WRL Consultants, LLC evolved out of Trinium Resources Group, a consultancy firm founded in 2007 by William R. Long, PE, LEEDAP, FSMPS. The firm was renamed WRL Consultants when Bill began offering training and consulting services through other industry entities. Today, the firm is a full-time, advisory firm exclusively serving AEC firms and their employees.
WRL Consultants is guided by a number of tenets and core beliefs that form the basis of the services that the firm offers and helps generate the tools that are shared with our clients. Below is a brief summary of a few of those core beliefs as well as some insight from Bill regarding how each were initially identified and verified as well as how and why he has incorporated them into the company’s philosophy.
We are all ONE industry
The AEC industry is just that – one industry. The Design and Construction Industry. Too often, architects, engineers, and contractors hold onto the “us vs. them” mentality. That approach is over. Our clients expect us to have the same goals. They want us to maintain consistent conditions of satisfaction on their projects. We use many of the same tools or approaches for project management, business development, and operations. Let’s start acting as ONE industry and start reaping the rewards of such an approach.
We must look at our companies as businesses
Often, AEC firms think of themselves as just “creative agencies” or “trade labor” or “service providers” – depending on what expertise they bring to the design and construction community. That’s fine; but, we must look at our companies as “businesses”. We all need to manage clients, lead employees, engage consultants, and make a profit. Therefore, we must learn to excel at those activities and strive to be successful on those terms.
We all are impacted by workforce issues
Every profession within the AEC industry is impacted by workforce issues. Whether it is an aging workforce looking at retirement, a lack of individuals entering our companies, or mid-career professionals not positioned to take on new responsibilities, there is definitely a number of visible gaps within our companies’ organizational structure. These issues must be addressed concurrently – and soon – in order to prevent generational impacts to our industry.
We must augment the formal education of our employees
An accurate criticism of the AEC industry is that college graduates with engineering, architecture, and construction management degrees are not fully prepared for their future roles in the AEC industry. Business insights. Sales and marketing techniques. Project management skills. Accreditation constraints, theoretical focus, and limited faculty expertise all contribute to these voids. Employees need to obtain these skills so that they – and their companies – can succeed.
See how these beliefs and Bill’s proven solutions can be incorporated into your firm. Learn more about the Coaching, Training, and Consulting services that WRL Consultants offers and see what people are saying about them.