North Highland, the No. 5 ranked large company on Florida Trend’s Best Companies To Work For In Florida list for 2016, is an employee-owned management consulting firm. The Florida office is led by Market Lead Barbara Ray.

“Our consultants live and work where our clients live and work, and we care about the communities we serve. That’s a core part of our culture,” Ray says. “We have the best team in the business, and it is a fun place to go to work every day.” North Highland is known as a locally-based growth firm that serves its clients primarily with expertise and knowledge in the cities where they reside, a factor that has helped the company grow at a rate faster than that of the consulting industry as a whole.

North Highland entered the Florida market in the late ‘90s, and more than 100 Florida businesses and organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, state government and leading nonprofits, depend on North Highland to help them solve complex challenges, from organizational strategy to data analytics and everything in between. North Highland’s first Florida office was established in Orlando, and it has since added Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Tampa and South Florida clients to its portfolio in industries including: entertainment, government, healthcare, hospitality and vacation ownership, non-profits, retail, transportation and utilities.

North Highland offers its employees many benefits, such as unlimited paid time off and employee ownership ESOP plans.

“Having worked for North Highland in Nashville and Tallahassee, I experienced firsthand the tremendous ‘culture of care’ and the passion our people have for serving our clients and one another. Our firm celebrates the strengths of each individual and creates an environment where our people have the opportunity to grow professionally and support their local markets.” Drew Evers, Expert Practitioner since 2008

“I love working at North Highland because of the professional, experienced and highly motivated people — all sharing in the same goal of doing what is best for our clients.  I also enjoy the local, national, and international opportunities I have been provided -- all of which have allowed me to challenge myself and grow personally and professionally.” Tim King, Principal Consultant since 2008

“As an owner-employee with North Highland, I am invested in the success and reputation of the company and our clients.” Karen Botino, Executive Assistant since 2014

“I had been living in the Jacksonville area for more than five years before joining North Highland, but had spent little time here due to my former job requiring 80% travel. Since joining North Highland, I have been fortunate to be at the forefront of developing our presence in my home market, while also being part of an organization that actively gives back to the community.” Geoffrey Chong, Principal Consultant since 2010 (first employee in Jacksonville)