“Moving Traci into the COO position is really just a reflection of what she is already doing. We managed operations together for more than a decade and she has naturally taken on more and more of these responsibilities,” said Jeff Gilbert, President and CEO of SEP. “I have reached a point in my own career that allows me to hand off daily business and engineering operations to my executive team so I can concentrate on more strategic efforts.”

Since becoming Vice President of Operations in 2009, Dossett was actively involved in significant company milestones, including the creation of SEP’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan, an employee benefit that transferred 100% of SEP’s stock to an ESOP for the benefit of the employees. In 2010, Dossett managed the company’s relocation to their current headquarters including site selection, construction management and design.

Dossett joined SEP in 1993, working part-time as the company’s receptionist, while pursuing her Accounting degree. Throughout the years she was promoted from Accountant to Controller to Vice President of Operations and now to COO. For much of her career at SEP, Dossett has been responsible for leading employee and operational efforts. Dossett has played a significant role in driving the evolution and stability of the company and has been involved in almost every aspect of the business at some point during her tenure.

“SEP and I have ‘grown-up’ professionally together and I’ve been blessed to have been involved in so many great initiatives”, said Dossett. “Last year was an exciting year for our company; we diversified into new markets, solidified our commitment to giving back to our community, and continued to build a strong company for our employee owners. I can’t wait to see what we do next.”

About SEP
SEP is a privately held software engineering company located in the Center for Performing Arts Carmel, IN. SEP collaborates with many Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies to develop new software systems and products for business, data and safety critical applications. They offer full lifecycle software solutions to clients in many markets including: medical, aerospace, energy, healthcare, logistics and national defense. SEP currently employs 92 employees.

“I have been involved as a Vistage member for 4 years,” said Gilbert. “I have found this group to be invaluable in finding likeminded peers to help work thru our tough business challenges. When the role as Chair became available I really wanted to take my involvement to another level.”

As a Vistage Chair, Gilbert will help lead a group of business CEOs, facilitate discussions that provide good business direction for its members as well as provide individual coaching. Gilbert explains that most CEOs work in isolation and don’t have a group of peers that can work out issues that affect CEOs. This is where Vistage comes in. Leaders in the group don’t have an ‘agenda’ when meeting with each other and the information discussed is confidential and not competitive.

“My Vistage membership has helped strengthen my leadership skills and has allowed me to meet great business leaders,” explained Gilbert. “SEP has a strong leadership team and my role at SEP will not change. My role as the Vistage Chair will continue to help SEP and its business operations grow effectively.”

For more information on SEP, please visit www.sep.com.

For more information on Vistage, please visit www.vistage.com

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“We truly wanted to be more than just a sponsor,” said Traci Dossett, Vice President of Operations. “Our partnership is based on actively engaging with events, from attending concerts to educational outreach. SEP is delighted to work with our friends at the Center.”

Click to see the full article: Applause Magazine

SEP hosted its first Startup Weekend, a concept pulled from Startup Weekend where individuals (in our
case employees) brought product ideas and spent the weekend developing it.

The first night, 10 ideas were pitched.  The group voted on the 10 ideas, and spent an entire weekend together with the following results:

• 3 teams
• 17 people
• 54 hours – 3 usable products

As we do on our client projects, standup meetings were done throughout the day, this allowed the teams to report on accomplishments and/or challenges they were facing.  Other teams could offer ideas if possible or even help if they felt they had the skill set needed to fix the problem.  Even though there were 3 separate teams, everyone met twice a day to have a group standup meeting.  This time was used to share status, issues, and achievements. “My favorite part of the weekend was being
able to work with people that I normally do not have the chance to work with,” said Jon Fuller who helped start SEP’s Startup Weekend.

The teams made use of Twitter (#sepstartupweekend) to connect individuals in and out of the building, share funny quotes, and to do a little competitive trash talking.

On the final day, groups began putting together presentations and demos to show their products off to family members, colleagues, and managers.  Chris Atkinson, VP of Engineering, said, “It was really exciting to be in the midst of all of the
technical horsepower and team energy devoted to building something new.  I was inspired!”

Each group set out with a mission to create a product by 6:00pm Sunday, and all were successful.  These groups demonstrated their ability to rise to the challenge of creating a product in one weekend, while learning new technologies and skills along the
way.  Even with all of the hard work and concentration, everyone still had a good time with jokes, pranks, and lots of
laughter.

http://www.sep.com/recruiting/special-events/sep-start-up-weekend/

SEP feels that special events are the best way to take a break from work and do something fun with our fellow employees. Special events are a huge part of our culture and on average we host 3 events per month.

SEP’s Social Committee was developed years ago to promote events within the company. This self-directed committee is made up of employee volunteers. The committee is responsible for organizing and funding the special events throughout the year. The fundamental belief of the Social Committee is that it’s important for employees to get outside of work and have fun.

The Social Committee hosted its first Chili Cook-off in our new space in January of this year. This annual event brings a variety of recipes to the table. In fact, this year employees had to choose from over ten entries to pick the winning recipe.

“I like being able to have a friendly competition at work…especially when I win,” said Matt who had a winning chicken chili recipe this year. “Each year the winner gets to hang the golden ladle at their desk to show off their proud moment.”

Cabin Fever has been a SEP tradition for over 10 years. Each February SEP brings in food, games, and entertainment to give its employees a break from the winter months. “The event is always a hit with my family,” said Kelly. “They love seeing ‘moms work’ with a magician, candy and indoor games. They think we do this every day!”

SEP also hosts events offsite to give employees a chance to see various parts of the city.  In June of this year, SEP rented out the picnic space at the Indianapolis Indians Victory Field. We hosted over 85 employees and their families for a picnic, perfect weather and an Indians victory at  Victory Field. “It was fun to be able to get together with co-workers and catch a game,” said Dave one of SEP’s software engineers.

CLICK HERE to check out our new pictures of the events that have recently taken place here at SEP.

Software Engineering Professionals (SEP) was honored to be nominated in the top 20 Best Places to Work in Indiana.

(INDIANAPOLIS) — Companies striking the right balance of taking care of employees while operating a successful organization were recognized tonight at the Indiana Roof Ballroom by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. The group unveiled rankings for the 70 companies from throughout the state that made the 2011 Best Places to Work in Indiana list (which was released February 22).

Two Central Indiana companies walked away with top honors. E-gineering, a technology consulting firm on the northeast side of Indianapolis that began operations in 2000, garnered first place in the small to medium-sized employer category. Among large employers it was the Microsoft Corporation, whose local office has delivered business consulting on software and technology solutions for more than 20 years. Both companies are new to the top spot; for E-gineering, this is the first year participating in the program.

Five companies — Ash Brokerage (Fort Wayne), Columbus Regional Hospital, Edward Jones (statewide), Katz, Sapper & Miller (Indianapolis) and KPMG (Indianapolis) — have made the Best Places to Work list all six years of the program’s existence.

The top companies in the state are determined through employer reports and comprehensive employee surveys. Winners were selected from two categories: small to medium-sized companies of between 15 and 249 U.S. employees, and large-sized companies consisting of 250 or more employees nationwide. Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana.

The Best Companies Group, which handled the selection process, oversees similar programs in 21 other states.

More information about the Best Places to Work companies is available via a special section of the May/June issue of the Indiana Chamber’s BizVoice® magazine, a statewide publication released tonight and accessible online at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

At the dinner, representatives from all designated companies were presented with Best Place to Work awards of excellence.

All companies that participated in the 2011 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs. For more information on the Indiana Chamber’s Best Places to Work program, go to www.bestplacestoworkIN.com. You can sign up to be notified by e-mail when application details for the seventh annual competition are announced this summer.

In addition to Comcast, Best Places to Work in Indiana is sponsored by: Energy Systems Group, LLC; Horseshoe Casino Hammond; Mussett Nicholas + Associates, Inc.; Networks Financial Institute; Purdue University; Trilogy Health Services; FedEx; Indiana Wesleyan University – School of Business and Leadership; Jackson Lewis LLP; Matrix Integration, LLC; Roche Diagnostics Corporation; and Smithville Communications, Inc.

Governor Daniels, left, and SEP founder and President Jeff Gilbert.

Strong Company Culture Helps Software Engineering Professionals Succeed

By: William “Rusty” Wilburn, Biofutures Magazine 2011

Challenging as it is, getting a startup off the ground is just the first step in creating a successful business. Building a company culture that attracts the brightest employees and best clients is critical to sustaining long-term success.

Software Engineering Professionals (SEP), a homegrown Hoosier company that develops software systems and products, has done just that. Last year it was ranked number one among small- to medium-sized employers in the Indiana Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Best Places to Work in Indiana list. That announcement was quickly followed by news that the owners had transferred 100% of SEP’s stock to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) established for the benefit of the employees.

“We have always had a strong culture,” explains Jeff Gilbert, founder and president of SEP. “Our employees come here largely because they want to be challenged and work on projects that make a difference. We are very proud of what they do. This move further strengthens the connection between SEP and its people. We are now all in the same boat together.

“Our clients hire us because we build quality products and can manage to a schedule and budget,” Gilbert adds.“People come to work here because we offer strong growth opportunities, variety and a great work environment. Strong client relationships, great people and consistent management are keys to our success.”

Founded by Rose-Hulman graduates in 1988, SEP now has 85 employees at its new headquarters in the Carmel City Center. Fifty percent of the firm’s workforce is made up of Rose-Hulman graduates, and more than 80% of its employees graduated from Indiana colleges or universities.

Attracting and keeping outstanding employees factored into the company’s decision to locate in the Carmel City Center.

The amenities, such as the Monon Trail, the Performing Arts Center and the many shops and restaurants, allow SEP employees to work surrounded by the vibrancy of all these entertainment and recreation options together in one place.

“We want to give our employees a place where they enjoy working,” Gilbert emphasizes. “Our culture is at the heart of everything we do, and giving them a new building with specific amenities was important to us.”

SEP develops software systems and products for its clients who are large companies developing software products for the medical, automotive, energy, national defense, aerospace and health care fields.“These products assist nurses, treat cancer, provide patient care, connect patients to doctors, optimize energy, improve aviation safety and help defend this country,” Gilbert says.

According to the company, 88% of SEP’s business comes from Fortune and Global 1000 companies. Of that, 54% is in the medical/health care industry, 19% in aerospace, 10% in logistics and 15% in national defense.

Gilbert would say there is more to the story. SEP has always had the luxury of concentrating on the quality of its services and culture because it has always been employee and privately held. “We haven’t been pressured to grow too fast and make short-term decisions. It almost isn’t fair to our competition. We don’t have to take every project that comes along and we can pick and choose the people we hire.”

PRESS RELEASE February 22, 2011

Software Engineering Professionals (SEP) was recently named as one of the 2011 Best Places to Work in Indiana.  The awards program was created in 2006 and is a project of the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, BizVoice®, Inside INdiana Business, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Best Companies Group. 

This statewide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Indiana, benefiting the state’s economy, its workforce and businesses.  The 2011 Best Places to Work in Indiana list is made up of 34 companies in the small/medium-sized list (15-249 employees in the United States) and 36 companies in the large-sized list (250+ employees in the United States). SEP has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana for 2011.

 To be considered for participation, companies had to fulfill the following eligibility requirements:

- Have at least 15 employees working in Indiana;

- Be a for-profit or not-for-profit business or government entity;

- Be a publicly or privately held business;

- Have a facility in the state of Indiana; and

- Must be in business a minimum of 1 year.

Companies from across the state entered the two-part process to determine the Best Places to Work in Indiana.  The first part consisted of evaluating each nominated company’s workplace policies, practices, and demographics.  This part of the process was worth approximately 25% of the total evaluation.  The second part consisted of an employee survey to measure the employee experience.  This part of the process was worth approximately 75% of the total evaluation.  The combined scores determined the top companies and the final ranking.  Best Companies Group managed the overall registration and survey process in Indiana and also analyzed the data and used their expertise to determine the final rankings. 

SEP will be recognized and honored at the 2011 Best Places to Work in Indiana Awards Dinner coordinated by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, May 5^th.  The final rankings will be announced at the event.  In addition, all ranked companies will be featured in the May-June issue of the award-winning BizVoice® magazine.

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We are proud to have a culture with engaged employees that are both serious and relaxed. We understand that above all else, our staff is what makes our company great.

If you’re looking for a change, perhaps we’re the alternative you need.

We’re proud to announce that our new office space located at the Carmel City Center has been completed!

We ask that you please update your contact information for SEP.

Our new location took 17 months of construction to be completed.  We are honored to be the first business tenant located in the newly developed Carmel City Center. This new building was built specifically with employees in mind. It features…

- Outside Terraces

- Adjacent to the Monon Trail

- Close location to many shops and restaurants

We are happy to be located in the newly developed Center for the Performing Arts , where our neighbors include The Palladium, The Tarkington and The Studio Theatre.

How to Get To Us

Our office is located on the third and fourth floors of Four Center Green. Our building is on the east side of 3rd Avenue Southwest. We ask that all visitors enter through our parking garage, which is on the south side of our building.  Reserved Visitor parking is located on level P3.   All guests should take the elevator or stairs to Level 4 to sign in at our front desk.

Printable Directions