BHB hosted its inaugural Building Blocks event in April to educate employees on our business and company. The two-day seminar series provided several courses for employees to expand their knowledge and learn the necessary skills to become field experts and reach their career goals.
Richard Watters is the Chairman of BHB’s Training and Development Committee; he played a massive role in getting Building Blocks up and running and knew the importance that Building Blocks will have in the growth of BHB. “We were so excited to see Building Blocks come to life and grateful for all of our employees that committed to attend and learn more,” he said. “This type of event naturally helps the firm get better by providing a structured and meaningful way for each of us to learn more about what we do or about the future we have at BHB.”
BHB co-founder Bill Baird kicked the event off with an inspiring Keynote speech detailing BHB’s history, reminiscing on our humble beginnings, and thanking those who helped us rise to where we are today. Bill shared how supportive the founders’ spouses had been when they started their new venture and how he still uses the same desk Les Brown’s wife had purchased from a going-out-of-business furniture sale when they all moved into their first office. During the Keynote, it was very apparent how much our three co-founders care about the company and the friends, family, clients, and employees that helped them grow from a team of three to now leading a company of over 130 employees.
Classes followed shortly after the keynote speech. These classes were divided into four categories: General Business, Professional Growth, Personal Growth, and Client Management. General Business focused on the inner workings of the business, covering our firm’s best practices, strategies, and skills that everyone can put into practice daily. Professional Growth covered topics like Project Management, BHB Career Paths, and intro classes to different departments like Civil and Electrical so individuals could dive deeper into their field or learn about another discipline. Personal Growth offered courses in Ethics and Stress Management so one could learn to navigate common ethical dilemmas, recognize the signs of burnout, and know that it is ok to ask for help when feeling overwhelmed. Client Management covered the importance of client relationships, creating a solid network that can lead to future projects, and communicating with fellow engineers and clients to benefit both parties.
Joe LaCroix, PE, had the pleasure of being both a presenter and attendee. “I enjoyed the opportunity to share some of the expertise and background of what all the civil department is engaged in during various aspects of our projects with the rest of the company,” he said. “This great event allowed BHB to come together to learn, lead, and grow as a team.”
Watters had a unique view of the seminars. As he popped into each seminar to ensure things ran smoothly, he witnessed its impact on everyone. “My favorite part of the two-day event was being part of the camaraderie and hearing different variations of ‘I had no idea,’” he said. “We learned about each other and the different services we all offer – especially how we work together to serve our clients. My personal hope is that we all learned new, fun things about engineering and surveying – but especially where to go if questions come up in the future.”
At the completion of Building Blocks, each employee received a certificate for each course they attended to go toward their professional development hours. BHB’s Training and Development Committee is already planning next year’s sessions.
