about. What would you do for free? If you can tap into what they are good at, and if you can find a place to develop their passion, they will be successful, and we will be successful. That can be design, people, management.” Within the office, Arch Nexus has a neighborhood structure that is intended to encourage professional development. Each of these neighborhoods is built around workspace proximity. They are no bigger than 25 people, and each has a neighborhood leader. The leader is tasked with being attentive to the professional development of the staff members in their neighborhood. They know what they are working on; they meet weekly to assess how they are developing. Are they engaged in work that is fulfilling? What are their frustrations? How can those be fixed? Additionally, Brian says to enhance continuing education and professional development there are “trainings, food, sketch trips, design discussions, staff meetings, project managers’ meetings, project architects’ meetings and neighborhood lunches — a lot of fun. We just finished our annual reviews that were focused on self-improvement: What are we doing well, what can we do better?” Robb believes that the Arch Nexus’s culture is all about “uplifting one another, not competing against one another. What can I do and what can others do to lift each other up?” As a business, this also demands finding a way to provide professional development and financial security for the staff, so that the company endures after leaders retire. One way that Arch Nexus ensures successful succession is through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) Lisa Garlick, a 30-year veteran of Arch Nexus, is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. She says, “The ESOP is a profound expression of the firm’s values. We founded the ESOP in 2006. Prior to that, we had standard corporate buy-in, and it took time to fully implement the plan. We became 100% employee-owned in 2019. Now, every single person is building ownership and equity in the firm. That builds loyalty, commitment and regeneration amongst company leaders.” Beyond the obvious financial rewards, Arch Nexus’ leadership believe that the ESOP encourages the staff to think and act like owners. As a result, all their leaders are home-grown. “It is hard to imagine a new senior partner would come in, because of the culture, which ensures progression and easy succession,” said Robb. Arch Nexus is home to a diverse workforce representing a wide range of nationalities and backgrounds. Adam Garcia is a very experienced project manager, but a newer staff member. An associate, Adam, is a remote employee managing a project in Boise. “I periodically visit the offices and see a lot of innovation — thinking outside the box. I see things that I didn’t see in other firms. We all learn at the same pace and contribute as we learn. It is gratifying to see hard work pay off. I have never felt less or different. Everyone has a stake in the firm, and I have always felt like one of the elites.” Rachel said, “We deliberately converted all our private offices to collaboration spaces. There are no private offices, and all desks are the same as the next. That fosters the horizontal structure.” Also, by encouraging employee participation in professional organizations that spur growth through continuing education and networking, Arch Nexus sends the message that each employee’s professional journey is important and that licensure is attainable. In addition to the AIA, Women in Architecture (WIA) and the National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA) help people have their voices heard, no matter the language they are speaking. When asked how they think other professionals and their clients perceive them, three responses were: Brian Cassil: “I like to think of us a great place to work where one can grow their career. Great people working in a great company crafting great projects.” Lisa Whoolery: “We are trusted advisors for our clients. Our relationships are evident by our repeat work. None of us started those long-term clients. We inherited them and we will pass them on.” Robb Harrop: “We embrace stewardship by sharing our expertise and knowledge with clients, tackling complex projects with skill and helping them achieve successful projects.” 21
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