American Systems Corp., Midsize No. 3 | Top Workplaces
What if you could take part in owning the company you work for? At American Systems, that’s exactly what employees do.
The company has operated under majority employee ownership through an employee stock ownership plan since 1997 and has been 100% employee-owned since 2015, President and CEO Peter Smith said.
What does this mean, exactly? “Being employee-owners, we share the responsibility for success as well as the rewards of that success,” Smith said, “As we grow the company, career opportunities open up for us as employees.”
This decision was made when co-founders Tom Curran and Woody Ramsey were looking to move away from day-to-day management, and considered selling the company to a third party. Instead, they decided to sell the company to the employees.
“This approach provided several advantages, including continuing operations under the existing senior management team, maintaining the company’s proud culture, and allowing the employees to continue to share in the company’s success,” Director of Corporate Communications Mike Dolton said.
Now, over 1,500 employees company wide, and about 150 in Hampton Roads, enjoy a stake in American Systems, a government contractor serving the Navy that specializes in information technology, engineering, training and more.
“Our maritime life cycle and readiness teams have provided direct training and mentorship for more than 12 years to the Navy fleet commands and sailors, improving overall surface fleet operational, material, and training readiness,” said Tony Prause, a company vice president. “For more than 20 years, we have supported the Navy’s 24/7/365 call center available to active and retired sailors and their families.”
As an “ESOP,” employees are more accountable for the company than other workplaces, driving engagement between employees, Vice President of Human Resources Chris Braccio said. “We strive to collaborate and deliver excellent, high-quality work and to exceed our customers’ expectations,” she said. “We call this pride of ownership.”
The employees of American Systems have quite a bit to be proud of. They’ve won several awards this year alone, including being named one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes and a Top Workplaces USA by The Washington Post. In 2019 and 2020, the U.S. Department of Labor honored the company with the Hire Vets Gold Medallion award for its efforts to integrate American veterans back into the workforce.
“More than half our workforce is composed of extraordinary and dedicated veterans,” Braccio said. “Their service continues to be indispensable.”
American Systems is not only giving opportunities, they’re also giving back. “Whether it be a national charity like the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or a local cause in our community, we know we’re making a difference, and that boosts morale,” HR Senior Manager Kelly Wing said. “Our employees feel proud to be part of a company that is making a real difference in the lives of those in need.”
Prause recalled how refreshing it was walking into his first day at American Systems. “Our cultural beliefs of ‘be engaged, better together, create opportunities and bid $mart’ were not only presented on day one, but also tightly woven in all we do at all levels of leadership, employee-owners, operations, and decision-making — all the time,” he said. “Many companies simply state cultural beliefs; our cultural beliefs are truly part of our DNA and grounded in accountability to each other.”
As seen in Inside Business and written by Shannon Jay.