Culture Matters: Schmidt Associates Emphasizes Community, Development
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowAn Indianapolis architecture company is celebrating 40 years in business in a location that has grown into one of the most sought-after parts of the city. Schmidt Associates takes up three buildings in the Mass Ave district, which wasn’t always the prime spot it is today. Managers often shift employees around the space to get them closer to project collaborators and in this month’s Culture Matters segment, FirstPerson Managing Director Mark Minner explores the professional development efforts the company takes, which include using mentors and "sherpas."
Minner says the company has a detailed onboarding process that involves guiding new workers through the company’s culture and following up throughout their careers to continue employee growth and development. "The other things that they’re doing are things like the Schmidt Academy where it’s not just about learning the technical skills that will make you better at your job, it’s about being a better community member. There’s a lot of emphasis on community service and engaging: painting the street blocks that are around Mass Ave, figuring out how the Red Line (a proposed mass transit expansion) affects the community, affects the business. It’s really cool. There’s certainly a lot of technical growth, but there’s also a lot of community growth." He adds, "it’s not just a business in the community, it’s a business connected to the community in so many different ways."