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Melody Lane Fishing Pier in Fort Pierce, FL. WGI’s structural division completed the design of the 215-foot long pier in 2015. Construction was completed in January.
Listen and learn A firm is at its best when good people, rather than a bureaucracy, are in place and empowered to make important decisions.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent D avid Wantman, CEO of South Florida-based Wantman Group Inc. (Best Firm-Multidisci- pline #42 and Hot Firm #39 for 2015), a 310-per- son comprehensive engineering consulting firm, has long understood the intricacies of running the company his father founded. At 13, he was doing everything from delivering blueprints to cleaning bathrooms, and just a year later, joined one of the survey crews. He continued to work for the firm until his father sold it. At that point, he went to work for a large national firm as an engineer. During this time, his father started another firm and asked Wantman to return. He was a bit reluctant. In fact, it took him 10 years to decide to work for his father again, but he did. That was in 2000. About seven years ago, he became CEO. “My father is still active with the business on a part-time basis and likes to pop in and out to keep me in check,” he jokes. Wantman says the company strives to be smarter,
to work harder, and to make decisions quicker than its competitors. “We achieve this by hiring really good people who want to win and be successful in their careers,” he says. “That’s the culture here.” A CONVERSATION WITH WANTMAN. The Zweig Letter: What are the key strengths for an effective leader?What are your key strengths? David Wantman: You have to be a good listener. It helps you to understand what is happening around you. I often like to be the last person to speak at a meeting because if I speak first, it tends to influ- ence others’ thoughts and I may not always get a See Q&A, page 4 “I am a firm believer in letting good people do what they do best, but that said, I need to know what they are doing. You have to stay in touch.”
David Wantman, CEO, Wantman Group Inc.
THE ZWEIG LETTER April 18, 2016, ISSUE 1148
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