The 2018 Best Firms to Work For: CapTech

Consulting service lines:  Customer Experience, Technology Solutions, Data & Analytics, Transformation

This makes seven consecutive years as a Best Firm to Work For for CapTech, the Richmond, Va.-based IT firm. The firm has ranked either fifth, sixth or seventh every single year. Sure enough, that model of consistency continues as the firm checks in at No. 6.

"Our mission is to be the best consulting firm to work for and this award validates that we are achieving that mission. Over the past five years, we've experienced rapid growth, all while preserving and strengthening our culture, says CEO Kevin McQueen. "As a company, the award shows that we are a top-tier firm and lends us more credibility, especially in our newer markets where we are building relationships. As we continue to look to hire top talent across the country, it serves as a validator for candidates looking for a long-term career in consulting." 

McQueen says it's an exciting time at CapTech and points to a grand opening celebration for the firm's expanded office space in Columbus. The enthusiasm and excitement displayed from employees about what they've built and achieved was inspiring and energizing, he says. "In my role, I love getting to relive that excitement every time we open a new office. That enthusiasm and entrepreneurial spirit match the enthusiasm from 20 years ago when we first started the company—our story continues."

And as the story goes, CapTech was founded as an alternative to the traditional, Big Four consulting firms and the goal from Day 1 was to create the best firm to work for and work with, where balance of life is a cornerstone and there is an emphasis on living where you work coupled with a family atmosphere, McQueen says. "Twenty years later, 40-hour work weeks are contracted in our statements of work and consultant travel preferences are honored. We've created a place where people want to spend their entire careers, not just a few years."

Meanwhile, when it comes to client delivery, McQueen says as a consulting firm rooted in delivering best-in-class technology solutions, CapTech consistently re-evaluates its services and works to understand emerging technologies. 

He says CapTech recently worked with a major utility company to provide the data tools they needed to accurately forecast energy utilization. Now with near-real-time monitoring of customer energy usage and outages, they can more accurately prepare their power supply, lower margins on excess energy production.

"We're excited to not only help our clients implement innovative solutions and technologies, but to also help them set an innovation agenda," he says. "We are helping them look how they might leverage natural language processing, modern data, chatbots, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain, among other emerging technologies to get in front of the disruption and become the disruptors themselves."

What's the top priority over the next 12 months?

McQueen: "Skill development and mentorship is a way of life at CapTech and is a key differentiator for us in the marketplace. We have a true learning culture and have taken a fresh approach to talent management. Part of this is tailoring our internal systems to give CapTechers continuous growth opportunities. We continue to make major investments in training, mentoring, and professional development across our organization."