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HEADQUARTERS: Minneapolis, MN NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 132
YEAR FOUNDED: 1946
OFFICE LOCATIONS: 1
The University of Minnesota Bell Museum, where MCE provided full mechanical and electrical services.
MARKETS:
stage of teaming with an architect partner is like competing for the state championship. Next, we get shortlisted. It’s like competing at the world championship. In the end, we interview and it’s like competing at the Olympics.” Lam shares that corporate, government, and higher education markets are facing some challenges. There’s a surplus of underutilized and outdated spaces which is sparking leadership to begin thinking about innovative ways to reinvent how the work is done and to invest to create a different building user experience. “We’re welcoming such change by being nimble in our capabilities to maximize the building systems design effectiveness,” he says. Another significant change is the commitment of leadership across all markets to reduce their carbon emissions. To meet that end, MCE is engaging in multiple building decarbonization studies. “It’s exciting to experience how quickly the mindset is shifting,” he says. “As more companies and organizations move to decarbonization, it’s becoming clear that not all electrification solutions are created equal.” Despite – and in spite of – these industry challenges, Lam truly revels in creating a team culture where the focus is on enjoying and growing through the process rather than being attached to the outcome. “That’s been a game changer mindset for the team,” he says. “We celebrate small and big wins. We practice gratitude. We walk the talk. We support each other.”
LEISBEL LAM, from page 9
Aviation
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Without people our business would not exist,” he says. To better inform a positive personal management strategy, MCE assesses individual team members as part of their onboarding through a work focus scale. This assessment reveals whether individuals are prevention or promotion focused. They also assess work styles which shows where peoples’ tendencies lie – analytical, amiable, expressive, etc. To ensure MCE is laying the foundation for great managers, it intentionally gathers this information during its one-to-one meetings and any other interactions it has with employees to understand their dynamics around the six universal human needs. Tony Robbins calls them “certainty, variety, significance, connection, growth, and contribution.” “Having a sense of what moves people helps a ton to lead and manage them,” Lam shares. DRIVERS AND CHALLENGES. When it comes to specifics about the markets he and his teams work in he says it’s the competitive nature of the industry that really drives him. Since he was a kid, he’s loved competitive sports because it always pushed him to do better, to innovate, and to try new tactics. It also opens up vulnerabilities which only serves to ignite his desire to try harder. “I get the same rush in my role every day,” he says. “And, let’s not forget, the bulk of these markets’ work is won through open RFPs where the competitive landscape is fierce. I approach it much like a game. For example, for me the
Corporate
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Entertainment and hospitality
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Government
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Healthcare
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Higher education
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Mission critical
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Retail
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Science and technology
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SERVICES:
Mechanical
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Electrical
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Lighting
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Fire protection
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Technology systems
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Commissioning
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© Copyright 2024. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
THE ZWEIG LETTER JANUARY 15, 2024, ISSUE 1520
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