Maintaining Company Culture During Leadership Transition with Chris Kottra & Kami Farahmandpour - BTC

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Maintaining Company Culture During Leadership Transition with Chris Kottra & Kami Farahmandpour - BTC

E125 • Jun 24, 2025 • 57 mins

In this conversation, Justin Neagle and Will Foret speak with Kami Farahmandpour and Chris Kottra from Building Technology Consultants, Inc. (BTC) about their experiences in the engineering industry, the founding of BTC, and the importance of company culture, leadership transitions, and quality in their work. They discuss the challenges of hiring in a niche market, the significance of training for autonomy, and the role of litigation in honing expertise. The conversation also touches on reflections and advice for future leaders in the industry.

Key Points

Starting the transition process early is crucial to ensure smooth ownership transfer and to allow time for mentoring and developing interest in leadership roles among potential successors.
Maintaining high-quality standards and fostering continuous improvement are essential for building a reputable and successful engineering firm, especially in niche fields like forensic engineering and building enclosure.
Hiring the right people based on potential rather than immediate need, and providing extensive training and mentorship, helps build a strong, skilled team that can uphold the firm's high standards and culture.

Connect with Chris and Kami - Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-kottra-pe-rewc-ccca-61099b43/ Kami's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-farahmandpour-a9823115/ Website: https://www.btc.expert/ Connect with Justin & Will - Will's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willforet/ Justin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justneagle/ Learn More & Connect With Spot Migration - Website: https://www.spotmigration.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spot-migration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spotmigration YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Spotmigration Do you want to be a guest on the show? Go to https://buildingscale.net/guests Need to discuss your IT and Cybersecurity Strategy? Go to https://buildingscale.net/help

Speakers

Kami Farahmandpour

Guest • 51%

Will Foret

Host • 2%

Justin Neagle

Host • 15%

Chris Kottra

Guest • 25%

Will Foret

Host • 7%

Chapters

0:00	Introduction and early transition plans
1:17	Mission of the podcast and sponsor mention
3:08	Founding BTC and team member introductions
6:43	Career progression and planning for business transition
11:18	Transitioning ownership and cultivating firm culture
16:18	Evaluating ESOP and alternative business structures
20:14	Emphasizing merit-based promotion at BTC
22:02	Financing the business transition
29:37	Strategies for talent acquisition and retention
32:42	Managing growth while maintaining quality
37:01	Importance of training and mentorship programs
43:14	Measuring leadership performance and dynamics
47:06	Navigating litigation and providing expert testimony
50:53	Reflective advice to younger selves
54:59	Closing contact information and outro

Transcript

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