Frankfurt-Short-Bruza Associates’ (FSB) corporate culture is a reflection of its philosophy that outstanding architecture and engineering is enhanced by good citizenship.
As a natural progression of its Leadership Development Program in 2008, FSB formalized its longtime outreach focus and created its Community Involvement Initiative. The company continued to focus on building and enhancing the program in 2009. The purpose of the initiative is to create a firm-wide community involvement program that is ongoing and encourages active participation by leaders of the firm as well as FSB employees.
With 20,138 volunteer hours and more than $1.3 million contributed and raised since the program’s inception, FSB has seen an immediate benefit through the continuation of programs that the company supports. FSB also foresees the long-term benefits of its Community Involvement Initiative to be a positive impact on the community, making it a better place to live, work and play. Internally the program has increased employee morale and involvement within the community.
“Community involvement is not just a passing fancy at FSB,” said Fred Schmidt, a principal of the firm. “It’s just as much of a commitment now as it was when I started with the firm 23 years ago, only stronger. The leaders of the firm made a decision to actively improve the quality of life in our city, through direct involvement, and this influences everyone throughout the organization.”
From its earliest beginnings 65 years ago, the firm has always supported multiple philanthropic endeavors with contributions in 2009 totaling more than $1.32 million in donated man-hours. A large percentage of employees are active in many area nonprofit organizations including Allied Arts, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Arthritis Foundation, City Rescue Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Junior League of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation and Prevent Blindness Oklahoma, just to name a few.
FSB employees donated an estimated 10,614 volunteer hours in 2009, including providing design services for a new chapel built at the Dr. Eddie Warrior Correctional Center in Taft, Okla. In support of Habitat for Humanity, 16 FSB employees donated more than 75 hours bringing dreams to life by helping build two new homes for grateful Oklahoma families. In addition, employees adopted multiple military families in need through Operation Holiday Spirit, a program aimed at improving the holidays for many of the nation’s armed forces personnel. To mark its 65th year of business, FSB also made a $50,000 donation to the Myriad Gardens Foundation to buy 65 trees that will line the lawn and performance pavilion lawn of the Myriad Botanical Gardens.
“The leadership of FSB fully understands our company must rely on the local, regional and national communities to support its business activities. This inspires FSB to support the communities that in turn support our business,” said Laure Majors, director of business development.
AT A GLANCE
Name of company: Frankfurt-Short-Bruza Associates PC Headquarters location: Oklahoma City Year established: 1945 Type of business: Architectural and Engineering firm No. of employees (statewide): 110 No. of employees (total): 110 Amount of philanthropic contributions in 2009: $1.32 million (donated man-hours and contributions) No. of volunteer hours in 2009: 10,614 Website: www.fsb-ae.com