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ON THE MOVE HLB WELCOMES KEVIN FRARY AS DIRECTOR IN SEATTLE HLB Lighting Design, the largest independent lighting design firm globally, announced the appointment of Kevin Frary as director, marking a strategic step in expanding its presence in Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Frary brings more than two decades of experience in architectural lighting design, contributing to award- winning projects that combine technical innovation and artistic excellence. Frary’s career includes leading design teams for high-profile projects such as the Burj Khalifa, the Portland PDX Main Terminal Expansion, and the Expedia Group Headquarters. His expertise spans diverse project types, from corporate headquarters to civic landmarks, both domestically and internationally.
As HLB continues its mission to enhance its geographic footprint globally and strengthen client relationships in emerging markets, Frary’s leadership will play a pivotal role in shaping the firm’s future. “Joining HLB marks the exciting next phase of my career – an opportunity to collaborate with a team whose work I have long respected and admired,” Kevin shares. “I am eager to contribute to the firm’s growth, helping expand its presence and portfolio in Seattle, the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. With a deep appreciation for HLB’s legacy, I look forward to helping shape the future of lighting design with such a visionary firm.” HLB Senior Principal and CEO Carrie Hawley states, “We are thrilled to have Kevin join our team as a director in Seattle. His remarkable expertise and
proven ability to drive innovation align perfectly with our vision for growth and excellence in the Pacific Northwest. We are confident Kevin will help us deliver transformative design experiences and look forward to this exciting new step in establishing better care to our clients in a region we have been developing for 20 years.” Frary’s appointment reflects HLB’s commitment to delivering transformative lighting design experiences that redefine the built environment and elevate client partnerships while strengthening its presence and impact worldwide. Founded in 1968, HLB Lighting Design is the largest independent architectural lighting design firm in the world.
one of something, you effectively have none when it comes to hardware, systems, processes, and other resources in your business. COLLABORATE WITH YOUR CLIENTS. Whether your clients are external or internal, such as an IT team within a company, it’s crucial to understand how to best support them. An internal services group (IT, HR, finance, marketing, legal, etc.) exists to support their internal clients. Embracing this mindset will help your team become a trusted resource to the employees they work with, allowing your support team to gain a deeper understanding of business challenges and implement solutions for improvement. One way to achieve this is by establishing regular feedback contact points with the groups you work with across the company. These can take the form of meetings, emails, or phone calls. The key to ensuring they stay connected is consistency. INVEST IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE. This includes all the systems and hardware your company requires to remain operational and profitable. It’s essential to identify these components, assess their current condition, and create a plan to address any issues, ensuring your company’s continued operation and growth. Companies that invest in the right infrastructure and stay ahead of the curve can gain a significant competitive advantage, eliminating the need to play catch-up with those who neglect maintenance and proactive measures. PROACTIVELY INVEST IN INFORMATION SECURITY. Immediately begin developing a plan to safeguard your company and employees from cybersecurity threats and attacks. If your organization lacks in-house expertise, seek out a reliable consultant who can create a comprehensive strategy for managing information and cybersecurity risks. Do not postpone this, as the era of “security by obscurity” is over; no
one is immune simply because they are smaller or less visible. Cyber attackers are now targeting businesses of all sizes, and it only takes one major attack to cause severe damage to your business. Implement proactive measures by ensuring your team is regularly trained and updated on the latest cybersecurity best practices and potential threats to avoid. You can either appoint someone within your organization to manage this program or hire an external expert to oversee it for you. PLAN FOR THE GOOD AND BAD TIMES. To ensure the long-term health of your organization, it is essential to have succession planning, disaster recovery, and business continuity planning in place. Succession planning means keeping an up-to-date plan for the key roles on your team. If one of these positions becomes vacant, it’s important to know who will step in to take over their duties and responsibilities. Disaster recovery involves having a well-defined process and planned steps to recover from various types of disasters. Without an updated plan, your business could be severely impacted in the event of an unforeseen emergency or disaster. Continuity planning entails creating a strategy to ensure your business remains operational during an outage or other disruptions. This plan outlines the steps or alternative measures you will take to maintain normal business operations. In conclusion, take the time to think strategically about your business. By doing so, you can avoid constantly being in reaction mode and instead create competitive advantages through thoughtful planning and the implementation of wise solutions and changes to better position your business. Matt Gross serves as chief information officer for Garver. Connect with him on LinkedIn .
THE ZWEIG LETTER JANUARY 27, 2025, ISSUE 1570
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