The same is true of Shoko Smith. Originally from Japan, she was hired in 2010 to help with marketing and graphic design. Recognizing that Smith’s skillset could help shape the immersive experience of a project, GSBS enlisted her to design signage and other graphic elements for built projects. That opened the door to experiential design. When she went to leadership and said, “I would like experiential design to be a formal discipline,” they embraced it and incorporated it into their menu of services. “Now, I am able to positively impact people’s lives, and it is really rewarding. I love the people at GSBS. I can always find someone that will help me. I enjoy working with anybody. We have a pretty flat organization.” Stephanie DeMott, IIDA, is an interior designer who has been with GSBS for 25 years. She says that their office was recently remodeled intentionally with the idea that “Everyone is treated the same; flat, not as hierarchical. We only have two personal offices with doors and those ensure privacy for personnel matters. The remodel features a mural created by Traci O’very Covey, a celebrated Utah graphic designer with a decades-long connection to GSBS, that speaks to their core values: design excellence, sustainability, equity, people, positive evolution and creative vision.” DeMott adds, “I am a principal, which is unusual for interior designers at architecture firms in Utah. When I came out of school, I knew I didn’t want to work for a furniture dealer or a facilities department. Turns out I did both, which was great because I worked for owners for four years and learned to see things from their perspective. When an IIDA colleague at GSBS said, ‘We are hiring, come and interview,’ I did. I feel that, at this firm, you have opportunities beyond compare; nobody is ever putting something in front of you as a barrier. They are all pulling together and drawing together. We also have our own projects. Cross-pollination is what inspires new ideas.” Landscape Architect Ben Rodes, ASLA, has been at the firm for six years. He interviewed on a Friday. GSBS has a very long-standing tradition called “Wine Down” at 4 pm on Fridays to decompress, chat and nosh. “As an interviewee, I was invited to Wine Down. It was very welcoming and open (maybe too soon?).” Rodes now leads the landscape architecture practice in Utah. “The firm is as strong as each individual discipline. Landscape architecture is not just support for an architecture project. We have designed some of the practice’s more complex projects, such as the recently finished rooftop of the Salt Lake Public Library.” Rodes, who navigates his practice from a wheelchair, is also a vocal advocate for accessibility in all of GSBS’ projects. Clearly, GSBS wants people to pursue their passions. They believe that if they pursue what they enjoy and their work is tied to their personal goals, the happier they are going to be. As Chmielewski says, “I have never felt ‘less than.’ They pay attention to me. Working here, I have been rewarded with opportunities. If you put in the hard work, you get the opportunities.” With Golden Anniversary Approaching, GSBS Looks to the Future As GSBS nears its 50th anniversary, having effective succession plans is part of the secret sauce that provides the firm with continued viability and longevity. Brems says, “A succession plan is always about people. Unlike some firms that only thrive on the charisma of the founding partners and then fold after they leave, GSBS was always set up to be successful after Generation One. It is about the next person, not about the person in the role now. The second generation are the people who were hired to help the first generation succeed. We always hope we are hiring people who want to grow, that we are creating an opportunity to grow.” He says that Principal Valerie Nagasawa, AIA’s, role of attracting talent is really important. “I feel that, at this firm, you have opportunities beyond compare; nobody is ever putting something in front of you as a barrier. They are all pulling together and drawing together. Cross-pollination is what inspires new ideas,” says Stephanie DeMott, IIAD, GSBS Principal. “Unlike some firms that only thrive on the charisma of the founding partners and then fold after they leave, GSBS was always set up to be successful after Generation One,” says Principal David Brems. 20 REFLEXION
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