Up next for our August Staff Spotlight we have Michael Corrick, President and Principal-in-Charge. Enjoy!
1. What is your job at Nacht & Lewis and how long have you been doing it?
As President, I’m responsible for providing leadership, management and direction to the firm. Thus, I’m involved in all aspects of the business – operations, marketing, accounting and finance, personnel and strategy which all need to work well for the firm to achieve its business objectives. I’ve held this position since 2001.
On the architectural side, I became a Principal in the firm in 1998. My duties as Principal are to oversee the project team and make sure that the goals for design, quality, budget and schedule are achieved to the client’s satisfaction. Though I’m primarily responsible for our Civic and Private Sector markets, my marketing and project duties span across many of our other market sectors depending on the client or specific project.
2. What is the best part of your job at Nacht & Lewis?
I truly do enjoy running a business and working with the team here to make it better. Every day is different so the challenges and satisfaction come from different areas of my job. Be it reviewing the progress of a project with the team, talking with a client or consultant or helping someone in the firm resolve a problem they’re facing, it’s fun to see how each day’s efforts can lead to bigger and better things.
3. What is the one thing you love to do and wish you had more time to spend doing?
I love to travel. Since my first overseas trip to Australia and New Zealand, I really enjoy seeing the sights different countries have to offer, meeting the people, learning about their culture and history and trying the local cuisine. Meeting and talking with fellow travelers exploring the countries is equally as interesting.
4. Name one thing that you’ve done that was on your bucket list.
To travel throughout Australia which I did for two months. I stayed in youth hostels for the most part. After the first month or so you’re no longer considered a “tourist” but a “traveler.” Met fellow travelers from around the world, snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef, climbed Ayers Rock in the Outback and saw the America’s Cup trophy in Perth. Absolutely love Australia and the Aussies.
5. When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?
A banker like my father. I did get to work as a teller part-time at Bank of America while going to architecture school.
6. Favorite meal?
My wife Ronnie’s enchiladas with white sauce. She’s from Texas so she knows how to do them right!
7. Do your daily/weekly tasks live in a paper notebook, electronically, or in your head? Explain why this works best for you?
On 8.5 x 11 recycled paper cut into quarters. I’ve done this for years. The simple act of writing tasks down on paper helps me to organize and prioritize them. Crossing them off the list provides a small sense of accomplishment. The most pressing list of tasks I keep beside my laptop as a ready reminder of what needs to be done.
8. If you could have any super power, what would it be?
To be able to control time and add a few more hours to each day. It would certainly benefit work, that’s a given, but more time with family, for exercise and to get personal chores done would be nice. But, that does remind me of something Leonard Bernstein once said. “To achieve great things”, he credited “a plan, and not quite enough time.”
9. What have you learned about yourself in the past 5 years?
It’s OK to let go of certain responsibilities. As I progressed in my career, I always sought out opportunities to take on additional responsibilities. Letting go of some of those these past few years has allowed others to learn, add to their skills and freed me up to focus on other things.
10. What’s your favorite song/band of all time?
That’s a tough one. All time band would have to be Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.
