In 2017, Selser Schaefer Architects namesakes Janet Selser and Bob Schaefer handed over their firm – their life’s work really – to the next generation of leaders. Faced with cultivating the firm’s success and legacy, new partners Shane Aaron AIA, Hank Spieker AIA, and Whitney Stauffer knew that many challenges lay ahead. They could never have predicted, however, that “global pandemic” would be one of them.
Our new partner group brought with them a fresh perspective on leadership and culture. We call it “people first.” Whether it’s our clients, the people who will experience and interact with our projects, the community, our employees, or each other, “people first” is a promise that the needs of one another will always come first.
After several years of developing the people-first approach to business, COVID-19 showed up to put those values to the test.
How a company responds to tough times and challenges reveals its true priorities. For Selser Schaefer Architects, “people first” guided our response – our employees’ and clients’ health and safety were the clear priority.
The partners quickly and decisively implemented new remote-working protocols as well as safety measures for the office. The office was closed to visitors, travel was canceled, our Zoom account was set up, and overnight the way we conducted our day-to-day business changed.
Once our safety measures were in place, the next step was to ensure our client work progressed without missing a beat. We are proud to say it’s our employees that made this happen. The group of talented professionals who work at Selser Schaefer Architects rose to the occasion to keep our projects moving forward on time and on budget! How grateful are we for our incredible team? See for yourself…
Office Re-opening?
We’ve passed the one-year mark of closing our office to visitors and although the future is still unpredictable, we are optimistically moving ahead to a new phase in June 2021. What does this mean?
- Client meetings may be held in our office.
- Employees may work full-time from the office.
- Masks and distancing protocols will still be in place while in our office.
- Travel to our out-of-state projects may pick back up.
- Planning for future events such as our Block Party may begin.
“People first” has seen us through this unprecedented time and it will continue to be our signpost as we move through to the next phase. We understand this may be a moving target and our opening date might change, but either way, we look forward to seeing you in person soon!
