PSMJ turned 50 this year. Throughout the year, we’ve been doing a lot of recognizing, reflecting…and some celebrating, too. It has been a chance to look back at so many of the “firsts” that we blazed for the AEC industry and look forward to what the industry will look like 50 years from now and how we can lead the way. Marking 50 years of PSMJ isn’t just about marking the passage of time or revenue growth or any number at all. It is about the impact behind those numbers. As one example of true impact, just last week, we got this comment from one of PSMJ’s earliest fans about PSMJ Founder and CEO Frank A. Stasiowski, FAIA:

“You had a great and very positive influence on my career for which I'm eternally grateful. You're a brilliant man, Mr. Stasiowski” 

This is what gets us excited about the next 50 years. In all the change stirring from private equity flooding into the AEC space, AI poised to upend tried-and-true business models, and waves of generational change bringing new energy and perspective to the industry, our mission remains what is has always been…to improve the business performance of AEC organizations worldwide. We’ll stay focused on providing the data, the resources, and the expert advice that you need to navigate change and capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.

One of the hallmarks that has brought us to where we are today at PSMJ is to always think differently, faster, and bigger…even on the small things. As one example, in one of our weekly team huddles at PSMJ earlier this year, we were talking about some of the activities taking place related to our 50-year anniversary and Corey of our marketing team exclaimed “Let’s go celebrate on the 50-yard line at Gillette Stadium!” and that is all it took! The plans were put in place and pieces came together for a truly memorable experience for the PSMJ team to be out on the field at the home of the New England Patriots last week. That creativity and focus on executing good ideas quickly is just part of our DNA.

Celebrating at Gillette Stadium was also another fantastic reminder that long-term success cannot be achieve by just chasing numbers (revenue, profit, staff size, Super Bowl rings, etc.) with no passion beneath that. As the New England Patriots have shown us, there will be good years and there will be challenging years. In spite of that, the long-term winners are always looking ahead, chasing a vision, and creating a platform where extraordinary talent can thrive. That’s what we do. That’s what defines a culture. That’s what creates a lasting legacy.

As we see that many firms in the AEC industry are also reaching milestone anniversaries this year and next - 25 years, 40 years, 50 years, and some much longer than that – our best advice is to take a moment and reflect together on what underlying principles and values got you there, what your impact has been and what you want it to be in the future, and then, of course, get out there and have some fun!