Unaware how to keep employees - Anonymous employee Applied Technologies Associates Employee Review

Developing products, processes and procedures with cooperative coworkers is interesting work. With a large footprint and small head count this company is poised for growth.

The new management regime seems to be more focused on developing their group of lawyers, paralegals and executives in Houston than the engineers and technicians that make tools that work in Paso Robles.

Location, location, location. Central coast of California. Wine country, beaches, university (CalPoly SLO), Big Sur / highway 1. The work can be intellectually challenging and satisfying. Learn the game and you will have a job for a long time. Wages aren't bad for Paso Robles, but low for the oil and gas industry as a whole. ATA has the potential for world class engineering but is hamstrung by the owner/CEO. Senior management (President and below) are generally good. There can be opportunity for the right player.

Oppressive leadership by the very top level management (CEO). No appreciation for employees personal life. High stress. Not family friendly. Adversarial. More stick than carrot. Nepotism. Suspicion and distrust. The company is a dichotomy. Sole proprietorship, family owned. Tough to convince them to change or improve their management style or approach. No voice mail, no department budgets or costing, no training, goofy succession plan, home grown MRP system.