8
OPINION
Thriving through rapid growth
Growing from a startup to nearly 100 employees, this firm thrives through agility, teamwork, and delivering high-quality solutions at the core of its business.
I have been reflecting on my journey with MKN a lot lately. Maybe it’s because we’re approaching a pivotal point in our growth – nearing 100 employees. MKN & Associates is a rapidly growing water/wastewater engineering consulting firm in California. I joined MKN in 2013 and am thoroughly grateful to be part of this company. I love the people and the work, and I gain a lot of satisfaction in working on water and wastewater projects in our local communities. However, it hasn’t always been easy.
Eileen Shields
Here’s a glimpse into some of the challenges and the rewards:
previously and I had faith in his ability to build a great engineering firm. Indeed, it was the two of us for only a few months, then four, soon six, and within four years, we were three offices strong. Eleven years later, now with nine offices, we’ve consistently grown by 30 percent year- over-year. Exciting as it was in the beginning, it was a lot of work. We did every part of the project in those early days, from the engineering to the drafting, exhibits, and formatting, to the administrative and billing. The saying, “Learn by doing!” was true. ■ Working together toward high-quality water solutions. One of the things I really enjoy about
Being part of MKN from the beginning. It’s exhilarating to be part of a brand-new company. Watching the growth year after year, developing systems and procedures from the ground up, and celebrating our successes together has been a rewarding experience. Newly back from maternity leave with my first child, I made the leap from a global 30,000-employee engineering firm to brand new MKN. I felt a little crazy, often stopping to do a gut-check (Is this the right choice when I’m now providing for a family?), but I had worked with our CEO
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THE ZWEIG LETTER OCTOBER 14, 2024, ISSUE 1557
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