4 TZL: How would you describe your leadership style? LC: I build teams based on relationships and encourage a collaborative spirit. Because of the strength of the individu- als working for Trigon as well as the overall team, there is a high level of confidence which allows our upper manage- ment to delegate and not micromanage. TZL: What has been your greatest challenge to date and how did you deal with it? LC: It had to do with the USAID infrastructure program management project in Palestine, particularly my initial vis- it to the West Bank. I did not know what to expect and was relying on the U.S media portrayal to influence my percep- tions. I was misinformed. I was quickly impressed by the professionalism and dedication of the Palestinian people – not to mention their ingenuity and patience. Now, I very much look forward to my visits and to spending time with our Trigon team. As a side note, all of the Trigon teamwork- ing in Palestine are 100 percent local. Another significant challenge has been to grow into my po- sition and to realize that to succeed, I would have to handle things in a way that was true to my style and personality. Being a woman and an introvert in a man’s industry, a good bit of my career was spent doing what I thought should be done to be accepted. Now I know that to succeed, I have to be true to myself. “Make your workplace one where your team feels confident and safe in offering their opinions and suggestions.” TZL: To what do you most attribute your recent sales growth? LC: As our reputation for providing top-notch services ex- pands, so does our client base. We get follow-on projects once a new client understands the value we bring to a proj- ect. Our expansion into the international development and overseas market has also been critical. TZL: What is your vision for the future of Trigon? LC: In addition to continued growth in our full-service en- gineering offerings for infrastructure and public works, Tri- gon will also grow (in size and in geography), in its niche service offering areas of program management, consent de- cree compliance management and support (as related to Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act enforcement and compliance projects), and international development. Our corporate culture will continue to be one of respect, in- tegrity, and inclusion, built upon a diverse team of people who work closely together to uphold our core principles of quality, commitment, and client service. TZL: How have you helped your firm to outperform its competitors? What do you feel sets you apart? LC: Although we started Trigon just seven years ago, we were quick to succeed in rebranding the experience and rep- utation of the four partners in the new firm. We have built Q&A, from page 3
on our reputation for responsiveness, exceptional services, and the ability to make our clients successful. Their goals are our goals. We understand their pain points and how to eliminate or minimize them. We go the extra mile to make sure the details are thought out, addressed and presented at the top level. We also excel at building the right team for each project and the right person for each job. Our team is outstanding as our expectations are high and we are able to recruit and re- tain exceptional people that are a good fit with our culture. Finally, having worked in the global engineering market for many years, we have the background and experience of a large global firm. However, being a small entrepreneurial firm, we are very adaptable and flexible. We bring the best of both worlds. TZL: Are you married? Do you have children? Pets? LC: Perry and I have been married for 32 years. Our son, Eric, is in grad school at LSU and is pursuing a career in the professional sports industry. Our daughter, Evann, is a ju- nior in public relations at LSU and is pursuing a career in PR for the music industry. Our schnauzer, Lucas, is the king of the house. TZL: What’s one thing most people at the firm don’t know about you? LC: My family lived in Ireland for a year (2004 to 2005), when my children were young. It was a fantastic experience for all of us and helped us to learn the value of spending time as a family as well as value the differences and similari- ties among different cultures in our small world. TZL: What’s the last book you read? LC: I’ve been reading travel books on Germany in prepara- tion for an upcoming visit to my daughter who is studying there this semester. TZL: What’s the last movie you saw? LC: Star Wars . It was a family event over the holidays. We’re all fans and were especially thrilled with the ending at Skel- lig Michael, which we have visited off the southwest coast of Ireland. TZL: What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever gotten? LC: Make your workplace one where your team feels con- fident and safe in offering their opinions and suggestions. And realize that the person speaking the loudest does not always have the best ideas. TZL: Who is a leader you admire? Why? LC: Jimmy Carter because of his quiet and committed man- ner in carrying out significant humanitarian efforts before and after his presidency. TZL: When you’re not working, what types of activities do you enjoy? LC: I enjoy relaxing with my family and friends, cooking, and planning our next travel adventures.
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THE ZWEIG LETTER May 9, 2016, ISSUE 1151
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