Seven months ago I was blessed to officially take over the reins as CEO at Banning Engineering. To say it has gone exactly how I expected would not be anywhere close to reality. However, that does not mean it hasn’t been great. It HAS been great, but in unexpected and frankly better ways. My stock answer to “How do you like it?” has become. It is harder than I thought it would be, but it is much more fun than I expected.
I never thought doing less would be this much fun. I have come to find tremendous joy and satisfaction from watching those around me succeed and take on additional responsibilities. Controlling outcomes has become less important than providing opportunity, encouragement, and perspective. I’ve seen some really exciting stuff coming from our office. Frankly, much of it I would never have thought to do. Which is great! That is why we hire and work so hard to keep great people.
We are busy…in a good way and are continuing to find ways to improve and serve our clients better. Most encouraging for me is that I’ve had multiple clients tell me “Your employees have really made a difference on this project and in our community”. This makes me feel like we have a great start to achieving my goal while leading Banning Engineering. I want to ensure our employees continue to have the ability to truly serve their local communities for generations to come, long after I’ve moved on. The best version of Banning Engineering is the one that is more than a consultant making money, but rather a partner truly valuing the success and partnership of the communities and clients they serve.
~ Joe Miller