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Florence (co-president) joined the firm in 2003 and I joined in 2012. I have a degree in biology and worked in the pharmaceutical industry prior to coming on board. I’ve demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting-edge markets, and fast-paced environments. Florence has strong technical and business qualifications with an impressive track record of more than 15 years of hands- on experience in strategic planning, business unit development, and project management. “My employees know they can approach me for any issue that may arise without hesitation and there’s a sense of comfort in knowing they’re being lead down the right path.” TZL: How did COVID-19 permanently impact your firm’s policy on telecommuting? RJ: In March of 2020, no employee had the ability to work from home. We had very few laptops and were not prepared for the quick pivot. In three days, once we realized the shutdown was coming, we had to order laptops and computers from Amazon. Now, almost three years into the shift, our focus has been on incorporating a hybrid work schedule. We do, however, believe that great engineering comes from collaboration, and, in order to do that, people need to be in the office. In addition, about 20 percent of our staff has been hired since COVID. It’s important that they feel a part of DBS. We know when employees feel like they are part of a community they’re less likely to look for another job. TZL: As co-president of DB Sterlin, what’s top of mind right now? Growth, recruitment, retention, etc.? What are you doing to meet that end? RJ: All of the above. We’re in a great situation right now where the demand for infrastructure projects is high, and the talent pool is low. We want to keep our current employees and continue to recruit top talent. In addition, we need to keep up with our growing backlog. We like to proactively have one-on-one discussions with our current employees to find out what they are doing, and what they like and dislike about their work. We believe
addressing issues upfront helps with retention and builds onto the company’s culture. TZL: Have you had a particular mentor who has guided you – in school, in your career, or in general? Who were they and how did they help? RJ: My father pushed me to do better in school and in my career. He continues to push me as an owner and continually reminds me that I can always do better. He started DBS with a reputation for being a strong leader and an excellent engineer and he’s used those relationships as a foundation to build the firm. TZL: What are some professional tips on how to prepare for growth? RJ: The single most important tip I have for growth is a paraphrase of a quote I heard a long time ago: “Surround yourself with people smarter than you. Empower them to make decisions and listen to feedback, positive and negative.” A strong team you can trust makes growing the organization much easier than if you think you can do it alone. TZL: Trust is essential. How do you earn the trust of your clients? RJ: There are a few simple words we live by here at DB Sterlin: Truth and quality. These are values we live by. Whether it’s a deadline, a deliverable, advice – delivering the work on time and being honest builds our credibility with our clients. I clearly communicate to staff that if they can’t meet a deadline, it’s better to let the client know upfront so the project plan can be altered. Surprises are never fun and missing a deliverable with no explanation can quickly turn a solid project into a sub-par one. “We evaluate our work carefully and ensure that the work we do is within our capacity to get the job done, while maintaining quality and efficiency.” TZL: As a minority entrepreneur, what have been your greatest challenges? How have you met them? And, on the flip side, what benefits have come from it? RJ: As a minority-owned business, the biggest issue I have is when a large “prime” firm tells me that I already have enough work. To clarify, if we win a big design job, I’ve had firms tell me they don’t want to work with us because See RESPONSBILITY, page 8
HEADQUARTERS:
Chicago, IL
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
102
YEAR FOUNDED: 1997
OFFICE LOCATIONS: 1
MARKETS:
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SERVICES:
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engineering
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surveying
© Copyright 2023. Zweig Group. All rights reserved.
UARY 23, 2023, ISSUE 1473
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