1185

fillment a mer

Zweig Group is social and posting every day! C O N N E C T W I T H U S

facebook.com/ ZweigGroup

twitter.com/ ZweigGroup

linkedin.com/company/ ZweigWhite

blog. ZweigGroup .com vimeo.com/ ZweigGroup

TZL: How have you helped your firm to outperform some competitors? What do you feel sets it apart? KH: We have always managed the company from a holistic business perspective predicated on outstanding client ser- vice with sound financial principles. To enable us to do that, we have taken great measures to provide a comfortable and happy work environment for our team members. In addi- tion to helping us retain talent, we are also able to position ourselves as a destination firm for prospective employees. Our belief is that employees who feel appreciated and val- ued are those who are able to perform better in a field that can often be demanding. We o ff er several resources to help our employees balance their personal and professional lives. TZL: Is there any news you care to share about Ghafari projects or anything else? KH: Yes. Our firm has experienced a great deal of growth and diversification over the last decade, entering new in- dustries and geographic markets. As we have grown, so have the ways of representing the firm to our clients and even to our employees. Due to that fragmentation, we recently went through a comprehensive rebranding initiative during which we clearly defined a brand promise that unites our organization. We developed all-new messaging and visuals, including our logo, corporate website, and all of our mar- keting materials that allow us to better communicate this promise internally and externally. TZL: Are you married? Children? Pets? KH: My husband and I have been married almost 30 years, and we have three independent grown children, two sons, and a daughter. TZL: What’s one thing most people at the firm don’t know about you? KH: I love to play card games; one of my favorites is Euchre. TZL: Best vacation spot? Dream destination? KH: I enjoy any place that is conducive to walking and dis- covering. TZL: What’s the last book you read? KH: It’s Your Ship by D. Michael Abrasho ff . TZL: What’s your favorite movie? See Q&A, page 8 “When I first started with Ghafari, there were only three employees and the firm was heavily involved with the automotive industry. Since then, we have grown and diversified tremendously.”

industries in addition to automotive such as aviation, cor- porate, education, healthcare, industrial, and manufactur- ing. TZL: What are your key leadership strengths? KH: My ability to work with a variety of people from dif- ferent industries and backgrounds is key. I can also build strong teams that will support our clients through their re- spective businesses. “Our belief is that employees who feel appreciated and valued are those who are able to perform better in a field that can often be demanding. We offer several resources to help our employees balance their personal and professional lives.” TZL: How would you describe your leadership style? KH: Collaborative, yet straightforward. I take pride in work- ing with our team to find solutions to the challenges that our clients and business face. TZL: To date, as CEO, what has been a top challenge and how did you deal with it? What was the outcome? KH: Th e severe downturn of the automotive industry – where two of three of our biggest clients went into bank- ruptcy – during the last recession was tough not only for our clients, but for our employees as well. We worked really hard to diversify our client base to secure a better future for Ghafari and our employees and that helped us to persevere through those years. TZL: What is your vision for the future of Ghafari? KH: To be a growing and diversified firm. Our vision is cen- tered on our values, which are to be an AEC firm of the high- est reputation, one that is profitable, client-service focused, and committed to developing strong employees both pro- fessionally and personally. TZL: Tell me about a recent project you are especially proud of and why. KH: Th e Woodward Headquarters and Manufacturing Cam- pus in Fort Collins, Colorado. Woodward, a longtime suppli- er of the aerospace industry with a celebrated history, want- ed to transform a 100-acre site into a campus encompassing a new corporate headquarters and additional manufactur- ing and support facilities. Th is project granted us the oppor- tunity to apply our full range of capabilities, from process design to architecture and facility engineering, to deliver a campus that will help Woodward achieve their goals: grow- ing their business, attracting top talent, and creating jobs in their local community.

nuary 9, 2017, ISSUE 1182 uary 30, , IS 5

Made with FlippingBook Annual report