Rademacher created the Build-A-Bridge program in 2006. He was Flatiron's Southern California president at the time. According to Dana Smola, Flatiron regional human resources manager, Rademacher had noticed a shortage of college students preparing for a career in engineering.

Smola says that Rademacher “came up with the idea of reaching out to high school students. He realized we had to start early to get students into engineering.”

Smola adds, “The Build-A-Bridge program introduces students to how to how to read blueprints, how to put schedules together [and use] AutoCAD and drafting principles. We teach them the fundamentals of engineering, and also give them a flavor of what we do at Flatiron from a transportation/general construction standpoint.”

Students signing up for Build-A-Bridge on a lark soon learn the error of their ways. It's an intensive, seven-week after-school program. Sessions last three hours, two days a week.

Then there is a final project. Students are given information about a real or fictitious Flatiron project and are asked to draft a “bid” for the project. Winners receive scholarships or a summer internship with Flatiron.

Smola says, “Our first-year winner is still interning with us while working on a civil engineering degree.”

Regarding community involvement, Flatiron has an annual giving campaign during which employees raise money and volunteer for local charities. From across California, employees last year raised and donated more than $50,000, which was matched by the firm. Flatiron also provided paid time off for employees to volunteer.

The company also often joins forces with Habitat for Humanity, the nonprofit organization that builds homes for poor and homeless people.

Recently Flatiron sponsored two build days in which employees donated their time helping build homes in Oakland. It also organized a volunteer day to benefit Habitat for Humanity in Oceanside. Employees were paid their regular salaries to donate time to work on a project, and the company also contributed materials and other resources.

The firm recently formed a five-year strategic partnership with Bridges to Prosperity and will construct at least a dozen footbridges around the world as a means of reducing poverty due to isolation.