Location, Inc. makes enjoying life a priority

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By John A. Lahtinen

Founded 15 years ago by then Clark University doctoral student Andrew Schiller, Worcester big data firm Location, Inc. has become an industry authority in neighborhood search technology for 12 million people annually. It's also a leader in big data analytics for the insurance, real estate, retail and site selection industries.

In fact, the company said business-to-business data licensing sales are up 98 percent year-to-date over the same period last year, and total revenue is up 43 percent.

Location's NeighborhoodScout – a data research hub providing map comparisons and in-depth analytics about crime, school, real estate and demographics for every city in the country – serves more than a million visitors a month. In response to a perceived market need for accurate, address-specific crime risk assessments, in 2012 Location unveiled SecurityGauge, which delivers crime risk statistics by address.

“At some point, every person and industry requires a location assessment or location research,” said Patty Counihan, Location's operation manager. “Our NeighborhoodScout platform serves both homebuyer and business audiences, and SecurityGauge serves businesses ranging from independent security consultants to Fortune 500 corporations and beyond.”

When looking for new members of the Location team, she said the company seeks self-starters and creative problem-solvers, “folks who pave their own path.”

Location takes great care of its employees with an array of rewards and programs, all of which strive to find just the right balance between work and play.

“When we need a break from the workday, we take one,” Counihan said. “Be it a walk to the park, relaxing in the lounge or taking a field trip to a new art exhibit at Worcester Art Museum, enjoying life is a priority and a perk at Location, Inc.”

One unique – and very well received – perk of working at Location is the annual destination retreat where the company rents a house on or near the beach for a few days. The last two years, the company traveled to Ogunquit, Maine.

“The most beautiful part about the way Location rewards and recognizes its employees' contributions,” Counihan said, “is that the process is natural and from the heart. It is not contrived with gold-embossed awards or shiny plaques. We don't have our pictures or accomplishments hanging on a shrine in the office. We all work hard and achieve much.”

Brian Multhauf, a Web application engineer, said he enjoys the company's untraditional approach to rewards and recognition.

“We don't necessarily want to be like everyone else,” Multhauf said. “We like to be a bit more informal and spontaneous. We will bring in lunch and have each team member talk about what they are working on, or go to happy hour to celebrate a company achievement. We have company outings that get us out of the office and allow us to get to know each other while we work on company initiatives together. It is a bit more of a family atmosphere and less traditional corporate.”