Principal Jeff Dalton, AIA, NCARB, started at SGA Design Group in 2010, and after a brief hiatus exploring other career options he returned in 2015, and is celebrating his last 10 years of excellence at our firm. Today, we asked him for some insight into his tenure and this is what he shared.
Question: How do you cultivate a culture of mentorship and leadership within your teams?
Answer: I continue to reinforce to each team member the idea of growing and learning each and every day. I myself am learning and developing each day, be it technical or on the people side of the business. There is always an opportunity to grow if it is viewed with a growth mindset.
Question: How would you describe the leadership culture at SGA, and how does it support career advancement for architects and designers?
Answer: We continue to support the next generation of architects within SGA, with different opportunities, learning objectives, and 1 on 1 meetings to be available. There is never a question that shouldn’t be asked to facilitate the growth mindset.
Question: What was the trajectory/timeline for the promotions you received as you moved from Associate to Principal?
Answer: After returning to SGA in August 2015, I became an associate at the beginning of 2017 and then became a senior associate at the beginning of 2018. I was then promoted to a Principal / Shareholder the beginning of 2022.
What new opportunities do you see emerging for young architects or aspiring leaders in the next 5-10 years, and how can they prepare for these changes?
Answer: The future and the opportunity is here now and will continue to remain as we seek to expand on new work sectors and clients. The diversification within the firm for larger retail clients, QSR and distribution center work is continuing onward. Everyone has the opportunity to improve if they exhibit the will and drive to learn and grow each day.
What are some of your favorite clients you have worked with through the years?
Answer: I’ve partnered with BSRO, Casey’s and several others. I enjoy fostering and developing personal relationships with our client contacts and helping their programs be successful.
What are you looking forward to in the future in your role at SGA?
Answer: At the moment, the opportunities feel limitless – as we continue to build upon what has been created over the last 30 years and continue to grow both in number of employees and diversification of clients.
What kind of projects do you see yourself and your team working on more in the future at SGA?
Answer: Right now, there is a large push for raw space in the ever-moving retail game. There is support of current and new clients, as well as the potential expansion for the design of data centers and cold storage facilities.