Clark Neilson, R.B. Pharr & Associates, P.A.
www.rbpharr.com

R.B. Pharr & Associates, P.A. has been serving the Charlotte metropolitan region for more than 50 years by providing land surveying and mapping services to real estate professionals and the general public. By 2007, the firm had grown to 72 employees and had a main office downtown and four satellite offices each located approximately 20 miles from the city center in north, south, east and west directions. Over the last 18 months, the firm has had to reduce its headcount down to 24 and consolidated its entire operation in the downtown office.

As the real estate market has stalled, the ancillary service providers that serve this industry including surveyors, real estate attorneys, and developers have seen their businesses contract substantially. Survival has meant reorganizing the firm, reducing salaries, limiting hours, less-specialization of labor, putting more skilled people in under-employed positions and whole scale analysis of the expense side of the firm.

Accordingly, consulting contracts have been terminated with our HR firm and Employee Assistance Program provider, and lease and loan terms have been renegotiated to have longer terms (with lesser payments). Business insurance, including workers compensation and general liability, have been adjusted mid-year to more closely track actual business risk. Company outings, Christmas cards, advertising, promotional items and cleaning services have been cutback or curtailed. Excess vehicles have been sold and/or disposed of to reduce automobile insurance premiums.