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Conference call: Will Schnier (Part 2) CEO of BIG RED DOG Engineering & Consulting (Best Firm Multi-discipline #44 and Hot Firm #65 for 2017), a 105-person multi-discipline engineering firm based in Austin, Texas.

By RICHARD MASSEY Managing Editor “A s individuals and as a firm, we’re either grow- ing, or we’re dying,” Schnier says. “Stagna- tion is not an option.” A CONVERSATION WITH WILL SCHNIER. The Zweig Letter: In the event of failure, how does your firm react? Will Schnier: Failure does happen. Nobody is per- fect. When we don’t deliver on our value proposi- tion or when we make a mistake or when our PMs fail to communicate up to the client’s expectations, we own it as fast as we can. When we fail, we admit it and we address it and we learn from it. It doesn’t happen often, or we wouldn’t be growing the way we are. When failure does happen, it’s an oppor- tunity to prove to the client what kind of mettle

we have and where our ethical compass is pointed. Handled appropriately, it is a chance to strengthen a client relationship because many firms fail to own up to their failures. “When we fail, we admit it and we address it and we learn from it. It doesn’t happen often, or we wouldn’t be growing the way we are.” TZL: What has your firm done recently to up- grade its IT system? WS: Last fall we put into place an IT infrastructure system that utilizes Panzura technology and Am- azon Web Services in order to have a fully cloud- based infrastructure. We no longer have local

Will Schnier, CEO, BIG RED DOG Engineering & Consulting

THE ZWEIG LETTER Jun

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