‘Boomerang’ Employees Add Value, Extend Mission of Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy

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GIS analyst portrait
Image via Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy.
Katie Baltzley worked at SSM from May 2015 to June 2020 and returned to the company in May 2021.

We admire the natural beauty of the boomerang. Thrown in the right direction, nurtured with the correct velocity, and trusted to fly, the boomerang will always return. It’s for that reason that we have always opened our arms to welcome our own boomerangs back to their home.

We call them the Boomerang Club. They’ve got a custom SSM boomerang decorating their offices and currently they make up 18 percent of our SSM team. They once followed the path of the boomerang — left to fly in a new direction and then returned home to SSM.

We know that sometimes great employees leave. While the reasons why may vary, it’s a part of being in business. We also know that sometimes they come back. Over the years, we’ve learned that welcoming boomerang employees adds value to our organization — extending our mission, expanding our expertise, strengthening our capacity, and solidifying our culture.

From a business perspective, rehiring a previous employee reduces the expenses associated with traditional recruiting and onboarding. But more importantly, while they were away, they gained new skills and are bringing that learning and experiences with them. The result is greater opportunities for SSM and our clients.

At SSM, our people are more than just the work they produce. They are the heart, the passion, and the joy that makes SSM home.

Katie Baltzley, a member of SSM’s Boomerang Club, is a GIS Analyst in the company’s Water Resources Department. She specializes in developing integrated GIS data management strategies to support a variety of environmental, municipal, and industrial projects. She creates workflows that tie mobile field technologies with web-based office applications to streamline full cycle operations management.

“I knew returning to SSM was the right choice for me because they’ve got heart,” said Baltzley, who graduated from Millersville University with a bachelor’s degree in Geography and minor in Meteorology. “I know, it sounds cheesy. But after working with another company, you realize just how much SSM truly values their work and their people. Each and every project gets the attention it deserves. Personal and professional growth is never stifled. And the people … I can’t say enough good things about all of the amazing people. When I returned, it felt like coming home.”

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Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy is a regional engineering, environmental, and surveying firm that serves local and global clients. We engineer solutions for a better world. Our work touches everyday life — from the water you drink, to the air you breathe, to the buildings and communities where you live, work, and play. Learn more about Spotts, Stevens, and McCoy.

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