Best 2012 Companies to Work For: Echo Consulting Services Inc. [Business NH Magazine]

(Business NH Magazine Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BEST SMALL COMPANY TO WORK FOR #4 Echo Consulting Services Inc.

Information technology involves a lot of math and logic, while human services requires compassion. Mesh the two together and you get Echo Consulting Services, a company providing IT services to the humans services field, where treating employees nicely drives all company policies. "Simply treating people nicely is smart, good business. It makes my life more pleasant to have people who enjoy working here. You don't have to devote a lot of energy or money to it, you just have to be thoughtful," says George Epstein, president and chairman of the board.

Echo's offices are filled with gadgets, from video game consoles to tablets, and employees are encouraged to play with them. The reason is this: Echo's software is used by medical staff without technical training so employees need to design systems that are easy to use. "I make people play video games sometimes. The best designs and easiest things to use are in games," Epstein says. He adds that knowing their products help more than 1 million people also motivates employees.

Employees who need a break can also play ping-pong, work out and use onsite showers, or walk to a local ice cream shop where the company sets up a tab for the summer. Echo starts each spring when Epstein declares Spring Walk Day and gives employees 30 minutes to walk to free ice cream. "You flash your card and get your cone or cup. What this does is it gets people out of the building as a group," says Epstein. While the business link may not he obvious, Epstein says camaraderie, exercise and taking a brain break are important for employee and company well-being.

This focus on well-being also extends to training and personal finances. Employees are reimbursed for college courses, but are also encouraged to take online classes through the firm's Echo Academy. The company is also thoughtful about health care - covering 89.3 percent of individual premiums but intentionally not paying 100 percent so employees recognize the cost and engage in their own health care spending. As for retirement, Echo matches 25 percent of employees' 401(k) contributions with no limit.

Finally, giving back to the community is a key tenet and Echo matches employee charitable contributions up to $100. This year Echo organized a cash mob at Sherman Farm in Conway, providing employees with time off and $20 to spend. "We have, I think, a duty to give back to the community, and the other reason is it's something people appreciate and value," Epstein says.

15 Washington St., P.O. Box 2150, Conway www.echoman.com Chairman of the Board and President: George Epstein Years in Business: 32 NH Employees: 53 Total Employees: 78 Years on List: 1 Company Description: electronic health record and billing software for behavioral health and social service organizations Benefit Highlights: $100 match for charitable contributions; locker rooms, yoga and showers on site; free ice cream all summer at area ice cream shop; individualized gifts for years of service, including an iPod Touch and artist-signed painting (c) 2012 Millyard Communications, Inc

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