In a time where the workforce seems to be spread thin and employers are finding it hard to hire new employees, Farris Engineering, Inc. (farris-usa.com) has been able to keep it in the family. For over 23 years, Kristy Cimino has worked for Farris as a project administrator. In that time, she has also raised a couple of children—one of whom currently works as an administrative assistant for Farris.
Rachel Cimino started working at Farris a couple years ago to help her mother with various projects throughout the office.
“Rachel has known the company and some of the employees since she was a baby. The small work environment brings a sense of closeness and a supportive family atmosphere,” Kristy said.
Not only is Rachel helping her mom, but she is also gaining valuable experience in the areas of multitasking, time management, critical thinking, working with a variety of individuals, and technical experience with exposure to the engineering and construction fields. This experience can be used as she builds her career currently at Farris and in the future.
As the company continues to grow, Marc Behrens, Information Systems & Technologies Manager, also found the need to hire someone to help.
“I had a number of new equipment changes, servers and phone system that needed updated,” said Marc. “It was a great opportunity for my son Korbyn to get the experience of working for a company in his field of study.”
With an Associate in Applied Science degree in cyber security, Korbyn is also helping with content and compliance so Farris can obtain a Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification for government work.
“Although I’ve only worked here for a couple months, I’ve developed some great working relationships with my co-workers,” said Korbyn. “I’m glad to not only get experience in my field of study, but also more about how Farris runs on a daily basis.”
Dave and Zane Benscoter also are a father-son duo who work for Farris. Dave is currently the company’s building information modeling manager and senior designer while his son, Zane, works as an electrical design intern.
“I originally wanted to be an architect but didn’t enjoy the classes. Over the years I have learned basic design material from my dad and it peaked my interest,” said Zane.
He enjoys expanding his knowledge in engineering and learning new information.
“I thought he might get lost in the shuffle of a big box company. Farris is a great place to teach the basics of business by learning how to ask the right questions and work together to get the job done,” Dave said.
Zane will start school in the spring at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in the engineering department. The internship at Farris allows him to explore a career path in engineering, network with professionals in the field, gain confidence, and develop and refine learned skills.
As an 100% employee-owned company, Farris really acts like one big family. So, bringing in talent from Farris’ extended family at an early stage and developing it makes sense. They are building tomorrow’s workforce one family member at a time.
Farris Engineering, Inc. is an industry leader in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering since being founded in Omaha in 1967. The employee-owned company provides value added expertise with employees versed in LEED AP, fire protection, geothermal and lighting design, sustainability and energy conservation, and commissioning. Farris is headquartered in Omaha with four additional offices in Lincoln; Sidney, NE; Colorado Springs, CO; and Kansas City, MO. For more information about Farris, please visit one of their offices, log on to farris-usa.com, or call them at (402) 330-5900.