Ralph Appelbaum Associates Reviews

For all intents and purposes the company is run now by the young, inexperienced son of the founder. Management is wildly inconsistent, opaque, and concerned with secretiveness that can seem paranoid. The management team is unable to set policy due to the founder and son central control of every decision. This has introduced chaos throughout the organization and culture. Staff has no idea what is happening as communication is vague and evasive. Financial troubles were common as projects were run without proper time and resource management. The structure of the company places control of projects in the hands of a very few senior architect/ designers who restrict the ability of new voices and ideas making it difficult to refresh process and ideas. Innovation has stalled and the same ideas are being recycled. The founder is no longer in touch with the practical realities of the industry, but the company culture still centers around him, and this puts strain on projects. Often after years of work has been complete the founder will change focus with little insight into rationale or client wishes. Salaries are low, contractors are treated poorly, benefits are lower than other firms.

Communication from management is nonexistent, which is especially troubling when people get laid off or have their time reduced. There's zero transparency into management and financial decisions, which makes you feel like they're just making it up as they go along. Also, I began as a freelancer, and my invoices would be ignored until I got my project director involved, and he or she intervened with accounting.