The 2018 Best Small Firms to Work For: Cask

Consulting Service Lines: Strategy, Operations, HR, IT

This makes seven out of the last eight years for Cask as one of the Best Small Firms to Work For, an impressive run for sure. 

Being a Best Small Firm has had a profound impact on the firm, says Neil Anderson, CMO of Cask. "We believe that by taking care of our employees, our employees will take care of our clients, and our clients will take care of Cask," Anderson says. "Being a great place to work creates an environment where this is possible. Cask is proud to once again achieve the recognition of being a Best Small Firm to Work For, and we believe it shows that our focus on our people works, and our growth and customer success proves that our employees take great care of our clients."

Meanwhile, Anderson says it's important that Cask stays No. 1 in its target spaces. "Cask will continue to grow, but will be focused on our partners and customers where we can grow smartly, leveraging our relationships and capabilities to transform some of the largest global organizations—while staying a 'Small Giant,' " Anderson says. 

Cask has included the concept of being a 'Small Giant' as a part of its Cask Culture, this begins even before an employee starts at Cask and is reinforced through onboarding and regular all hands meetings. "Even as Cask continues to grow, focusing on the Small Giant ethos has allowed us to stay a Best Small Firm to Work For," says Anderson. "Morale at Cask is something unique. The focus on the relationship with our clients and each other creates the highest order of employee satisfaction." 

Cask is also unique, Anderson says, in its employee first approach—the idea of the Cooper (how Cask refers to employees) as an artisan engineer—makes the firm unique. "It gives Cask the ability to deliver transformational results and large scale solutions while having the agility and flexibility being a small firm allows," Anderson says. "Only with our rare blend of deep domain expertise and technology knowhow can we deliver solutions to our clients' most critical challenges."

On the survey, Cask excelled in the areas of Compensation & Benefits and Work/Life Balance. Anderson says Cask has a compensation and benefit program that is comprehensive and well-leveraged with its employees. "We have listened to what is important to our employees, and try to deliver benefits that are meaningful at the right cost (to the company and employee) across the breadth of the company," he says. "Employee wellness and work-life balance is measured weekly and is reported on our monthly and quarterly all hands meetings, and when we hear things are out of balance, we take initiative to ensure that our employees' needs are met."

When you look at the remainder of this year and 2019, what excites you? What opportunities do you see? 

Anderson: "2018 has been an exciting year for Cask. There have been some exciting projects in the Federal and SLED space, significant new logos in the Global 2000, and we were proud to announce being recognized as a ServiceNow Gold Sales and Gold Services Partner, which will bring with it additional opportunities to grow. The need for transformation, organizational change, and proven execution will continue to accelerate in our markets as we move into the new year."