Diversity Underrated, Says ZweigWhite

Despite the fact that, according to a recent ZweigWhite survey, 95% of principals and owners of A/E firms identify themselves as Caucasian and 92% as males, market researchers from the Natick, Mass.-based firm stress the importance and value that diversity brings to firms.

“While many industry leaders still consider merit and qualifications first, they’re starting to realize that fostering an environment which allows and encourages age, cultural and gender diversity can be a boon to employee satisfaction, retention and recruiting,” noted Kirsten Brinkman-Hansen, a senior account executive at AECWorkForce, a division of ZweigWhite.

The survey also found some consensus on this point from human resource executives at Gensler, a large architectural firm based in San Francisco, and PBS&J, an M/E firm headquartered in Miami, for example.

“We think our diversity gives us a competitive edge because we have a broader view of design and how to solve problems,” pointed out Laurie Dreyer, Gensler’s vice president of human resources.

According to Judith Squillante, PBS&J’s executive vice president of human resources, diversity helps the engineering firm’s employees appreciate differences, which ultimately helps them when working with clients.

For more information on this study, visit www.AECWorkForce.com .

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