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Huseman & Associates mechanical department head Jamey Logrande, left, serves up white rice while mechanical engineer Pedro Gomez and owner Jeffrey Huseman dish out red beans. Renea Joseph,
standing with loaves of bread, prepared the meal for her co-workers.
Photo by Frank Aymami
Huseman & Associates
Staff members at Huseman and Associates
— consulting mechanical, electrical and
plumbing engineers — do a lot more together
than pore over designs at their Metairie headquarters.
“We have contests in the office to see who
makes the best red beans and rice,” said Jamey
Logrande, mechanical group director at the 13-
person firm. “In the summer, it’s shrimp and
crawfish boils at each other’s homes, and we’ve
got a bowling tournament coming up soon. Our
year ends with a blowout in the French
Quarter,” including holiday gifts, food, drink
and games such as scavenger hunts.
And there are other activities throughout
the year.
“Our fishing trips are the best of times and
the stories last forever,” said Charlie Boyle, senior
mechanical engineer.
Logrande said staff members are encouraged
to do their utmost, but the group contains
no big egos or prima donnas.
“We all back each other up and there’s no tension
in the office between employees,” he said.
Renea Joseph, office manager, said owner
Jeffrey Huseman stands behind each employee.
“Everyone is expected to really think critically
and go the extra distance, but there’s a safety
net if we run into difficulty,” she said. “The
mechanical and electrical departments crosstrain
with each other. And we are all given a
voice in important matters.”
Joseph recalls hearing a colleague across the
hall answering a call from a recruiter. The colleague
told the recruiter he had “absolutely no
interest in leaving the company and to call
someone else.”
The only two employees to leave since the
firm started in 2005 did so for Katrina-related
reasons, she said.
In 2005, owner Huseman recruited employees
from Lace Engineering, which has since moved
to Indianapolis, and added to the original group.
Employees say there’s a compatible mix of
office personnel.
“Jeffrey Huseman considers education and
skills when hiring, but a prospective employee
must also be a good personality fit for the
team,” Joseph said.
Boyle said employees from Honduras, Puerto
Rico and India enhance the firm. And out of
respect for the staff’s religious and ethnic diversity,
employees receive a floating day off to celebrate
a holiday of their choice each year.
Nature of business: electrical, mechanical and plumbing consulting
engineers
Where based: Metairie
Employees: 13
Average starting salary: $59,000
Median salary: $75,000
Average employment time: four years (company founded in
2005)
Benefits: health care with 100 percent coverage, dental, vision
and prescription plans, 401(k) with 3 percent match, continuing
education program, relocation assistance
Wait time for benefits: 90 days
Paid days off: 25
Web site: www.husemanllc.com
When the office is under the crunch of deadlines,
“Jeffrey has me order in some really good
food for everyone’s lunch, or for dinner if we
need to stay a bit late,” Joseph said.
Among the firm’s many benefits, Huseman
encourages the staff to attend training seminars,
obtain needed licensing and join professional
groups at the company’s expense.
Huseman’s cohesive staff is good for the bottom
line, employees say. Clients include Tulane
University, high-rise buildings downtown and
Northrop Grumman. The firm also is working
on Orleans Parish Prison projects.
“Clients know our staffers are available for
problem resolution around the clock,” Joseph
said. “That’s helped us build a spotless reputation
in just over four years, and most of our new
business is by word of mouth.”•
— Susan Buchanan
62 2009 Best Places to Work