Establishing the newest department in almost ten years was an exciting announcement for Baird, Hampton & Brown. Although the COVID-19 pandemic struck only a few months after the department’s inception, the team has proven their capabilities through their strides and accomplishments within their first year.
Ron Ishmael, PE became BHB’s first structural engineer, bringing with him 14 years of experience in consulting engineering. With his passion to build BHB into a leading structural engineering firm, Ronald has since grown his team, client base, and repertoire of successful projects.
However, those milestones did not come without challenges. “2020 was a struggle because there were so many unknowns. Most of our potential clients were trying to adjust to the ‘new norm’, so taking on a new consultant was low on their list” said Ron Ishmael, Associate and Structural Engineer.
As one of DFW’s newest structural teams, work was initially in the form of smaller projects with a shorter timeline. Ron was able to take advantage of a manageable workload by focusing his time on building crucial client relationships.
“I think our efforts that we put into business development last year have helped us see quite a bit of growth in 2021. The relationships we built then are developing into new projects.”
As a higher quantity of work came across the table, Structural Designer, Yohann Ditengo began to see his role taking shape. Initially hired as a structural drafter, Yohann worked closely with Ronald to learn new systems and skills that could accelerate his career growth. Within the year, he has now taken on drafting, designing, and project management responsibilities.
“Prior to his time at BHB, Yohann did not have a lot of structural drafting experience,” stated Ron. “Having him come in and learn every facet of our work has really helped our department grow and produce some great products.”
Completing over 50 projects in their first year, Ron and Yohann saw the opportunity and advantage of growing the department to manage their increasing workload.
Hired as a Structural Engineer in Training (EIT), Michael McLaughlin joined the team in early March of this year. Ron hopes his eagerness and drive to grow within the department will highlight the development opportunities for future structural engineers.
“His position will allow me to be more client attentive and will be a great recruiting tool for our department. It’s exciting for the future because his career growth will only drive the growth of our team.”
As each team member begins taking on their specified roles, Ron Ishmael’s long-term goal for the department remains the same.
“I want BHB to be known as a quality structural engineering firm across the state. To be a trusted building partner and team to our clients and consultants.”
As they continue to work towards their long-term goal, the short-term success has already made an impact in the DFW market.
A few of the department’s projects include:
- Younger Ranch Estates | Azle, Texas
- Tradewinds Daycare Building | Midland, Texas
- Joshua ISD Trailer Storage Facility | Joshua, Texas
For more information about BHB’s Structural Department and how we can help on your next project, contact Ronald Ishmael at rishmael@bhbinc.com.