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Michigan’s first diverging diamond interchange at Auburn Hills is a direct result of OHM Advisors seeking a game-changing solution for the I-75/University Drive interchange improvement.
Not opposed to opposition Third-generation leader of multidiscipline firm embraces debate, seeks consensus, and likes anything with bacon.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
generalist firm. While our mission to advance com- munities has remained the same, we’ve grown our expertise, disciplines, and geographies and we now provide architecture, planning, and engineering. TZL: What are your key strengths? What do you feel the key strengths are for an effective leader? JH: Overall, it’s important to be a forward thinker, to listen to opposing ideas, and to have a good mor- al compass. Personally, I’m team focused, an activa- tor, and enjoy putting people together. TZL: How would you describe your leadership style? JH: Consensus builder. I’m open minded to oppo- sition. No good decision is made without debate. TZL: What has been your greatest challenge to date and how did you deal with it? JH: From 2010 to 2011 we had to balance an own- ership transition and wanted to take care of staff See Q&A, page 4
I t started with his great uncle. Then his father. And now him. Firm president John Hiltz is the third generation of leadership at the Metro Detroit- based OHMAdvisors (Hot Firm #15 for 2016), and that’s right where he wants to be. “I started working at OHM before I even graduat- ed from high school,” Hiltz says. “I did everything from landscaping to delivery and was grateful for the opportunity.” A CONVERSATION WITH JOHN HILTZ. The Zweig Letter: How have you seen OHM evolve since its founding? John Hiltz: When I started working here 33 years ago, we had about 35 people. We are now a publicly- held C corporation with 29 partners. We’ve grown organically through a series of small M&As – com- panies with similar mindsets. Today, we have 390 employees, but that number seems to change al- most daily. We also started out as somewhat of a
John Hiltz, President, OHM Advisors
THE ZWEIG LETTER November 28, 2016, ISSUE 1177
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