Highlighter Summer 2015

Summer 2015 | 3 EXECUTIVE CORNER As we close the books on FY15, I want to thank all of you for another amazing year! Pond has made great strides toward its 520 by 2020 vision. We’ve hired 100 new staff members since July 1, 2014 (50 more than originally forecasted), bringing our total employee count to 322 ! We moved up the ranks of the ENR Top 500 A/E firms in the country from #314 to #274 . We held our position as the fourth largest A/E firm in Metro-Atlanta and advanced up to the fifth largest A/E firm in Jacksonville. We ranked sixth as a “Best Place to Work” nationally by Zweig-White and garnered multiple “Healthiest Places to Work” accolades across the country . To kickoff FY16, the Officers, Program Managers and Directors conducted Pond’s Annual Corporate Planning Retreat in June. Every discipline and program reflected on their progress and results from last year, while presenting their plans for the future. The meeting also provided an excellent opportunity for program leaders to collaborate and learn more about the work and projects being completed company-wide. We walked away with an ambitious, exciting and achievable Flight Plan for FY16 which we will be sharing with you very soon. I will be traveling and spending time with individual groups and offices over the next several weeks to present the plan and answer any questions you may have. It’s important for all of us to know where the firm is headed; but it’s even more important to know how we plan to get there! To continue planning forward, this issue of The Highlighter is about LEADERSHIP. To accomplish the objectives to reach our 2020 goals, we need individuals to step up and take on leadership roles not only in our firm, but in the industry and the community. We have already witnessed the growth opportunities 520 by 2020 have provided all of us in a single year. Imagine what we will see in FY16! To meet these growing needs, we encourage everyone to elevate their careers, to grow within your programs and within Pond. None of our accomplishments this past year would have been possible without all of your hard work and dedication. You have continued to carry Pond’s reputation of quality and service to every client, every day ! I’m proud to be your President and to work for not only one of the best firms in Atlanta, but one of the best in the entire country! Thank you! n Pond is proud to submit for several awards each year and we are pleased to announce we are moving up in the ranks! The criteria for these awards vary from revenue growth to employee benefits and retention to employee opinion. We are also proud to be #24 for the Best Places to Work by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. This is based on employee feedback and a great testament to the culture here at Pond. Awards & Rankings 2 years running Top 500 Design Firms Two years running from # 311 to By ZweigWhite List By ZweigWhite List # # # # # 274 4 By Engineering News – Record (ENR) By Atlanta Business Chronicle By Engineering News – Record (ENR) Fastest Growing A/E Firms from # 8 to 6 TOP 25 BEST Places to work Engineering Firms 24 is on the move! P ond Tony Parker, President