Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> August 20, 2001

Joseph Harris – Hlm Design Inc (hmd)

Joseph M. Harris is President and CEO of HLM Design, Inc., and has been a leader in the concept of business center practice in architecture. For over two decades Mr. Harris has stood at the helm of three major architectural firms, successively steering each on a steady course of profitability, sound practice and design excellence. With his signature blend of creativity and business-like pragmatism, he has been able to consistently deliver results-oriented, design-winning projects that hold value over time. During his tenure at Clark Tribble Harris & Li, he achieved a 40% compounded growth, led the firm into international expansion, pioneered the concept of the single-solution consortium design firm and founded the first public American architectural company in Britain, while garnering over 40 design awards. Later, as President of Heery Architects and Engineers, even while restructuring the financially troubled company and reestablishing profitability, he never wavered in his pursuit of design excellence, continuing to win recognition for high-profile projects. Now, at HLM Design, he has effected a similar turnaround. By revamping operations, imposing more efficient controls, spearheading systematic regional expansion and refocusing on a broader range of work, he has successfully repositioned the threatened firm. Along the obstacle-strewn way, he has continued to develop the firm's national reputation for high-quality design. Mr. Harris has had a career that includes leading three companies to design renown and profitability, that flourished through 28 years of business instability, that spans two continents, embraces every building type and market sector, and has prospered by offering design excellence in a sound business framework. Profile
TWST: Could we begin with a brief historical sketch and an overview of

HLM Design, Inc.?

Mr. Harris: We provide management and services to

architectural/engineering firms. What this came from