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FIVE-TIME H O N O R E E *
Geocent
What a difference a day and three and a half
years can make, said technical writer
Chrys Pope, of her efforts to reunite with former
associates after being displaced by Hurricane
Katrina in 2005.
She describes the information technology
community as close-knit, but said the glue that
keeps Geocent employees together is its leaders,
including President Robert “Bobby” Savoie
and Executive Vice President Rick Gremillion.
“I Googled him (Savoie),” Pope said of her
efforts to find a job after Katrina. “I knew that if
he was back in the area, there would be something
going on.”
Pope first worked with Savoie years ago at
Science and Engineering Associates, which
Pope said was highly rated in the field, largely
due to company leadership and innovation.
Formed in 2008, Geocent worked to acquire
and integrate several firms specializing in various
areas of information technology, including
Diamond Data Systems, the company that
found the perfect spot for Pope in June, more
than three years after she contacted them.
“When I realized that Diamond Data was
now under his leadership, there was no hesitation
on my part to accept a position on his
team,” Pope said of Savoie. “With the union of
Diamond Data and Geocent, the same characteristics
that existed back then are present
again and even better now.”
A commitment to success, good benefits,
camaraderie and management’s appreciation
of employee opinions convinced Joey Moreland
to return to the team after working with
Gremillion at Diamond Data in the 1990s the
company’s early days.
“They were accessible way back then. I was
employee number seven. We did everything
together,” Moreland said.
Brett Camet, federal sector director and a 10-
year Geocent/Diamond Data veteran, also appreciates
the company’s attitude toward its staff.
“The company has a lot of character, cares
Geocent consultant Willie Blaire dips a CD into Accounts Receivable Coordinator Mayra Cabrera’s coffee mug. The IT consulting firm
offers its employees a broad range of benefits, including profit sharing options and full tuition assistance.
Nature of business: information technology and engineering
consulting
Where based: Metairie
Employees: 125
Average starting salary: $69,755
Median salary: $75,175
Average employment time: two years
Benefits: health care with 90 percent coverage, dental, vision
and prescription plans, 401(k) with 50 percent match of first 6
percent contributed, continuing education program, day care
options, relocation assistance, telecommuting, flexible hours,
employee recognition program
Wait time for benefits: none
Paid days off: 30 days
Web site: www.geocent.com
tremendously about their employees, is always
looking to make things better and believes in
getting input from its employees about how we
can improve, constantly,” Camet said.
When Camet originally signed on, he
observed “the leadership was young and
aggressive and you could tell that they wanted
to succeed not just for themselves, but also for
the employees.”
Geocent offers its employees a broad range
of benefits, including full tuition assistance and
a health savings account contribution of $1,000
for individuals and $2,000 for families. The company
also offers monetary performance incentives
such as quarterly and spot bonuses.
Camet believes his success is heightened by
employee phantom profit-sharing options,
allowing workers to purchase a bit of the company
without the tax obligations inherent in
actual company shares.
“When I’m ready to leave the company,
whatever the cost of stock is for the company, I
still can cash them in,” Camet said. “It still acts
the same way.
“My plan is that the company is going to keep
growing and that’s going to help financially.”•
— Diana Chandler
*Formerly Diamond Data Systems
20 2009 Best Places to Work