Randy sits down with Chad Clinehens, Zweig Group's president and CEO, to talk about Chad's first year as president and CEO, Zweig Group's new mission to elevate the industry, and some of Zweig Group's upcoming events. Chad said his first year has been exciting and humbling, and that he's honored to carry on Mark Zweig's legacy, and to evolve it for the company's next phase. The founder transition is often a turning point for firms, and this change is the first major transition in Zweig Group's history. Zweig Group isn't immune to the challenges that arise with transition, but it's best to start early, and – with Mark still active in the company – this is going to be a long-term transition. Zweig Group's new mission is to elevate the industry. Before Chad came to Zweig Group, he became interested in marketing and communications because he saw the impact they could have on company culture and perception. What people in the AEC industry do is important – it affects everyone – but people in this industry have to fight for recognition. Zweig Group is already elevating the industry. Through its surveys, Zweig Group is educating firms, giving them tools to benchmark themselves in order to perform better, grow, and attract talent. Chad talked about how important it is to expand the understanding of what people in the AEC industry do and to attract young people to this industry, starting in schools. Zweig Group's 2018 Hot Firm + A/E Industry Awards Conference is the industry’s largest and most comprehensive business conference for leaders and aspiring leaders of AEC firms in the U.S. The conference agenda includes topics on technology, leadership challenges, business planning, marketing methods, recruiting and retention, and growth strategies. The success stories of Zweig Group award winners will be shared at the event, along with a variety of speakers from a range of industries, all guaranteed to challenge and inspire attendees to achieve even greater success. The conference will culminate with a black-tie awards banquet and ceremony where awards will be presented to firms on the 2018 Hot Firm List, the 2018 Best Firms To Work For, 2018 Marketing Excellence Award, and the Jerry Allen Courage in Leadership Award winner. They also talked about Zweig Group's upcoming CEO Roundtable event in Louisville, Kentucky. The event is designed to be comfortable and intimate — with presentations and one-on-one interaction with industry experts, ample informal networking time, and candid conversation. Meeting other CEOs from AEC firms across the U.S., enjoying a variety of activities and discussions together, and getting hard-hitting advice from Chad and the rest of the Zweig Group team in attendance will be just some of the powerful takeaways from this one-of-a-kind event. Hear about this and more in this episode of The Zweig Letter podcast. Thanks for listening!
Zweig Group, a four-time Inc. 500/5000 honoree, is the premiere authority in AEC management consulting, the go-to source for industry research, and the leading provider of customized learning and training. Zweig Group specializes in four core consulting areas: Talent, Performance, Growth, and Transition, including innovative solutions in mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, financial management, ownership transition, executive search, business development, valuation, and more. Zweig Group exists to help AEC firms succeed in a competitive marketplace. The firm has offices in Dallas and Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Chad Clinehens is the president and CEO of Zweig Group. Passionate about the business side of design and technical service firms, Chad has built a career on leading them through growth and change. He has worked with AEC firms throughout the U.S. on a variety of needs – strategic business...
