#growth

Life is full of transitions. The book of Ecclesiastes acknowledges, “There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens.” There’s a time to build up and a time to tear down. A time to sow, a time to reap. As much as we often resist, necessary endings are required for new beginnings. So, here is an update on my professional transition, the ending and new beginning.

The Ending:

After 32 years we needed to end the season of the business known as Wheaton & Sprague Engineering, Inc, aka Wheaton Sprague Building Envelope. It was a good run. We had the privilege of working with many talented people, both staff and clients. We completed many terrific projects of all shapes, sizes, locations and complexities. Thanks to my partner Richard Sprague for his faithfulness and integrity through the years. Thanks also to Debra Parker, the glue behind the scenes and the best ever.

The New Beginning:

On June 29, 2026, I started my position as Director – Facade Engineering & Senior Consultant with BPL Enclosure, a company with a deeply talented group of professionals. I get to operate from the same office location, with a similar emphasis and focus, representing Cleveland and Northeast Ohio Area, plus regional and national clients as always. I am really pleased to provide continuity for clients, existing and new, collaborating with our BPL team. The culture and work is energizing.

I’m still “Creating Structure” in the Building Facade, Building Enclosure, Curtain Wall space, but under a new banner at BPL where we “Simplify the Complex”. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work at BPL with strong executive leadership and a high performance team

Stay tuned for more updates and posts.

The “Pace” of business is important. Quickness, speed, and endurance are winning combinations in sports. The same holds true in business. Here are some ways to express it, to challenge ourselves, our teams, and set an example:

Adopt a “decide now” attitude. We don’t often need more time, we just need to decide. “Let’s decide now.” “Why are we waiting on this?”

Reply to relevant emails, texts or calls from clients within hours, not days.

Do “it” now. Get it done. Follow through. Finish.

Set hard deadlines, not goals or suggestions. (We are going to get “XXX” done this week.) Make it visible and be accountable.

Prioritize quickness with revenue-based activities; proposals, sales, executing work, delivering product, following up with clients, fixing problems, removing barriers.

Cut down written and spoken communication to its essentials; direct, clear, candid.

However long we think something might take, seek to cut the time in half (at least.)

Speak it and model it repeatedly: “Come on, let’s go, let’s move, let’s push the communication. Let’s get in front of things. Initiate, move, decide, deliver, focus.”

Some things take time for answers to emerge and need to “percolate.” That’s fine. Keep setting intermediate milestones to analyze, assess signals, etc.

Call time out when needing more clarity or redirection, just like in sports. “Huddle up” for 2, 5, 10 minutes, reset, decide, go.

None of us hit 100% on these, but that’s ok. Keep making the effort. We are better when we do so.

One of the biggest impediments to our personal and professional growth is comfort and slowness. Resist complacency. Growth requires friction, discomfort, struggle.

Life comes at us quickly. The world is dynamic. Train. Stay agile. Be proactive. Set the pace.

Transitions – What I’m Doing Now

Pace of Business