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4 TZL: How would you describe your leadership style? JL: I feel that my job is to serve all of our employees by pro- viding them the direction and the tools that they need to accomplish their jobs every day. As a result, I’d characterize my leadership style as being a bit of a cheerleader by encour- aging and assisting them in making key decisions – quickly and efficiently. Q&A, from page 3 “My greatest challenge was to quickly learn the company culture and to gain the trust and respect of all of those employees who had worked with the founders to create a wonderful company.” TZL: To date, what has been your greatest challenge at McKim & Creed? How did you handle it? JL: Since its inception, the company had been run by the two founders. My greatest challenge was to quickly learn the company culture and to gain the trust and respect of all of those employees who had worked with the founders to create a wonderful company. TZL: What is your vision for the future of McKim & Creed? JL: My vision is for us to be a sustainable, employee-owned firm where employees enjoy coming to work every day to contribute to the steady increase in our shareholder value. TZL: Tell me about a recent project that you are especial- ly proud of and why. JL: Our firm has completed work on almost 100 solar proj- ects. Many of these are collaborative efforts between our surveyors, land development engineers, and electrical engi- neers. This is the type of collaboration that will foster future company growth and success. “My vision is for us to be a sustainable, employee-owned firm where employees enjoy coming to work every day to contribute to the steady increase in our shareholder value.” TZL: How have you helped your firm to outperform some competitors? What do you feel sets you apart? JL: Our firm has a great culture of client satisfaction and doing what we need to do to maintain a long-term relation- ship with those clients. I believe that our employee owner- ship helps to create that culture. TZL: Is there any news you care to share about McKim & Creed projects or anything else? JL: Our Building, Energy, and Infrastructure group is

rapidly developing into one of the leading groups in North Carolina. It provides mechanical and electrical engineering for universities, health care, and industrial clients. We ex- pect to grow that business into our Florida and Texas mar- kets in the next few years.

TZL: Are you married? Do you have children?

JL: I’ve been married for 36 years. We have three children. One daughter is a TV newsperson in Connecticut. The other daughter is a dietician in Salt Lake City. My son is a snow- board video maker in Seattle. TZL: What’s one thing most people at the firm don’t know about you?

JL: I’m an open book – they know everything about me.

TZL: Do you have a favorite vacation spot or dream des- tination? JL: To date, my favorite vacation has been skiing in Salt Lake City. One day I’d like to visit Australia and New Zea- land. “Our firm has a great culture of client satisfaction and doing what we need to do to maintain a long-term relationship with those clients. I believe that our employee ownership helps to create that culture.”

TZL: What’s the last book you read?

JL: Winning Every Day: The Game Plan for Success by Lou Holtz.

TZL: What’s the last movie you saw in the theater?

JL: Sully .

TZL: What’s the best piece of work-related advice you’ve ever gotten? JL: Your employees will accomplish amazing things if you empower them, give them respect, and encourage them to have a balance of entrepreneurialism and discipline.

TZL: Who is a leader you really admire?

JL: Wayne Alderson. He had a successful business career and wrote a book, Theory R Management . The book’s prem- ise is that every person hungers to be treated with value. TZL: When you’re not working, what types of activities do you enjoy? JL: I love to exercise outdoors – biking, running, walking, golfing, skiing, and kayaking.

TZL: What’s your favorite lunch?

JL: Fruit.

THE ZWEIG LETTER December 12, 2016, ISSUE 1179

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