Category Archives: News

BL Companies Honored for Excellence in “Employee Ownership” Communications

ESOP_AACEBL Companies, an employee-owned, multi-disciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental and land surveying firm was recently named the 2016 recipient of the Annual Award for Communications Excellence (AACE) in the Total Communications Category by The ESOP Association. The award recognizes excellence in a total communications program. Winners are presented in two subcategories: companies with 250 employees or fewer, and those with more than 250 employees. BL Companies won the award in the smaller company category.

The AACE Awards are sponsored each year by The ESOP Association to recognize the outstanding communications and educational programs of its members. The awards are presented each May at the Association’s Annual Conference in Washington, DC to companies that have excelled in communicating the ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) and its meaning to the company’s employees.

“We are honored to have been selected as a 2016 AACE Award winner by The ESOP Association,” commented Heather Halotek, Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications. “It is no secret that we are proud to be an ESOP company and strongly believe in the power of employee ownership and share that belief through our communication efforts.”

The judges were impressed with BL Companies’ comprehensive, prominent messaging about ESOPs. BL Companies offers a strong orientation for new employee owners, explaining the benefits of joining the firm and of being an employee owner. The Company sponsored special events each day of Employee Ownership Month, which takes place in October, and provides strong communications, including a colorful newsletter, to employee owners.

AACE Award winners are chosen by a panel of five judges made up of both management and non-management employee owners, each of whom has demonstrated active experience and interest in the field of ESOPs and employee ownership communications. Awards are based on: overall quality and quantity of employee owner education, contributions of employee owners, integration of the ESOP into company culture, frequency of ownership communications, involvement and/or response of employee owners, encouragement of ownership attitudes, clear explanations, creative ideas, graphic design, and technical quality. BL Companies was recognized for this accomplishment at the Annual ESOP Association Conference held in Washington, DC in May.

 

The ESOP Association is the national trade association for companies with employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and the leading voice in America for employee ownership. The core belief of The ESOP Association is that employee ownership will improve American competitiveness, increase productivity through greater employee participation, and strengthen our free enterprise economy. More information: website- www.esopassociation.org and blog – www.esopassociationblog.org.

BL Companies Expands Bridgeport, Connecticut Office

BL Companies (BL), an employee-owned, multi-disciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental and land surveying firm has expanded its Bridgeport, Connecticut office. The larger office space, located at 855 Main Street, will accommodate over 20 BL Companies’ employee owners and positions BL to provide additional customer care and responsiveness to clients in the Fairfield County area.

“We have strategically expanded our Bridgeport office in what we believe to be one of the key economic corridors in the State of Connecticut and provide additional coverage between our Manhattan and other Connecticut office locations,” said Derek Kohl, Director of Engineering. “Having been involved in several recent revitalization, architectural and infrastructure projects within the City of Bridgeport, this larger office further enhances our ability to provide services and be close to key clients and projects.”

BL Companies was honored in 2013 with a Business in Bloom award for its commitment to grow in Bridgeport. “This Bridgeport office expansion confirms our commitment to grow in the heart of the City and to further support the economic development in the area,” said Sam Haydock, Director, Business Development and Client Care.

Engineering News Record historically lists the 100% employee owned BL Companies as one of the Top 500 Design Firms in the country. BL Companies currently has over 250 employee owners in offices in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas.

BL Companies, Inc. Named to The ZweigWhite 2014 Hot Firm List

Meriden, CT — July 17, 2014

BL Companies, Inc. is proud to announce that it has made The ZweigWhite 2014 Hot Firm List. Ranked number 45, BL Companies has been recognized as one of the 100 fastest-growing companies among architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting firms in the United States and Canada. In an industry comprised of over 100,000 firms, placement on the list is based on firm’s percentage revenue growth and dollar revenue growth over a three-year period compared to the other entrants.

“We are truly honored to once again be named to the ZweigWhite 2014 Hot Firm List,” said Carolyn Stanworth, President and Chief Executive Officer. “To have moved up from a ranking of 82 in 2013 to 45 in 2014 is an incredible accomplishment and reflects the strong commitment of our extraordinary employee-owners who have driven our significant growth by their continued dedication to our clients.”

BL Companies currently has 250 employee-owners in offices in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas and will be formally recognized at The Zweig Letter Hot Firm Conference September 25-26, 2014 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA.

BL Companies Receives Overall Business Champions Award

Meriden, CT — June 05, 2014

BL Companies, Inc. is pleased to announce that the firm has received the 2014 Overall Business Champion Award presented by the MetroHartford Alliance and the Hartford Business Journal. The Business Champions awards celebrate the achievements of privately-held companies in the Hartford Region.
BL Companies was chosen from among 57 nominees by an independent panel of judges. The nominees represented a diverse group of businesses from around the region. BL was recognized as the Overall Award winner for its growth and best practices in all categories – revenue, innovation, workforce and community involvement.

“As a 100% Employee Owned company the acknowledgement of who we are as a company, what we do and how we do it is especially meaningful to us,” said Carolyn Stanworth, President and CEO. “Four words describe the heart of BL – Employee Owned. Client Driven. It is an honor to accept an award that stems from a talented and engaged workforce focused on meeting our client’s needs.”

The MetroHartford Alliance and The Hartford Business Journal announced the recipients of the 2014 Business Champions Awards at a breakfast reception held on June 5th at the Connecticut Convention Center.

BL Companies’ President and CEO Receives 2014 Women in Business Award

Hartford, CT — April 07, 2014

Hartford Business Journal recognizes Carolyn Stanworth for her leadership and employee focus

BL Companies is pleased to announce that Carolyn Stanworth, President and CEO, has been named a winner of Hartford Business Journal’s 2014 Women in Business Awards. Each year, the publication profiles women who have demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities, as well as a commitment to community service. The winners are nominated by readers and chosen by a panel of independent judges. Carolyn Stanworth was selected as one of eight women who demonstrate a business savvy, confidence in themselves and their organizations, and a strong track record of success in the business world.

The 2014 honorees will be recognized during a luncheon at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 1st at the CT Convention Center

BL Companies Donates $10,000 to Local Food Banks

Meriden, CT — December 19, 2013

BL Companies, an employee-owned, multi-disciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental and land surveying firm is donating $10,000 to food assistance programs in honor of our clients and business partners.

“The food assistance programs are facing ever increasing demands for their services throughout the communities where BL Companies works and our employee owners live,” said Carolyn Stanworth, President and CEO. “We have chosen to donate this year to these programs on behalf of our clients and business partners to celebrate this season of giving. While we wish the need was not as great, we know our clients, business partners and employee owners appreciate giving back to those in need during this holiday season.”

In the spirit of giving and gratitude, BL has contributed to food bank agencies in Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Ohio and Texas.

BL Companies Opens New Office in Houston, Texas

Houston, TX — October 15, 2013

BL Companies, an employee-owned, multidisciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental and land surveying firm has opened an office in Northwest Houston, Texas in close proximity to the Energy Corridor. BL is continuously ranked among the Top 500 Design Firms in the US by Engineering News-Record and has been supporting the planning, siting, design, permitting and construction of electrical and natural gas energy production, storage, and transmission projects for nearly a decade.

“The opening of BL’s Houston office strategically places us where our clients are and want us to be,” said Derek Kohl, Director of Engineering. “Our team of employee-owners, including our recent hires in this office, possess the specific technical expertise needed to deliver exceptional quality and responsiveness within this region for the Pipeline Oil and Gas industry.”

Carolyn Stanworth, President and CEO of BL Companies, remarked, “This continues to be an exciting time for BL. Being able to offer our services and client care close to our clients and projects has been a foundation of BL’s long-term strategy. Our Texas office opening supports our overall growth strategy and the anticipated needs from our energy, retail/commercial and public infrastructure clients.”

Please note BL Companies’ Houston office address:
19500 State Highway 249
Suite 220
Houston, TX 77070

BL Companies Named Best Place to Work in PA

Camp Hill, PA — September 30, 2013

BL Companies is honored to announce that it has been named one of the Best Places to Work in PA for 2013. BL Companies is an employee-owned, multi-disciplinary architecture, engineering, environmental and land surveying firm providing services to public and private clients.

Companies from across Pennsylvania entered the two-part process to determine the 100 Best Places to Work in PA. The evaluation and selection process was based on workplace policies, practices, philosophies, systems and demographics, as well as a heavily weighted employee survey to measure the employee experience. Best Companies Group managed the overall nomination and survey process and determined the top companies and the final ranking.

“To have been selected as a best place to work truly reflects the commitment of our employee-owners to serve our clients,” remarked Mark Koellner, Director of Environmental Sciences. Mike Lozanoff, Director of Engineering, Mid-Atlantic Region, added, “It is this continued dedication and enthusiasm which is reinforced throughout a supportive workplace environment that sets BL apart.”

“I couldn’t be more proud of our employee-owners throughout the company and especially pleased to win this recognition in Pennsylvania,” said Carolyn Stanworth, President and Chief Executive Officer.

BL Companies will be recognized at the Best Places to Work in PA awards banquet on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at the Lancaster County Convention Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Rankings will be revealed at the ceremony.

BL Companies Opens Bridgeport Office – Receives Bridgeport In Bloom Award

Bridgeport, CT — September 26, 2013

BL Companies has opened a new office in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The new office positions BL closer to clients to respond to project needs in the Fairfield County area.

“In line with our growth strategy, we opened a new office in what we believe to be one of the key economic hubs in the New England region,” said Derek Kohl, Director of Engineering, Northeast Region. “Having been involved in many revitalization, architectural and infrastructure projects within the City of Bridgeport, this new BL office further enhances our network allowing us to be close to key clients and projects.”

In recognition of BL Companies commitment to grow in Bridgeport, BL was honored on September 11th, 2013 by the Bridgeport Chamber of Commerce and the Bridgeport Regional Business Council (BRBC) as a 2013 Bridgeport Business in Bloom award recipient. “We are excited about our new office in the heart of the City and to support the economic development in Bridgeport. We were delighted to be honored at the event,” said Sam Haydock, Director, Business Development and Client Care, who accepted the award on behalf of the employee-owners of BL Companies.

BL Companies, Inc. Named to The Zweig Letter 2013 Hot Firm List

Meriden, CT — August 08, 2013

BL Companies, Inc. proudly announced today that it has made The Zweig Letter 2013 Hot Firm List. The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List is a great accomplishment for firms that have achieved success in the architecture, engineering, planning and environmental consulting industry. In an industry comprised of over 100,000 firms, placement on the list is based on firm’s percentage revenue growth and dollar revenue growth over a three-year period compared to the other entrants.

Ranked number 82, BL Companies is the only Connecticut based firm that has been recognized as one of the 100 fastest-growing in 2013, and thrived at a time when many have struggled.

“We are truly honored to be named to the Zweig Letter 2013 Hot Firm List,” said Carolyn Stanworth, President and Chief Executive Officer. “To have made this prestigious list is an incredible accomplishment and reflects the commitment of our extraordinary employee owners who have driven our growth by their dedication to serving our clients.”
BL Companies will be formally recognized at The Zweig Letter Hot Firm Conference October 24-25, 2013, in Miami Beach, FL.