1268

3

O P I N I O N

Generating interest

When I think about the people our society considers stars, I think of actors and athletes, not architects and engineers. That needs to change.

T he AEC industry is a great one, with plenty of exceptional firms and people. The work being done is important and meaningful, improving lives in more ways than people realize. The only problem is that people outside our industry don’t realize just how great it is. Even worse, we often fail to recognize and celebrate our own successes. If we want to inspire the next generation of architects and engineers, that’ll have to change.

Kyle Ahern GUEST SPEAKER

small gesture, but it always ramps up the energy in the office and is great for the firm’s morale. And keep this in mind: If there are budding design professionals out there who know you’d value their accomplishments, they just might want to work for you, which is a big deal in the ongoing labor shortage. “We have to start showcasing the rising stars of our firms, both internally and externally. They are the future of our industry, and their great work needs to be known.”

When I think about the people our society considers stars, I think of actors, singers, athletes, authors, and artists. These people are celebrated for different reasons, but they are celebrated nonetheless. This is what we, as an industry, have to start doing for the most talented among us. Speaking of top talent, we have to start showcasing the rising stars of our firms, both internally and externally. They are the future of our industry, and their great work needs to be known. Celebrate them when they win a big job or complete a major project. Illustrate to them and other current or future employees that your firm appreciates their accomplishments. At Zweig Group, when something good happens, like an individual or team winning a job, everyone gathers around for a ringing of the company gong. It’s a

See KYLE AHERN, page 4

THE ZWEIG LETTER October 15, 2018, ISSUE 1268

Made with FlippingBook Annual report