HBG Design is proud to announce that we have been named a 2026 Top Workplace by The Commercial Appeal, marking the 12th consecutive year our firm has received this distinguished honor in the Memphis metro area.

The award is especially meaningful because it is based entirely on employee feedback gathered through a confidential, third-party survey administered by Energage. The survey measures key components of the employee experience, including feeling Respected & Supported, Enabled to Grow, and Empowered to Execute — benchmarks that reflect the strength of our culture from the inside out.

As Eric Rubino, CEO of Energage, shared:

“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees. That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure they’re allowing employees to have a voice and be heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”

Where We Shined in 2026

In this year’s firm-wide survey, HBG saw its three largest increases in engagement scores in:

  • Employee well-being
  • Meaningfulness of work
  • Work-life balance

These gains reflect a focused and intentional effort to strengthen our internal culture — ensuring that as our portfolio of transformative hospitality and gaming projects grows, so does the experience of the people designing them.

A Culture Built with Intention

“Being recognized in the top tier of workplaces in Memphis is right where we want to be — where everything we do internally communicates the HBG experience: meaningful work on projects that create impact, work that aligns with our employees’ values, providing an enriching employee experience that prioritizes well-being, inclusiveness, and engagement, and creating a place where the work-life and home-life of our employees generate the kind of balance that energizes and galvanizes every single day,” said Nathan Peak, HBG Design’s President.

What Our Team Says

The true measure of a Top Workplace is the voice of its people. This year’s survey responses reflect a culture defined by growth, trust, and innovation:

  • “It’s a forward-thinking company.”
  • “HBG excels in pairing employees’ passions with their strengths, enabling us to craft a career uniquely tailored to our gifts.”
  • “We are a growing and dynamic firm that is achieving a lot of success.”
  • “I appreciate the design innovation within projects and the trust and responsibility awarded to employees.”
  • “What makes us such a great firm is the dedication to professional growth of staff and genuine commitment to work-life balance.”
  • “Leadership is listening to our employees’ concerns and focusing on solutions.”
  • “Culture is a priority. There is great collaboration and trust across team members. I feel empowered and fully engaged.”

Designing Impact — Inside and Out

For HBG Design, workplace culture is not separate from design excellence — it fuels it. The same intentionality we bring to shaping immersive hospitality and gaming destinations is applied internally to building a workplace where people thrive.

Twelve years as a Top Workplace is more than a milestone. It’s a reflection of who we are — and a commitment to continuing to evolve, listen, and lead with purpose.

We are grateful to our team for making HBG Design a place where great design — and great careers — are built.