TZL 1312

example, there is no substitution for a good pilot. While we embrace cutting edge technology in the AEC industry, it’s often over-promised and under-delivered. For the near term, there really is no substitution for a good engineer who is a problem-solver and listens to our clients. Then, by providing that engineer with the right tools, both electronic and human (good colleagues), it will help them design a quality project. “Waiting until recruiting time to ensure a diverse workplace is too late. That is one reason why BASE supports and has been actively involved with the ACE Mentor Program.” TZL: What, if anything, are you doing to protect your firm from a potential economic slowdown in the future? SB: We try to ensure that we have a diverse stream of work in both private and public sectors. During the last recession our public and international work helped to make up for the large slowdown in our private sector work. TZL: Does your firm work closely with any higher education institutions to gain access to the latest technology, experience, and innovation and/or recruiting to find qualified resources? SB: We’re investing more time these days in connecting with universities, both on an R&D level and for recruiting. Our employees are involved in technical non-profits where many members are university professors, and sometimes these relationships result in referrals of students seeking careers. We also give presentations to engineering students and participate in college recruitment fairs. TZL: What unique or innovative pricing strategies have you developed, or are you developing, to combat the commoditization of engineering services? SB: We try to illustrate to our clients that our value really comes from saving them overall construction dollars and not in a reduced fee structure. On several projects, we’ve been able to show our clients how we saved dollars per square foot in construction cost rather than pennies per square foot in design fees. However, this doesn’t always work as there are

sometimes accountant-types lurking in the background. We recently lost a project because our fee was a few cents per square foot higher than another proposer even though the client loved our work product. TZL: They say failure is a great teacher. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve had to learn the hard way? SB: Letting accounts receivable stretch out too far with some clients. We are so driven to do a good job for our clients that the financial side is often an afterthought. We have gotten stiffed a couple of times and when you look back on it you realize you could have prevented it from happening. 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? SB: I once had a boss who said you can have one year of four years’ experience or four years of one-year experience. Some people advance faster than others and unfortunately some don’t advance much at all, so you really can’t use chronological years of experience as the primary determiner. A bright, quick learner with a good personality and work ethic can become a principal fairly early in their career. “Some people advance faster than others and unfortunately some don’t advance much at all, so you really can’t use chronological years of experience as the primary determiner.” TZL: In one word or phrase, what do you describe as your number one job responsibility as CEO? SB: “Job security.” I need to ensure that our firm is run well financially while still making sure we take care of our clients, so there is always a stream of work coming in, thus providing job security for our employees. These are great women and men, many with families, who depend on me for some of their livelihood. TZL: What happens to the firm if you leave tomorrow? See DRIVEN TO DO GOOD, page 8

HEADQUARTERS: Honolulu, Hawaii YEAR FOUNDED: 1995 NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES: 32 NUMBER OF OFFICE LOCATIONS: 5 EXPERTISE: ❚ ❚ Engineering ❚ ❚ AT/FP ❚ ❚ Testing and Inspection ❚ ❚ R&D GIVING BACK: BASE gives back to the community in many ways including: ❚ ❚ Forming the local chapter of the ACE Mentor Program to expose high school students to the industry ❚ ❚ Adult Friends for Youth working with at-risk teenagers ❚ ❚ Disaster response and assessment ❚ ❚ Pro bono design work for charities and community organizations HOLISTIC ENGINEERING: BASE does not believe in a silo approach. It’s proactive with its project teams in working out structural design solutions keeping the holistic building design and aesthetics in view. They often review multiple solutions with the design team on larger projects to hone in on one that works best for all trades involved.

ember 16, 2019, ISSUE 1312

Made with FlippingBook Annual report