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Improve and grow: Jeff Gilliland Founding principal of J2 Engineers, a multi-discipline firm looking to double its 2018 net service revenue by 2023.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
J eff Gilliland was into his 20th year as a professional civil engineer when, in 2007, he decided to join forces with Jim Bishoff to found J2 Engineers. Today, Gilliland describes his role as a navigator – one who’s focused on the end game. “Family is an important part of our culture,” Gilliland says. “We want our employees to be focused while they are in the office so they can have time to dedicate to their family, friends, and their personal health outside of work.” A CONVERSATION WITH JEFF GILLILAND. The Zweig Letter: How much time do you spend working “in the business” rather than “on the business?” Jeff Gilliland: Currently, I’d say it’s about a 50/50 split. I’m an engineer first and foremost, but I also enjoy the business side. Due to our recent growth and the diversity of the needs in our business, my role changes daily. In 2011, we had five employees and now we’re up to 50. I enjoy my role as a leader and a mentor to our young
engineers. My involvement in their training is how I assure that my vision for this company passes on to the next generation of engineers. I also enjoy working with clients through the planning and preliminary design phases. This is where my expertise can have the biggest impact on a project. “Learn from the mistakes and move on. You’ll get better with each lesson learned. It’s important to know how to cope with failure and to bounce back.” TZL: What role does your family play in your career? Are work and family separate, or is there overlap? JG: My family has played a huge role in my career. Their love and support have been instrumental. I have always worked long hours, so I have been committed to making the most of my time spent with family. I use my 30-minute
THE ZWEIG LETTER Septe
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