Experience Cushing

Did you know employee profiles are one of the most visited landing pages in the Cushing email newsletter? This comes as no surprise to the Executive Vice President and President—even with the name Cushing permanently mounted to the building, Joe Cushing and Cathie Cushing Duff would be the first ones to announce the essence of this company starts with its team members.

Company Culture

Cushing employees say they love where they work because each team member is treated like family. Skeptics might assume that our employees are just following Don Corleone’s family rules—“Never tell anybody outside the family what you’re thinking again.” We DO pay our employees, but we DON’T pay them to say they love working here. If you don’t believe me, we have pictures to prove it. Peruse the images below to get a taste of day to day life around the office, Cushing events, and the common values our team members share.

Company Values

Cushing’s founder, F. John Cushing, had one child. That one child, F. John Cushing, Jr., had eight children. If you are keeping score, Cushing’s founder had eight grandchildren.  At one time or another – each of those grandchildren – have participated in the family business. At one time, blood relatives only contributed to a minor percentage of the total employee headcount. The employees that choose to join the Cushing family are the persons responsible for maintaining a desirable work experience and a workplace that evolves. Cushing employees choose to uphold the family values our company was built on and each individual also adds their unique touch. The result is a workplace that values comradery, a passion for the local community’s health and well-being, and a consistent motivation toward personal and company growth.

Cushing Events

Don’t be surprised to find us clinking beers at 5:00 on the dot before the summer bags tournament kicks off at 420 W. Huron! At Cushing, we work hard together and play hard together. Also in the summer, our employees participate in the BTA Bike Commute Challenge, a friendly competition among Chicago workplaces sponsored by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance in order to help power the movement toward safer streets, better biking, and a healthier way to commute. For a little healthy competition between our own staff, look no further than Sports Day at Cushing!

Cushing sponsors the Twelve Days of Giving during the holidays, in order to recognize the charities our coworkers support all year round. Outside of the workplace, you’ll often find Cushing employees engaged in the local community on their own volition—that’s just the kind of people we are! Every year, you can spot our team members at the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer or events hosted by the River East Arts Center to benefit cancer research. Recently, Cushing employees united for the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Specific to Chicago, a number of employees have taken interest in the GO DO GOOD campaign hosted by the Chicago Loop Alliance, an organization dedicated to activating public spaces using art, design and technology. By attracting visitors to overlooked or otherwise under-appreciated corners of the Loop, the works serve the public, promote creative expression and create value for Loop businesses and institutions.

Our very own Joe Cushing is the Vice President of the ACE Mentor-Chicago Board. His enthusiasm for the mentorship program and the ACE students, has influenced team participation in the “hands-on” collaboration between professional mentors from A/C/E firms and hundreds of students from over 40 CPS high schools, giving them a chance to learn the basics of architecture, construction, engineering, and related professions on which to base future careers. Joe also serves as President on the City of Hope Construction & Real Estate leadership council, and is a key contributor to SOS Children’s Villages and the March of Dimes Chicago office.

In addition to the local community, our staff remains active in the industry. It’s rare to find a gathering of the Society for Marketing Professionals (SMPS) without a Cushing employee in attendance. Recently, Joe presented at LandUp, a marketing workshop for landscape architects. Our team members consistently take advantage of opportunities for continuing education and industry solutions.

Our Team Includes You!

At the end of the day, our team members are as respectful and supportive of one another as they are to our clients. Team members know their diligence adds value and that we value their contributions. The Go the Extra Mile award recognizes Cushing employees that go above and beyond expectations. Positive feedback from customers and coworkers accumulate as points throughout the year.  Points are tallied at the end of the year with top staff recognized during a company gathering. Before the final event, our clients are invited to join the Cushing experience during Customer Service Week. As always, we celebrate with games, refreshment, and laughter!