Diversity In Action

LGS Innovations: new company with real clout in telecom & networking

Made up of pre-merger government focused portions of Alcatel and Lucent, LGS Innovations works on telecom and networking contracts

In an economy where many businesses are reining in recruiting efforts, LGS Innovations LLC is out scouting for new talent to fill rapidly growing needs created by government contracts, says HR director Theresa Quallich.

Parent company Alcatel-Lucent provides telecom and networking products and services worldwide; LGS is made up of the former Lucent and Alcatel government solutions business units. An independent, wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent’s North American operations, it started up on January 1, 2007.

LGS comes from four pre-merger departments of Alcatel and Lucent, and most of the new company’s employees come from those areas. A former Bell Labs group, for example, does lab research for the government; a lot of hiring needs currently exist in that area, Quallich says.

Research, field and customer support services and professional services are the major areas, staffed by hardware and software development engineers, researchers, networking pros and systems engineers and architects. Those areas are the fastest growing in the organization, employing about 200 professionals.

Because the company is so young it is continually evolving on various levels, Quallich says. “A lot of contracts are on the horizon. It could be huge hiring or moderate, steady hiring. But so far we’re averaging thirty engineering positions open at any given time.”

Last year LGS implemented its first internship program, and this year it’s developing an even stronger training opportunity for college students. A recruiting manager has been visiting with diverse technical groups like NSBE and making the rounds of colleges; this summer Quallich expects to have about a dozen interns.

“The senior leadership team of LGS is clear about the value of a diverse workforce and makes every effort to reach out, recruit and hire employees from a range of ethnic backgrounds,” Quallich explains. “A diverse workforce clearly creates an opportunity for new perspectives and organizational growth.”

In addition to work within the United States, LGS also has a few opportunities for employees to work in other countries. These can change based on contract parameters, but generally include network and field service engineers, and program managers for long-term onsite assignments.

“Although LGS is a small company, as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent we offer big company benefits,” Quallich notes. There’s an excellent healthcare plan, a 401k, “very competitive” vacation and leave polices, and more. LGS also offers tuition reimbursement, an employee assistance program, and flexible work hours. Some people work from home, depending on their jobs.

There’s even an open-door policy: people can email the CEO with their concerns, and he responds to them personally.

Although it’s still a young and growing company, LGS has found time to reach out to its local communities. In its first year it implemented a troop support program that was “phenomenally successful,” says spokesperson Wendy Zajack. “One group did a T-shirt sale and gave the proceeds to a National Guard family support organization. One had a breakfast burrito sale and raised hundreds of dollars. It has all been great and it’s driven at the employee level; they have the power to take charge of it.”

Last year LGS began helping with community educational needs: employees visited local schools and judged science fairs. “We have a base of really smart scientific people who are unbelievably passionate,” Zajack says. “They want to influence the next generation’s interest in science.” A “bring your child to work day” will be scheduled in 2009.

LGS is a great place to work, Quallich concludes, because employees “are able to have a voice in the organization. We’re small enough that you don’t get lost but also part of a larger organization that provides generous benefits. In many ways we have the best of both worlds. That’s a huge thing for us.”

D/C