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Notes From the Road is a closer look at the learning opportunities and experiences of our employee owners from industry events, client engagements, and projects around the world.
PHOENIX, AZ – The Larson Design Group (LDG) team is always eager to meet with fellow professionals and clients to make connections and share knowledge.
In the Federal Architecture & Engineering field, the annual Society of Military Engineers (SAME) Federal Small Business Conference is one of the best places to do that. The SBC, as it is known, brings together the Federal Architecture, Engineering, Construction and Facility Management and Maintenance industries with businesses that operate in the Federal marketplace. It’s one of the most highly regarded and attended annual events for the Federal market, in which LDG has made significant gains over recent years.
Federal Operations Manager and Senior Vice President, Bruce Preston, and Wes Baker, Director of Planning & GIS, shared some of their thoughts on how SBC has changed over the years, how LDG benefits from its presence there, and what the Federal market can expect in the near future.
Why is SBC such a valuable experience? What do you take away from it?
Bruce: The SBC is a great strategic opportunity to meet with small business partners on both the design and construction sides of the industry, as well as with federal agencies, so we can understand what their upcoming fiscal year programs are and where funding is earmarked. Additionally, we’re a vendor at the event and have a booth where attendees can learn about LDG, the capabilities we offer, and where we specialize within the industry.
Wes: Based on some interactions I had, I learned that our experience and multi-disciplined approach has made LDG a firm that others want to work with, which makes me confident that our team can take on any project in the Federal marketplace. I’m proud of the ways in which our reputation is growing and we’re becoming known as a firm that supports its partners and clients.
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What are some of the most notable changes you’ve seen over the years? What kind of new technologies or discussions are happening?
Bruce: This event has primarily focused on Federal Defense agencies in the past, but over the last few years, there has been a more widespread focus of Federal Civilian agencies, such as Veterans Administration (VA), General Service Administration (GSA), Department of the Interior (DOI), Department of Energy (DOE), and several more.
I saw more this year about the use of Alternative Construction Methods (ACM), including modular design and construction – methods that LDG are already pursuing with the DOE. I also noted an increased discussion of Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) for cybersecurity requirements.
How does LDG benefit from its attendance at SBC? What kind of knowledge and insights do we share with others?
Bruce: LDG invested in having several attendees that could focus on different areas at once, due to the large attendance. We had representation from both our Federal and Infrastructure groups, along with Business Development and Executive Leadership, which allowed us to seek out teaming and business opportunities for areas including Planning, AE Design, Design-Build (DB), and Program Management.
Wes: The event is also a great experience to discuss common project challenges and share insights on lessons learned, from both existing and potential clients and colleagues from the industry. It’s another benefit of not only attending but having a booth as well.
ABOUT LDG
Founded in 1986, LDG is an award-winning, employee-owned architecture, engineering, and consulting firm offering full-service capabilities and a national reach. For more than 30 years, we have been providing an extraordinary breadth and depth of value-driven solutions to our diverse client base and investing in the sustainable business practices and innovative technologies that allow us to pursue our shared vision: creatively shaping our world. For more information, visit About – Larson Design Group.