The business consultancy Slalom said Tuesday it plans to hire 300 employees in its Chicago office during 2020, bringing its payroll here to 1,000 workers.
The Seattle-based company said it hired 171 workers last year and continues to experience rapid growth working with local industries such as life sciences, health care, insurance, finance and real estate. It also said it has named veteran employees Ali Minnick and Carrie Steyer as general managers of the Chicago office, which is in the Aon Center, 200 E. Randolph St.
“This is not so much new for us as it is on pace with the growth we have seen in Chicago,” Minnick said. She said business here has grown about 22% per year since Slalom opened in Chicago 15 years ago. It helps with issues such as technology, strategy and workforce development.
Minnick and Steyer will succeed Tom Snapp, who started the Chicago venture and continues as general manager for other Slalom offices in the Midwest. The company has more than 35 offices globally and about 8,000 employees.
The employee-owned company reports $1.6 billion in annual revenue. The Chicago office is the second largest besides Seattle, but the new general managers have a competitive streak and said that could change.
Steyer said employees spend much of their time at client companies. With a local focus, Slalom consultants travel to clients’ various sites but usually “sleep in their own beds and don’t have to spend all their time on airplanes,” she said. She said the arrangement helps staff maintain a healthy work-life balance.
The company’s website lists clients such as Allstate, the American Cancer Society, eBay and Hyatt. Steyer said the company also has technology partnerships with Google, Microsoft and Amazon Web Services.
With two floors encompassing 65,000 square feet at the Aon Center, Slalom may need to consider additional space soon, the executives said.
