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Conference call: Christine Franklin Comprehensive Environmental, Inc. (Best Firm #1 Geotechnical, #3 Environmental, and #13 Civil for 2017), a Miami Lakes, FL, based 80-person engineering and contracting firm.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
“I ’ve never termed any event in my life as a fail- ure, but as an opportunity to learn what not to do the next time,” Franklin says. “My biggest per- sonal lesson is that I cannot succeed if I try to do everything myself. People are put in your life to help you achieve your goals and you are here to help them achieve theirs.” A CONVERSATION WITH CHRISTINE FRANKLIN. The Zweig Letter: While M&A is always an op- tion, there’s something to be said about organic growth. What are your thoughts on why and how to grow a firm? Christine Franklin: Organic growth is cleaner and makes it easier to maintain the pure culture of the firm. However, it’s more difficult to achieve
the growth targets without merging with synergis- tic firms to provide a more robust product or ser- vice. It depends on what you want to accomplish. It takes time and patience to grow organically. It takes a broader vision and the ability to compro- mise for the M&A but, if successful, your growth is more rapid. TZL: While plenty of firms have an ownership transition plan in place, many do not. What’s your advice for firms that have not taken steps to identify and empower the next generation of owners? CF: I think it’s a big mistake not to have a plan in place – formal or informal. Time flies when you’re having fun so you don’t want to be caught without
Christine Franklin, President, Comprehen- sive Environ- mental, Inc.
THE ZWEIG LETTER Mar
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