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Photo by Frank Aymami
3Perez
The Perez headquarters is broken down into
four studios: Planet of the Apes, Old
Marigny, the Island of Misfit Toys and the corporate
office, Afghanistan, which is in the same
building but offset from the design studios.
“They’re just fun nicknames we applied to
each branch of the company. Each studio has
its own vice president, and the teams work
together to make the company run smoothly,”
said Darrell Cherry, vice president of business
development. “I’m in Afghanistan. It’s kind of
funny when you see the names around here.”
The New Orleans-based architecture and
interior design firm has been in business since
1940 and has seven offices nationwide, designing
buildings and landscape architecture for a
number of industries.
Perez employees also provide pro bono work
for organizations and events such as the
Canstruction fundraiser and City-Works, a nonprofit
dedicated to rebuilding New Orleans
post-Katrina and founded by Perez President
Angela O’Byrne.
To encourage community work, Perez pays
employees’ annual dues for a membership of
choice if it’s job related.
“Our community work is very important to
us an organization, and that stems from Angela
and her involvement in the community and her
trying to help rebuild this city anyway she can
after Katrina,” Cherry said.
In 2007, Senior Project Manager Rodney
Dionisio helped design the 4,400-square-foot
Family Center for the New Orleans Mission
after the original facility was destroyed in
flooding from levee breaches after Hurricane
Katrina. The family center is a transitional living
facility for single women with up to four
children.
Nature of business: architecture, interior design, landscaping
services
Where based: New Orleans
Employees: 43
Average starting salary: $44,000
Median salary: $60,000
Average employment time: two years
Benefits: health care with 100 percent coverage, dental vision and
prescription plans, 401(k) with 1 percent match, continuing education
program, relocation assistance, telecommuting, flexible hours
Wait time for benefits: about one month
Paid days off: 25
Web site: www.e-perez.com
Perez employees splash around in the fountain at Piazza d’Italia. Front row, from left, are: Office Director Penny Marcel, architects
Meredith Sugg and Audra Martin and graphic designer Tim Banfell. Back row, from left, are: architects Joe Crowley and Christian
Pazos and President and CEO Angela O’Byrne.
“It means a lot to do that kind of work and
give back to the community,” Dionisio said.
“It’s important to be part of a widely respected
design firm because we are able to get quality
work and get interesting projects to work on.”
Audra Martin, a licensed interior designer,
got to see her work come to fruition when she
helped design FireKeepers Casino in
Battlecreek, Mich. Perez paid for Martin and
her group to visit the casino’s opening.
“That was a great experience to see your
design plans come to life, especially in another
city and state like that,” Martin said. “We
have a lot of design control here on any project
we work on, and I find our opinions are
always valued.”
Perez pays for full health care coverage for
employees and 100 percent of the premium
for a $25,000 life insurance policy. Employees
can receive bonuses every fourth month
depending on cash flow. And Perez reimburses
employees who obtain certification in programs
such as Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design.
Every year, for about 20 years now, Perez has
paid for employees to attend Jazz Fest as a
group and gives $20 spending money to every
employee. Other gatherings include potlucks
for holiday parties, an annual catered pool party
at the president’s house and participation in a
weekly volleyball league at Coconut Beach.
“We’re not that good, but everybody has a
good time,” Cherry said.•
— Tommy Santora
December 14, 2009 55