You’ll probably remember Pete Atherton from his episode just a few weeks back. Pete was a principal at Wright-Pierce, an AEC firm (Architects, Engineers, Construction) for 18 years. Then he exited to become a consultant for leaders who are in similar roles.

So, what better way to continue the conversation between Native Analogs and Native Digitals about the profession of AEC than have the current President of a forward-thinking architecture firm join us?

My guest, Tim Schroeder, President of Neumann Monson Architects, joins me to discuss how professional services is adapting and changing for Native Digital employees.

Ownership + Employee Engagement at Neumann Monson

In my opinion, Neumann Monson is leading the AEC industry in creating succession and ownership pathways for young employees, helping them with retention efforts.

“We have a team of associate principals and have established a succession process for them to take over in the coming decade but have already readied the program for two successive generations after that.” – Tim Schroeder

As the leader of 18 years at the firm, Tim and his team have invested extensively in client experience efforts and just recently became a JUST Organization, which means they are committed to corporate transparency through the lens of social justice and equity.

Take note AEC leaders. There is much to learn from this decision by Neumann Monson.

Tim on Virtual Work in AEC

We haven’t talked much about virtual work on this show, particularly because it seems to be all the world is talking about, and this show does things differently!

However… in AEC, virtual work is creating an uprising and many challenges. So we discussed it.

Tim shared a challenge many AEC leaders are currently facing: How do teams collaborate when they are virtual?

His team very much enjoys the ideas that are generated sitting around a table. And the learnings they garner from hearing the ideas from someone across the room at another desk. I hear this completely!

Yet I find this unsurprising, as the average age of a Principal in an Architecture firm is 40+. (See this article for details)

I want to particularly highlight this fear that Tim shares with hundreds of other firm leaders, and which is not unfounded:

“If we start opening the team to 100% remote opportunity… inevitably, the culture we’ve built dissolves.”

The question I challenge Tim with: What happens when a Native Digital has the opportunity to work anywhere for any company? Will they choose you?

Or should we re-define where “culture” takes place?

Quick Insights from Tim:

1. Create authentic video content – help your potential clients make the decision to work with you BEFORE they ever speak with your business development team.
2. Managing bottom-up and allowing your staff to bring decisions to the top leads to the most innovation and engagement possible in your organization!
3. There are some great virtual collaboration tools! Check out Mural for example.

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Tim asked me to shout out to the Stanley Center for Peace and Security. NM just designed a fully certified Living Building for them. There are less than 30 such buildings worldwide and their firm admires the Stanley Center's commitment to setting a positive example as global citizens. Go Stanley Center!

Check out Neumann Monson:

neumannmonson.com

Tim’s Bio:

Tim Schroeder is the third president of Iowa-based Neumann Monson Architects, established in 1977. Over the past decade, he has led the firm's transformation into a state and regional design leader while simultaneously nurturing a progressive, purposeful, and human-centered practice that is advancing the AEC industry’s expectations of design, community impact, and stewardship of both employees and clients.

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