, PE
- Lisa Moon, PE
- Megan E. Mott, PE
- Josh Norman
- Melissa Padilla Cintron, SIT
- Pavan Paiavula, PE
- Julian Poole, PE
- Joce Pritchett, PE
- Abby Rains
- Leo Rodriguez, PE
- Rachel L. Schmidt, PWS
- Logan Shappell
- Brian V. Smith
- Rynal Stephenson, PE
- Deston Taylor, EI
- August Thick, PLS
- Ron Wallace, PE
- Steven L. Wallace, PE
- Orville Williams
- Amanda E. Woods, PE