Listen Now

On this episode of The Zweig Letter podcast, we sit down with AllanTsang and Dan Oblinger professional Negotiators from Oblinger & Tsang. We had a far-ranging conversation about Negotiation and Active Listening for Design Professionals.  Dan and Allan go deep in these areas to discuss how to overcome scope creep, telling the client “No!” and making sure that you are making better decisions in all areas of the company.    Negotiation to us is the non-valid form of communication, that brings about an agreement between two or more parties, with each party having the power of consent.   Allan Tsang on What is Negotiation   Dan Oblinger Email Allan Tsang Email Dan Oblinger on LinkedIn Allan Tsang on LinkedIn Oblinger&Tsang Website Oblinger&Tsang on LinkedIn Negotiation Tribe on LinkedIn Get their FREE White Paper on Negotiation Life or Death Listening Book 28 Laws of Listening Book   Text the word NTRIBE to 855-202-4307 to learn about FREE Q&A’s and Workshops at Oblinger & Tsang Get your FREE Subscription to the Zweig Letter Newsletter.

We recently sat down with Zweig Group’s  Director of Strategy, Phil Keil, to discuss the importance of Strategic Planning. Phil shared several stories of how Strategic Planning can make the difference between a Design firm that is just getting by and thriving even during a pandemic. Connect with Phil Keil here. Phil Keil on LinkedIn Get your FREE Subscription to the Zweig Letter Newsletter.

We recently sat down with Chad Coldiron and John Bray from Zweig Group's Advisory Team to discuss all things related to Recruitment and Retention for Design Firms during the Pandemic. Click Here to Read Transcript and View Show Notes

Additional Show Notes and Transcript Coming Soon Tony Hans Email CMTA Website

In this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast, we sit down with Chad Surprenant. Chad is currently the Chief Strategy Officer and Board Chairman of ISG.  He was previously the President, CEO, and Board Member with the company.  Chad shared his journey from being one of the company's primary shareholders and running everything to creating an ESOP and enlarging the ownership of ISG to everyone at the company.   We talked about the importance of Leadership in the Design Industry and why many leadership positions have a hard time relinquishing control when the time is right. Chad is the example of a leader that knows his limitations and has painstakingly surrounded himself with other individuals that either complement his style and even exceed his abilities.  He shared this great quote during the episode:  "You shouldn't limit your organization by your own personal limitations." and he shared another quote from Plato that drives this idea home even further, "I know what I do not know therefore I am wise."   Chad's honesty and insight were refreshing, and this episode has a lot of good ideas about creating leaders and new opportunities for your design firm to grow.  He has a tremendous story that we couldn't stop talking about. Check out this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast. Connect with Chad Surprenant on LinkedIn  As of the release of this podcast episode, the Elevate AEC Virtual Experience has started. To learn more about this virtual event and the plans that are in place to make this one of the most engaging industry award celebrations and continuing education programs in the AEC industry. Click Here for more information or to register for the event. 

In this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast, we sit down with Engineer, Model, and Activist, Marcia Alvarado from TRC Worldwide Engineering.  We had a far-ranging discussion about how Marcia got into engineering, how her modeling career organically grew, and why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is so important to her, and how she hopes to spread the word and best practice throughout the Design Industry.  Marcia was part of the inaugural ElevateHer cohort put on by Zweig Group earlier this year.    She was blown away by the participants and the quality of the program.  Marcia has a tremendous story that we couldn't stop talking about. Check out this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast.  The Elevate AEC Virtual Experience is starting soon. To learn more about this virtual event and the plans that are in place to make this one of the most engaging industry award celebrations and continuing education programs in the AEC industry. Click Here for more information or to register for the event.

2020 has been a year like no other, and the folks at Zweig Group have figured out a way to make the best of it.  ElevateAEC, what has typically been one of the premier in-person events in the Design Industry, has gone virtual.  In this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast, we sit down with Zweig Group CEO, Chad Clinehens, to learn more about this effort and the plans that are in place to make this one of the most engaging industry award celebrations and continuing education programs in the AEC industry.  Click Here for more information or to register for the event. 

We recently sat down with former CEO and Chairman of Burns & McDonnell, Greg Graves.  Greg engaged us with a far-reaching conversation about what life is like as a retired Design Industry Executive - although Greg has not really taken any time off since leaving Burns & McDonnell in 2017.  He has stayed busy working with local organizations in the Kansas City area where he resides, being a husband and Grandfather, and working on his forthcoming book, "Create Amazing!" All of this and Greg's take on the need to push Diversity in the Design Industry, recruiting at HBCU's, and why he thinks that employee ownership creates a dedicated, loyal, and affirmed workforce.  All of this and more on this episode of The Zweig Letter Podcast. Enjoy! 

Laura joined Hickok Cole 2017 to drive business development efforts firm-wide. Laura takes a task-oriented approach to managing Hickok Cole’s existing relationships and forging new ones. She enjoys directing and learning about the creative and thoughtful design methods of her colleagues and disseminating in-house research initiatives to forward-thinking partners. Social handles: LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laura-roth-1924724 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lalafroth/ Company Instagram & Facebook: https://www.instagram.com/hickokcole/ https://www.facebook.com/HickokCole

We recently sat down with LaShawn Stewart-Baylor, founder of Integrated CM Solutions, a Program/Construction Management firm based in San Antonio, Texas.  In five years, LaShawn has built a firm to be reckoned with in the HUGE Texas Construction landscape.    We had a far-reaching conversation about Program/Construction Management in San Antonio and beyond. We also discussed how she got her first project within days of starting the business, the challenges faced by minority firms in the Design and Construction space, Diversity challenges in the Design Industry, and why relationships are so meaningful. When it comes to Program/Construction Management, LaShawn's firm does Scheduling, Project Controls, Budgeting, Cost Estimating, Value Engineering, and so much more. They have expanded beyond Texas with a project office in Shreveport, LA, and where they go from there is fluid and open for LaShawn and the rest of her talented team. As she said in the interview, "We'll go where the work is!" Read LaShawn's recent article in The Zweig Letter. Connect with LaShawn: LaShawn@IntegratedCMSolutions.com LaShawn Stewart-Baylor on LinkedIn Integrated CM Solutions Website, Twitter, Facebook

We recently sat down with James Garrett, AIA, NOMA, Founder of 4RM+ULA Architects in St. Paul, MN. Nothing was off-limits during this far-reaching conversation. We discussed George Floyd, Racism in the Design Industry, the challenge in designing Memorable Structures, and James’ family history in St. Paul – He’s a 5th Generation Resident with ties to an influential City Architect and a Grandfather who was Deputy Police Chief of St. Paul. When it comes to design, 4RM+ULA focuses on Technology, Environmental Sustainability, and Art. 4RM+ULA’s goal is to leverage these three things to have an impact on the Communities that they serve. James Garrett was featured in AIA’s Architect Connect with James: James Garrett on LinkedIn, Instagram 4RM+ULA Website, Instagram Subscribe to The Zweig Letter for FREE

On the Zweig Letter Podcast today, Randy Wilburn sat down with Vatsal Shah, VP, and Principal Engineer with Mott MacDonald in New Jersey and New York.  Vatsal talks about the challenges that Mott MacDonald and so many other Design Firms are dealing with during the Coronavirus Pandemic.  He shares a lot of the things they are doing to promote remote work, keep the culture going, and how they have dealt with business travel during the pandemic. Vatsal is an example of the bright future of Design Firm leaders. He has a great head on his shoulders, and if you listen to this episode in its entirety, you will understand why. Books: Reversing Burnout - Peter C. Atherton Monday Morning Mentoring - David Cottrell Email Vatsal Shah Connect with him on LinkedIn

Zweig Group's Randy Wilburn recently sat down with Chris Huckabee, CEO of Huckabee and Associates, to talk about how his Architectural firm has learned to quickly evolve over the past few months during the pandemic. Chris has engaged his leadership team to stay connected with all of his employees. And, if that wasn't enough, he has made an effort to personally keep in touch with the whole company by sending out a daily email to all staff to share his insights, thoughts, and hopes for the future of the firm. Hear what Chris and his team are doing now, and what he thinks is next for the Design Industry. Connect with Chris Huckabee via Email Visit Huckabee Website

Zweig Group's Randy Wilburn recently sat down with Brian Sullivan, CEO of Sullivan Engineering, to talk about what it's like running a design firm in the midst of a pandemic. Sullivan Engineering has offices in Northern New Jersey and New York City, one of the epicenters of COVID-19.   To say this pandemic has affected his firm would be an understatement. Brian has made the most of the situation, finding new ways to encourage his team and clients through social media, and innovating to provide value to the market he serves. Hear what Brian and his team are doing now, and what his thoughts are on remote work and professional development in the design industry moving forward. This is a far-ranging conversation that will give you some practical tips and ideas about how you can keep your staff engaged and your clients informed during this pandemic and beyond. Email Brian Sullivan Sullivan Engineering Website Miracle Morning Makeover - Hal Elrod Click here to read Brian's Q&A with The Zweig Letter.

Tracey Eaves, a valuations services consultant at Zweig Group, talks to Randy Wilburn about all things valuation related to design firms. They also discuss how COVID-19 will affect firm values and what owners who are near retirement should be thinking about. If you are a design industry leader or firm owner, you don’t want to miss this episode. Over the last 19 years, Tracey has completed valuations ranging from small businesses to multi-million dollar operating companies to holding companies with a variety of assets.  She has worked in the industry since 2010 and specializes in valuations for architecture, engineering and planning firms. Contact her at teaves@zweiggroup.com.

Michael Davis, senior vice president, and chief strategy officer at WGI, talks to Randy Wilburn about the state of affairs at his firm and how they’re responding to COVID-19. Michael and Randy discuss where WGI’s work has increased and decreased in the past several weeks, and how 70 percent of their staff is working remotely.

Mark Zweig, Zweig Group’s founder, and chairman, and Randy Wilburn talk about what design firms should be doing in response to COVID-19.   In the past few weeks, Mark has written several articles with hard-hitting advice for AEC firm leaders in this uncertain time.   In this episode of the podcast, Mark and Randy discuss everything from applying for lines of credit to finding new markets to serve.    Here are some of Mark’s recent articles about responding to COVID-19: We Can All Make it Through This Demonstrate Your Leadership The Road Ahead

The Zweig Letter podcast is back! In this episode, Christina Zweig Niehues and Randy Wilburn discuss the results of Zweig Group’s ongoing AEC Industry Outlook & Response to COVID-19 Survey. How are firms reacting to challenges presented by the coronavirus and what is their economic outlook for 2020 and beyond? Find out this and more in the newest episode of the podcast.   Click here to read Christy’s article, How Are Firms Reacting to COVID-19?