The 25-minute-long podcast compiles reactions to questions about why fees matter and what they should be.  “For one thing,” Joan asks, “clients have been saying that design and construction fees are too high – but is that because these people are ignorant, unrealistic, game-playing, or cheap?”

The January 25^th issue of The Zweig Letter carries an article that summarizes many of these remarks and Editor Joao Ferreira has included this podcast in his blogspot as well.

Capelin Communications created “Sound Advice” in 2009 to help the design and building community to weather these tough, new times.  So far, the series has had nearly 10,000 “visits.”

Click on the media player below to listen to this special-edition podcast.  The speakers, their organizations, and the point in the podcast where they appear follow:

Download the podcast as a MP3

A. Eugene Kohn, KPF Architects – 1:42

Friedrich Bohm, White Oak Partners – 2:50

Thomas Scarangello, Thorton Tomasetti – 4:28

Jim Cramer, Design Futures Council/Greenway Group – 5:54

Tony Schirripa, Mancini Duffy – 8:55

Craig Park, Leo A Daly – 10:22

Ava Abramowitz, Esq. – 12:21

Walter Hunt, Gensler – 14:23

Scott Simpson, Kling-Stubbins – 16:37

Stanley Stark, HDR/CUH2A – 18:22

Peter Piven, Peter Piven Management Consultants – 20:01

Scott Braley, Braley Consulting – 21:53

Philip Harrison, AIA

In this 19th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Phil Harrison, president and chief executive officer of Perkins + Will, provides his perspective and advice on the following topics:

• The benefits of diversification
• What’s going to be important in the future – especially for innovation
• Perkins+Will’s approach to sustainability
• The “new frugality”
• Being optimistic even if in the face of recession

Click on the media player below to listen to Phil’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Phil Harrison Sound Advice

As President and Chief Executive Officer, Phil is responsible for Perkins+Will’s strategic focus and business performance. He is directly involved with the firm’s quality initiatives including design excellence, sustainability, and technical delivery; he oversees firm growth, diversification and development; and he defines the firm’s business objectives for performance, collaborative operations and staff development.

Phil joined the firm as an Architect in 1993, working with science + technology, healthcare and corporate clients. He has served as the firm’s President, a member of the firm’s Board of Directors, and Managing Director of one of the largest regional practices in the firm.

Phil is involved in a number of community and civic organizations in Atlanta, where he lives with his family.

Anthony P. Schirripa, AIA, IIDA

In this 18th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Tony Schirripa, chairman and chief executive officer of Mancini-Duffy provides his perspective and advice on the following topics:

• How to build a strong organization
• Taking risks in a recession
• The importance of financial and business planning
• Keeping the interns
• Communicating in tough times.

Click on the media player below to listen to Tony’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Interview with tony Schirripia

Tony Schirripa has been at the helm of Mancini Duffy for 14 years and was an important part of the Gensler organization for 15 years before that.  He has been a driving force in Mancini Duffy’s transition and transformation from a mid-sized, local practice to a multi-office firm with a diversified client base and international reputation.

An architect by training, he has specific expertise in large, intricate projects for financial, media, and real estate development companies – all of whom share a “speed-to-market” approach to business.  He has also earned the firm a reputation for workplace design.

Tony’s emphasis on strategic planning, investment in technology, and training, as well as his businesslike approach to project and practice management are the foundation for the firm’s growth.  The firm received the 2009 IDP award from AIA and NCARB for its approach to training young professionals, and professional development in the theme of Tony’s coming year as president of AIA New York Chapter.

Honored as the 2009 Outstanding Alumnus by Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture, he also serves as Vice Chairman/Architecture of the influential New York Building Congress, on whose board he has served since 1985.  As a result of this involvement and outreach, he has been in a position to routinely advise City commissioners and the Mayor’s Office on policies that affect design and development.

Scott Simpson, FAIA

In this 17th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Scott Simpson, senior director of Kling-Stubbins, provides his perspective and advice on the following topics:

• What awaits be the “next architect” [his book -  The Next Architect:  a New Twist on the Future of Design] in this recession
• The important difference between risk and value
• Learning to speak the client’s language
• Vision as a component of leadership
• How to find the extraordinary in a recession assignment.

Click on the media player below to listen to Scott’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Interview with Scott Simpson, Kling-Stubbins

Scott Simpson is senior director of Kling-Stubbins, a global design firm.  There, Scott’s projects have won Lab of the Year honors as well as two Business Week/Architectural Record design awards.

He is a Richard Upjohn Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, a Senior Fellow and board member of the Design Futures Council, a founding board member of the Rice Building Institute, and an Overseer of the Boston Children’s Museum.

Scott has lectured at the Harvard, Yale, Rice, and the University of Wisconsin schools of architecture, and has presented at numerous national conferences and symposia, including 15 AIA national conventions.  He has published more than 115 articles on innovation in the design professions and has co-authored two books, How Firms Succeed and The Next Architect:  a New Twist on the Future of Design.

Scott Braley, FAIA

In this 16th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Scott Braley, principal of Braley Consulting & Training provides his perspective and advice on the following topics:

• The difference between this and previous recessions
• The importance of marketing internally
• What a marketing officer should be considering going forward
• Why continued training is so valuable.

Click on the media player below to listen to Scott’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Interview with Scott Braley

An accomplished strategist, leader, manager and marketer, Scott in himself and as a consultant, has led A/E/C’s through several recessions.

Braley Consulting & Training began in 1987; he has been a full-time consultant in multiple sectors of the industry since 1998. His role has been to help firms create strategies, define leadership/ownership, retool their organization, enhance project delivery, and engage talent.

For over two decades, Scott served as Managing Principal of the international A/E/C firm Heery, that grew to rank in the ENR “Top 40” and World Architecture’s “Top 50.”  He recently authored “Wisdom, Wrinkles and Worth,” a white paper on Baby Boomers in the A/E/C workplace.

An active member of numerous professional organizations, and a Fellow of the AIA,

Scott is widely published and a frequent invited speaker at national and international A/E/C events.

Ann Banning-Wright, LEED AP

In this 15th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Ann Banning-Wright, senior vice president and chief strategy office of the Syska Hennessy Group provides her perspective and advice on the following topics:

• Why to focus on what your clients are doing, not your competitors
• How to make engineers – and anyone else – better consultants
• Ways people and a firm shift gears
• How to use market research for your advantage
• The importance of helping one another out during a recession.

Click on the media player below to listen to Ann’s podcast.  Scroll down to read her bio.

Interview with Ann Banning-Wright

For more than 20 years, Ann Banning-Wright has been inspiring “thought leadership” for Syska Hennessy Group, a global consulting, engineering, technology, and construction company.   Ann is the key executive responsible for the growth of Syska’s Western Region – in addition to managing Syska’s 160-person Los Angeles office.

Ann is accredited by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.  Spearheading the firm’s drive towards cutting-edge high-performance building, Ann established a team that is 47% LEED™ APs.

Ann is a member of the Board of the USC Architectural Guild, past president and board member of the Westside Urban Forum, and board member of the Women’s Executive Network.  She received the Marketer of the Year “Leonardo Award” from the Society for Marketing Professional Services, has appeared on CNBC as an expert on business reliability, writes articles for trade and business publications, and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences.

Peter Piven, FAIA

In this 14th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Peter Piven, FAIA, founder of Peter Piven Management Consultants provides his perspective and advice on the following topics:

• How the best do research about their clients
• Ways that design firms are changing – and how a leader must handle change
• Why people become architects
• A strategy for fees.

Click on the media player below to listen to Peter’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Interview with Peter Piven

Peter Piven recently founded Peter Piven Management Consultants to help professionals in architecture, planning, engineering, landscape architecture, interior design and graphic design firms improve their practices in the areas of overall organization, strategic planning, valuation and ownership and leadership transition, marketing, project delivery, partnering, financial management, and merger/acquisition assistance.  Before that, Peter was a founding principal of The Coxe Group.

Mr. Piven received a Bachelor of Arts degree with High Honors from Colgate University, a Master of Architecture degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master of Science degree in Architecture from Columbia University, and a Certificate in Management of Design Organizations from Harvard University.

Mr. Piven has focused his career on management issues in the design professions and was elevated to Fellowship in the American Institute of Architects in 1981 for his contributions in management. He was a Vice President of Caudill Rowlett Scott, where he managed the New York Division, and a Principal of Geddes Brecher Qualls Cunningham: Architects, which won the national AIA Architectural Firm Award during his tenure.

Mr. Piven instructed “Professional Practice” and “The Design of Design Organizations” at the University of Pennsylvania, the “Practice Seminar”‘ at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and “Starting a Design Firm” at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design Executive Education program (with Brad Perkins). Mr. Piven is a Director of PennPraxis, the 501 C-3 corporation created by the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design to provides opportunities for student and faculty education and development, strengthen community ties, and provide service to the community. He is a member of the Queen Village Neighbors Association Zoning Committee.

Mr. Piven is the author of “Financial Health” and “Capital” in the current and upcoming editions of the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice, and he is a member of the editorial committee for the 14th Edition. He was the co-author of “Client Perspectives: Health Care”, “Client Perspectives: Higher Education”, and “Client Perspectives: Federal Facilities” in the 2004, 2005 and 2006 Updates to the Architect’s Handbook of Professional Practice. He is the author of Compensation Management: a Guideline for Small Firms, and co-author of Success Strategies for Design Professionals: SuperPositioning for Architectural and Engineering Firms. Mr. Piven’s book Architect’s Essentials of Ownership Transition was published by John Wiley & Sons in February, 2002, and Architect’s Essentials of Starting a Design Firm, which he wrote with Brad Perkins, was published in May, 2003. Architect’s Essentials of Starting, Assessing and Transitioning a Design Firm, which he wrote with Mr. Perkins, was published by Wiley in 2008.

The Coxe Group is headquartered in Seattle (206/467-4040), and Mr. Piven lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Craig park, FSMPS

In this 12th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Craig Park, FSMPS, vice president and chief marketing officer at Leo A Daly provides his perspective and advice on the following topics:

• How to market a firm during the recession
• What are some new sources of funding for projects
• Which path should a firm take during the downturn
• Why marketing and business development are crucial to a firm’s survival right now

Click on the media player below to listen to Craig’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Interview with Craig Park

Craig Park has been active in the building industry for more than 35 years,  holding leadership roles in marketing, business development, design, project management, and operations for firms in design and engineering consulting, contracting, and manufacturing, spanning a single office to over 20 branches, and generating $2M to $200M in annual revenue.

Craig’s success in marketing, business development, and communications has resulted in expanded markets, new services, significant revenue growth, and the creation of a proactive marketing culture for all of the firms where he has served.  His philosophy is based on providing rapid, responsive, and relevant communication that allows clients and potential customers to recognize value and receive high quality service.

Craig holds a BS in Architecture from California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, and completed continued education programs at New York University and the Advanced Management Institute in San Francisco.

Craig is a Fellow and past national president of the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS).  Craig has been honored by SMPS as Chapter President of the Year and the Marketing Achievement Award for his career accomplishments, and by the San Francisco/Bay Area Chapter with the William B. Hankinson Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Craig is the author of Design. Market. Grow!: Building an Enduring Practice through Expertise, Excellence and Experience and is a contributing author to the SMPS Marketing Handbook for Design and Construction Professionals.  He is a frequent presenter at local, regional, and national industry programs, and a featured writer for the SMPS Marketer, Systems Contractor News, and ProAV magazines.

• Why and how to strengthen your bottom line
• What things design professionals need to know before going into real estate development
• Uncommon sources to fund projects
• Whether a recession is a good time to acquire another firm

Click on the media player below to listen to Ryc’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

R. Nicholas "Ryc" Loope, FAIA

Podcast with Ryc Loope

“Ryc” Loope – architect, design/builder, turnaround consultant, professor, and founding director of the Arizona State University real estate development program – has run parallel careers most of his adult life.

Since 1989, a tenured member of the ASU design faculty, teaching practice and also directing the degree program in Housing and Community Development, he founded and then directed the Master of Real Estate Development Program for its first three years.

He is managing also part of HL Design Build, R. Nicholas Loope, FAIA Architects, and PDI, a global design consortium.

Ryc had an earlier “corporate” life as president of Taliesin Architects, the continuation of the practice of architecture began by Frank Lloyd Wright, and then as president/CEO of the Durrant Group, an A/E design firm.

Member of the Urban Land Institute and Design Build Institute of America, he also sits on the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity/Arizona. The National Association of Industrial and Office Properties named him a “Distinguished Fellow” in 2007.

• How negotiation is a win-win situation for architects and engineers
• Why fees matter
• Why return on investment is an important indicator of success
• How to communicate to clients about business issues.

Click on the media player below to listen to Ava’s podcast.  Scroll down to read her bio.

Interview with Ava Abramowitz

Ava Abramowitz, attorney and author of The Architect's Essentials of Negotiation

A former assistant United States attorney for the District of Columbia, Ava J. Abramowitz has been serving as a mediator for the federal courts for the District of Columbia since the late 80’s, mediating a diverse assortment of civil cases, all of which have placed a premium on negotiation skills.  Since leaving her position as a vice president of Victor O. Schinnerer & Company, Inc., the underwriting manager of the CNA Insurance Companies’ architects and engineers professional liability insurance program, Ava has mediated insurance disputes and has also served as an owner’s representative on residential construction projects.

Formerly the deputy general counsel of The American Institute of Architects, Ava is the author of The Architect’s Essentials of Negotiation (John Wiley & Sons 2009).  A senior fellow of the Design Futures Council, she is also a founding fellow of the American College of Construction Lawyers and has served on its Board of Governors. Additionally, she is serving as the first public member of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. A former member of the Governing Committee of the American Bar Association’s Forum on the Construction Industry, Ava is the 2008 recipient of the Forum’s Cornerstone Award, the highest award the Forum gives for long-term, exceptional service to the construction industry, the public, and the legal profession.  Ava is a graduate of Brandeis University and the George Washington University National Law Center.

• Why to consistently conduct talent searches and cultivate interns
• How not to take on more than you can handle
• Why it isn’t necessary to drop fees
• Why Design Assist works as a new business line
• Who should run design firms.

Click on the media player below to listen to Walter’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Podcast with Walter Hunt

Walter Hunt, FAIA, vice chairman, Gensler

Walter Hunt directs Gensler’s Global Client Program from its New York office and leads selected projects in New York – although he is often in Las Vegas on the MGM MIRAGE CityCenter project, the largest privately funded development in the US.  In addition he serves on Gensler’s board of directors. He began his career at Gensler San Francisco and served as managing principal of the Denver office from 1978-1985 before transferring to New York as Co-Managing Principal.

In 1999, Walter served as president of the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter.  He currently sits on the Yale Architecture Foundation Dean’s Council.

Walter served as President of the American Institute of Architects, New York Chapter in 199 and currently sits on the Yale Architecture Foundation Dean’s Council.  He holds BA and MA degrees from Yale University.

www.gensler.com

• How to help people conquer “emotional paralysis” during the recession
• How to inspire new ideas
• Why pressure on fees isn’t so bad
• Why he’s worried about the “green revolution”
• How to benefit from “constructive paranoia.”

Click on the media player below to listen to Tom’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Podcast with Jim Cramer

Jim Cramer, Hon. AIA, chairman, The Greenway Group

Jim Cramer is the chairman of the Greenway Group, Inc., a management consulting, research, and publishing firm specializing in the design professions, the media, and cultural institutions.  He is the founding publisher/editor of DesignIntelligence, a design management change and innovation journal published 6 times a year and the author of the critically acclaimed book Design + Enterprise, Seeking a New Reality in Architecture.  He is the editor of the Almanac of Architecture & Design and is also the co-author of the best sellers: How Firms Succeed, a Field Guide to Design Management and The Next Architect: A New Twist on the Future of Design.

Jim is the President of the Washington, DC based think tank, The Design Futures Council.  The Council’s mission is to explore trends, changes, and new opportunities in design, architecture, engineering, and building technology.

For six years, Jim served as the Chief Executive Officer of the American Institute of Architects.  He is also the former President of the American Architectural Foundation and for seven years was the Publisher of Architecture magazine.

Jim is an educator, strategic consultant, and foresight advisor.  He is a Richard Upjohn Fellow of the AIA and a Leadership Fellow of the Western Behavioral Sciences Institute in La Jolla California.   Jim received the University of Minnesota’s Distinguished Service Medal for his work in design and environmental stewardship.  He has been Aga Khan Lecturer at MIT, Honors Lecturer at Clemson, Hide Lecturer at the University of Nebraska and an Adjunct Professor of Architecture at the University of Hawaii.

www.greenway.us

Tom Scarangello

In this 7th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Tom Scarangello, PE, chairman of Thornton Tomasetti, provides perspective and advice on the following topics:

• How to help people navigate the psychological downturn
• How to inspire new ideas and plan for the future
• Why cutting fees is a bad idea
• Whether design professionals should run design firms
• What young people entering the profession can expect.

Click on the media player below to listen to Tom’s podcast.  Scroll down to read his bio.

Interview with Tom Scarangello

Tom was named one of the “Top 25 Newsmakers of 1996” by Engineering News-Record for his work on the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. He has given many guest lectures and served as an adjunct professor at Manhattan College. He received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil engineering from Manhattan College, and professional mechanics degree in the Ph.D. program of Columbia University, New York City.

www.thorntontomasetti.com

• Alternate careers for design professionals
• How to reconceive your career
• How to find a job you love
• What young people just entering the profession can expect.

Click on the media player below to listen to Lenore’s podcast.  Scroll down to read Lenore’s bio.

Interview-With-Lenore-Lucey-NCARB

Lenore Lucey, NCARB

Lenore M. Lucey, FAIA, has served as Executive Vice President of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards since 1997.  Established in 1919, NCARB is a federation of the licensing boards of the 50 states, 4 territories and the District of Columbia in the Unites States.  NCARB is the provider of Education Standards, the Intern Development Program (IDP), the Architect Registration Examination (ARE), and a continuing education monograph series.  In addition, it acts as a certification agency for architects, enabling them to have verified credentials centrally maintained and transmitted upon request for licensing in any of the 54 member jurisdictions.  NCARB represents the architectural profession in negotiations world wide on reciprocity issues.

Prior to joining NCARB, Lenore was Vice President of Business Development at Lehrer McGovern Bovis, now Bovis.  Her responsibilities included the initiation, development and maintenance of relationships with architects and architectural firms around the country and the world.  In addition, she served as part of the LMB team crafting construction management and design build teams for numerous projects.

Immediately before joining Lehrer McGovern Bovis, Lenore served as Executive Director of the AIA New York Chapter (AIA NYC).  She was the first woman architect to be named to this position at the head of the  founding and largest Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.  Ms. Lucey represented the New York Chapter’s over 2,800 architect members before the City of New York and its agencies, in publications, to clients, and to colleagues in the construction industry.

Before heading AIA NYC, Lenore served as Project Director for the American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.  She directed design and construction of award winning new buildings for ABC News in Washington D. C., and ABC Television Studios 23/24 on Manhattan’s Upper West Side.  In addition, she was responsible for the renovation of 125 West End Avenue into offices, studios and scenic facilities; as well as projects for ABC Radio, ABC Television Owned and Operated Stations, Good Morning America, 20/20, Loving, and Ryan’s Hope.

For many years prior to joining ABC Lenore was in private practice as an architect with Vitto and Robinson Architects and Edward Durell Stone Associates, among others.  She was a founding Board member of the Alliance of Women in Architecture and has served on the Dobbs Ferry (NY) Planning Board, the Board of the Villard Hill Association, the Board of the Brandies Court Homeowners Association, and on both the CEO Advisory Council and the Women CEO Forum of the American Society of Association Executives.  She received her Bachelor of Architecture degree from Pratt Institute, is a registered architect in New York State and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Lenore has received numerous awards, including the AIA New York Chapter Harry B. Rutkins Award, the National Association of Women in Construction Woman of the Year Award; the AIA New York Chapter President’s Citation, the Pratt Institute Distinguished Alumni Award, and the NCARB Presidential Medal for Distinguished Service.  She was recognized for her significant achievement in the profession of architecture with advancement to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects.

In this 5th edition of “Sound Advice with Joan Capelin,” Friedl Bohm, chairman of White Oak Partners and former chairman of NBBJ, provides perspective and advice on the following topics:

• The importance of delivering high-quality service, especially now
• How to manage your time effectively
• Why it’s easier to be responsive to clients today, compared to 10 years ago
• How to be cash-rich

Click on the media player below to listen to Friedl’s podcast.  Scroll down to read Friedl’s bio.

Interview with Friedl Bohm, NBBJ

Friedl Bohm, NBBJ

Friedl serves as Senior Partner and Chairman of the Operating Committee for White Oak Partners. Prior to joining White Oak Partners, he was Chairman of NBBJ. Under his leadership the firm grew into the world’s third largest architecture practice, which last year designed projects exceeding $3 billion in total construction cost.

In addition to his defining contributions to large projects in Beijing, Taipei, London, Istanbul and Moscow, Friedl has been credited with helping shape the modern character of downtown Columbus, Ohio, through projects like One Columbus, The Vern Riffe State Office Tower, Three Nationwide Plaza, and Nationwide Arena.

As a diplomat, he has served on the Special Advisory Committee to the Austrian Chancellor, was named Honorary Consul for Austria in 1993, and in 1995 received the Grand Decoration of Honors in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria. His other recognitions include Inc. Magazine’s Entrepreneur of the Year, American Institute of Architects Fellowship, Design Futures Council Fellowship, and in 2002, the AIA Ohio Gold Medal Award.

He currently serves on the boards of M.I. Schottenstein Homes, TRC Companies, and NBBJ. Mr. Böhm is also a founding Partner of Transmap, The Daimler Group of Developers, and Travel Partners. He has been a Board Member of Huntington Banks for 15 years and many community organizations such as The Wellington School, Muskingum College, The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and The Columbus Museum of Art.

A Fulbright Scholar, Mr. Böhm received his undergraduate degree from Technische Universitat Wien in Vienna, and holds a Master’s in City and Regional Planning from the Ohio State University, where he has served as adjunct professor, lecturer, and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the School of Architecture. Mr. Böhm and his wife reside in Columbus.

www.nbbj.com

www.whiteoakpartners.com

Marjanne Pearson

Marjanne Pearson’s consulting practice focuses on strategies for organizational success. Her clients include signature designers, emergent practices, regional powerhouses, and corporate giants.  She began her career in the design industry more than 35 years ago and eventually achieved the position of partner in an architectural firm. She subsequently joined The Coxe Group as a consultant, and in 1987, established Marjanne Pearson Associates with Frank O. Gehry as her first client.  In 1993, she formed NextMoon, a strategic alliance that works with the leadership of talent-based organizations.

Marjanne is a frequent panelist and workshop leader for the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), and the Society of Design Administration (SDA).  Her teaching experience includes programs at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, the University of California at Berkeley, and the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc). She is the author of numerous articles that have appeared in the AIA Practice Management Digest, Contract, and SMPS Marketer.

Marjanne attended San Francisco State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in English with an individual program focused on linguistics.

www.NextMoon.com 

Interview with Marjanne Pearson, NextMoon

An Executive Fellow of the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University, the first architect to be awarded the title, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects – and served as president of the AIA New York City Chapter, a member of both the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Japan Institute of Architects. Gene helped establish and teaches at the Harvard International Real Estate Center, is an Overseer for the School of Design, and is a member of the Wharton Real Estate Center Advisory Board. He is a Trustee of both the National Building Museum and the Urban Land Institute.

www.kpf.com

Sound Advice with Gene Kohn

He has over 35 years of experience in various aspects of engineering design, project management and construction, with a special interest in the interface between design and construction. He is a registered Professional Engineer in four states.

Ray is a member of the ACEC Executive Committee, sits on the Board of Trustees of Carroll College and serves on Texas A&M University’s Civil Engineering Advisory Council. He has served on the Board of Directors of the Post-Tensioning Institute; as co-chairman of the Liaison Committee, Texas Council of Engineering Companies/Texas Society of Architects; on the Nominating Committee and the Planning Cabinet of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC); and on the Council of American Structural Engineers Executive Committee, 2000-2004.

In Houston, he focuses his time on business and professional organizations such as the Greater Houston Partnership, a business advocacy organization; AIA Houston; and Theatre Under the Stars. He is the past president of both the Texas Council of Engineering Companies and the Houston Architecture Foundation.

Prior to receiving Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering Mechanics degrees from Columbia University in New York, New York, Mr. Messer obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Carroll College in Helena, Montana.

www.WalterPMoore.com

Ray Messer Sound Advice MP3

He has conducted numerous training programs to help professionals improve their skills in such areas as communications, marketing, selling, presentations, profit performance, financial management, and leadership.  He has lectured at Harvard, the Universities of Pennsylvania, Cal Poly/Pomona, Wisconsin, Kansas, and Melbourne and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.  He currently teaches at the University of Washington and the University of Hong Kong.  He has conducted programs for a variety of organizations including the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the American Council of Engineering Companies’ (ACEC), the Society for Marketing Professional Services (SMPS), the Professional Services Management Association (PSMA), the Association of Professional Design Firms (APDF), the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA), the Australian Consulting Engineers Council (ACEC), and the Royal Architects Institute of Canada (RAIC).

In addition to his work as consultant and speaker, he has written for several publications including Progressive Architecture, Architecture, Design West, Oregon Architect, and Oregon Business.  He is an author in the AIA Handbook of Professional Practice and a co-author of Success Strategies for Design Professionals (McGraw-Hill), and has been a contributing editor of DesignIntelligence.

The Coxe Group is based in Seattle, Washington. www.coxegroup.com

Hugh Hochberg Interview