When a company’s foundation is laid on values rather than slogans, the results ripple far beyond profit margins. Butler-Cohen, a fast-growing construction and design-build firm headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a testament to that philosophy. Founded on honesty, integrity, and safety, the firm has grown into a trusted leader across the state while maintaining a people-first culture that empowers its workforce and delivers exceptional outcomes for clients.
Butler-Cohen’s HR leadership plays a central role in embedding these values at every level. From employee recognition programs to safety initiatives and future-ready workforce strategies, the company is redefining what it means to blend operational excellence with a culture of care.
Founding Values: Honesty, Integrity, and Safety
For Butler-Cohen, its founding values are more than a mission statement; they are the framework behind every decision.
- Honesty translates to transparent communication with employees.
- Integrity ensures fairness in policies, career growth, and opportunity.
- Safety is both physical and psychological, protecting employees on and off job sites.
These principles, established by founders Sean Butler and Eric Cohen, remain the compass for the company’s rapid expansion. “HR cannot transform without CEOs who strive to be exceptional and customer-centric both internally and externally,” notes Ruthie Lee Esene, the Director of Human Resources at Butler-Cohen.
Empowerment Through Recognition
One of the cornerstones of Butler-Cohen’s culture is its Empowerment Program, which spotlights field staff who demonstrate excellence in safety and teamwork. By publicly recognizing these contributions, the company raises morale, motivates high performance, and reinforces accountability.
Recognition at Butler-Cohen goes further through the “You Make Me Better” initiative, a monthly program that celebrates unsung heroes and strengthens collaboration across departments. The goal is simple: ensure every employee feels seen, valued, and motivated to keep contributing at their best.
“Recognition is a powerful driver of retention,” Ruthie Lee Esene emphasizes. Employees who feel appreciated are not only more likely to stay but also become ambassadors for the company’s culture.
A Cohesive Workplace Culture Across Texas
As Butler-Cohen expands its footprint across the state, maintaining a unified culture is paramount. Beyond its Houston corporate headquarters, the company operates offices in:
- West Texas, led by Ryan Bray
- Central Texas, led by Josh Contreras
What ties all offices together is an intentional culture strategy led directly by Sean Butler and Eric Cohen. Leadership remains visible and hands-on, whether through project site visits, technology-enabled collaboration, or open forums for feedback.
Key elements include:
- Process Improvement Manager: Strategically enhances workflows for efficiency, quality, and transparency across all departments.
- Thursday Leadership Meetings: A weekly alignment session with department heads to review current projects and discuss improvements.
- Monday Morning Companywide Meeting: At 9:00 a.m. every Monday morning, the entire company joins a virtual call where various topics are discussed by different team members every week, including safety, lessons learned, featured projects, and upcoming projects. This platform provides real-time information to all company team members, no matter where they are located in the state.
At Butler-Cohen, culture is not confined to headquarters; it’s embedded in every job site, every department, and every client relationship.
Safety as a Living Value
In construction, safety is often treated as compliance. At Butler-Cohen, it is a daily lived value. The company integrates safety into:
- Onboarding programs: Setting the tone from day one.
- Toolbox talks: Reinforcing practical awareness on job sites.
- Leadership modeling: Senior leaders demonstrate safe behaviors.
- Performance reviews: Safety metrics are tied directly to employee evaluations.
By weaving safety into recognition programs and operational practices, Butler-Cohen ensures it remains an organizational priority rather than a box to check.
HR’s Role in Cross-Functional Collaboration
Butler-Cohen’s Design + Build model thrives on collaboration between design teams and construction crews. HR plays a pivotal role in strengthening this integration by:
- Designing training programs that build cross-functional understanding.
- Creating team-based recognition initiatives that reward collaboration.
- Providing development opportunities to broaden employee skillsets.
The result is stronger synergy across departments and higher-quality outcomes for clients.
Transparency and Employee Trust
Transparency is not a buzzword at Butler-Cohen—it is practiced daily. From sharing company goals to openly discussing challenges, leadership prioritizes visibility and fairness.
Employees are involved in conversations about performance and growth, and policies are consistently applied across the organization. This level of openness fosters a high-trust environment, strengthening retention and employee satisfaction.
Recruiting With Culture in Mind
Butler-Cohen’s reputation as an employer of choice is built into its recruitment strategy. Guided by its “Top 5 Reasons to Work at Butler-Cohen,” the hiring process emphasizes:
- Motivation and curiosity
- Growth opportunities
- Alignment with company culture
From the first candidate interview, prospective employees are introduced to a community-driven workplace. Onboarding reinforces this ethos, making it clear that every role has a direct impact on Butler-Cohen’s bottom line.
As Ruthie puts it: “Everyone is part of ROI.”
Preparing for the Future of Work
The workplace of the future is already here, and Butler-Cohen is adapting proactively. Among the trends shaping HR strategy:
- Multi-generational workforce: Five generations working together.
- Integration of AI and technology: Complementing human creativity and efficiency.
- Climate change considerations: Influencing construction and workforce planning.
- Decline in leadership pipelines: Requiring new approaches to mentoring and development.
To stay ahead, Butler-Cohen is preparing leaders at all levels with a growth mindset and a commitment to continuous learning. By piloting new approaches, listening to employees, and focusing on resilience, the company is ensuring agility in an unpredictable business landscape.
Advice for HR Professionals
Butler-Cohen’s Ruthie Lee Esene offers a clear takeaway: “Never underestimate the power of culture as a driving force in business.”
In fast-growing, safety-centric organizations, HR must balance people-first practices with operational excellence. By building systems that honor both employee well-being and client outcomes, HR can create a workforce that is resilient, engaged, and aligned with success.
Shaping The Future of Work in HR and Leadership
Butler-Cohen is more than a construction firm—it’s a culture-driven organization redefining how HR and leadership can shape the future of work. Through honesty, integrity, and safety, the company has built a foundation of trust. Through recognition, transparency, and innovation, it has created a workplace where employees thrive.
As Butler-Cohen continues to grow across Texas, one truth remains clear: its greatest structures aren’t only the buildings it completes, but the culture of empowerment, safety, and collaboration it builds for its people every day.
About Butler-Cohen
Founded with the values of honesty, integrity, and safety, Butler-Cohen is a Texas-based design-build construction firm redefining industry standards through culture-driven leadership. Headquartered in Houston with offices in West and Central Texas, the company combines innovative processes with a people-first philosophy.
Butler-Cohen is known for its Empowerment Program, recognition initiatives like “You Make Me Better,” and a relentless focus on safety across every job site. By fostering transparency, collaboration, and continuous improvement, Butler-Cohen has built a reputation as both an employer of choice and a trusted partner in delivering high-quality projects across the state.
Company Details
- Company Name: Butler-Cohen Design + Build
- Founding Year: 2014
- Office Locations: Houston, Texas (Headquarters) with projects across Texas and the U.S.
- Official Website: https://butlercohen.com/
- Industry/ Sector: Design + Build (Educational, Industrial, Commercial, and Correctional markets)
Leader’s Profile
- Name of the Featured Leader: Ruthie Lee Esene
- Designation: Director of Human Resources
- Brief Background & Experience:
With over 17 years in human resources, Ruthie has specialized in human capital strategy, organizational development, and executive-level HR support. She previously founded Sirvist HRC, a consultancy. She taught SHRM certification prep at Rice University and Prairie View A&M. Her expertise has been featured in Manage HR Magazine, HR Tech Outlook, and Women Leaders Magazine.
Company Highlights
Butler-Cohen has built a reputation for delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality projects across Texas. The company is distinguished by its values of Transparency, Teamwork, Communication, Collaboration, and safety, alongside a strong culture of development, recognition, and empowerment.
- Key Services/Offerings: Full-service design + build solutions with expertise in educational, industrial, commercial, and correctional projects.
- Major Achievements or Recognitions: Recognized as a trusted leader in construction, with growing national visibility and a people-first approach to workforce culture.