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The FEH Design team.
STEWARD OF THE FIRM, from page 7
Compensation is, of course, critical, but people want trust in flexibility. That trust has to be a two-way thing. It is also true that we have great benefits in healthcare and the like, so those things may get taken for granted by some. TZL: Ownership transition can be tricky, to say the least. What’s the key to ensuring a smooth passing of the baton? What’s the biggest pitfall to avoid? KE: With FEH design, there is pressure to be sustainable in our practice. We have existed since the 1800s. The ownership has been passed down successfully for a long time. We are a corporation with 16 shareholders of different levels of stock. We keep an ownership attitude, but also one of stewardship of the firm. We give nice bonuses at the end of the year to staff who are key to our success for that year. We are strong financially and we offer ownership to staff members who prove themselves. TZL: The SPARKs sessions are interesting. How did the idea come about and how long has the company been doing them? KE: A SPARK session is a fast-paced, engaging, and highly-focused design process. We’ve been using public and private SPARK sessions for a very long time. On my second day of employment, I was pulled into a full day SPARK workshop while training in another office. It was a great experience. These engaging sessions really set us apart from the competition. We’re a team of SPARK plugs. TZL: How many years of experience – or large enough book of business – is enough to become a principal in your firm? Are you naming principals in their 20s or 30s? KE: FEH Design has a policy that includes a long list of performance- based achievements to be considered to be elected an associate principal. At that level, staff are able to purchase small percentages of the company ownership. Years of experience and book of business are not currently written requirements for that advancement but both are certainly considered as a part of the evaluation for advancement.
FEH Design’s mascot, Jersey.
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THE ZWEIG LETTER JUNE 6, 2022, ISSUE 1444
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