WHITEFISH – River Design Group is a small-town company with a big-time resume. But even with large projects such as the Milltown site restoration under its belt, River Design Group remains committed to a tight-knit, small-business model. If an employee needs to get in a powder day on the mountain, arrangements can probably be made.
And not only do employees think it’s a good place to work, so does Outside magazine.
In its May issue, Outside is revealing its third-annual “Best Places to Work” list. Out of 50 companies nationwide, Whitefish’s River Design Group is ranked No. 27. Two other Montana companies on the list are Dillon-based Great Harvest Bread Co. (No. 43) and Missoula-based Adventure Life Journeys (No. 45).
River Design Group’s physical location speaks for itself: Who doesn’t want to work in paradise? But the magazine factors in many variables, including work environment, benefits, capacity for job advancement and more. The decision was based on confidential questionnaires filled out by company employees.
Chris Long, a controller at the company, said River Design Group offers a “family-first” philosophy with great work schedule flexibility.
“I’ve worked at a lot of different places,” Long said. “This is everything I’ve ever wanted in my working life.”
River Design Group is a 16-employee private consulting firm specializing in river, stream and wetland restoration projects in the Northwest United States. Its main office is in Whitefish and it has a branch in Corvallis, Ore. The firm was started in 2003 by four colleagues who were already working in the river restoration field, albeit with varying expertise.
Matt Daniels, a hydraulic engineer and one of the four founders, said he and his colleagues saw their diversity in backgrounds as a potential strength, not a disruptive force. So they banded together, along with two employees, and started a restoration company that incorporated their multiple backgrounds.
The other three founders are John Muhlfeld, a hydrologist; Andy Belski, a land surveyor; and Troy Brandt, a fisheries biologist. They recently added a fifth partner, Scott Wright, who manages the Corvallis branch.
“We said, ‘Let’s bring all the different disciplines together,” Daniels said, adding that diversity in expertise provides “all of the tools to address the complex river restoration problems.”
Natural Habitat Adventures, an ecotourism company based out of Boulder, Colo., is No. 1 on Outside’s list of “Best Places to Work,” followed by New Belgium Brewing and Clif Bar & Company. River Design Group is a spot above KEEN and three spots ahead of Patagonia.
“It was cool for us to be a small company and see our name right there with Patagonia,” said Muhlfeld, who is also a Whitefish city councilor.
Muhlfeld said River Design Group strives to be a “lifestyle company,” emphasizing an active and healthy lifestyle for its employees outside of the office. The founders are all nature enthusiasts, as are most of the employees. Last year, a team from River Design Group won the Glacier Challenge, a fundraiser race that stretches more than 50 miles and incorporates running, biking and boating.
Daniels and Muhlfeld point out that they’ve had a zero turnover rate for their employees in seven years.
“They’re all still with us, so we must being doing something right,” Muhlfeld said. “We’ve only grown.”
Nate Wyatt, an engineering technician, has worked for the firm for six years.
“The office is like working in your living room,” Wyatt said. “You’re sitting next to your friends.”
River Design Group has accumulated a dependable base of return clients, including the state of Montana, the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and local water quality groups. The firm’s work includes dam removals, fish passage projects, water quality planning and various restoration projects.
The group is involved with restoration at the Milltown Dam site, one of the biggest river restoration projects in the nation. Milltown is located at the confluence of the Clark Fork and Blackfoot rivers near Bonner, east of Missoula. The site and surrounding areas have been contaminated by toxic mine waste.
Daniels describes river restoration as a steadily growing industry, which he sees as a reflection of more people understanding the importance of a clean environment.
“It’s not a polarizing issue for people; it’s not a political issue,” Daniels said. “Everybody recognizes the need for clean water and a healthy environment.”