RAND Office Manager Jenny Derici and Client Services Associates Jackson Berns and Mark Bramlall accept the award on behalf of RAND at Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC award ceremony on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
We’re proud to announce that RAND Engineering & Architecture, DPC has once again been named one of Crain’s Best Places to Work in New York City, marking our 14th appearance on the list.
Each year, Crain’s New York Business recognizes a group of standout companies that are setting the bar for workplace culture, employee satisfaction, and long-term investment in people. To create the list, Crain’s partners with Workforce Research Group, which evaluates each firm based on an employer questionnaire and a confidential employee survey. The employee survey makes up the majority of the score, reflecting real insight into workplace experience, leadership, and day-to-day culture.
We’re especially honored to be recognized again, because this award is shaped by the voices of the people who work here.
“We’ve always tried to build the kind of workplace we’d want to be part of - where people are supported, challenged, and treated with respect,” said Stephen A. Varone, AIA, President and Founder of RAND. “The fact that this recognition comes from our employees means a lot. It tells us we’re doing something right, and gives us even more reason to keep improving.”
A Culture You Can Build On
At RAND, we often say that our strength lies in our people, and we mean it. From newly licensed engineers to team leaders who’ve spent their entire careers here, RAND is a place where employees are encouraged to grow, challenged to lead, and supported in building a meaningful, sustainable career.
We offer a range of programs designed to support professional development at every level: mentoring for emerging professionals, job shadowing and cross-training, weekly lunch-and-learns, and a Project Manager certification track developed in-house. We also know that life outside of work matters, so we back that with a strong benefits package, paid parental leave, and wellness resources that support employees through every stage of life.
But culture isn’t just about policies. It’s about how people treat one another day to day. RAND’s weekly all-staff meetings foster firm-wide transparency and connection. Our movie nights, summer Fridays, and occasional craft lunches give our staff a chance to unwind, connect, and enjoy time outside of the usual routine. And our long-running community service program, RAND Gives Back, has raised nearly $1 million for causes our employees care about.
Staying True to Our Values
We’re proud to remain an independent, employee-owned firm - one where more than 50 staff members are shareholders. That ownership model reinforces the long-term mindset we bring to everything we do: taking care of our team, investing in what works, and delivering quality, hands-on service to clients who trust us with their buildings.
Being named a Crain’s Best Place to Work for the 14th time is more than an award, it’s a reflection of the culture we’ve built together. It’s a reminder that when people feel valued, respected, and supported, they do great work.
We’re grateful to every member of the RAND team who makes this possible, and to Crain’s for recognizing what we’ve built.
Isabelle Walsh is Human Resources Manager at RAND.
