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Cushing Terrell in say the next five years? How do you plan to get there? GM: Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed the incredible impact our firm’s growth has had on the creation of new opportunities for our people, which is key to meaningful careers and the long-term retention of our talent. One of my top goals is to ensure both happen: responsible firm growth and opportunity creation. To get there, we’re looking at growth opportunities through bringing on top talent who can help open new doors, growth by investing in and building our vertical markets, growth of our firm’s knowledge through our knowledge-management-driven culture, and growth by breaking down geographic boundaries through embracing remote work. TZL: Trust is essential. How do you earn the trust of your clients? GM: Our design process and culture prioritize the user experience. In our client relationships, this means being responsive, communicative, and enthusiastic at every touchpoint. In our deliverables, this means considering how our clients’ clients will be using and experiencing the spaces we imagine and create for their use. Ultimately, it comes back to our mission to forever improve. We approach our work confidently, but humbly, knowing there’s always more to learn. Constant curiosity and an emphasis on research keep our teams on top of innovations, trends, and challenges, so we can always think ahead in terms of design decisions. Our clients trust us to bring new ideas to the table and to challenge the status quo. We also stand by our work. We take responsibility for each choice, outcome, and relationship. We’ve seen this result in many long-term relationships with clients who know we’ll always be there for them. TZL: You’ve been with Cushing Terrell for more than 25 years. What’s one of the most memorable experiences/accomplishments you’ve had there to date? GM: Most revolve around the feeling of creating something beneficial with a team – colleagues, clients, and construction partners. At the end of a project, we have an amazing building to show for our hard work, but it’s the relationships I’ve built along the way that truly stand out. For me, it’s always been about the people I work with to bring a project to life, as well as the people who will use the building and the benefit it will bring to the surrounding community.
TZL: Who are you admiring right now in the AEC industry? Where do you see thought leadership and excellence? GM: There are many. I’ve drawn inspiration from Henderson Engineers for their ability to pull the curtain back on industry insights and best practices in a way that feels approachable, even for non-technical audiences. Their leadership is also very present and engaged. Perkins+Will is another one I admire because they’ve managed to seamlessly blur the lines between design excellence and sustainable design, showing that they are one in the same and giving industry professionals something to aspire to. Additionally, I would be remiss not to mention a leadership collective I’m involved with, which comprises eight partner firms, all of whom I can trust to help workshop even the most difficult leadership scenarios. I learn from them every time we meet. We know there are big challenges to address and we have a responsibility to work together. TZL: Your firm is committed to social action. What’s something you’re working on now that illustrates this commitment? GM: Our offices have always been involved in initiatives that support our communities – everything from STEM programs and mentorship at local schools to annual fundraising for our favorite nonprofit organizations. Each office has its own commitments, which have become traditions. While this continues, we’ve also formalized a pro bono social action program so we can take on larger projects in new and unfamiliar communities as a firm, pulling in multidisciplinary expertise from across our locations. We officially launched the program in February, announcing that in addition to providing pro bono design services, the initiative will focus on action around diversity, equity, and inclusion; community service; charitable giving; and sustainable design. Outside of fostering community connections, our projects offer professional growth opportunities for people at different stages of their careers. We’re excited to embark on two nominated projects this year – one for the Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming; and another for the American Legion in Big Timber, Montana. TZL: What role does your family play in your career? Are work and family separate, or is there overlap? GM: Our firm culture embraces the idea
HEADQUARTERS: Billings, MT
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 450+
YEAR FOUNDED: 1938
OFFICE LOCATIONS: Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Montana, Texas, Washington, with team members in 32 states MARKETS: Commercial, Education, Government, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Residential, Retail SERVICES: Architecture, Building Performance, Building Sciences, Civil Engineering, Commissioning, Electrical Engineering, Energy Services, Fire Protection, Graphic Design, Historic Preservation, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture, Land Surveying, Mechanical Engineering, Planning, Refrigeration Engineering, Structural Engineering, Visualization Services
See EMPOWERING PEOPLE, page 8
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EMBER 26, 2022, ISSUE 1458
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