I believe that working with Cogent has helped us to understand that by focusing on properly managing the business, its assets, and staff, BGR could be much more profitable.
To date, we believe we have completed the “intense” portion of the “project” with Cogent for BGR Architects.
The previous 4-5 weeks has been, at times, overwhelming with the large amount of information gathering, analyzing, planning, and initializing of the program that we have agreed to.
In general, I am pleased with the project to date and believe it will help grow our business. I offer some reflection here.
While our firm has been in continual business for more than 70 years, none of the current 3rd and 4th generation owners have any substantial business training.
I am pleased that the younger owners have agreed to some intensive leadership training to help prepare them for their roles as older owners retire.
I believe that working with Cogent has helped us to understand that by focusing on properly managing the business, its assets, and staff, BGR could be much more profitable.
While we understood that certain factors affected our profitability, we are now excited about the implementation of the processes that we believe will focus on business development, help drive revenue, increase and measure staff performance, build better recruiting and retention, and more accurately track the accounting and finances of the firm.
We can visualize that, by implementing these processes, equity for retiring Owners may be protected while increasing profits for current and future owners, helping to build the legacy architectural firm that we have identified.
It was actually a surprise to me to learn that much of our staff were excited to participate in the work involved for the project.
They seem eager to help refine processes thereby increasing the firm’s profitability. The staff is working to better define job descriptions and roles.
We can see a direct benefit to recruiting and retention of quality staff and building a better culture for BGR.
As we enter the next phase of the project, there remains some apprehension about implementing all the work and processes that we have identified.
I am, however, excited to continue to develop the project and am able foresee the benefits that this process should be able to bring to BGR.
Best regards,
Steve Aufill
Principle
BGR Architects