06/21/2009

Thomas Totten is the CEO of Indianapolis benefits consulting compant Nyhart, but you hear him bragging about it. His title isn't even on his business card.

Nyhart, quite literally, belongs to its employees. They have a stake in the company through an employee stock ownership plan.

Therefore, no one uses titles. No one's office is bigger than anyone else's. And anyone can walk into anyone's office at any given time.

"It's a very flat organization, and hopefully we'll stay that way," Totten said.

Still, the company is growing.

Nyhart is the state's largest pension actuarial consulting company and one of Indiana's largest 401(k) recordkeeping companies. The company also provides employers with consulting services on flexible spending accounts.

It was founded in 1943 as a family-owned company but became an ESOP in 1991 when the family sold its stake to the employees.

Since then, the company has grown to do business in 48 states with about 72 employees, most of whom work in Indianapolis.

So far, the recession has been kind to Nyhart. The company recently moved into a bigger office and is still hiring.

"We specifically want Hoosiers," Totten said.

There's also camaraderie.

Employee and managers, he said, tend to hang out together after work and on the weekends. Many jog or play golf together, and the close relationships enhance productivity.

Indeed, Nyhart ranked particularly high on the Star's survey for getting things done. Employees said senior managers are clued in and do a good job of keeping everyone else informed.

Or as Chief Financial Officer Lisa Pethtel put it: "We're a company. We're not corporate."

Call Star reporter Erika D. Smith at (317) 444-6424.