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P R O F I L E
The 2018 Elevate the Industry Panel Discussion was chaired by, from left to right: Josh Brown, Vice President, Huckabee; Steve Lucy, Managing Partner, JQ Engineering; Ozzie Nelson, Chairman & Co-CEO, NELSON; Sepideh Saidi, President & CEO, SEPI Engineering & Construction; and David Wantman, President, WGI.
In the books With the unequivocal success of this year’s Hot Firm & A/E Industry Awards Conference in Dallas, all eyes now turn to Las Vegas in 2019.
By RICHARD MASSEY Editor
C had Clinehens, Zweig Group’s president and CEO, said this year’s Hot Firm conference represented a quantum leap forward for the firm and its signature event. Record at- tendance of nearly 300, high energy among attendees, and a good mix of fun and education marked the two-day gath- ering, which unfolded at the palatial Fairmont Hotel. With Zweig Group’s new mission, Elevate the Industry, un- dergirding the 19th annual conference, Clinehens was ac- curate in his assessment that, indeed, Zweig Group has ar- rived at a new plateau from which to do bigger and better things for the market, people and firms it serves. He opened the conference with a bang, veering from a hu- morous story about a misadventure at the 2017 conference in Seattle, to the presentation of industry statistics culled from Zweig Group’s extensive catalogue of AEC research and intelligence. Clinehens ended his address with a pointed, forward-look- ing message, one that set the tone for the entire assembly. “Promote, diversify, educate, change, and celebrate,” Cline- hens told the audience. “We can’t do this alone. We must come together and be intentional. Zweig Group is ready to
continue our evolution as an advisor and hub of informa- tion and resources while leading this movement – one that brings us together to promote and advance the industry.” Before this year’s event was even over, people were looking west, to Las Vegas, where the 2019 conference will be held Sept. 18-20 at the Green Valley Ranch Resort. One hundred of the nation’s fastest-growing firms were honored this year, as well as dozens of Best Firms to Work For. Awards were also issued for Marketing Excellence and to individual Rising Stars. The 2018 event culminated in a black-tie gala and concert by ‘80s cover band Ultra Suede. As with many engagements hosted by Zweig Group, there was plenty of food and drink. At the heart of the conference were the breakout sessions, hour-long drill-downs on a variety of topics – presented by conference sponsors and consultants – from marketing and company culture to ownership transition, research and de- velopment, mergers and acquisitions, technology, strategy, business development, ESOPS, and an entertaining open mic by none other than firm founder and chairman Mark Zweig.
See IN THE BOOKS, page 4
THE ZWEIG LETTER October 22, 2018, ISSUE 1269
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