honoring black leadership: A Conversation with Our President
Leadership at CE has always been about people, purpose, and building something that lasts. In honor of Black History Month, we sat down with our President to talk about his role, his journey, and what it means to lead a Minority Business Enterprise. From lessons in leadership to the importance of representation, this conversation gives a closer look at the values that shape our culture and the vision guiding us forward.
How did your journey at Corporate Environments begin?
My journey with Corporate Environment started back in 2016 after I'd worked 10 years for Mohawk Industries on the commercial side. I didn't know much about furniture at the time, but after meeting Karen Hughes and other people from the leadership team, It was definitely an organization that I could see as home for me.
What does being a Minority-Owned Business (MBE) mean to you personally?
An MBE for me personally means that we as an organization value diversity and inclusion, not just with how we recruit our own people within our organization, but the type of organizations that we decide to do business with. It's not just about how we build it, it's about who we bring along throughout that process. We want to be known for a company that thinks different, that thinks outside of the box, and thinks from a unique perspective.
How do you think CE has continued on its journey towards becoming a more diverse business?
One of the things that was very attractive to me during my interview process was meeting Karen Hughes and understanding that we were a woman-owned business at the time. I noticed how she individually valued diversity, I noticed it in the makeup of our organization, and that has carried on for many, many years up to the point where we transitioned to a minority-owned business. Those core values have always been a part of our basic foundation, and it will continue on as we continue to build the legacy.
What opportunities have been created for CE since becoming minority owned?
For corporate environments to be an MBE, it has created a lot of opportunities within our own market. We did our own research and noticed that there were several organizations in Atlanta and the surrounding areas that valued partnering with MBE organizations. So as I look at our business and the opportunities that we've secured over the last couple of years, a big part of our success is us being able to talk about what we're doing as an organization to support our own employees and how we can leverage that in our partnership with a lot of our key clients.
What do you wish you had known earlier in your career?
Early in my career, I wish I would have understood the importance of work-life balance. I was so focused on climbing the ladder and achieving goals that I had set out very early in my career that along the way, I missed out on other things that are also important to the success of any individual. The biggest lesson is really just valuing work-life balance, understanding that the work will be there the next morning when you return, and really focusing on all of the things that are important to your success.
What excites you most about CE’s future?
What excites me most about our future here at Corporate Environments is our people. We have done a really good job at building a really good team. We've been very thoughtful about what the next generation looks like for our organization. As we continue to grow and continue to win big projects as an organization, I'm also just as passionate about bringing up the people that we've invested into. So that really, really excites me.
What does Black History Month mean to you?
Black History Month to me is very special. It's an opportunity for myself and others to recognize the foundation that was laid several years ago by our ancestors. As we celebrate this month, we really want to lean in and think back on those days where we did not have the opportunity that we have today. Being an MBE as an organization allows us to highlight those things and continue on the legacy that those created many, many years before myself.
If there’s one message you’d want to leave with the next generation, what would it be?
My message to the next generation is build a legacy. Ask yourself, when you're long gone, how will people think of you? What types of things will they say about you and your character? The ultimate goal is to impact people and leave behind a legacy that someone else can pick up and continue the journey that has been created for many, many years. I take pride in all of the effort that has gone into our organization, knowing that there have been many hands that have contributed to the success and that I play an ultimate goal in making sure that that journey continues for many, many years.
