McMillen Jacobs Associates Employee Reviews about "merger"

Pros

Flexible schedule and positive people to work with. If you have a personal issue they work with you on your schedule! They really value their commitment to the employees. Technical projects in amazing locations keep it interesting. Opportunity to make your own path. Real family environment where they care about people.

Cons

Was a family owned business (pre-merger) and the atmosphere was GREAT. Now that it has merged the company feels more corporate (politics) and less focused on getting work and doing work. Am sure this will smooth out as they seem to be getting through the merger.

Pros

Good benefits and good pay.

Cons

McMillen LLC, a husband and wife run company with a 10 year history, merged with Jacobs Associates, an employee owned firm with a 60 year history. Complete culture clash. The merger was sprung upon Jacobs Associates stock holders who had no other choice but to vote yes on the merger. The merger was not properly vetted and no management firm was brought in to make sure the transition was a smooth one. Top talent from Jacobs Associates have fled the company. McMillen is now a majority stock holder with very strong opinions of how the company should be run. Benefits are being cut. For whatever reason, the CEO and other top leaders do not stand up to them. Family members within McMillen also promoted as leaders in marketing and HR who take their commands from husband and wife majority stock holders. It’s very sad to see what has become of what was once an amazing company with excellent and unparalleled talent.

Pros

For the JA side, the project work and opportunities are excellent. I've had the opportunity to work with very talented individuals at all levels.

Cons

The merger is slowly bringing down what was once a great company for more than 6 decades. Merging with a small family business took a professional and reputable company in a whole new direction. Since the merger there has been a mass exodus of key leaders, talented engineers and corporate staff members. There is blatant nepotism of incompetent family members or family friends. Those who are not family and in management positions are spineless yes-men, too scared to rock the boat in fear of the repercussions. Compensation and benefits were good but since the merger the trend and message is to cut back, Overall total comp continues to decrease. Communication from the top is scarce and when it happens it is sketchy at best. Most of my peers are actively looking.

Pros

McMillen Jacobs is an outstanding mid-sized firm with a strong presence in the water resources and underground markets. I worked for a large international engineering firm for many years and grew tired of the snails pace and bureaucratic systems that the large company had in place. It is refreshing to see a company that focuses on the clients needs rather than maximizing profit. I am seeing an expanded focus on providing a solid platform for employees to develop their career with increasing levels of training, mentoring, and career development. McMillen Jacobs has very challenging projects which provide great opportunities for the employees throughout the organization. The added benefit of being employee owned makes the firm an excellent place to work.

Cons

There have been some growing pains during the merger process between McMillen LLC and Jacobs Associates, but the merger is now complete with the merged organization rapidly moving forward with business planning and growth.