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PROFILE
Motivator: Steve Sproles Principal at Derck & Edson (Lititz, PA), a planning and design firm that shapes the natural and built environment in innovative and functional ways.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
S proles says his number one responsibility as a firm leader is to be a motivator and mentor, adding that the sooner you know your gifts and your weaknesses instead of trying to be everything to everyone, the better off you are. He’s a big believer in partnerships and says that his business partner, Jim Wenger, and he work really well together. They don’t compete for things in the office; they just understand each other’s talents and limitations. “The sooner you can embrace that and work together, the better off everyone is,” he says. “It also takes a lot of stress off yourself when you don’t have to be good at everything.” That’s likely one reason the firm has been around for more than 80 years. Over the decades, Derck & Edson has been lucky to have many strong leaders – those who wanted to teach the next generation and encourage them to transition into leadership over time. “That’s exactly how I advanced through the firm and was able to experience all aspects of our business,” he shares. “I also think the mindset of listening really well and trying to create
solutions that meet clients’ needs as opposed to forcing a solution we want has been one of the many reasons we’ve been successful and have so many repeat clients.” Over the years, Derck & Edson has expanded its services. In 1940, it started out strictly as a landscape architecture firm, but now it offers nearly all aspects of design, allowing the firm to meet more of its clients’ needs in-house. And client interactions are not just based on trying to make a sale. Staff are passionate about their market sectors and work hard to understand their client organizations, personalities, and cultures. In fact, sometimes they even offer to connect their clients with others who may be able to help with a current challenge that’s outside their expertise. Overall firm success is also attributed to having staff with a broad range of skills (landscape architects, planners, architects, interior designers, and engineers). “This allows us to truly collaborate in finding solutions to client problems,” he says.
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