EntreArchitect Essential Master Class Sessions
Profit Planning
Planning for Profit (video)
Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus
Management Consulting Services
Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus, the co-author of Financial Management for Design Professionals: The Path to Profitability walks us through his P2P (Path to Profitability) Financial Management System.
Session Reference Material
P2P_1: Glossary of Financial Terms (.pdf)
P2P_2: Financial Management Cycle (.pdf)
P2P_3a: Sample Chart of Accounts (.xls)
P2P_3b: Sample Balance Sheet Chart of Accounts (.xls)
P2P_4: Guidelines for Posting to the Accrual P-L CofA (.pdf)
P2P_5: Sample Annual Budget Template (.xls)
P2P_6: Sample Summary Annual Budget (.xls)
P2P_7: Sample Annual Profit Plan Template_revised (.xls)
P2P_8: Formulating Hourly Billing Rates (.pdf)
P2P_9: Sample Revenue Profit Plan (.xls)
P2P_10: Accrual Profit-Loss Statement Template (.xls)
P2P_11: Sample Accrual Balance Sheet Template (.xls)
P2P_12: Sample 11 Key Financial Performance Indicators (.xls)
Post Session Reference Material
Architect’s Handbook Article 7.2 (.pdf)
Architect’s Handbook Article 7.3 (.pdf)
Architect’s Handbook Article 7.4 (.pdf)
Architect’s Handbook Appendix B – Glossary (.pdf)
Top-Down / Bottom-Up Budgeting Article (.pdf)
Top-Down / Bottom-Up Graphic (.pdf)
Contact Steve L. Wintner, AIA Emeritus by Email (.pdf)
Contact Steve L. Wintner, AIA Emeritus by telephone at +1-281-723-2090
Seven Steps to Success
Seven Steps to Success in Architecture (video)
Dale Mulfinger, FAIA
Principal Emeritus and co-Founder
SALA Architects
Dale Mulfinger, FAIA is a founding principal at SALA Architects, the firm he launched with one house project 33 years ago with his former partner, Sarah Susanka, the author of The Not So Big House book series.
Today the firm has 2 offices (the second in Stillwater, MN) with 5 shareholder principals, 4 emeritus principals, 4 associates and 26 staff members.
Dale Mulfinger, FAIA is a residential architect, an advocate for the profession and a teacher… and in this session he will share his wisdom through 7 steps for success in architecture.
SALA Architects (web)
Download the slides from this session (PDF)
Client Management
Client Management: What Are Your Really Managing? (video)
Nicole Lemieux
Founder
PeopleGro, LLC
This session is presented by Nicole Lemieux of PeopleGro, LLC based in Northville, Michigan.
Mark was introduced to Nicole at the 2016 AIA Custom Residential Architect Network Symposium. Impressed with her grasp of how people work and inspired by the ideas she presented, Mark immediately invited Nicole to join us here at EntreArchitect Academy.
It only takes a few seconds to realize that Nicole is extremely passionate about PeopleGro, the company she founded in 2001. Watch her conduct an organizational learning program and you’ll understand why her energy and experience brings people and groups together in a manner that is extremely effective. Nicole draws on 20 years of experience in the private, public and educational sectors. Those credentials have allowed her to tap the potential in every type of individual personality and group dynamic.
PeopleGro, LLC (web)
Neuroplasticity (YouTube)
Branding Basics
Branding Basics for Small Firm Architects (video)
Emily Hall
Director of Marketing & New Business Development
Union Studio Architecture & Community Design
Emily Hall brings over 15 years of architectural marketing experience to Union Studio, with a focus on communicating the unique value that design firms have to offer. In her role as Director of Marketing and New Business Development she helps guide the firm’s strategic marketing efforts while identifying new project opportunities.
Emily is president and a founding board member of DESIGNxRI, a board member of the Women’s Development Corporation, and served as former co-chair of the Urban Land Institute’s Rhode Island Committee. She received a Master in Business Administration from the University of Rhode Island, a Master of Industrial Design from Rhode Island School of Design, and a Bachelor of Arts from Colorado College with a double major in art history and studio art.
Branding Basics Resource List (PDF)
Union Studio Architecture & Community Design (web)
Contact Emily (email)
Life Planning
A Framework for Your Dreams (video)
How to Build Your Personal Life Plan
Mark R. LePage, AIA
Founder, EntreArchitect
Mark R. LePage, AIA, is Partner in Charge of Operations at the New York-based residential architecture firm, Fivecat Studio. In 2012, Mark launched EntreArchitect.com (Entrepreneur Architect), an online resource inspiring small firm architects to build better businesses.
Mark writes a weekly blog, hosts the EntreArchitect Podcast and is growing this private online community, EntreArchitect Academy, for architects seeking success in business, leadership and life.
A Framework for Your Dreams: Building Your Personal Life Plan (PDF)
Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (book)
Dave Ramsey’s EntreLeadership (web)
48 Days to the Work You Love (book)
Zig Ziglar (web)
Maximize Profitability
4 Ways to Maximize Profitability (video)
Rena Klein, FAIA
Author of The Architect’s Guide to Small Firm Management
Rena Klein, FAIA is the author of The Architect’s Guide to Small Firm Management and the executive editor of AIA’s Architects Handbook of Professional Practice. As an experienced architect and firm owner, there is no one better to join us as the EntreArchitect Academy Expert Trainer to discuss Management for Small Firm Architects.
Want to be More Profitable? Here’s How by Rena M. Klein, FAIA (Article)
Contact Rena for a free 60 minute consultation. (Email)
Mavenlink (web)
Harvest Time Tracking (web)
BillQuick (web)
Ajera (web)
Optimizing BIM
Optimizing BIM for Your Architecture Firm (video)
Victor Caban-Diaz, AIA
Principal/Owner, BUILDINGENUITY Architecture & Design
Finalist at CVG Architecture Business Plan Competition
For more than 8 years Victor has been maximizing the use of BIM as a Project Manager for architecture on healthcare, office, commercial, aviation and parking structure projects. He has successfully managed the transition of 3 architecture firms from CAD to BIM.
In this session, Victor will discuss the benefits of using BIM, provide tactical solutions for transitioning from CAD to BIM and be available to answer any questions you may have about this valuable technology for your architecture firm.
Download the Slides (PDF)
BIM Project Execution Planning Guide (web)
BIM Forum Level of Development Spec (web)
AIA Contract Documents for Digital Practice (web)
Navisworks (web)
Bluebeam (web)
Connect with Victor (email)
Client Fulfillment
Client Fulfillment for Small Firm Architects (video)
Norbert Lemermeyer, Architect
Co-author of The E-Myth Architect and founder of Architecture + Business
Over the past 50 years Norbert has been involved in small business. From beauty salons, health foods, construction companies, design build, property management but mostly architecture. During this time he has been mentored by the best and graduated in the E-Myth Mastery Program in small business. In this EntreArchitect Academy Expert Training session, Norbert shares his knowledge and resources for building a successful Client Fulfillment system for Small Firm Architects.
Download the Slides (PDF)
Download the Client Fulfillment System Templates (.zip MS Word and MS Excel)
Connect with Norbert (email)
Team Culture
A Culture of Accountability (video)
Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus
Management Consulting Services
Imagine a firm where everyone knows what to do and is accountable for managing themselves to get it done; A Culture of Accountability. Steve Wintner, AIA Emeritus presents on a topic of which he is deeply passionate and a topic which may change the way you run your small firm architecture studio.
Download the Slides (PDF)
Download the Steve’s Introduction to A Culture of Accountability (PDF)
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change by Stephen R. Covey (book)
Kiss Theory Goodbye: Five Proven Ways to Get Extraordinary Results in Any Company by Bob Prosen (book)
Winning with Accountability: The Secret Language of High Performing Organizations by Henry J. Evans (book)
Art’s Principles: 50 Years of Hard Earned Lessons in Building a World Class Professional Services Firm by Art Gensler (book)
Financial Management for Design Professionals: The Path to Profitability by Steve L. Wintner and Michael Tardif (book)
Connect with Steve via email
Leadership
Large Firm Leadership Lessons for Small Firm Architects (video)
Philip A. Hodgin, AIA, President/CEO
RDG Planning & Design
As small firm architects, there is much to learn from our peers running large firms. In this EntreArchitect™ Academy Expert Training, president/CEO of RDG Planning & Design, presents how large firms grow and inspire their small studio teams.
Download the Slides (PDF)
Sales Strategies
7 Ways to Create Demand for Your Services (video)
Rochelle Carrington, President/CEO
Sandler Training
The golden days of “if you design it, they will come” are over. Today, it is up to you to spark demand by seeking out prospects and serving as the trusted advisor. Discover how to adjust your sales strategies to thrive in an environment where you have to create the demand rather than just fulfill it…and how to do it without being pushy and aggressive.
Download the slides (PDF)
Download the training documents (PDF)
Selling Professional Services the Sandler Way
Financial Management
Financial Management: Key Concepts (video)
Rena Klein, FAIA
Author of The Architect’s Guide to Small Firm Management
Rena dives deep into the key financial concepts that every small firm architect needs to understand and utilize to build a successful firm.
Download the slides (PDF)
Download the training documents (PDF)
Download the answer sheet (PDF)
Download Rena Klein article on Key Performance Indicators (PDF)
Download Rena Klein article on Profit Planning (PDF)
Download the spreadsheets from the training (MS Excel)
EntreArchitect Essential Digital Courses
Hybrid Proposal Owner/Architect Agreement Course
The Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services Video Course
An Owner/Architect Agreement That Won’t Scare Away Your Best Prospects
How do you create proposals for your prospective clients? Do you reinvent the wheel for every project? Maybe you use an contract document from our big architecture professional organization.
The Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services is an Agreement Between Owner and Architect developed by Mark R. LePage for his small architecture firm.
CM Services for Small Firm Architects Course
Construction Management for Small Firm Architects Course*
How to Double Your Fee on Your Next Architecture Project
Tired of watching your best projects be built by others? Frustrated by the fact that the contractor earns significantly more money on each project than YOU, the architect?
We developed an additional proposal package and a new integrated process for delivering architecture projects to your clients. With no additional marketing or need to sell more projects, you can make more money. We will show you how, step-by-step, in this EntreArchitect Academy Digital Course.
*Hybrid Proposal is a prerequisite to this digital course.
Productivity for Small Firm Architects Course
How to Be More Productive and Get Things Done as a Small Firm Architect
It’s hard to get things done. As a small firm architect, you are responsible for so much. Trying to balance the many roles between your firm and your family is difficult. The stress that comes with “keeping all the balls in the air” is not only uncomfortable… it’s unhealthy.
We all want to live a successful life. We all want to be happy and stress-free. The first step toward living that successful, stress-free life is focusing on the things that matter most in your life. This digital course will show you how, step-by-step.
EntreArchitect Essential Documents and Templates
Foundations Business Forms and Checklists
Foundations: Business Forms and Checklists for Small Firm Architects
This collection includes documents for Business Administration, Design Development, Project Management, Construction Management, Sales and Mark’s own proprietary Project Organizer from his firm Fivecat Studio. Whether you are starting a new firm or you’ve been in business for decades, these documents will make your business systems purr like a happy kitty (that’s a little Fivecat Studio humor).
This package is available in MS Word 2011 format. Microsoft offers a compatibility pack to convert these files for use with other versions of Microsoft Office products. Additional file formats will be coming soon.
Hybrid Proposal Owner / Architect Agreement Template
The Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services: Document Templates
This document is both our Proposal AND our Agreement Between Owner and Architect.
The Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services describes the proposed project, the scope of work, compensation and all the required legal terms and conditions. It completely eliminates the time-consuming step between a proposal letter and the formal legal agreement process. This document provides both in one package… and its super client-friendly graphics and easy-to-understand language keeps our prospects feeling in control without the need for drawn out attorney review. When we use this proposal package, we sign more projects and we make more money.
This download is a template for the agreement that we use at Fivecat Studio. As a member of EntreArchitect Academy we are sharing this document for your reference. It is intended that you use this document as a model to create your own proposal document. It is highly recommended that you check your local laws and review your final document with an attorney.
Please review the digital course below for more legal information regarding the Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services.
Construction Management Addendum Template
The Hybrid Proposal Construction Management Addendum Package
This package includes a proposal document for Construction Management Services. This CM proposal is developed as an addendum to the Hybrid Proposal for Architectural Services posted above.
BONUS
What’s The Difference Information Sheet
This is a sheet that we developed to explain to our clients the difference between our standard Architectural Service and our additional Construction Management Service.
BONUS
A PDF guide describing the original 2006 business plan for Mark R. LePage’s small firm, Fivecat Studio Architecture. Use this guide to quickly develop a Simple Business Plan for your own small firm.