There's satisfaction in serving your market niche(s), no question.  But satisfaction levels – and employee engagement and workplace team building – can climb when leaders decide to use their firm's expertise when appropriate in response to a local or national disaster or other major event.

Thus, the oil spill that continues to ravage the Gulf Coast is an opportunity for PRIZIM Inc., a 14-year-old, Maryland-based environmental management consulting services provider that was a two-year finalist of our Top Small Workplace award.  I received this PRIZIM press release today explaining their involvement with the U.S. Department of the Interior from their employee Gabrielle McDonald, who is in our LinkedIn group and is also connected with Winning Workplaces via Facebook.

When I look at the images of the spill affecting the Gulf Coast region, I've thought about the entrepreneurial opportunity, including for some of the smallest firms, to make a tangible impact in getting the region up and running again in the shortest amount of time.  PRIZIM, with 31 employees, shows that this is possible even at this very early stage in the cleanup and rebuilding process.

Related: Last week Taiga Company shared USA Today's list of action steps you and/or your employees can take to help with the oil spill, along with some additional guidance.  Read their blog post.