Good morning, Team! It’s Friday!

She was moved by a recent death of a local industry icon taken too soon, especially for those around him who depended on him for so much. Her request to meet for dinner grew from just two to three, adding a colleague who also wished to honor a fallen mentor…and to contemplate future direction.

Over dinner, we three covered multiple facets of leadership; personal journeys, gender bias and all the implications that comes with it, compensation and sacrifice and friendships and turf wars, succession plans, disruption, betrayal, greed, and opportunities. After discussing so many topics regarding our unique professional services industry, the demeanor and approach of our fallen brother in arms stood out all the more.

He had quietly epitomized the qualities of leadership we all seek to develop and hopefully emulate:•Humility•Integrity•Empathy•Accountability•Responsibility•Approachability

His funeral proceedings demonstrated that he had his priorities straight at home as well. •Faith•Family•Friends

To truly honor someone, to remember their essence and influence and contributions, something needs to be done to keep the memory alive. A plaque alone won’t do. Memorializing a leader’s contributions requires forethought and clear purpose to be sustainable. Too soon to know what that looks like but rest assured, the seeds were planted and they will bear fruit.

The consulting engineering industry lost a great man recently. A smart, kind, good-hearted leader who left his mark on the lives of the people he touched and left a legacy to be built upon, not ignored.

Rest In Peace, Barry.

Have a blessed weekend, everyone!