“We encourage employees to make meaningful contributions in the community through organized workplace activities, mentoring in our schools, and volunteering in community projects and charitable campaigns. Pare supports these activities by providing flexible office hours, the use of facilities and materials, and by making direct financial contributions. We all benefit from supporting the community, and we receive a tremendous amount of fulfillment from helping others.”
Larry Riggs, Pare President
Professional Interests
Sustainability / Resiliency Committee
Pare is committed to staying at the forefront of sustainable design and using best “green” practices. This committee reviews the latest developments in sustainable design and plans staff activities to employ these methods into our projects. The committee also provides internal guidance for climate change resilience and emergency preparedness, which have the potential to significantly impact project design, permitting, and life-cycle costs—particularly for many of our coastal projects. The Sustainability / Resiliency Committee also spearheads firm-wide recycling initiatives.
Rising Professionals Committee
The Rising Professionals Committee is comprised of some of Pare’s newest employees and individuals in the early stages of their careers to share work and work-life concerns. The committee provides a forum for sharing ideas regarding career advancement and balancing work-life commitments. In addition to planning company-wide social activities, they host a lunch & learn program—”The Enlightened Bite”—that allows senior staff to share their career experiences.
Stormwater Practice Group
As so many of our projects encompass green stormwater management, we have created an interdisciplinary Stormwater Practice Group. The group encourages new knowledge and developing skillsets to provide a comprehensive understanding of best management practices regarding stormwater and resilience. This group also coordinates the Firm’s efforts to support municipal resilience planning/projects, grant funding applications in support of current projects, and stormwater crediting.
Professional Development
Professional Development is an important aspect of the Pare culture as a way for staff to gain new expertise and leadership skills. The firm holds corporate memberships in many professional organizations in which Pare employees are encouraged to engage in organizational activities. In addition, Pare employees are encouraged to take active roles in civic organizations.
Engineers Week
National Engineers Week was started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers to call attention to the contributions to society that engineers make. In addition to being observed by more than 70 engineering, education, & cultural societies and more than 50 corporations & government agencies, it is celebrated each year at Pare with a special luncheon.
Charitable
Giving Back
The spirit of philanthropy runs deep in the firm’s culture as employees are encouraged to positively impact their communities. In addition, Pare employees have been voluntarily fulfilling the holiday wish lists for the children in Boys Town New England’s foster care programs in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts since 1996. It is unanimously considered one of the best times of year at Pare, as our office transforms into Santa’s workshop. Pare has also purchased turkeys for the Thanksgiving Meal Program for the last five years and supports Boys Town fundraisers and activities throughout the year. Pare was honored in 2014 by Boys Town New England with the “Spirit of Youth” award and in 2019 by the Rhode Island Monthly Magazine & Rhode Island Foundation with a 2019 Common Good Award which “recognizes Rhode Island businesses that inspire philanthropy in their employees around the state, not by writing a check to a worthy cause, but by encouraging staff to go into the community and help.”
Educational
Volunteering and Mentoring
Volunteering and mentoring are important to the Pare culture. Throughout the year employees volunteer as mentors, teachers, and judges in a variety of activities, including engineering competitions, career fairs, and classroom presentations to help inspire the next generation of engineers. Pare has participated in the ACE (Architecture, Construction, and Engineering) Mentoring Program to encourage high school students to develop their interests into career opportunities.
Lunch and Learns
Continuing education and the sharing of “best practices” help the staff of Pare better serve clients and develop stronger projects. Pare leaders offer frequent lunchtime educational programs to disseminate information and share their years of industry experience.
Recreational
Extra-Curricular Soccer
Whether initiating a company-wide fitness challenge or fielding company teams for soccer, bowling, softball, basketball and other leagues, the Pare family values teamwork outside the office as much as in it! To support this value, Pare sponsors a competitive co-ed soccer team throughout the year.
Social Activities
Pare employees love to come out for a good time, a good cause, and a good workout. Bowling is a popular activity as a way to give back. Most recently, the Rising Professionals Committee organized a friendly night of bowling to help raise money for St. Mary’s Home for Children.
Getting Outdoors
Many Pare employees feel that physical activity is a vital contributor to work performance. It is also a fun way to bring Pare staff together. From ski trips to marathons, getting outdoors to enjoy the natural beauty of the region is enjoyed by all!
