7
elements of how we’re currently working that will continue beyond the end of the COVID crisis. “The success of those I surround myself with and the passion that they bring to their work day-to-day is what drives me to be a better leader and push the business forward.” TZL: How much time do you spend working “in the business” rather than “on the business?” AO: Having worked “in the business” for more than 10 years, it took time to transition from that to working “on my business.” I’m an engineer at heart and it’s difficult to not get pulled into the detail of the work that we do. Luckily, I’ve been able to surround myself with some great people who are doing a super job for our clients. This, especially over the past year, has allowed me to pull myself away from project operations to focus more on growing the business, working on short and long-term strategy, client interface, and corporate governance. TZL: What role does your family play in your career? Are work and family separate, or is there overlap? AO: When you own your own business, it’s hard to create a complete separation between work and family. Thankfully, my wife and I work in different industries. She works in the movie industry, which is just a little different to engineering and construction. What’s great about that is that I can bounce things off her for a completely different perspective which has often helped me think differently about strategic items over the years. I like having that input when it comes to the business. Conversely, I like to think that I also provide just as good input to her career, but I really can’t take any credit for the comedies that she creates. TZL: Trust is crucial. How do you earn the trust of your clients? AO: Having worked for a large corporation for 10 years, I know what it’s like to be in the client’s seat working with smaller firms. I have always kept this in mind when I work with our clients. What is important to them? What do they need? What do they not typically see in or expect from smaller firms like ours? We have a reputation for expertly addressing clients’
needs drawing on years of multinational experience delivering top quality engineering and construction solutions to clients. As CEO, I remain actively involved in the day-to-day operations of the company and our clients understand and appreciate this. Our approach is a collaborative process in which we are partners. We are on the same side of the table with them. We have gained the trust of our clients by demonstrating a responsive culture, transparency, and accountability. TZL: The company is described as “old school with new school flair.” Can you explain that a bit? AO: Born out of a construction company, the Enovate team has spent many collective years on federal, state, and county job sites as project managers, surveyors, field engineers, and superintendents; we know our way around a job-site and excel at complex construction and infrastructure projects, giving us “boots on the ground” experience. However, we are not only field-trained, we are educated experts with more than 55 licenses and certifications. As the driving force making Enovate an internationally-recognized company, I’ve gone from transitioning with the engineering group to leading it and further defined its strategy, pushing it forward to break barriers in construction technology and grow beyond its current capabilities. We know how construction projects work from living and breathing it – we bring field practices and state-of- the-art technology and software to ensure an economic, practical, and constructible solution is implemented. TZL: How has COVID affected your business on a daily basis? AO: Like many other industries, engineering and construction has had to reimagine how work gets done. With an unwavering focus on safety already in place, Enovate was likely more prepared than most to address the challenges of the pandemic. However, the uncertainty surrounding the duration and severity See REACH NEW LIMITS, page 8 “We have gained the trust of our clients by demonstrating a responsive culture, transparency, and accountability.”
HEADQUARTERS: Cranford, NJ
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 24
YEAR FOUNDED: 2016
OFFICE LOCATIONS:
❚ ❚ Cranford, NJ
❚ ❚ New York, NY
SERVICES:
❚ ❚ Construction management
❚ ❚ Transportation engineering
❚ ❚ Surveying
❚ ❚ Safety and risk
CERTIFICATIONS: WBE, DBE, and SBE WHAT DO ENOVATE EMPLOYEES LOVE MOST? Enovate employees love the entrepreneurial culture. Each person is directly involved in executing the firm’s strategic plan. Employees take an active part in guiding and growing the organization and have a genuine interest in the success or failure of each project, venture or opportunity. Everyone pitches in and works hard, which promotes a strong sense of teamwork.
© Copyright 2020. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
MBER 30, 2020, ISSUE 1369
Made with FlippingBook Annual report