Tag: ESOP month

ESOP Month Fun: Anything but a Cup!

As a 100% ESOP, Tata & Howard fully participates in ESOP Month each October with numerous events focusing on education, teamwork, and fun! One of those fun events focused on water and sustainability, two things near and dear to our water engineers’ hearts.

As a professional water engineering firm, we prioritize proper hydration all year long from pure, clean tap water — no plastic water bottles allowed. But during ESOP Month, we decided to create an even bigger challenge: no cups! We were all tasked with drinking our favorite hydrogen and oxygen containing beverage from “Anything but a Cup” — and our employee-owners got super creative. And we just had to share!

Enjoy the slideshow below to see just how creative of a team we have. And we all know that creative minds produce creative solutions. 😎 Happy ESOP Month from the entire Tata & Howard team!

  • Alyssa
  • Chrissie
  • Dan
  • James Hoyt
  • Jan
  • Jenna
  • Jon
  • Joyle
  • Jucar
  • Juliette
  • Justine
  • Kai
  • Katie Calhoun
  • Katie Carreira
  • Keighty
  • Kirsten
  • Kyle Curtis
  • Maria
  • Matt Barry
  • Matt Tibbetts
  • Mike Kaczowka
  • Molly
  • Phil
  • Ryan Neyland
  • Wiktor

Imagine a Day Without Water — or Water Professionals!

In our line of work, water isn’t just our business, it’s our purpose. Every drop we help deliver carries the weight of public health and safety, sustainability, and trust. Unfortunately, both our water supply and the professionals who manage it are often taken for granted. We often tend to assume the water will always be there: clean, safe, and forever flowing.

But what if that wasn’t the case?

Imagine a day where our access to that water wasn’t available. Now, imagine a day without the people who work tirelessly to make that water safe and accessible.

As we celebrate our 33rd anniversary this month, we’re reflecting not only on our legacy, but also on what it means to serve as an employee-owned firm in the water engineering field, and the impact our water professionals have on the communities we serve.

Topping off ceremony at the Amherst Centennial Water Treatment Plant

A Legacy Built on Public Health and Protection

Clean water is the backbone of any healthy society. It is the foundation of sanitation, disease prevention, and economic development. And yet the systems that deliver it are anything but simple. They are aging, increasingly complex, and under stress from climate change, contaminants, and population growth.

That is where water professionals come in.

Engineers, operators, and technicians have long played a quiet but critical role in advancing public health and safeguarding communities. Behind every glass of clean water is an intricate infrastructure that is designed, maintained, and upgraded by these highly skilled professionals. Their work is often invisible to the public eye, but their impact is undeniable. It allows for the removal of harmful pathogens and chemicals from our systems, reliable distribution networks, and paves the way for communities to stay ahead of potential risks and failures.

At its core, water engineering is about people. Every design, operation, or maintenance effort directly impacts lives. When systems fail, the consequences are immediate and can lead to service disruptions and public health emergencies. But when water professionals succeed, their work upholds the clean and safe drinking water standards we all deserve.

Whether in large cities or remote rural areas, water professionals are stewards of public trust. As the pressures these professionals and water systems face continue to grow, so does the need to recognize their contributions and role in keeping communities safe.

More Than a Job: The Power of Employee Ownership

At Tata & Howard (T&H), we are proud to be 100% employee-owned since 2014. Our ESOP structure isn’t just a business model, but a mindset. When every team member is an owner, there’s not only a greater sense of accountability, but there’s also collaboration and pride in the work. Our team comes to work every day knowing that our designs, assessments, and expertise directly affect the health of our community, the resilience of our local municipalities, and the strength of critical infrastructure.

In our industry, the impact we have on the environment and public health is profound. For ESOPs like T&H, there is an understanding of this responsibility and a deep commitment to the initiatives that emphasize ethics, sustainability, and the well-being of the communities served. Most importantly, it keeps the mission personal. When people are able to work with a company and not for it — building it, investing in it, and growing alongside it — they bring their best. And in today’s water industry, that’s exactly what’s needed.

Lessons from Rwanda: A Global Perspective

Our team of water professionals share a commitment to clean water that doesn’t stop at local borders, but extends globally. It’s reflected in our partnership with Water for People (WFP) and participation in their Impact Tour to Rwanda, where we witnessed firsthand how long-term water and sanitation solutions (and a little help from water professionals) can transform communities.

Rwanda, a densely populated and landlocked country in East Africa has been a focal point for Water for People’s work in ensuring that every family, clinic, and school in specific districts have access to clean water and sanitation — forever. Their “Everyone Forever” model not only emphasizes infrastructure, but local empowerment, capacity building, and resilient systems that these targeted communities can manage and maintain on their own over time.

During the tour, select members of the T&H team were given a powerful reminder of how essential water professionals are to local communities. They were also able to see the transformational effect that clean water and reliable sanitation can have when systems are thoughtfully engineered and sustainably managed.

The trip highlighted what we know to be true: water engineering is about more than technical expertise; it’s about people, trust, and long-term impact. Behind every successful water system is a team of professionals solving complex challenges, planning for the future, and ensuring that communities — whether in rural Rwanda or small-town America — have the safe, reliable water they need to thrive.

T&H team members proudly wear shirts from their alma maters.

Celebrating Water (and the People Behind It)

 This October, we mark another milestone in T&H’s journey: a company anniversary that is not just another celebration of time, but of impact. It’s a moment to look back on the past 33 years of projects we’ve delivered, the communities we’ve served, and the culture we have built as an ESOP.

It’s also the perfect moment to recognize Imagine a Day Without Water (IDWW), which takes place this year on October 16. This annual day of recognition is led by the Value of Water Campaign and organized by the US Water Alliance. Every year, IDWW asks us to “imagine a day without water” in order to recognize and appreciate just how critical and indispensable this resource is when it comes to not only our daily lives, but to the environment, our communal health, and economy.

But here’s the kicker: you can’t imagine a day without water without also imagining a day without engineers, hydrologists, operators, and technicians. We can’t have reliable, safe drinking water without the people who dedicate their lives to ensuring it. When we reflect on what a day without water would mean, we not only recognize the vital role water plays in our lives, but also the unsung heroes who work every day to keep it flowing.

Conclusion

As we look forward, we know that the challenges facing our industry will only continue to grow more complex. But so will the opportunities to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact. With every water professional serving as both an expert and an owner at T&H, we are uniquely positioned to meet those challenges head-on.

On this anniversary and while taking part in Imagine a Day Without Water, we celebrate not just what we do, but who does it. To us, water is not just infrastructure; it’s life. And delivering that life, every single day, deserves to be recognized and valued.

T&H’s ESOP: Celebrating 10 Years of 100% Employee-Ownership

A Milestone Moment

This year marks an extraordinary milestone for Tata & Howard as we celebrate 10 years of being a 100% employee-owned company. Over the past decade, our ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) has transformed not only the way we do business, but also how we connect and thrive as a team.

This milestone is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and collaborative spirit of every employee-owner who has helped shape us into the company we are today. Throughout every department, both in the office and out in the field, every single person on our team has played a key role in our success. As we reflect on our journey, we’re filled with pride and excitement for the future, knowing that it is the foundation of employee ownership that continues to drive us forward.

What It Means to Be an ESOP Company

ESOPs are not just a financial framework—they’re a transformative approach to employee empowerment and business growth. ESOPs represent a modern take on retirement planning by giving employees a direct stake in the company they help shape. In fact, studies show that companies with ESOPs often grow nearly three times faster than their non-ESOP counterparts, while providing employees with almost double the retirement savings.

But the benefits of working for an ESOP extends far beyond just financial gains. ESOPs are unique in that they cultivate a thriving workplace culture that is built on collaboration, shared purpose, and a deep commitment to success. When employees are also owners, they bring an unmatched level of dedication to their work, taking personal pride in the company’s accomplishments and feeling genuinely invested in its future. This pride of ownership not only drives higher performance, innovation, and a lasting connection to the company’s mission, but morale as well.

Employee-owners celebrated National Homemade Cookie Day with a cookie bake-off

At Tata & Howard, ESOPs have been at the heart of our journey since we became 100% employee-owned in 2014. This shift has not only reshaped our business model but also fostered a thriving, inclusive culture. To further strengthen this sense of ownership and community, we’ve established a fully supported ESOP Committee that plays a crucial role in enriching our workplace by spearheading initiatives that promote team building, sustainability, employee wellness, and community engagement. The ESOP Committee creates a supportive environment where team members are able and encouraged to connect on a deeper level, driving positive change both within Tata & Howard and in the communities we serve.

Every October, we meet to review our ESOP statements with all employee-owners in the plan.  As part of the meetings, we discuss the market value per share, vesting, and ending balances in their ESOP statements.  In order for all employee-owners to fully understand how their contributions to work impact the market value, we also hold a Business 101 class for everyone from new hires to seasoned technical professionals.  We review the ins and outs of how a business runs, the performance metrics that we monitor, and the lifecycle of a project – all of which have a direct relation to the ESOP value.

Our ESOP model has become more than just an ownership structure—it’s a driving force behind the success, growth, and spirit of collaboration that define who we are.

A Year in ESOP

As we celebrate our 10th year as an employee-owned company, it’s the perfect time to reflect on how the spirit of ESOP ownership has come to life within our team. To honor this milestone and collective passion, we wanted to make this year even more special. Traditionally, the T&H team has celebrated ESOPs every October; however, this year, we decided to extend the celebration to the entire year.

Throughout 2024, we’ve embraced the values of collaboration, empowerment, and shared success in a variety of ways, making sure to honor the commitment and dedication that make our ESOP structure so special.

Game night!

In January, we kicked things off with delicious bagels and breakfast in the office. February brought out our creative side with a Valentine’s Day-themed “gingerbread house” decorating contest. March was all about friendly competition as we hit the lanes for a bowling night at APEX. April saw us giving back with a walk and trash pick-up event that ended at Lost Shoe Brewing, while May featured a team dinner at Firefly’s. In June we celebrated our project successes with a catered lunch, and July took us out to Polar Park for a WooSox game. August brought another culinary treat with dinner at The Fix, followed by a relaxing lunch for the office in September. Finally, we wrapped things up in October with some competitive fun at Putt Shack, a homemade cookie contest, and our 32nd anniversary celebration.

Employee-owners at Putt Shack in October

This year’s events not only strengthened our bond as employee-owners but also showcased the positive impact ESOPs have on both our company culture and the broader community.

You can read more about the highlights from this past year in The Wave’s recent issue, here.

Conclusion

As we celebrate this remarkable milestone, we are reminded of the power of employee ownership and the collective spirit that fuels our success at Tata & Howard. Each event this past year has not only highlighted our commitment to collaboration and community but has also reinforced the values that make our company truly unique. The journey of the past decade has been one of growth, learning, and shared achievements, and we are excited to continue building on this strong foundation in the years to come.

Together, as proud employee-owners, we will forge ahead, embracing new challenges and opportunities, always striving to make a positive impact on our company and the communities we serve. Here’s to many more years of shared success, celebration, and making a difference together!

T&H Celebrates ESOP Month

There’s more to celebrate during the month of October than pumpkin spice lattes and leaf peeping…it’s ESOP Month!

Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are more than just a financial arrangement. They represent a unique and modern take on retirement plans through a highly tax-advantaged plan in which employees own shares through a trust funded by the company. Studies have shown that companies with ESOPs grow almost three times as fast as non-ESOP companies and are able to provide employees with approximately two times the retirement assets.

Beyond the financial aspect, ESOPs promote a rich culture of collaboration and commitment, where employees have a genuine interest in the company’s success, driving them to contribute their best efforts and feel empowered by their commitment.

ESOPs have been an integral part of the Tata & Howard journey as we have been 100% employee-owned since 2014. Since doing so, we have created four dedicated ESOP committees: the ESOP Communications Committee, the Green Committee, the Wellness Committee, and the Philanthropy Committee. Together, these committees work tirelessly, both independently and together, to bring team building and bonding, a sense of community, lighthearted entertainment, and a positive change to the T&H environment.

This month, we want to take this opportunity to recognize their significance and the wonderful people who make them work – our amazing team!

How does T&H embrace ESOP culture?

For starters, outside of ESOP Month, we have monthly planned team activities that focus heavily on philanthropic initiatives and client-centric special events, including a time capsule planting, an annual scholarship, and other team-bonding focused activities like poker nights, and more — all thanks to our ESOP committees!

This month, we have a multitude of fun-packed events that have been perfectly curated for our ESOP family, all based on at least one of our core values.

Month-Long Food Drive

The first week of the month saw the start of our month-long food drive to the Worcester County Food Bank (WCFB). The WCFB is one of only three Feeding America member food banks in the entire state of Massachusetts, providing food to tens of thousands of people every year. At the end of the month, we will weigh the collected donations to see just how much our team was able to rally together for the members of our local community that are experiencing food shortages, all the while demonstrating T&H’s commitment to social responsibility.

Family Feud Competition and Level 99 Adventure

Every Tuesday this October, the T&H crew will break out into teams for the month-long Family Feud competition. We even have our very own Steve Harvey! (pictured below). Not only will the weekly competition serve as a sure-fire cure for any lingering post-Monday blues, it will also foster friendly competition, a sense of togetherness, communication, and of course, a lot of laughter and light hearted entertainment! The competition started on October 3 and the final round will be held on October 24.

As we cannot seem to get enough friendly competition, our team brought their A-game at October 12’s Level 99 event. Level 99 is a one-of-a-kind destination where patrons have access to over 40 themed challenge rooms that are designed to test both their physical and mental capabilities in an effort to win challenges and collect rewards. (Again, have we mentioned just how much the T&H team loves some friendly competition?)

Anniversary Lunch and Website/Movie Premiere

On October 19, 2023, T&H turned 31 years old, so cue the “happy birthday” song! We were founded on October 19, 1992 by Donald J. Tata and Paul B. Howard. This exciting anniversary was celebrated by a company-wide catered lunch where we also discussed important company initiatives. Once the business portion of the day was completed, it was time for the party to start. The company hosted a premiere of both our new website (click around and check it out!) and new corporate video, both in-person and virtual for our team.

Other Planned ESOP Month Events

  • Represent Your Alma Mater Day where our team is encouraged to don a shirt or item of clothing representing their colleges.
  • An Owners Meeting followed by a suspenseful, immersive, and exciting Murder Mystery party.
  • A Halloween-themed party, and more!

This ESOP Month, let’s celebrate the power of shared ownership, dedication, and teamwork. Thank you for being part of our journey and for helping make our company the success that it is today.

 

ESOP Month – It’s a Wrap!

Tata & Howard is a 100% employee-owned company, or ESOP. Being an ESOP is an integral part of our corporate culture, and we consistently strive to enhance our core values of teamwork, innovative solutions, positive attitude, efficiency, and integrity through teambuilding activities throughout the year. October is ESOP Month, celebrated by ESOP companies across the United States, and an excellent time for all of us at Tata & Howard to focus on the benefits of employee-ownership as well as the core values that have been with us since our inception in 1992.

Earlier in the month, we showcased how our four ESOP committees – Communications, Green, Philanthropy, and Wellness – planned a month of activities for the Tata & Howard team, Harry Potter style. The first half of the month saw a philanthropic initiative to raise funds for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a community trash cleanup day, and a “Minute to Win It” challenge, as well as various food-themed events. The second half of ESOP Month was also filled with fun and festive activities, including the firm’s official 25th anniversary.

Co-Presidents Karen Gracey and Jenna Rzasa poured the celebratory champagne

On October 19, Tata & Howard officially turned 25 years old. Founded on October 19, 1992, Tata & Howard has grown from a two-person startup to a thriving 70-person firm with nine offices in seven states as well as Ontario, Canada. On October 19, all offices were treated to a celebratory catered lunch, where Co-President Karen Gracey and Co-Founder and Senior Vice President Paul Howard spoke to the entire team about the history of the firm as well as goals for the future. After the speeches, everyone raised a champagne toast for 25 exceptional years in business — and for 25 more — after which we all received Tata & Howard branded fleece jackets.

Taking a selfie with a dinosaur was a hunt requirement!

On Saturday, October 21, we celebrated our 25th anniversary in style, beginning at the Boston Museum of Science, where 70 T&H employee-owners (EOs) and their guests participated in a Murder Mystery Scavenger Hunt throughout the museum. Broken into 10 teams, EOs received 24 clues and a coded sheet and were given two hours to complete their assignment. The hunt was highly entertaining while also providing EOs the chance to get to know their fellow EOs from other offices a bit better. Not surprisingly, six of the ten teams fully completed the challenge with all correct answers, so the winner was determined through some tie-breaking trivia questions about the museum. The winning team was Team 2 Beat, who were all smiles for the photo!

Team 2 Beat

After completing the scavenger hunt, EOs headed over to the Union Oyster House, the oldest restaurant in the United States, where we enjoyed appetizers and drinks in a private room. Once everyone had arrived, a theater troupe from Monson, MA (one of our clients!) began their performance of Trial & Error, a hilarious interactive show that takes place in a courtroom. Each act was given between courses, and the laughter could be heard throughout the restaurant. At the end of the night, we cut into our special 25th anniversary cake and savored the sweet taste of success. The night was highly enjoyable and a true celebration of our firm’s incredible accomplishments.

Steve Landry took his folding very seriously.

Also during the second half of ESOP Month, EOs participated in a paper airplane contest. EOs in all offices had ten minutes to make paper airplanes out of standard copy paper. No glue, tape, paper clips, tearing, or puncturing of the paper were allowed. After the planes were built, it was time to test! Points were awarded on a basis of longest distance flown as well as longest air time. First, second, and third place winners in each category won points for their houses. Adam Carrier took top spot for distance with 37.3 feet flown, and James Hoyt won first place for airtime with 3.1 seconds. Jon Gregory and William Grant came in second and third, respectively, in both events, with distances of 37.2 feet and 36.7 feet, and airtimes of 2.65 seconds and 2.6 seconds.

Will Grant and Sal Longo test flew their planes in Waterbury, CT.
Brian Biagini learned that not all flights necessarily go as planned!

Another friendlier challenge was our thank you note challenge, sponsored by the Philanthropy Committee. EOs were asked to send thank you notes or emails to their fellow co-workers, and for every thank you they sent, the ESOP Committee would send $1.00 to DARE Family Services, with a three thank you note per EO cap. The day brought lots of smiles as people received special messages of appreciation, and we ended up collecting $108 to send to DARE. The event was well received and reminded everyone to show gratitude.

During the last week of ESOP Month, EOs participated in a step competition, sponsored by our Wellness Committee. The team with the highest total steps as well as the team with the most participation would receive points for their houses. Over half the company participated, and collectively we racked up an astounding 1,754,372 steps!  That’s the equivalent of walking from Marlborough, Massachusetts to Cincinnati, Ohio.

To wrap up ESOP Month, EOs got together after work on Monday, October 30 to enjoy some home baked pumpkin treats and pumpkin beer while we decorated mini pumpkins. On Halloween, the house points were tallied, and we are happy to announce that Ravenclaw wins the House Cup! All in all, ESOP Month was another huge success, and we are already planning for next year.

ESOP Month Update

As a 100% employee-owned company, Tata & Howard has a unique culture that celebrates teamwork, efficiency, integrity, positivity, philanthropy, sustainability, and yes, even fun. ESOP Month is celebrated by ESOP companies throughout the United States in October each year, and it serves as an excellent reminder of the many reasons why being part of an ESOP is such an exciting opportunity. Throughout the month, employee-owners (EOs) participate in challenges, activities, educational sessions, and philanthropic initiatives that embody the essence of ESOP culture and serve to remind EOs of the incredible benefits realized by being part of an ESOP company.

At Tata & Howard, our four ESOP committees – Communications, Green, Philanthropy, and Wellness – got together to plan a month’s worth of festivities. The month kicked off with cider donuts, cider, and coffee in all offices, after which EOs were sorted into houses, Harry Potter style. EOs will stay in their house for the month and houses will collect points based on participation and success in challenges. The house with the most points at the end of the month is declared the winner and receives the House Cup.

Our first challenge was a philanthropic initiative. EOs were asked to donate to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and the company offered to match all donations dollar for dollar. Both participation and total donation amounts were important; therefore, lots of pledging took place over the next week. The houses were evenly matched and only after some last minute pledging did Ravenclaw win for total donation, while Slytherin took home the participation prize. The most impressive statistic is that 80% of our EOs participated in this important event. The total tally after the company match was $6,650!

Also during week 1, EOs celebrated National Taco Day, which officially fell on October 4. Some offices had a taco potluck and others grabbed tacos from a local restaurant, but all offices enjoyed National Taco Day and spending some downtime together.

Week 2 brought on a whole new set of challenges. EOs participated in a “Minute to Win It” challenge that included building the tallest possible tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows in five minutes, and three one minute challenges including moving piles of index cards by sucking them up with a straw, moving marshmallows with chopsticks, and eating a cookie from one’s forehead without using hands. Needless to say, laughs abounded and we learned who eats a lot of ramen and who has experience with forehead cookie eating! Points were again awarded for both participation and winning challenges.

On Friday of Week 2, EOs headed outside at all offices to pick up trash in their local communities. It was a beautiful, sunny day and EOs were successful in cleaning up their areas while enjoying camaraderie. Only participation points were awarded since we couldn’t get any volunteers to weigh the trash collected. At the end of week 2, the standings were as follows:

Slytherin: 120
Gryffindor: 75
Ravenclaw: 50
Hufflepuff: 40

Next week’s plans include a thank you note challenge and a paper airplane challenge, as well as our 25th anniversary celebration. Stay tuned for updates!

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ESOP Poker Night

Since many EOs were at the corporate office in Marlborough, MA for training on September 20, the ESOP Committee decided to host an after-hours Poker Night complete with barbecue from Firefly’s and a variety of beers including fellow ESOP Harpoon Brewery’s Flannel Friday. EOs enjoyed some great food and downtime while also participating in a friendly Texas Hold’Em tournament. The grand winner of the night was Dave Ceppetelli from the Vermont office, and he walked away with a VISA gift card. The response from the team was extremely positive, and we can’t wait for the next fun outing (which will be very soon considering October is ESOP Month!)