PSMJ Resources, Inc., the world’s leading authority on effective and profitable architecture and engineering firm management practices, announces Pickering Associates as the winner of the 2024 A/E/C Building a Better World Award. The annual A/E/C Building a Better World Award recognizes firms demonstrating an outstanding commitment to improving lives and communities, through donations of time, resources, creativity and energy. Nominated firms are judged by a select committee based on scored assessments of employee involvement, executive commitment, duration and longevity of programs, and level of impact.

“Now more than ever, the AEC industry is playing a critical role in building a better world - from aging infrastructure improvements to climate change resiliency and expanding accessibility and equity,” stated Gregory Hart, President of PSMJ Resources, Inc. “With this award, our goal is to highlight just some of the amazing work that is happening across the industry and around the world. This award is one way for the entire community - including current and prospective employees - to see the great work that is happening out there. To that end, what impressed us most about this year's award winner was the diversity and scale of efforts for a 65-person firm, demonstrating that community involvement isn't just for the large firms.” he adds.

Pickering Associates’ commitment to community involvement truly starts at the top. Whether it has been installing solar energy systems for orphanages and schools in Africa or being a dedicated Red Cross volunteer since 2007, company founder Chip Pickering has used his skills to help people. Over the past 15 years, Chip has helped develop and install over 87 solar energy systems in Liberia and, as a Red Cross volunteer, he has spent time in California, Louisiana and Kentucky helping to provide shelter and food to people whose houses had been destroyed by hurricanes and wildfires.

With that as one driving force behind Pickering Associates’ community-focused culture, the numbers around the team’s efforts were quite impressive:

• Since 2012, the company’s involvement in Canstruction food drive competition has generated nearly 13 tons of food for those in need.

• Pickering Associates partnered with a local minor league baseball team, constructed a replica of the team’s mascot, and led a food drive for fans that helped the local Food Bank to feed 85,000 people.

• The company has sponsored company events such as a No Shave Marathon where they have raised almost $3,000 for the American Cancer Society.

• Employees donate their time with the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, focusing on foster children throughout the state, the Wood County Society, a non-profit serving individuals with disabilities, as well as many United Way functions and events.

• Pickering Associates is also an active Partner in Education with Hamilton Middle School, Partner at Large with Marietta City Schools, and a partner of Building Bridges to Careers.

Pickering has donated approximately $1million dollars over the past ten years to various agencies and groups. When it comes to organization-wide involvement, the majority of employees played a role in some way, shape or form and everyone contributed to at least one of the activities. However, measuring the monetary amount Pickering Associates donates either directly or through pro-bono work does not capture the complete impact. Embedded in their culture and actions are the concepts of altruism, social responsibility, and sustainability. That yields results and rewards that go beyond measurement.

The A/E/C Building a Better World winner is selected by a panel of judges who assess a variety of factors, such as the impact, use of resources, organization-wide involvement, and other considerations.

PSMJ will recognize the 2024 A/E/C Building a Better World award winner at A/E/C THRIVE: The Growth, Profit, and Success Summit for A/E/C Firm Leaders on September 25-27, 2024 in Austin, Texas. This unique conference is an opportunity to hear directly from the leaders of top-performing firms and other industry visionaries on specific growth, profit, and performance improvement practices and how to replicate them. 

For more information, visit PSMJ.com/thrive. 

About PSMJ Resources, Inc.
For nearly 50 years, PSMJ Resources, Inc. has been recognized as the leading publishing, executive education, and advisory group devoted completely to improving the business performance of A/E/C organizations worldwide. PSMJ’s sought-after expertise covers a range of critical business areas such as project management, financial management, human resources, business development, transition planning, and mergers and acquisitions.