Best Places To Work in Vermont--2006: NRG Systems, Inc.

Vermont Business Magazine, Dec 01, 2006

3 NRG Systems, Inc.

110 Riggs Road * Hinesburg, VT 05461

www.nrgsystems.com * est. 1982

Jan Blittersdorf, CEO

Gross revenue, lastest fiscal year: $20,653,523 Employees 59 full-time, a part-time * Applicants last year 936, Hires 14 Ave. annual salary - non-exempt $38,145, exempt $69,806

NRG Systems manufacturers wind measuring equipment for th eglobal wind energy industry. Our product line includes systems, towers, instruments and software that are sused to determine the best location for wind turbines and keep them operating effectively.

Best Practice: At NRG, we consider our employees, as well as their families, part of the "NRG family." All of our health benefits are available to our employees' families, including civil union partners, and many of our nonhealth benefits are also family-friendly, such as our energy efficiency benefits and six week paid sabbatical that employees receive after 10 years of service. By reimburing employees for classes that relate to their jobs at NRG, we are supporting continuous learning among our staff. As part of our monthly performance review process, employees are encouraged to establish career goals for themselves every year. We place great emphasis on capitalizing an employee's strengths, and we find opportunities for employees to use their strengths in their work. Cross-functional teams are incorporated into our business to problem-solve and improve our business practices through a company process known as "corrective action." For example, our production employees and safety committee drove the reimplementation process for instituting "5S" organizational philosophies. Various staff attend the annual conference on wind energy, called the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Conference. This typically includes our Sales and Marketing staff, but other staff are invited to attend to expand their knowledge of the wind industry. A paid sabbatical is given to employees on their ten-year anniversary with the company, and again every 5 years thereafter. The purpose of the sabbatical is to reinvigorate and rejuvenate employees and to allow them to return to work after six weeks with a fresh approach and new ideas for their work. Computer training and other forms of training are provided for employees based on need and personal growth.