Progressive AE expanding markets and looking for top talent

"Finishing strong" is a cliche used by coaches in almost every sport -- an exhort to keep pressing and moving forward. For Grand Rapids-based architectural firm Progressive AE, "finishing strong" is not a motivation ploy, but could be a descriptive hashtag describing its business success in 2011.

Accordng to CEO/President Brad Thomas, the firm has added 19 positions since the beginning of the year and currently has 14 positions posted, primarily for engineers, designers and sales. "There is still uncertainty in the market place but a number of our clients are doing well," he says. "The last couple of years, there was a focus on efficiencies and now companies are making strategic investments in their facilities."

Thomas indicates Progressive AE's growth in the past year was spread throughout several industries, but acknowledges that the healthcare sector is especially robust. Thomas also adds that for the first time, over 50% of the firm's revenue is coming from outside the state, an indicator of their growing brand recognition and a sales focus on new markets beyond Michigan.

As one the first new hires and the individual leading the charge to fill the new positions, Sr. Human Resources Manager Melissa Versluis speaks directly to the benefits of working for Progressive AE. "It is an amazing culture, a high level of team collaboration, innovation and a passion to give back to the world," she says. "We are absolutely a place for top talent to go."

Verlsuis also points to a new direction in their talent search. "The kind of people [being recruited] is different than the past," she says. "We are reaching outside of the traditional industry." Versluis indicates they are looking for different perspectives and experiences, and architecture experience is not necessarily needed.

For more information about Progressive AE and their career opportunities, you can view their site here.

Sources: Brad Thomas and Melissa Versluis; Progressive AE
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor