PSMJ Resources, Inc., the world’s leading authority on effective and profitable architecture and engineering firm management practices, announces Ruby+Associates, Inc. Structural Engineers (Ruby+Associates) as the winner of the 2023 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.

“Building a better world isn’t something that is only the domain of the mega-firms with deep resources,” stated Gregory Hart, President of PSMJ Resources, Inc. “The firms nominated for this award come in all sizes and share a realization that giving time and resources back to the community is the right thing to do. Beyond that, some of the best and brightest future employees are watching to see which firms really commit to action and changing lives. That is what stood out to our judges about Ruby+Associates’ efforts on this front. Their list of accomplishments and impact to the community may be something you’d expect from a team that is orders of magnitude larger than 55 employees.” he adds.

To ensure a lasting impact, Ruby+Associates established a Community Service Committee composed of staff members who meet regularly to plan and coordinate community and charity outings and programs. The committee’s primary goal is to focus on benefiting community groups that provide underserved and historically excluded youth with STEM education and exposure. In addition, Ruby+Associates CEO Tricia Ruby commits at least 1% of the firm’s revenue to charitable groups each year. 

Since 2013, Ruby has donated over $550,000 to local, Detroit-area and national charities. With a formal plan and the funding to support it, just some of the highlights of Ruby+Associates’ year-round efforts  to build a better world include: 
•    Ruby+Associates sponsored the 2022 STEM Fair for the Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program that serves more than 11,000 youth and provides opportunities for future engineers and related careers in STEM fields. 
•    Ruby+Associates participated in the Life Remodeled Career Vision Day at Detroit’s Central High School with the theme of, “If you can’t see it, you can’t be it.” Staff members shared information about a career path in structural engineering with students.
•    Ruby+Associates' employees donated to a local non-profit organization’s Back-to-School drive, providing 30 backpacks full of much-needed supplies for foster children. In addition, the firm’s staff donated gifts, gift cards and donations to 25 children in need for the organization’s Holiday Wish Program.
•    In partnership with a Detroit-based non-profit organizations devoted to clearing and beautifying blighted neighborhoods, Ruby+Associates teams visited Detroit’s Cooley neighborhood and cleared debris and overgrown brush to create safer pathways for its community members, donated potted mums, and purchased/donated lawn mowers. Ruby+Associates also donated $1,000 to support the group’s overall efforts.
•    During Denim Day, Ruby+Associates donated for every person who wore denim for a total of $925 to a local non-profit that helps domestic violence and sexual assault victims escape abuse and create safer lives. In addition, Ruby+Associates donated $5,000 towards the organization’s annual gala.
•    In anticipation of summer months when many area children in need who normally depend on free or subsidized meals at school go hungry, Ruby+Associates kicked off its second cereal drive. The team donated over $200 worth of cereal and collected $6502  which provided 11,498 meals.
•    During the Thanksgiving holiday, Ruby+Associates’ staff donated $5,500 that equated to 33,300 meals for area families with food insecurity.
•    In January 2023 on MLK Day (a day off for their staff – intended as a day of service in the spirit of Dr. King) the Ruby+Associates team volunteered at a local food bank and boxed up over 9,000 pounds of food with other volunteers – a record-breaking amount for the non-profit!
•    In March 2023, the Ruby+Associates office March Madness pool for men’s and women’s NCAA brackets resulted in a matched firm donation to Detroit PAL which supports Detroit Youth sports programs.
•    In April 2023, Ruby+Associates hosted its second Red Cross Blood Drive at the firm’s office. Staff members – including 5 first-time donors - and other office building tenants rolled up their sleeves and donated 18 units of blood in an event which saved up to 54 lives!

PSMJ will recognize the 2023 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 20-22, 2023 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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.