2012 Ravi Article Zweig White May Issue

ThE ZWEIg LETTER | May 7 2012, ISSUE 958 ,
T o p p L ay E R
Contagious energy puts them on top

Nimble innovation and pursuit of perfection in energy efficiency helps firm reach hot status.
you spend at your desk, what matters is what you accomplish. A good attitude and getting the job done has remained with me to this day. TZL: what is it in your DNA that drives you to success? Is it audacity and risk-taking; a can-do attitude and a relentless pursuit of perfection; something else more abstract? rM: The word that comes to mind is passion. A passion for the skills I have learned, passion in aiming to exceed our clients expectations, and a passion to belong at the cutting edge of new and emerging technologies. With that comes the risk-taking and relentless pursuit of perfection. My response has been to always place high importance on investing in education and growth within our talented staff, which enables them to strive for perfection in every way they can. TZL: In todays difficult business climate, what does it take to succeed? Is the spectrum of failure a motivator? rM: We have continued to grow by continually aiming high thinking progressively and genuinely serving our clients. This has proven fruitful in our growth and success. Failure for me was never an option. I believe in the passion that emerges each day from within our core and continue to see forecasted business growth for greater things. TZL: where do you see this industry in 10 or 20 years? what trends are influencing it? what about your company? rM: We have all watched traditional business practices become affected by the changing global economy and, according to economists, the next 10-20 years will carry more challenges. My belief is that conservation of our energy sources will remain in focus. With seven billion people on Earth and this number expected to explode over the next decade; the built environment has to steer toward making facilities work for us. The governments commitment
See Top pLayER, page 4
avi Maniktala is happy to report that the firm he leads, Lincoln, Ne.based M.E. Group, has remained successful during the economic downturn.
Ravi Maniktala, President, M.E. Group.
We have continued to grow by continually aiming high thinking progressively and genuinely serving our clients. This has proven fruitful in our growth and success. Failure for me was never an option. I believe in the passion that emerges each day from within our core and continue to see forecasted business growth for greater things.
Thats partly because everybody at the No. 101 in ThE ZwEIG LETTEr 2011 Hot Firm List believes in their role and the company invests in its talent every day. Maniktala, principal and president of the 70-person design and green services firm, also believes that the firms special focus on sustainability and energy conservation sets them apart from the competition. Over the last 25 years, M.E. has helped clients reduce building operation expense, improve occupant satisfaction and manage carbon footprint. In this interview, Maniktala talks about the next 25 years, balancing work with family and his sources of inspiration. ThE ZwEIG LETTEr: what does it mean to be a hot Firm? ravi Maniktala: Whats normal in business practices? Yes, one can look to growth, culture, profit, and of course the ultimate success of being recognized as a desirable Hot Firm to Work For. When you become one, these deep cultural characteristics occur nat-
urally. The talented community of M.E. GROUP-ers believe in their role; and every day invest time and talent toward its success. Simply put, our nimble innovators arent afraid to think differently. Even throughout the downturn in the economy, our achievements remained strong. Its contagious, you have talent and you attract more talent.
TZL: how did you get where you are today? rM: This was the only direction. Be genuine, be progressive and advocate for what you believe in; and a desire to stand firm and stick with a basic principle: to incorporate realistic design that captured maximum energy conservation, and respect and understand the importance of energy use. It was the pathway to what M.E. GROUP is today. TZL: Do you remember your first paid job? what did you learn then that still influences the way you work today? rM: My first experience in the working world was with the Department of Roads in the role of engineer aid. I was an intern earning $1.65/hour. This role laid the foundation for my understanding of work ethics and I gained a good deal of technical knowledge from this position. Most importantly, I leaned that it does not matter how much time
including disaster relief, education and environmental | May , ThE ZWEIg LETTERneeds.7 2012, ISSUE 958
ful today and in the future, said Gary Lawrence, AECOM vice president and have fun. I feel I have carried his philosophy with me and echo the influence he had on my life onto my sons and grandchildrens lives today.
that we make in the world.

in my local community is something I want more of and aim to achieve. TZL: what question would you ask of another hot Firm leader? rM: Your questions are good ones. I guess I would ask: Strategic leadership chief sustainability officer. This report doesnt always come naturally it takes is an important step in reporting our fiyears of experiences to develop sound nancial and nonfinancial sustainability business practices. What are the key information to for in someone you feel points you lookour stakeholders as well as a reflection of our ability a incorpohas the ingredients to maketo strategic rate sustainability into every project as leader? well as our daily operations. TZL: what lesson learned would AECOMs Sustainability Report is you pass along to a recent college graduate the disclosure guidelines in based on embarking on a career of the Global Reporting Initiative. A conthe A/E/P and environmental copy sulting fields? of the full Sustainability Report can be viewed in the downloads section of rM: Recognize peoples strengths and the companys Sustainability section enable them. People love to do what of its website: www.aecom.com/News/ they love to do. Passion grows from Sustainability. this.
Top pLayER, from page 3
Nthe Better Building Challenge sees EWS to

the upgrading of energy efficiency in Americas buildings as one of the easiest, fastest and most economic ways to make a difference in the future of our planet. M.E. GROUP realized this sigReport underscores nificance a decade ago and invested in companys commitmentcomspecialized technical expertise to pliment our traditional design services. and strategic approach We are ahead in this thinking and pretoward sustainability. pared to take on the next generation of efficiency in buildings. ECOM Technology Corporation (Los Angeles, CA), provider TZL: Do you hold someoneaas a speof professional technical this person cial mentor? how did and management support you are? influence whoservices for public and private clients in more than 130 counrM: My first the world, has father. He tries around thought is my published always corporate Sustainability Report its first shared with me that I should strive to the the bestOct. all I2010,His covering be period in 1, do. to leadership skills reflected honesty and Sep. 30, 2011. The 2011 Sustainability strong work ethics but remember to Report underscores AECOMs commitment and strategic approach towards sustainability.
AECOM publishes sustainability report

TZL: whats the one trait you most admire in people and why?
z Once again, being named one of the
rM: Honest, hard working, passionWorlds Most Ethical Companies by the ate and innovative people who MAKE Ethisphere Institute. CHANGE! TZL: Describe the most challenging Operations (also called GO!) program thing you have ever done/the bigto get employees involved in recycling, gest challenge you have taken on saving water and energy, green travel, outside of work. in the community. and volunteering
z Developing AECOMs Greening our
Highlights of the 2011 Sustainability Report include:

z AECOMs efforts in reducing its carbon footprint. z Integrating sustainable practices into projects around the world. z Donating nearly $4 million to charitable causes during fiscal year 2011, including disaster relief, education and environmental needs.
z Embracing a safety culture both in and rM: This comes back to the passion I outside earlier. Im driven each day talked of the office. because of my love for what I do. SevI am delighted my waking AECOMs enty percent of to introduce hours are first corporate performance Report, focused on high Sustainabilityengineersaid John subjects. I dont chairman ing-relatedDionisio, AECOMsee this as and chief but finding time to spend a challengeexecutive officer. While a number of and working to give prowith family our businesses have back duced separate sustainability reports in the past, this report reflects AECOMs While a number of our comprehensive global sustainability Copyright 2012. ZweigWhite. all rights reserved. commitment and the positive impact businesses have produced that we make in the world. separate sustainability
Sustainability is about mastering complexity in ways that optimize conditions for human development. AECOM in breadth and depth has been called upon to master that complexity on behalf of our clients, so that they, we and society can be more successful today and in the future, said Gary Lawrence, AECOM vice president and have fun. I feel I have carried his philosophy with me and echo the influence he had on my life onto my sons and grandchildrens lives today. TZL: whats the one trait you most admire in people and why? rM: Honest, hard working, passionate and innovative people who MAKE CHANGE! TZL: Describe the most challenging thing you have ever done/the biggest challenge you have taken on outside of work. rM: This comes back to the passion I talked of earlier. Im driven each day because of my love for what I do. Seventy percent of my waking hours are focused on high performance engineering-related subjects. I dont see this as a challenge but finding time to spend with family and working to give back
reports in the past, this report reflects aECoMs comprehensive global sustainability commitment and the positive impact that we make in the world.
Top pLayER, from page 3

to the Better Building Challenge sees the upgrading of energy efficiency in Americas buildings as one of the easiest, fastest and most economic ways to make a difference in the future of our planet. M.E. GROUP realized this significance a decade ago and invested in specialized technical expertise to compliment our traditional design services. We are ahead in this thinking and prepared to take on the next generation of efficiency in buildings. TZL: Do you hold someone as a special mentor? how did this person influence who you are? rM: My first thought is my father. He always shared with me that I should strive to be the best in all I do. His leadership skills reflected honesty and strong work ethics but remember to
in my local community is something I want more of and aim to achieve. TZL: what question would you ask of another hot Firm leader? rM: Your questions are good ones. I guess I would ask: Strategic leadership doesnt always come naturally it takes years of experiences to develop sound business practices. What are the key points you look for in someone you feel has the ingredients to make a strategic leader? TZL: what lesson learned would you pass along to a recent college graduate embarking on a career in the A/E/P and environmental consulting fields? rM: Recognize peoples strengths and enable them. People love to do what they love to do. Passion grows from this.
Copyright 2012. ZweigWhite. all rights reserved.

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ThE ZWEIg LETTER | May 7 2012, ISSUE 958 ,

Contagious energy puts them on top

Ravi Maniktala, President, M.E. Group.

that we make in the world.

Top pLayER, from page 3

Nthe Better Building Challenge sees EWS to

AECOM publishes sustainability report

Highlights of the 2011 Sustainability Report include:

Top pLayER, from page 3

Copyright 2012. ZweigWhite. all rights reserved.

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