Benesch blueprints a path to their people’s success

Benesch is a premier civil engineering and professional services firm headquartered in the United States. With offices strategically located in numerous cities across the country, Benesch is dedicated to enhancing communities through collaboration with both public and private agencies. Their projects span various infrastructure facets, showcasing their engineering, planning, and landscape architecture expertise. The firm’s commitment to delivering high-quality, innovative solutions has solidified its reputation as an industry leader.

Founded on the principles of knowledge sharing and continuous improvement of its staff and services, Benesch fosters a unique corporate culture where employees are encouraged to learn from one another. This collaborative environment is evident in the firm's approach to project execution and professional development. Benesch's employees, many of whom began their careers as interns or entry-level engineers, often stay with the company for their entire careers. This longevity speaks to the firm's supportive environment and the strong sense of community and shared purpose among its staff.

As Benesch expanded over the decades, the traditional methods of knowledge sharing and professional development, while effective in a smaller, more contained setting, started to show limitations. The growing need for structured, scalable and easily accessible training and development programs became evident. The company recognized that its existing HR processes required a more comprehensive system to handle its workforce's increased complexity and scale. To address these challenges and support their commitment to employee development, Benesch turned to Cornerstone.

Director of Learning and Development at Benesch, Julie Melidis, embodies the company's culture of growth and mentorship. Since starting as an intern 28 years ago, Melidis has witnessed firsthand the company's evolution and commitment to employee development.

"Our industry is very technical, and we have a lot of subject matter experts," she explains. "Historically, engineers, planners and landscape architects at Benesch have always learned from each other. We've always been a knowledge-sharing organization from the very beginning.”

One of Benesch's most significant workforce challenges has been hiring skilled and talented AEC (Architecture, Engineering and Construction) professionals. The competition for engineers, landscape architects, planners and other technical experts is fierce, making it crucial for Benesch to differentiate itself as an employer of choice.

"Everyone's hiring, and we have to stand out," says Melidis.

Melidis explains that Benesch’s key differentiator lies in how it values its employees. “Our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in them through our learning and development initiatives. We take into consideration what they want to do with their careers and help them get to that point,” she shares. This approach has always been part of Benesch's ethos, aiming for long-term employee retention. However, as the company grew, there was a need to better communicate this commitment to potential hires.

To attract and retain top talent, Benesch needed a way to effectively showcase their robust learning and development programs. “We have established programs and numerous opportunities that we highlight at career fairs and through our referral programs,” Melidis notes. The challenge was ensuring that these efforts attracted new talent and aligned with a strong retention strategy. By emphasizing their investment in employee growth and engagement, Benesch aimed to maintain a workforce that was not only skilled but also loyal and motivated.

"Our firm has always thrived on the expertise of our employees and their willingness to share knowledge," says Melidis. "But as we grew, we needed a more efficient way to manage and disseminate this knowledge."

Melidis also wanted to improve workforce agility, especially as the company expanded its geographic footprint and service lines. With offices in various locations and a diverse range of services, it was essential for employees to be aware of all the capabilities and opportunities within the company.

The onboarding process became a focal point for addressing this challenge. Benesch needed a comprehensive approach to introduce new employees to the company’s various service lines and geographic areas. This was crucial not only for employee growth but also for enhancing client interactions.

As Benesch sought to address their recruiting, retention and workforce agility challenges, they knew Cornerstone would be up to the task.

"We just needed to scale larger, and Cornerstone really helped us do that," says Melidis. “We were able to take our in-house learning sessions and recorded or made them available on a platform where people could see it company-wide.”

The further expansion of Cornerstone Learn started with internally rebranding the software as Benesch University. This allowed for a more comprehensive and structured approach to employee development. With a wide range of courses and learning paths available, employees could pursue their professional growth in a more guided and intentional manner. This comprehensive platform addressed various aspects of employee development, from technical skills to leadership training, ensuring a well-rounded growth experience.

By leveraging Cornerstone’s robust capabilities, Benesch has enhanced its training programs and expanded its reach. The LMS's flexibility and scalability mean that as Benesch continues to grow, its learning and development initiatives can evolve alongside it.

“Although I do think of it as a huge software product, for us that means that we could probably do a lot more with it in the future as we grow,” Melidis notes.

Looking ahead, Benesch is excited about the possibilities that Cornerstone continues to offer. One of the next big initiatives is the implementation of skills mapping. “What’s next for us with Cornerstone is really the skills database. We’re looking forward to building that out,” says Melidis.

This initiative aims to provide a detailed understanding of the skills and competencies within the organization, helping to identify gaps and opportunities for development. By mapping out the skills of its workforce, Benesch can better align training programs with the company's needs and the career aspirations of its employees. This targeted approach will not only enhance individual development but also strengthen the company's overall capabilities.

Employee feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. They appreciate the accessibility and quality of the training programs and the opportunities for professional growth. This positive reception has reinforced Benesch’s commitment to investing in its people and ensuring that learning and development remain a core part of the company’s culture.

“What I’m most proud of about the Benesch learning culture is our people,” Melidis says. “We have the smartest people at Benesch, and they’re so willing to share information.”

Enhanced training and development programs have increased retention rates, as employees feel valued and supported in their professional growth. The ability to showcase robust learning and development opportunities has strengthened Benesch’s recruitment efforts, attracting top talent in a competitive market.Access to comprehensive training and resources has equipped employees with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles, boosting overall productivity and performance.

The partnership between Benesch and Cornerstone has been a transformative journey marked by significant growth and success. From addressing initial challenges in recruitment, retention and workforce agility to implementing innovative solutions and achieving impressive results, Benesch has demonstrated the power of a robust learning and development strategy.

Benesch’s strong culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing is at the heart of this success. Employees' willingness to share their expertise and support each other’s growth has been a cornerstone of Benesch’s learning culture. The introduction of Cornerstone has amplified this culture, providing the tools and platform needed to support and enhance knowledge sharing across the company.

By continuing to innovate and invest in its people, Benesch is well-positioned to navigate future challenges and remain a leader in the AEC industry. This journey of growth and collaboration serves as a testament to the power of strategic learning and development initiatives in driving organizational success.