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ON THE MOVE WARE MALCOMB ANNOUNCES PROMOTION OF ANA CERVANTES TO DIRECTOR, RESOURCE SERVICES IN IRVINE OFFICE Ware Malcomb, an international design firm, announced that Ana Cervantes has been promoted to Director, Resource Services in the firm’s Irvine, California, office. In this role, she will lead operations for the firm’s U.S. production studios, while collaborating with her team to enhance architecture project delivery best practices. Cervantes has been involved in the industry since 2012 and has earned multiple promotions in her 10 years at Ware Malcomb. A licensed California architect, she has worked on a wide variety of project types including corporate office, industrial, healthcare,
and science and technology. Her experience includes overseeing all aspects of the development of drawings, including space planning, planning packages, schematic designs, pricing plans, as well as design development and contract documents. “Ana has been an integral part of the firm since 2015, mentoring countless team members and playing a key role in improving our production operations across the U.S.,” said Ilyes Nouizi, Principal, Resource Services. “Her exceptional dedication and innovative thinking consistently reflect our core leadership values at Ware Malcomb, and we congratulate her on this well-earned promotion.”
Cervantes previously served as studio manager of the firm’s Studio-West group, responsible for overall management of staff, overseeing project schedules and budgets, and developing and maintaining companywide templates to ensure consistency with industry standards and compliance with building codes. While in this role, she also made significant contributions to the firm’s production studio operations, overseeing quality assurance and quality control for contract documents coming out of the Southern California, Northwest, Central and San Diego offices. Cervantes earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Universidad Autónoma de Baja California.
office events in a social setting, allowing employees to build relationships beyond their daily work interactions. ■ Knowledge exchange. As the senior staff member in the office, I make it a priority to mentor and guide junior employees, sharing my experience while remaining open to fresh perspectives. Rather than immediately providing solutions or answers, I encourage junior staff to present their solutions and ideas first. This approach allows me to understand their thought processes while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. When done correctly, these small but meaningful interactions help build trust and mutual understanding across generations. By fostering an environment where learning flows both ways, we cultivate a culture of teamwork, adaptability, and professional growth, ensuring that every team member, regardless of experience level, feels valued and empowered. A testament to this healthy exchange of knowledge is that our conversations have expanded beyond work-related topics. I openly share my life experiences, including past mistakes, while junior staff provide insights on societal and cultural changes. This ongoing dialogue strengthens relationships and enhances collaboration across generations. Being a 59-year-old engineer in an office with younger colleagues is a unique journey filled with learning, growth, and mutual respect. It’s about finding a balance between leveraging my experience and embracing new ideas. Together, we create a dynamic and innovative workplace where every generation has something valuable to offer. This allows us to help shape the next generation of design professionals by sharing knowledge, fostering their communication skills, and instilling a sense of mutual respect. I take great pride in mentoring young professionals and am always delighted to see those I have guided grow into highly successful individuals. Kevin Norgaard is a principal engineer at MKN & Associates. Contact him at knorgaard@mknassociates.us.
KEVIN NORGAARD, from page 7
communication, encouraging mutual respect, and promoting the continuous exchange of knowledge.
■ Communication. Gen X started their careers communicating primarily through phone calls and in- person meetings. As a result, we often prefer phone or video calls to quickly address questions and provide immediate responses. In contrast, newer staff members tend to rely more on electronic communication, such as emails and messaging platforms. Gen Xers believe that direct, first-person communication ensures mutual understanding and is often much faster than lengthy electronic exchanges. We encourage verbal communication as a way to build relationships based on trust and clarity – sometimes a simple phone call can eliminate multiple back-and-forth messages and reduce misunderstandings. At the same time, we recognize that Gen Z has introduced us to the benefits of electronic communication. Digital messaging is particularly effective when coordinating with multiple individuals on different schedules, allowing for flexibility and accessibility. By blending both approaches, we can enhance efficiency, strengthen collaboration, and foster a more connected workplace. ■ Mutual respect. There are many ways to foster a culture of mutual respect between generations. At our company, we have implemented a mentorship program that pairs junior staff with senior staff. These pairs meet monthly to discuss concerns, share perspectives, and exchange experiences, among other things, creating an ongoing dialogue that strengthens understanding and collaboration. Additionally, mutual respect must be a core value embraced at every level of the organization. Our CEO leads by example, consistently demonstrating respect for employees of all generations. To further support a culture of respect and connection, we host regular non-business
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THE ZWEIG LETTER MARCH 31, 2025, ISSUE 1579
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