Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber, Inc. (FTCH) is a professional civil, environmental, and architectural/engineering consulting firm. Ron Turner, P.E., LEED AP, is the Columbus Regional Director and Senior Mechanical Engineer at FTCH. 

Tell us about your company’s mission and values.
At Ftch, we are listeners, collaborators and partners. Throughout our decades of practice, we’ve held our philosophy to help our clients realize their vision while benefiting society. We believe that each one of our clients’ projects is unique, and we treat them with the care they deserve by listening and finding an approach or solution that is exactly what they need.

What are the services you use the most (or are looking forward to using) from the Columbus Chamber?
FTCH is new to Columbus, so we’re really looking forward to introducing ourselves and getting our name in front of other businesses in the area.

How do you stay engaged with trends that you see in your industry?
We regularly attend and speak at a variety of conferences, seminars and conferences to stay on top of the latest architecture, engineering and construction (A/E/C) industry trends. They expose us to new points of view and new ideas that can help make an impact on our company’s growth. They also give us the opportunity to network and discuss the industry face-to-face with colleagues and expert panelists.

What do you think differentiates you from your competitors?
Every member of our team is committed to reliability in design, connection to our clients and creativity – that’s why our architects and engineers all work together in the same space, making it easier for collaboration and transparency. We also believe that responsiveness is important amongst those within our company, and we pride ourselves in helping our clients with the issues at hand. FTCH is a hands-on, design-oriented practice at heart, and our technical capabilities and understanding take even the largest projects from initial concept to completion.

What is your company culture like?
Our company culture is very positive. We have a big network of support where everyone is willing to help each other out without anything in return.

Additionally, we make sure to keep our employees connected through a variety of culture initiatives. Besides the usual holiday parties, golf outings and family picnics, we encourage teams to participate in non-profit service work on a departmental level. We also organize a company-wide United Way giving initiative and use it as a platform for potluck lunches, ice cream socials and more.

Internally, we use an intranet, along with more traditional newsletters, to stay constantly connected and informed as a group, and training opportunities are frequently provided. We offer health and wellness programs to the staff, such as weight loss competitions, exercise competitions, Weight Watchers meetings, to encourage conversation and a build a support network.

What advice would you have appreciated hearing when first starting your career?
Building long lasting relationships is one of the most important things in our industry. People tend to come and go where they work, but the relationships still stand. I would have liked to know that it’s very important to build ongoing relationships with everyone – not just who I think would make a potential client. They could help deliver future results.

How do you achieve work/life balance?
I strive to leave the office on time each day to make it home for dinner with my family. During this time, I stop checking email – because the minute I pick up my phone, I’m no longer engaged in my home life. It’s just the matter of walking away from work at the end of the day. There’s always going to be an exception where you’ll need to spend a little more time working during the evening or on the weekends, but I always make sure my family comes first.

Where is your favorite place to have a meeting outside of the office?
I love food, so I enjoy having meetings at restaurants. It’s nice to go somewhere with a little distraction because it helps engage conversation. For example, I like to have meetings at pub-style restaurants, like BJ’s, Winking Lizard or Rooster’s, where there are a few TVs around. Chatting about the football game, the latest news or whatever is on the screen allows room for small talk and cements a more personal relationship.

Why do you think Columbus is a great place to do business?
Columbus is so unique because while it is a big city, it still has a small-town feel – something I truly admire. As the capital city and a big university town, I think there’s always going to be growth in Columbus.

Social Media

Twitter: @ftch_inc
Facebook: facebook.com/ftchinc
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/fishbeck-thompsan-carr-and-huber-inc
Ron’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ron-turner-p-e-leed-ap-8088168
Instagram: @ftch_in

Read Member Spotlight: FTCH on Columbus Chamber of Commerce.