12
BUSINESS NEWS LONG BEACH ARCHITECTURE FIRM LAUNCHES NEW PORTFOLIO TO SHOWCASE WORK M. Grisafe Architects , an architecture firm in Long Beach, California, announced that they have expanded their company’s website to include a more extensive portfolio of completed residential and commercial projects. Previously on their website, the architecture firm focused almost solely on explaining in depth their processes and philosophies related to architectural design and project flow. They wanted any potential clients to understand what they could expect if they hired an architect from M. Grisafe Architects for their commercial or residential project, and they also wanted to explain what types of clients are a good fit for their firm. This approach worked well for many potential clients, but not as well for those who are more “visual people” and prefer to see photos and renderings of completed projects rather than just read about them.
M. Grisafe Architects partnered with Southern California web design and digital marketing company, Modmacro Inc. to develop the new portfolio on their website. Modmacro had previously designed and launched the website for M. Grisafe Architects, so having them add the portfolio was seamless. Both the new portfolio and the entire website are mobile friendly, and look great across all devices, from desktops to tablets to smartphones. People looking for an architect in the Long Beach area will now be able to get a more complete picture of the capabilities of M. Grisafe Architects. Mark Grisafe, owner and architect at M. Grisafe Architects, had this to say about the new portfolio: “Adding a portfolio to our website just made sense for our business. Potential clients want to know that we are capable of handling the type of project they are considering. By posting photos and renderings of projects we’ve completed in the past, they can see the
diversity of our work and get a good idea of whether or not our architecture firm will be a good fit for them.” Grisafe continued, “We still recognize the importance of going into great detail about our processes and philosophies, but we understand that our new portfolio will connect with another type of client – one who likes to see photos and other visuals before making that first contact with an architect.” M. Grisafe Architects will continue to update their portfolio as new projects are completed and photos become available. M. Grisafe Architects is a full-service commercial and residential architecture firm based in Long Beach, California, offering commercial building planning and tenant improvements, new home design and custom remodels, landscape design, and interior design. With every project, they strive to exceed their clients’ design needs.
GREG SAUTER, from page 11
failure is not an option. When public welfare is at stake, this will and always should be the case. Experimentation must be separated from public risk. However, it should not exclude the possibility that improving WGI’s outcomes for our clients and society requires us to assume the risk of testing, piloting, and researching alternatives that will not work the first time. We are getting more comfortable with outcomes that, while not perfect, improve our understanding of the problem and move us closer to the ultimate solution. Being a leader that encour- ages learning, embracing imperfect outcomes as an important step in advancing our knowledge, sets us apart in a profession that intuitively seeks perfection. “We are defined by our own innovators who possess a passion for creativity, service, and the knowledge that we can do something different and special. As leaders, we work every day to avoid being limited by the past.” Innovation happens; it is a natural part of any professional’s DNA. Whether the seeds of revolution are discarded or planted, watered, and harvested is the difference between the winners and losers. At WGI, innovation is as much about providing the safety, encouragement, and support for new approaches and ideas; and supporting versus controlling what is naturally a dynamic and synergistic workforce, more than it is any piece of technology or software. We are committed to moving beyond control and focusing on our most important job – creating a culture which maximizes potential and extracts the latent value pent up in our team. Every day, we should be asking ourselves how we can remove constraints and let ideas flow, ensuring they can be shared, shaped, and applied. GREG SAUTER is president of WGI. Contact him at greg.sauter@wginc. com.
Our people are the wildcard in this equation. Given the opportunity, they can be game-changers. However, any of us with long careers in the profession are hampered by traditional cultures of hierarchy, control, and fear of failure. If we cannot find a way to erase psychological limitations, we risk permanently ensuring a future that looks very much like the present and the past. WGI focuses on reinforcing leadership behaviors that promote and support a culture of innovation in three primary ways: 1) In my role, you regularly hear reinforcing messages on utiliza- tion, responsibility, and discipline. They are necessary in any services organization that must turn talent and time into revenue and margin. But, if we limit ourselves to that alone, we will never know our only asset’s true potential. While it may sound trivial, actively listening to the things our teams are thinking about offers important insight into what should hold our attention as their leaders – and more importantly, their mentors. Further, encouraging and supporting their ideas, either formally or informally, is important to reinforc- ing a culture that leverages the value of its team members. Struggling against commoditization is our pathway to differ- entiation. Lastly, if we don’t embrace our associates’ ideas, we all but guarantee a largely disengaged workforce. 2) Reporting lines, swim lanes, and accountability all play im- portant roles in every organization. However, they too often become rigid paradigms with high reinforced walls protecting the power bases of middle and senior managers. Instead, our role should include kicking down the doors of bureaucracy, helping our thought leaders navigate the organization, and removing the grit in the system. 3) Finally, become a champion of learning versus leading by fear of failure. I will never forget the day I went through an Order of the Engineer ceremony in a classroom at my university, and placing that steel ring on my pinkie. I felt both pride in my new role in society and an incredible responsibility. I com- mitted to be a protector of the public welfare above all else. This also translated into the mentality that, in our profession,
© Copyright 2019. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
THE ZWEIG LETTER September 16, 2019, ISSUE 1312
Made with FlippingBook Annual report