NH's BEST LARGE COMPANIES TO WORK FOR: Tele Atlas North America

Business NH Magazine, Dec 2007 by Cohen, Erika, Mowry, Matthew J

The last year has been one of growth and change for Tele Atlas North America. With more companies using its mapping navigation data in more ways, the company has added 37 jobs in NH, increasing its Granite State workforce by 7 percent.

For employees, that growth has brought positive changes. This year, 17 percent of employees were promoted, up from 14 percent last year. Some employees have chosen to travel overseas for assignments and 23 percent of employees were given expanded opportunities

The company also started a partnership with Boston University for a Project Management Institute for employees. The 24-month program covers project planning, project management principles and techniques, and risk management training. In conjunction with the training, the company rolled out eProject, a new project management software tool.

"The mapping navigation business is one of the hottest business happenings," says James O'Gorman, vice president of operational and organizational development. "There are more demands on our data than ever before. Our employee base is taking advantage of that."

With new employees coming on board, Tele Atlas looked at ways to beef up its benefits package. Beginning in 2008, it added a $2,000 adoption benefit. The company pays 100 percent of health insurance premiums for employees and 87 percent for families and domestic partners. Employees can pay to increase coverage. The company funds health savings accounts with $700 for individuals and $1,400 for families. It also continues to contribute significantly to employees' 401(k) plans - a 50 percent match up to 10 percent of salary.

"We want to motivate people to save for their future," O'Gorman says. "We put it at 10 percent because that's an above-average benefit practice. We work in an area with such great companies. It forces us to be really employee-centric."

Part of being employee-centric is recognizing the value of both incentive payand education. Tele Atlas reimburses employees fully for classes related to their job and partly for unrelated classes.

During the current fiscal year, the company has invested $82,000 in education reimbursements. Tele Atlas also invests in its employees through its annual incentive plan. If the company meets or exceeds its annual financial projections, employees receive a bonus of 2.5 percent to 10 percent of their salary.

No stranger to the Best Large Companies to Work For list, Tele Atlas understands the importance of non-monetary benefits. All employees start with three weeks vacation.

Employees also get three days of Community Paid Time Off (CPTO) for community service or events at their children's schools. By the end of this year, O'Gorman estimates employees will have given about 6,000 hours of their time to the community. "We want them to be involved in their kids' education and we want them to be part of the community."

Tele Atlas also wants to make sure employees feel involved in the company's direction. At least twice a year, the company holds an off site meeting where financial performance is reviewed, announcements are made and employees can ask questions.

Employees can also ask questions of top management - anonymously if they like - though Tele Ask, a company Intranet forum. Senior management also holds quarterly "Table Talk" lunches with groups of employees.

The company focuses on creating a fun, respectful and rewarding corporate culture. Employees recognize their peers by sending each other kudos cards for a job well done. There is an also an employee-of-the-month award of $500, a referral reward program of up to $1,500 to encourage employees to send potential employees to Tel Atlas, periodic team leadership awards ($100 per member), and financial rewards topping $3,000 for employees who contribute to the company securing a patent.

A new program started in 2006, called the Tele Atlas Challenge, awards employees or teams of employees with a $25,000 grant to complete a project that is related to the business and community.

The winning team is now working on a project aimed at showing how emerging GPS-enabled mobile phones and other devices can use Tele Atlas data to coordinate rescue efforts after a natural disaster to map road closures and detours.

"It empowers employees to use the business and use our data in a way that they have a dream about or intent that they don't know what to do with," O'Gorman says. "It is very community centered."

Tele Atlas North America

11 Lafayette St.,

Lebanon, NH 03766

www.teleatlas.com

President/COO: George Fink

Years in Business: 27

NH Employees: 533

Total Employees: 719

Years on List: 4

Company Description: Provides digital maps and dynamic location content

Benefits Highlights: Incentive bonus, $2,000 adoption benefit, three days of Community Paid Time Off, "kudos" cards for employee appreciation, three weeks vacation after 30 days on the job, tuition reimbursement, 50 percent 401(k) match up to 10 percent of annual salary