Perficient had the honor of collaborating with the Mark Cuban Foundation for a third year to host impactful Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamps for high school students in Dallas, Houston, Detroit, and St. Louis. Our colleagues have a strong passion for making a difference in their communities, and partnering with the Mark Cuban foundation to advance STEM education has been an incredible experience for all involved. Read on below to see how each of our local teams connected with their communities and helped drive the next generation of technology leaders forward.   

Houston 

For the second year in a row, we welcomed an impressive group of 21-24 eager high school students for each of the four weekends of our AI Bootcamp in Houston. Supported by a team of 16 dedicated Perficient volunteer mentors, this experience was more than just an educational endeavor – it was a collaborative journey to shape the future of tech leaders. 

Our passionate mentors, committed to nurturing the potential of the next generation, played a pivotal role in guiding students through the intricate landscape of AI concepts and applications. 

“The program was incredible. From an educational perspective, it was a great opportunity for kids to see the basic theories and principles around AI Design. The kids learned over the course of four days enough to participate in an assignment that gave them an opportunity to pitch their own AI Based Concepts and Solutions. We as an organization were blown away by the kids. They were incredibly smart and driven. I think the consensus from our Houston camp was that the future of technology and AI is in good hands with this young generation.”

–  Alex McBride, Senior Project Manager

Dallas 

For its third consecutive year, our Dallas AI Bootcamp drew the enthusiasm of 28 high school students, each ready to embark on a transformative journey into the world of Artificial Intelligence. Committed to fostering the next generation of tech leaders, Perficient brought together a team of 13 dedicated volunteers to guide these aspiring innovators through a four-day intensive program. 

The Dallas Bootcamp not only provided a platform for immersive learning but also served as a stage for students to interact with AI pioneers and experts as guest speakers. These luminaries shared their insights, experiences, and wisdom, igniting a spark of curiosity and fueling the students’ passion for AI. 

Throughout the program, students delved into a diverse range of AI tools and applications. This hands-on exploration equipped them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand the principles and theories behind AI design. The success of the camp was evident as students with newfound expertise actively participated in an assignment challenging them to pitch their own AI-based concepts and solutions. One notable aspect of the Dallas Bootcamp was the students’ impressive showcase on the last day. With passion and precision, they presented a variety of AI ideas that ranged from groundbreaking solutions to forward-thinking applications. 

“In Dallas, the theme was clear – ‘Accelerating Imagination – AI Unleashed.’ As Perficient and the Mark Cuban Foundation continue to collaborate, these AI Bootcamps stand as a testament to the boundless potential and bright future of AI, driven by the passion and creativity of the next generation.”

-Srini Kotaru, Senior Project Manager

St. Louis 

In St. Louis, Perficient proudly hosted 25 ambitious high school students for its first-ever AI Bootcamp experience. Over the course of several weekends, our dedicated team of 21 mentors and volunteers, each contributing their expertise, worked hand-in-hand with these young minds to unravel the mysteries of Artificial Intelligence. 

The St. Louis AI Bootcamp was a remarkable opportunity for students to dive into the possibilities that AI offers, sparking their curiosity and expanding their understanding of the limitless potential within AI. Our mentors, driven by a passion for nurturing emerging talent, were pivotal in guiding students through the multifaceted landscape of AI concepts and applications. 

As the students immersed themselves in a hands-on exploration of AI tools and applications, they gained valuable insights into the principles and theories underlying AI design. The Bootcamp not only served as an educational platform but also as a space for students to interact with industry experts and pioneers who shared their experiences, igniting the flames of curiosity and a passion for AI innovation. 

“We are investing in the communities that Perficient supports for future generations. It ties in perfectly with our belief system and everything we stand for.”

– Amy Barondeau, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

To top off the excitement of the bootcamps, Mark Cuban himself even popped in to give these future leaders in tech some insight! 

Detroit 

In the motor city, we had 13 students and 6 volunteers. Throughout several weekends, our passionate students in Detroit got the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience with AI through hands-on workshops. These workshops helped demystify complex concepts, from building basic models to tackling real-world problems as demonstrated by the students’ final capstone project.

In addition to hands-on experiences, our students had the opportunity to engage with and establish valuable connections with industry experts and thought leaders in AI. These professionals shared insights, stories, and practical advice that helped fuel their passion for AI and data.

“Beyond the technical skills acquired, there is also a sense of empowerment and opening doors to futures yet to be imagined. The students should now view themselves as architects of change and innovators of tomorrow. My hope is that as they take their newfound knowledge back to their schools and neighborhoods, the impact multiplies.”

– Gugu Mabuza, Director CDDO Consulting

Ready to Grow Your Career 

As we reflect on the culmination of Perficient’s collaborative efforts with the Mark Cuban Foundation in hosting transformative AI Bootcamps across Dallas, Houston, Detroit and St. Louis, it is evident that the impact has been profound. 

At Perficient, we are consistently committed to empowering our skilled workforce by providing compelling projects for esteemed clients, fostering personal and professional development through dedicated training and mentorship programs, and embracing a vibrant culture that centers around our people and their inventive contributions to both Perficient and the community. 

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more! 

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok. 

Perficient is excited to announce the expansion of our collaboration with the Mark Cuban Foundation to host free Artificial Intelligence (AI) Bootcamps for high school students in Dallas, Houston, Detroit, and St. Louis. The AI Bootcamp training sessions hosted by Perficient will introduce students to the concepts of AI through educational seminars, interactive lessons, and lab exercises.

READ MORE: Perficient is Dedicated to Advancing STEM Education

This is the third consecutive year Perficient has partnered with the Mark Cuban Foundation to host AI Bootcamps for free to underserved students. We have expanded our efforts to include Detroit and St. Louis, while continuing to offer programs in Dallas and Houston. In partnership with the Mark Cuban Foundation, we will work together to provide food, transportation, and access to laptops for students at no cost throughout the duration of bootcamp.

Over the course of the bootcamp, Perficient mentors will help students learn what AI is and isn’t, where they interact with AI in their daily lives, and the ethical implications of AI systems such as TikTok recommendations, smart home assistants, facial recognition, self-driving cars, and more. Perficient colleagues are passionate about making a difference in our global communities by advancing STEM education, and we’re so happy to have a partner in the Mark Cuban Foundation that shares in that commitment.

EXPLORE MORE: Perficient Publishes 2022 Community Impact Report

The Mark Cuban Foundation is striving to introduce more students to AI Bootcamps in additional cities, with a goal of seeing 1,000 aspiring technology enthusiasts graduate from the program. They are well on their way to reaching this goal with more than 900 students completing the program since 2019. Perficient is honored to help support this initiative, and together, we’re training the next generation of AI leaders.

READ MORE: Students Complete Mark Cuban Foundation AI Bootcamps Hosted by Perficient in Dallas & Houston

Students do not need any prior experience with computer science, programming, or robotics to apply and attend. The bootcamps are open to a limited number of high school students living in or around one of the four cities. Parents and students interested in attending the Perficient-hosted AI Bootcamp in Dallas, Houston, Detroit, or St. Louis can learn more about the program and find applications on the Mark Cuban Foundation website. The bootcamps will be held over four Saturdays beginning this October.

LEARN MORE: Perficient’s Award-Winning AI Practice

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?

At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community.

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, and TikTok.

Across the globe, our colleagues have always been generous, kind, and committed to building a better world. Every Perficient colleague is passionate about making a difference, whether it’s competing in a charity marathon, collecting holiday gifts for children in need, celebrating Giving Tuesday, or any other good cause.

One way our U.S. colleagues can give back is through our Perficient Gives Charitable Match Program, which affords colleagues the opportunities to make company-matched donations to meaningful causes like the Make-A-Wish^® Foundation (Make-A-Wish), a nonprofit organization that helps fulfill the wishes of children who are fighting cancer and other critical illnesses.

READ MORE: Perficient Donates $80,000 to Advance STEM Education and Improve Health and Wellbeing

As a result of our long-standing partnership with Make-A-Wish, we recently had the opportunity to surprise a very special child with a once-in-a-lifetime vacation to Walt Disney World. Watch the video for a full recap of Elliott’s party, and read more below for more about a day Elliott won’t forget.

All About Elliott

Meet Elliott, a six-year-old who loves the St. Louis Blues, noodles, Cheez-Its, and all things Disney. Elliott has a congenital heart disease. “We never restricted Elliott growing up. We always just wanted him to be a little boy, and not make his life about his condition,” said Elliott’s mom, Sonya. “Our family hasn’t taken a vacation because we never knew what Elliott could handle.”

Elliott’s Day at Perficient with Special Guest, Louie from the St. Louis Blues

With the help of Make-A-Wish, Elliott and his family joined dozens of Perficient colleagues at our St. Louis headquarters for Elliott’s Day, a special party completely focused on celebrating him. We kicked the party off by learning a little more about Elliott, like his love for hockey and how supportive his big sister Abigail has been during his treatment.

We then surprised both Elliott and Abigail with a fresh supply of Cheez-Its snacks and were even joined by Louie from the St. Louis Blues who gifted them with care packages, complete with Blues swag, apparel, and memorabilia. Everyone enjoyed a catered lunch from Noodles & Company, and no party would be complete without chocolate cake – Elliott’s favorite.

Elliott And Abigail

The Big Reveal – A Trip to Walt Disney World

While we got to know Elliott, we also heard how much he loves Disney and how he’s always dreamed of visiting Disney World, “the happiest place on Earth.” This was Elliott’s wish with Make-A-Wish, and Perficient and our colleagues were proud to surprise Elliott with the news that we were making his dream come true.

“Disney World is somewhere Elliott has always wanted to visit. These will be memories that our family was not sure we were ever going to get,” said Sonya. “For Elliott and our family to feel something special means so much.”

“Going to Disney is the icing. The cake is everything that happened here today,” said Elliott’s grandparents, Mary and Shailesh. “All the people involved. The kindness and generosity means more than just going to Disney World.”

The surprise trip was well received by Elliott as well, who said this was the “best day of my life.”

Elliott, his sister, and his parents will soon depart for their much-needed vacation, and we wish them a carefree week filled with joy and memories that will last a lifetime.

READ MORE: Learn more about how Perficient and our colleagues give back to our communities

More About Make-A-Wish

In the weeks prior to Elliott’s Day, Perficient’s Giving Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted a “get to know” session with representatives from Make-A-Wish for colleagues to learn more about the organization and how they can get involved.

According to Make-A-Wish, a child is diagnosed with a critical illness every 20 minutes. Make-A-Wish is dedicated to making a difference in their lives by creating life-changing wishes that bring hope and a quality of life back to children and their families. For wish kids, the act of making their wish come true can give them the hope, courage, and strength to fight harder against their illnesses. Granting a child’s wish can also mark a turning point in their treatment.

Perficient Donates $100k+ To Make-A-Wish

A wish can take on many different forms. From taking a once-in-a-lifetime vacation or receiving a long-sought gift, to meeting a favorite celebrity or making a difference for someone else, the goal of each gift is to provide a transformative experience for every child. Since the inception of Make-A-Wish in 1980, more than 520,000 wishes have been granted in 50 countries. On average, more than 20,000 wishes are granted each year with approximately 25 wishes granted in the U.S. each day.

Wishes are granted through the support of in-kind donations, community supporters, individual volunteers, and corporate partners. Perficient has been a Make-A-Wish partner for more than 17 years, and in that time, we’ve donated more than $106,000 to the organization.

There are several ways to get involved with Make-A-Wish, including making donations, volunteering to help a local family, fundraising to grant wishes in their local communities, and more. Interested in getting involved with Make-A-Wish? Visit the Get Involved page on their website to learn more and help them transform lives one wish at a time.

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?

It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people.

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.

Thursday, April 7, was a day full of big events for some of Perficient’s sports partnerships. With the Cardinals Opening Day, The Masters, and the BattleBots World Championship all taking place on the same day, Perficient’s brand received some major exposure across the world.

READ MORE:  Winning Big With Our Brand Ambassadors

St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day

Baseball is part of what makes St. Louis the city it is. The camaraderie it brings is something that’s unique to the city, and with Perficient headquartered in St. Louis, we are proud to have a partnership with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Our partnership with the Cardinals was on full display during Opening Day. Prior to the Opening Day game each year, the St. Louis Cardinals hold a traditional pregame ceremony introducing the current year’s players for the team, honoring the Cardinals Hall of Famers, and showcasing the infamous Budweiser Clydesdales. This tradition starts in the outfield right next to Perficient’s wall sign, prominently broadcasting Perficient’s name throughout the ceremony and every home game this season.

The ceremony is a memorable tradition to kick off the baseball season, and now that the season is underway, thousands of fans are returning to Busch Stadium. Fans can take in the scenic views of the game, the stadium, and the St. Louis skyline from the Perficient Perch seating area. Perficient is also a proud partner of the Perficient Red Jacket Club, an all-inclusive experience that highlights and honors the Cardinals Hall of Famers.

PGA Masters Tournament

Widely recognized as the most prestigious golf event in the world, the Masters Tournament kicked off on April 7 at the historic Augusta National Golf Club. Only the “masters of golf” make it to this highly coveted tournament, and both Abraham Ancer and Matthew Wolff of Team Perficient qualified to compete. Although neither Abraham or Matthew ended up with the green jacket this year, seeing both golfers compete was a source of pride for all Perficient colleagues, and we’re eager to watch them continue on the PGA Tour.

Our Team Perficient partnership with Abraham and Matthew, in addition to LPGA golfer and NBC Golf Channel commentator Morgan Pressel, embodies the values that inspire Perficient and our colleagues to succeed in all we do. We’re proud to partner with three golf pros who, in addition to displaying Perficient on their apparel and equipment, share our drive, determination, and commitment to excellence.

READ MORE: What If Great Golf & Great Tequila Had One Thing In Common? An Interview w/ PGA’s Abe Ancer

BattleBots World Championship Season Finale

The same day as Cardinals Opening Day and The Masters began, one of Perficient’s newest partnerships, RioBotz, the Brazilian-based fighting robot team, and their BattleBots competitor, Minotaur was in full force for the season finale of the BattleBots World Championship. The season finale consisted of three different rounds of fights: the quarterfinals, semifinals, and the championship.

This was the first season Perficient and Minotaur partnered together, and Perficient’s name was proudly displayed on the back of the robot in addition to apparel worn by RioBotz. Minotaur started the season in flames but was undefeated the remainder of the season. The team qualified for the BattleBots World Championship Tournament, where they advanced all the way to the quarterfinals where they lost in a controversial decision that sent shockwaves throughout the BattleBots community. Although Minotaur and RioBotz didn’t take home The Giant Nut Trophy, their grit and determination throughout the season was inspiring, and we can’t wait to cheer them on next season.

READ MORE:  Catch Up on Minotaur’s Performance in the 2022 BattleBots Season

A Shared Commitment to Excellence and a Drive for Success

The Cardinals, Team Perficient pro golfers, and Minotaur aren’t Perficient’s only sports partnerships. In addition to the three featured in prime-time last week, we also have stand-out partnerships with NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, NHL’s St. Louis Blues, and, as of April 13, MLS’s Atlanta United.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks, owned by Mark Cuban, is well-known for its intense focus on customer experience and deep commitment to the Dallas region. Perficient is growing faster in scale and magnitude than ever before, so our partnership with the Mavericks began at the perfect time. We are happy to sponsor the Mavericks’ Co-Captain of the Game event that takes place before each home game. This program awards one deserving child interested in STEM, ages 5 to 17, to play with and meet the team before each home game. Additionally, we have a full “LED takeover” before the game, and Perficient’s name is directly on the courtside for at least one minute each game.

READ MORE: What If Mark Cuban Joined Our Podcast?

St. Louis Blues

After the historic 2019 season for the St. Louis Blues, Perficient announced a partnership with the Stanley Cup Champions in 2020. This partnership is consistently on display throughout their games with our logo on the wall behind the visitor’s bench or on the walls surrounding the ice. Even if the opposing team is taking the spotlight, our name is somewhere in sight. Having a partnership with the Blues shows our mutual alignment to being an organization committed to excellence in our area of expertise and within our community.

Atlanta United 

Our newest sports partnership is with the Major League Soccer franchise, Atlanta United. A team well-regarded for their commitment to customer experience and focus on their community, we’re looking forward to expanding our brand presence in the Atlanta market. This partnership will include a variety of branding elements throughout the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Atlanta United games, where we will sponsor the “Coin Toss Kid” at the beginning of each home match. The partnership will also introduce Perficient to the growing world of eSports as the presenting sponsor for Atlanta United’s eMLS player.

READ MORE: Perficient Scores a Hat Trick with Atlanta United Partnership 

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER? 

At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community. 

Learn more about what it’s like to work at Perficient at our Careers page. See open jobs or join our talent community for career tips, job openings, company updates, and more! 

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. 

We are proud to announce that Perficient has once again been named a Best Place to Work by the St. Louis Business Journal. Being recognized for this award is a testament to our culture and talented colleagues that continue to make us a Best Place to Work.

How Did We Become a Finalist?

More than 230 nominations were submitted to the annual St. Louis Business Journal’s Best Places to Work awards program. All participating companies and their employees completed anonymous surveys administered by Quantum Workplaces. These surveys measure key areas within the company’s culture such as compensation, benefits, employee engagement, and more. Companies were grouped by their size and ranked by Quantum utilizing the employee surveys. 74 finalists were selected based on their results. Perficient is proud to be listed as a finalist in the “big” category.

A Look Into Perficient’s St. Louis Team

Our diverse team of talented colleagues are truly what makes our culture remarkable. With nearly 6,500 global colleagues, over 225 employees directly work out of our headquarters in St. Louis. One thing is for sure, and that is that our St. Louis team loves to get involved; whether that be spreading holiday cheer at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, finding ways to give back to their community, or catching a sports game through our partnerships with the Cardinals and Blues.

Our colleagues lead various committees and Employee Resource Groups (ERG’s). With this, their goal is to enhance the company culture through niche events, webinars, and more. For instance, the St. Louis Social and Culture Committee, Sustainability Committee, Perficient Giving ERG, and the Women in Tech ERG, just to name a few, each add distinct value to our culture and people.

Take a look at some of the ways our St. Louis colleagues get involved:

Our team is ecstatic about being recognized as a best place to work and celebrated during a special event at Busch Stadium on May 19. We are honored to be recognized for this outstanding award along with the other 73 Best Places to Work in the St. Louis community.

Bonus: Check Out Our Full List of Awards and Recognition

JOIN AN AWARD-WINNING WORKPLACE

A social and culture committee is more than just planning fun company events, it’s an investment into your people. Engaging with colleagues outside of the traditional 9-5 can build stronger teams, increase collaboration, and even boost company morale. Whether your organization is virtual or slowly starting to get together again, these committees are valuable assets to your company’s culture.

Many of our offices across the globe have committees dedicated to social events, giving back, fitness, and more. At our St. Louis Headquarters, the Social and Culture Committee is an integral part to helping our office culture excel. Garrett Hill, senior content marketing coordinator, President of St. Louis’ Social and Culture Committee, and Sarah Shapiro, regional marketing manager, Vice President of St. Louis’s Social and Culture Committee play a key role in making these events for our St. Louis colleagues come to life.

Reflecting back at the last year, I wanted to sit down with them and learn how their 2021 efforts with this committee have contributed to enhancing Perficient’s culture.

BONUS: A Cultural Celebration Happy Hour

What is the Social and Culture Committee?

The Social and Culture Committee is a group of Perficient colleagues who come together to create and host engaging activities for all St. Louis employees to participate in. These events range from happy hours to themed in-person or virtual events and even include the company picnic in the summer.

Our Mission

The Social Committee’s mission is to connect our colleagues through engaging and entertaining activities for the St. Louis office. The committee is open to all who wish to participate in any way possible including planning, preparing, or joining in on the events. If you like having fun and networking with your peers; then this is the place for you.

Why is the committee here?

The committee is here for multiple purposes, but the biggest is for all colleagues to be able to come together as one company in a fun environment to meet, network, and have a good time. Perficient has always had a great culture, and the committee works to enhance those efforts through fun events.

How does your team contribute to Perficient’s culture while virtual?

The biggest thing the committee decided upon was to continue to actively host engaging and interesting events but in a virtual space. Before the pandemic, the committee hosted one event per month. We wanted to continue that, to provide a sense of normalcy while providing a fun event for colleagues to talk and network. It’s all about keeping our culture alive. If we can’t host a virtual event, we’ll do virtual polling or challenges to keep engagement up. We’ve done March Madness, cutest pet competitions, and ugly sweater contests.

What has been the biggest triumph so far?

In 2021, our biggest and longest continuously running event was the “That’s SOOOOO STL” voting competition. Once per quarter all St. Louis colleagues were invited to vote on things that make St. Louis great. The categories included food originating in St. Louis, celebrities that were born here, famous locations, and beverages made here. We have seen incredible participation in the weekly voting process because our colleagues are passionate about their city.

What should people know about working at Perficient and the Social and Culture Committee?

Our people are what separates us from the competition. Because we have such an amazing group of colleagues, our culture is one of the best out there. Perficient and the Social and Culture Committee really go hand in hand. We have exceptional colleagues, so why not have monthly events to gather together and celebrate.

What can others do to be a leader in their own teams/companies?

It’s quite simple to become a leader. Actively listen to your team and be sure that everybody is heard and valued. That builds collaboration and trust. As a leader, it’s important to remember that the best leaders, lead by example.

BONUS: Building a Virtual Culture is the Key to Success to Becoming an Award-Winning Workplace

Thanks to the Social and Culture Committee, our St. Louis colleagues are enjoying these opportunities to get to know their team members on a more personal level. While reflecting on 2021, I wanted to ask a few more colleagues about their favorite events the committee hosted.

My favorite culture activity in 2021 was the virtual charades night back in January. The Social and Culture Committee always comes up with great events for the team, but that event was particularly fun to participate in. The words we had to act out were chosen randomly, and it was hilarious watching people try to act out their word without speaking over a screen. The charades night was a blast, and I’m looking forward to when we can have another one, hopefully in person!

Anna Lehman, senior regional marketing coordinator

While I enjoy all opportunities to connect with fellow colleagues, I really enjoy the chance to get together for Light Up Glennon. The opportunity to give back by shining flashlights and singing carols to let the kids know we’re thinking of them with my team is a heart-warming opportunity and always leaves me feeling uplifted – hopefully, the children in the hospital feel the same way. The Halloween events are always interesting. Hearing the paranormal events teammates have experienced is so different than our typical daily conversations. Some people have even had direct encounters with ghosts!

Marissa Lather, global social media and employment brand marketing manager

While we remained virtual in 2021, we had some really creative ideas for the year that included both virtual events and engagement through polling. My favorite event, however, was charades. It was hilarious to see people try to act out random words. I have to say, I’m not the best at it, but it was super entertaining. Hoping that one day we can have a charades night in person again!

Sarah Shapiro, regional marketing manager, Vice President of St. Louis’ Social and Culture Committee

While each Perficient office has their own special committees that make them unique, we’re happy to see our St. Louis team getting to know one another on a more personal level thanks to their Social and Culture Committee.

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?

At Perficient, you get to work with so many talented and passionate colleagues. You also get the chance to share your passions through various committees and employee resource groups across the company.

Earlier this week I got to sit down with Sarah Shapiro, a regional marketing manager out of the St. Louis office, to discuss being green. Sarah is a member of our St. Louis Sustainability Committee and has been since its inception. I can testify that leading the committee is a big role and Sarah (along with many others) helps me to stay on top of tasks on the Sustainability Committee.

LEARN MORE: About Sustainability at Perficient

Finding Career Growth and Fulfillment at Perficient

Joining Perficient’s Sustainability Committee

Ways to Green Up Your Work From Home Life

• Using natural light
• Setting my Nest to eco mode throughout the day
• Drinking out of reusable bottles and using reusable straws
• Unplugging my electronics when I’m done for the day
• Not printing things I don’t need. Traveling for work or leisure? Download your ticket on your smartphone.

Tomatoes from early summer

Perficient Shows Commitment to People and the Communities in Which They Live and Work

Getting Involved at Perficient

We are thrilled to announce that Perficient’s St. Louis office has been named a 2021 Best Place to Work by the St. Louis Business Journal! This win is a testament to our company’s incredible culture, and we are excited to add it to our growing list of honors and awards won by Perficient offices around the country.

Best Places to Work and Quantum Workplace determine their list through the following process:

The Best Places to Work survey measures key areas that make up an organization’s culture. These range from compensation and benefits to trust in senior leadership. The survey also measures the level of engagement exhibited by employees, known as employee engagement.

Participating companies are ranked by a points system that is entirely based off of an employee survey. Throughout the process, employees are asked to complete a 30 question survey that allows them to provide a 360 review of their organization. As “People” is one of Perficient’s core values, we are honored to receive an award that comes from our people and symbolizes their work ethic, passion, and overall happiness at work.

Why Perficient’s St. Louis Office is a Best Place to Work

Whether they are giving back to their hometown, cheering on the home team, or engaging in exciting culture activities, the St. Louis team is always working hard to connect with one another and make an impact. Our employees are what make us a Best Place to Work, and we look forward to seeing how our culture can continue growing over the upcoming years.

Check out the gallery below to see some of the ways our St. Louis team embodies the Perficient culture!

JOIN AN AWARD-WINNING WORKPLACE

Nonprofits that revolve around health and wellness are always popular and widely supported around the holidays. Almost every person in the United States knows someone who has been affected by illnesses similar to cancer, ALS, MS, or heart disease. According to cancer.gov, in 2018 there were 18.1 million new cases of cancer and over 9 million deaths across the world. Most people can think of a health or wellness organization they support when asked. 

Helping Make Communities a Healthier Place

Sumi Mohan, associate technical consultant in Chennai

During 2020, health was at the forefront of everyone’s minds. The COVID-19 pandemic had individuals worldwide even more focused on health and hygiene than before. In the 2020 holiday season, Perficient’s colleagues were all given $100 dollars to pay it forward in their communities and spread some much-needed kindness. Almost 100 colleagues chose to give back to health and wellness organizations, some of which are linked below. This is in addition to the many colleagues who donated and paid directly for medical care and supplies for people around the globe.

BONUS: Perficient Colleagues Purchase Dialysis Machine in India Through Kindness Campaign in 2020

Jorge Andres Montes Alvarado, software developer in Colombia

Giving Back to Health & Wellness Organizations

Our colleagues gave back to health non-profits, representing a variety of different health causes, national and local charities, and research centers, hospitals, and resource centers alike.

Colleague Helps Fund Free Dance Lessons for People with Parkinson’s Disease

Matthew Fleishman, senior solutions architect, chose to donate to a cause that is near to his heart: dancing for health. Dance 4 Your Health is dedicated to bringing the joy and healing power of music and dance to people with Parkinson’s Disease and other degenerative neurological diseases via the power of the Internet at no cost to the participants.

“Dancing helps people bring control over their bodies they might not otherwise have had,” explains Lorena Bravo, the dance instructor who now teaches in front of a screen instead of in the dance studio. Lisa Sandoval, who helps run Dance 4 Your Health, informed us that the virtual environment has allowed visitors from Boston, Los Angeles, and even Chile to join the free class. “We need fun,” Lorena continues. “We need something to look forward to, and Perficient’s donation will help many people continue to dance for their health.”

You can sign up for free classes and offer donations on their website.

Check out some of the organizations our colleagues gave back to below and consider paying it forward and donating time or money to a cause you care about! 

• 

  Andrea Lampert, vice president of People in St. Louis, MO

  St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital

• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Doctors Without Borders
• Red Cross
• National MS Society
• ALS.org
• Bennet Project
• Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research
• Alzheimer’s Foundation
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Relay for Life
• Special Olympics
• Gennesaret Free Clinics
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
• 

  Mitesh Shah, lead technical consultant in Atlanta, GA

  Shriners Hospitals for Children

• Smile Train
• Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
• Lighthouse Pregnancy Resource Center
• Pink Ribbon Girls for Cancer
• American Lung Association
• Tree of Hope SSM Health Cardinal Glennon
• Fundacion San Vincente de Paul
• American Stroke Association
• Equine Assisted Therapy Center
• Cancer Research Institute
• MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
• project CURE
• Children’s Orthopedic Institute
• Family Matters Home Services LLC
• 

  Chris Restle, senior solutions architect in Milwaukee, WI

  Sandnya Sanwardhan Sanstha School for Mentally Challenged

• Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind
• Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation
• North Central Medical Center
• Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund
• Sankara Eye Foundation
• Snehanchal Palliative Care Center
• Texas Children’s Cancer Center
• The Glioblastoma Foundation
• Mario Lemieux Foundation

BONUS: Making a Global Impact at the Local Level With Our “Make a December Difference” Campaign 

MAKE A DECEMBER DIFFERENCE

Perficient are big believers in giving back to the communities in which we live and work, and we have the opportunity to empower our colleagues to pay it forward and spread some much-needed joy. It’s our hope that these single acts of giving and gratitude leave individual marks on the communities in which we live and work. Together, we have an opportunity to make a global impact.

Learn more about the “Make a December Difference” campaign of kindness

Follow our “Make a December Difference” story at Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!

The people of Perficient are big believers in giving back to the communities in which we live and work. As the headquarters of a global company based in St. Louis, there is an opportunity to invest in the surrounding community that Perficient takes seriously. 

Tanya Stewart, talent acquisition manager, chose to make a difference for many people!

From partnering with top organizations and sponsoring special events to be the people actually picking up the trash along the highway, our leadership and colleagues embrace the chance to give back at all levels. We even have a local employee-led Giving Back Committee (as many of our offices do). 

That must be one reason our St. Louis colleagues rank us as an award-winning employer time and time (and time) again. 

READ MORE: Perficient Crosses $100,000 Milestone with Make-A-Wish Foundation Contributions

Most recently, Perficient sponsored the STL 50/50, a giving program powered by Givable that supports charities in the St. Louis region by creating ways for people to give locally and sustainably, creating a safe and easy way for charities to raise money.

Each month, a raffle will benefit a different St. Louis area charity:

• Youth in Need
• Animal Protective Association of Missouri
• Gateway Greening
• Concordance Academy of Leadership
• Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis Health + Homes
• St. Louis Area Foodbank

Only halfway through the program, we’re excited to share we’ve helped raise tens of thousands of dollars and made hundreds of thousands of people in St. Louis more aware of the incredible work of these local charities! 

READ MORE: Perficient Proud to Sponsor 2019 “Light Up Glennon” Event to Spread Holiday Cheer

Making a December Difference in St. Louis

With the special chance to empower our colleagues to pay it forward and spread some much-needed joy in 2020, we launched “Make a December Difference” to create single acts of giving and gratitude within the communities in which we live and work. Not only did professional athletes rally behind our global campaign of kindness, we saw colleagues come together to support local St. Louis organizations.

Myron Sheets, director, gave to the United Services for Children.

Sandy Crutchley, senior accountant, chose to continue a St. Louis office tradition by contributing meals to all three St. Louis Ronald McDonald House Charities. “Myself, along with Leo Speno, senior accounting analyst, and Pam Zhu, senior accountant, combined our Make a December Difference funds to purchase meals from Del Pietro’s, Hacienda, and Billy G’s to provide dinner to all three local St. Louis Ronald McDonald houses one night!” 

Other colleagues Natalie Dresner, marketing coordinator, partnered with Sweet Celebrations STL to give gifts to a child currently living in a local homeless shelter, and Ann Higby, marketing manager, celebrated the twentieth anniversary of Lift for Life Academy to “Make a December Difference.”

SEE MORE: Making a Global Impact at the Local Level With Our “Make a December Difference” Campaign

Ready to Be Together Again

While COVID-19 changed the way our colleagues interact, it did not stop us. That said, with fun St. Louis events like these not far away, our team is excitedly looking forward to the times when we can come together again. Here are a couple of St. Louis events we’re ready for.

Beginning in 2018, our Giving Back Committee joined the Missouri Adopt-A-Highway volunteer program and adopted a section of the highway near the offices for litter cleanup. Adopt-A-Highway is a volunteer program where groups, clubs, businesses, families, and individuals adopt sections of state-maintained roadsides (half-mile minimum length in both directions of the roadway) for litter cleanup, beautification, mowing, or native plantings. Team members volunteer to get together at the site for a quick clean-ups after work. This tradition continued until we implemented remote work in 2020 and we look forward to continuing it soon! 

 

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In 2019, our team was excited to watch Perficient take flight in the Great Forest Park Balloon Race, a famous St. Louis tradition. 

 

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Would you go in a hot-air balloon? Or do you have an idea for a St. Louis-centric way we can give back? Let us know in the comments below or tweet at us @PerficientLife.

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?

At Perficient, we continually look for ways to champion and challenge our talented workforce with interesting projects for high-profile clients, encourage personal and professional growth through training and mentoring, and celebrate our people-oriented culture and the innovative ways they serve Perficient and the community.

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more!

Go inside Life at Perficient and connect with us on LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.

Awarded as an employer of choice through designations including “Top Workplaces,” “Best Places to Work,” and others is an inspiring tribute to the workplace culture we have at Perficient, one that we continue to build upon each day. 

In 2020, Perficient saw seven workplace wins — two more than the year prior — which proved even through a pandemic, the footing of our culture is unshakable. 

One key reason for this success is attributed to all the employee committees and engaged leadership who combined their efforts towards transitioning employee experiences typically held within office walls to virtual events and activities.

A Year of Workplace Wins in Atlanta

Perficient at the “Top Workplace” Awards at the Georgia Aquarium.

In February, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution named Perficient in the “Top 150 Workplaces in Atlanta,” even coming in #22 out of the 65 businesses in the Small Company group. Colleagues recalled culture-building activities like Friday lunches, table tennis tournaments, golf outings, and more events that would soon come screeching to a halt the following month.

As lockdowns started and remote work began as the world stepped towards an indefinite future, what would happen to that winning Perficient culture? Would it survive?

Atlanta colleagues responded to that question with their August win from the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “2020 Best Places To Work” awards. There’s no stopping this team!

But everyone knew this celebration was not going to be like ones in the past; no doughnuts welcoming colleagues to the office or awards celebration in a fancy venue. Not skipping a beat, colleagues applied the same innovation and integrity that powers our clients’ success to creating an inclusive and meaningful celebration of their own. 

Just like the drive-through birthday parties and baby showers that were adopted to promote socially-distant celebrations, Atlanta colleagues chose their own drive-through festivity and virtual photo challenge, demonstrating Perficient truly is a “Best Place to Work.” These “Work From Home” selfies were then compiled into a single collage signifying that even while apart, they are a unified group. 

Perficient Hosts Six Winning Workplace Locations

In addition to Atlanta’s two wins, both Minnesota and St. Louis were named as 2020 “Top Workplaces.” Later in 2020, our Charlotte office was named a “Best Place to Work” by the Charlotte Business Journal, the Detroit Free Press named Perficient a “Top Workplace,” and we continued our reign as one of the “Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Chicago” in 2020. Let’s take a look inside to learn more about the workplace culture of some of our winners.

2020 Charlotte Business Journal Best Places to Work

A wall of windows floods the work area with daylight and displays a scenic view of the bustling Charlotte metropolis.

The Charlotte team recently relocated to a new office space that is designed to encourage networking and team building throughout the workday, with feedback already describing the atmosphere as “entrepreneurial and exciting.”

“Our Perficient Charlotte colleagues are a talented, motivated group of people who embody the One Perficient mindset and set of values every single day. The local leadership team has been so welcoming and inclusive of our colleagues who live in the area but are attached to other business units. Whether it be hosting happy hours, organizing community service events, or holding all-hands quarterly business update meetings,” said Raj Merchant, director of Data Solutions.

Go inside the Charlotte office to see how the team enjoys giving back to the community through volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, Men’s Shelter of Charlotte, or helping with landscaping in the classroom garden at a local school. They also have a history of enjoying social outings like Carolina Panthers games or company happy hours at Lower Left Brewing Co., which is owned by business consultant Lori Jane Shoenthal’s husband. It’s no wonder this office was named a “Best Place to Work.”

2020 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces

Pre-COVID, Detroit colleagues gather for a group photo.

After winning the 2019 “Top Workplace” title, the Detroit office held it another year — one year unlike anything anyone had ever seen. What the Detroit team found was the COVID-19 pandemic actually brought them closer as they rallied together to adapt to this new form of work as quickly and successfully as possible. It was their strength and resilience throughout this difficult time showing why they are a “Top Workplace” in 2020.

Many Detroit colleagues describe the team as their “second family” and their office as a home away from home (during pre-COVID times). The office culture committee is active in planning various virtual get-togethers such as game nights, happy hours, and craft nights to keep people engaged and excited. Teams genuinely enjoy working with one another, and this camaraderie, matched with their strong work ethic, makes the office a great place to work.

Tom Phillips, an associate technical consultant in the Detroit office, credits his fellow teammates with his own career growth after completing the Perficient Campus Program. “I was really scared to do a total 180-degree career shift into a world I didn’t know. At Perficient, everyone welcomed me with open arms though and I’ve been able to grow more confident.” After the program, he got placed on a project where he experienced different roles including automation engineer, AEM/React developer, and had the opportunity to create a QA plan for the project. In less than ten months of learning how to code and starting his career, Tom launched his first major project. 

2020 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For in Chicago

Chicago colleagues are known for how much they give back to the local community.

No stranger to representing Perficient as a “Best and Brightest Company to Work for in Chicago,” our Windy City colleagues have earned this award several times over the past few years. 

This is due to their outstanding work ethic, incredible team, and commitment to the Perficient culture. Katherine Lin, lead technical consultant, explains, “I see my fellow Chicago colleagues go above and beyond on a regular basis, putting in extra effort to help out their teammates and make clients happy. This culture of caring has contributed so much to my growth as a consultant and software engineer. I’m also proud to work alongside people who truly care and invest time outside their project to try to create a workplace that is inclusive and serves all our peers equally.”

Chicago colleagues are passionate about what they do and are always looking for ways to get involved in activities both inside and outside of the company, hosting several events for employees over 2020. Thrilled to be “Best and Brightest” winners, colleagues plan to keep their strong culture and work ethic alive for years to come. 

“My colleagues in Chicago go above and beyond in their work, uplifting others both in and outside of our community,” confirms Laura Vicinanza, associate technical consultant. “We have a lively, close-knit office culture reflected in our active social and service committees. My colleagues take pride and ownership in our work, going beyond client expectations and encouraging the personal and professional growth of others. I’ve grown insurmountably as a consultant, software developer, and person since I joined Perficient’s Chicago team just a year ago.” 

Perficient is incredibly proud of all of our colleagues and the support and dedication to our company culture each of them show each day. 

READY TO GROW YOUR CAREER?

At Perficient, we value and champion diversity. We believe that our individual differences make us stronger as a team. 

Perficient Champions Our Diverse Community

In September 2020, Perficient colleagues gathered for the month’s highly-anticipated social event: A Cultural Celebration Happy Hour. This event, planned by the Cultural and Social Committee, highlighted the rich diversity of our Perficient family. 

The happy hour was a hit, with presenters spanning six cultures and over thirty event participants! Our Perficient teammates each presented on their cultures and countries, sharing and storytelling about what makes them unique. Speakers covered everything from food to fashion, holidays to architecture. At a time when international travel isn’t exactly an option, our presenters brought the world to us (and all from the socially-distanced safety of Microsoft Teams!).  

Why Celebrating Diversity Matters

Here at Perficient, we are thrilled to offer opportunities for our diverse community to connect and share their stories. Whether it’s by celebrating Diwali together or sharing tips on how to be more inclusive, our colleagues understand that people are at the heart of Perficient. Our differences make us stronger in many ways: we become more empathetic teammates, stronger communicators, and inspiring leaders who champion innovation and collaboration.

“Culture is a strong part of people’s lives, so when building relationships with others it helps to have some perspective and understanding of their cultures.” – Andrea Lampert, VP of People

Want to learn more about how Perficient champions diversity? Read this post about how our differences make for stronger collaboration!

The Impact of Inclusive Leadership

Perficient’s VP of People, Andrea Lampert, came to Perficient with great ideas on how to support and encourage our workplace community. In fact, Andrea hosted the Cultural Celebration Happy Hour and has made celebrating diversity a focus for Perficient. When asked what she thought of the event, she shared, “I’m proud to work at a company that takes the time to help colleagues learn about cultural differences, a key to bringing people closer together and working better together.”

Andrea also shared that she loved seeing colleagues take pride in their culture and that it was incredible that a virtual event could invoke so much engagement and excitement. She said, “Culture is a strong part of people’s lives, so when building relationships with others it helps to have some perspective and understanding of their cultures. At Perficient, we never stop learning, and events like this make the learning fun!”

Meet Our Presenters

Six colleagues volunteered to share their stories and cultures with the larger Perficient community. They shared family photos, taught us about their culture’s languages and foods, and inspired us with their passion and pride. Mariana Huber (Corporate Marketing) shared about her Mexican heritage. She shared, “There are many things that I love about the Mexican culture but my two favorites are the family-oriented mindset and the food!” Mariana also noted, “I am very fortunate to work for a corporation that not only supports cultural diversity but celebrates it.”

Mariana and her children are pictured here celebrating Dia De Los Muertos!

Mamta Kohli, Project Manager, and Ramakrishna Hanish Chikoti, Tech Consulting, gave their presentation on their Indian culture. Mamta even shared a personal family photo with us, as the “undivided family” is an extremely important Indian tradition. Ramakrishna and Mamta introduced us to the classical Indian folk dances, the country’s most popular foods, and even the colorful Holi festival in which attendees celebrate with colored powders that are tossed into the air!

Our presenters also included Nino Obanor, a tech consultant in St. Louis, who shared two cultures with us! Nino’s mother is from Belgrade, Serbia, and his father comes from Nigeria. Nino originally came to the US to pursue basketball on a scholarship and has shared that basketball is quite popular in Serbia.  Nidie Ewbank, a business consultant in St. Louis, presented on The Philippines and her favorite celebration, Fiesta. Our last presenter was Natalia Pelaez Henao, who shared her pride and love for her home country, Colombia. Natalia noted that Colombia is full of singing, dancing, and color, and happens to be one of the most megadiverse countries in the world!

“The World is a Global Village…”

Perficient is honored and excited to continue celebrating diversity in the workplace. In the words our VP of People, Andrea Lampert, “The world is becoming a global village. We need to be intentional about forming relationships…and understanding different cultures.”

Here at Perficient, we will continue to share the ways we make diversity a focus and celebrate the rich backgrounds of Perficient’s people! Be sure to follow this blog series for updates – you might just learn a thing or two about the incredible cultures and individuals that make us great!