Articulating Our Vision: Guiding the Path Forward

Jason Mangan Chief Executive Officer
Stacee Demmer Chief Operating Officer

In 2022, LHB unveiled a vision to guide the company over the next decade, committing to be “At the Forefront of Design for Our Changing World.”

The vision informs our annual goals and daily activities and has served as an important guidepost throughout recent leadership changes. Here, LHB’s Chief Executive Officer Jason Mangan and Chief Operating Officer Stacee Demmer explain why the vision is important — and what it means for the firm’s future.

What is the value of a vision statement?

Jason: We’ve had a vision statement for as long as I’ve been here. Its primary purpose is to provide a clear understanding of the company’s direction — serving as our North Star, it guides everyone toward a unified goal.

How does the vision shape your daily work at LHB?

Stacee: I think about the vision a lot in terms of our communication, whether it’s the internal messages we share or the stories we tell externally. When we’re focusing on a project, I try to connect elements of the project to our vision statement. That gives clients a sense of our culture and priorities. I believe this connection between our vision and results is important.

What does it mean to be “At the Forefront of Design for Our Changing World”?

Jason: From my point of view, with a background in energy and industry, the focus is on efficiency and reducing consumption. For instance, before we talk about renewables or conversion, we talk about reducing our clients’ current energy use. That means working with them on improving building-heating projects and recovering waste heat. If you start by reducing the overall load, the transition to clean energy will be much easier. When we start the conversation there, it makes the clean-energy transition seem more accessible to clients.

Stacee: Part of our job is to help clients future-proof their buildings, infrastructure, and operations in ways they may not have considered. We might design site amenities or retention ponds that remain dry for most of the year but are critical in the event of a catastrophic rainfall, helping clients become more resilient to climate disruptions. Or we might design a roof to be solar-ready, even if the client can’t currently afford solar panels, so they can be installed later. We want to prepare clients for the future, no matter where the path leads.

LHB’s climate solutions group leads projects that inform policies, guidelines, and programs to improve the built environment’s impact on natural resources, greenhouse gas emissions, and climate equity.

In recent years, LHB has highlighted its commitment to equity. How is that part of the vision?

Stacee: I think the best way to answer that is with an example: The City of Hopkins is a long-standing client of ours. We recently partnered with them on a heat vulnerability study that identified areas where climate change disproportionately impacts certain populations — particularly as it relates to heat. Because we were able to highlight these impacts, the city is now taking steps to make improvements. Currently, we are helping design a resiliency center that will serve as a cooling facility for one of the impacted neighborhoods.

Jason: I’ll offer another example: There are a lot of rural communities struggling to access renewable energy sources, either because of their location or their population. Density is low in these areas, so it’s not always a priority for power companies to provide renewables. To help remedy this, we’ve been partnering with developers who want to expand wind and solar power generation in rural communities.

What technological expertise does LHB have that positions the firm to shape tomorrow’s design?

Stacee: We understand solar and geothermal, and we’re expanding design applications of microgrids and district and neighborhood networked energy systems. We are adept at optimizing high-performance systems and bundling strategies that work together to multiply each other’s benefits. This might involve anything from high-tech heat recovery systems to passive strategies, such as planting appropriate trees for cooling shade, improving stormwater retention, reducing irrigation needs, and restoring habitats.

Jason: We’ve also worked with tribal governments to develop comprehensive Sustainability Plans that include strategies for achieving carbon neutrality in the near term, while aiming for sustainability over the next seven generations. Another example is our expertise designing steam-to-hot-water conversions for cities across the Midwest.

LHB’s contributions to SMSC’s initiatives demonstrate a strong, unified commitment to climate leadership and community collaboration.

How does the vision set LHB apart from competitors?

Stacee: Our actions set us apart. Case in point: We’ve worked hard to understand the funding mechanisms associated with the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). You’d think it’s old news by now, but I recently presented on the topic at a conference, and for many, it was still brand-new information. LHB is clearly ahead of the curve in terms of execution, and that translates into added value and knowledge that we bring to our clients.

Jason: A lot of times, it’s easy to just take a project and do it exactly the way the client wants it done. However, sometimes it’s our responsibility to suggest a different approach and highlight the related long-term benefits. Our client may decide to stick with their original decision, but at least they have some alternatives to consider. The conversation may take time and initially seem inconvenient, but it’s the right thing to do. Our goal is for the client or community to think about the long-term implications.

How does the vision make LHB attractive to prospective employees and existing employees?

Stacee: Our vision comes up frequently when people apply for jobs at LHB. It surfaces in cover letters, and candidates often ask about it during the interview process. People take note of our vision, and I think it influences their decision-making when considering a position.

Jason: Our vision should attract people who resonate with it. Sharing it publicly is important, as it highlights both what we do and what we aim to achieve. ∎

Does LHB’s vision align with your professional values and goals? Explore our open positions and see how you can contribute: https://lhbcorp.com/careers/open-positions/.

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