Spotlight On: Rich Mahaley, Senior Vice President & Florida Region Manager, Burns & McDonnell
July 2024 — Invest: sat down with Rich Mahaley, senior vice president and regional office manager of engineering and construction firm Burns & McDonnell, to discuss the company’s culture, innovation, and the potential impact of AI on the industry. “Rather than eliminating jobs, it’ll enhance our ability to do our jobs. I just want to be able to do more with the people that we have today,” he said.
What have been some of the greatest successes for Burns & McDonnell in the Orlando region in the past year?
Our company has experienced remarkable growth of 30 to 40% in the last five years. In June, we are relocating to a new office that can accommodate 325 employees, significantly expanding from our humble beginnings in 2015 with just three employees. The key to fostering thriving communities is a robust infrastructure. With excellent infrastructure in place, building a community becomes feasible. We designed our office to cater to various industries, including the electrical utility sector. This industry is undergoing the energy transition, transforming into a decarbonized environment. At the same time, we are increasing electrification, from the adoption of electric vehicles to the electrification of fleets operated by companies like Amazon and UPS. While we are transitioning to renewable energy sources such as solar in Florida, we are also witnessing an increase in demand on the grid, creating an exciting dynamic.
We can participate from the beginning to the end, from permitting to design, procurement, and construction. Our company has a self-performer craft wing that we can use to bring the entire gamut needed for our clients to build new energy transition infrastructure. We’re working with all the major utilities here in Central Florida to help them meet their renewable goals, especially as our population continues to grow.
In Florida, our A-Team has been instrumental in supporting the commercial space industry. Specifically, they have assisted Intuitive Machines in constructing a $40 million facility at the Houston Spaceport and establishing a flame test range in Florida. The successful Lunar Lander launch marked a historic milestone as the first private company to land a lander on the moon and the first time the United States has returned to the moon since 1972. We were proud to be a part of this endeavor and played a crucial role in building the necessary infrastructure.
What is the company’s involvement with infrastructural improvement in the region?
Recently, a big issue in the industry is high demand and small talent pools. The pool of project managers and engineers has become smaller but we can overcome some of these issues with what we call progressive design-build. We can step into projects like I-4 and other massive, billion-dollar projects. We are working with the Florida Department of Transportation on using progressive design build on their major ongoing projects.
What is the company’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion?
Here in Florida, our workforce stands out for its remarkable diversity. Reflective of the state’s rich tapestry, approximately half of our workforce comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds. Among them is a significant contingent of talented engineers of Puerto Rican descent, including one of our interns who graduated from the prestigious University of Puerto Rico. To foster inclusivity and ensure diverse perspectives, we’ve established various employee resource groups, such as Latinx, Veterans Empowered to Serve, Network of Women, and Black Professionals Network, to provide a platform for our employees to contribute their unique experiences and ideas, shaping our organization’s progress. Connecting among a diverse team broadens our vision and drives innovation. Together, we’re stronger, smarter, and more creative.
What are some of the ways the company contributes to workforce development within the Greater Orlando region?
We have a great relationship with the University of Central Florida. I recently presented to one of their emerging leader groups and spoke with sophomores, juniors, and seniors. One of the students I presented to is also an intern here this year. Throughout the year, we frequently engage with colleges such as Florida State, Valencia College, and others. In Orange County Public School, there’s a local “Read to Succeed” program that some of our teams visit. We just did a big book drive for one of the public schools here that gave them over 175 books for the summer to read. Some of those were based on STEM. We ensure that our volunteers go out at least once a week to meet with individuals and assist them in improving their reading skills. Our mentoring approach involves one-on-one interactions where we sit down and work with individuals to enhance their reading abilities.
What are some examples of how the company fosters a culture of innovation and collaboration, particularly within your office?
Our newly appointed CEO, Leslie Duke, is very focused on looking further at engineering. It’s a particularly relevant time for engineering, given the rise of AI. Many engineers have great ideas, but the challenge lies in translating these concepts into marketable products. Each of our offices plays a crucial role in fostering innovation, identifying promising ideas, and devising strategies to bring them to reality.
When I first started, people were drafting manually. But the advent of innovative technologies has revolutionized the field of engineering and construction, enabling us to accelerate our processes significantly. Safety remains our paramount concern, and we are committed to the well-being of our employees both in the office and on construction sites. We constantly seek out innovative solutions to improve safety, such as drones, cameras, and 3D models. These technologies provide tremendous potential for enhancing safety and integrating cutting-edge technology into our operations.
How do you believe artificial intelligence will impact the workforce?
AI will enhance our ability to be more productive. There’s so much work to get done. If we have 20 years to transition the entire electrical energy infrastructure that took us 125 years to build, that’s a mammoth task. This is where AI can help by taking a lot of the data we have and making it make sense. Rather than eliminating jobs, it’ll enhance our ability to do our jobs. I just want to be able to do more with the people that we have today.
What are some key aspects of the company’s culture, and how does it contribute to morale and employee retention?
I’m proud we were ranked third among Orlando’s best workplaces for large companies last year. With our employee survey just concluded a couple of weeks ago, we’re eagerly anticipating this year’s results. Since 1986, we’ve been a 100% employee-owned company, which has fostered a culture where everyone is a stakeholder. This has significantly broken down barriers and created a collaborative environment. Our biggest challenges, especially in engineering and construction, are overcome by ensuring effective communication and collaboration. We can lower barriers and achieve project goals by creating a culture where everyone works together. Employee ownership plays a crucial role in this, as it incentivizes employees to go the extra mile and produce the best possible results. While we work hard, we also prioritize having fun at work. We organize various activities throughout the year, including our upcoming summer picnic, which is a great opportunity for employees and their families to connect. Additionally, we host at least one event every month, one of which is in collaboration with Second Harvest.
What key goals or initiatives are Burns & McDonnell focusing on to continue its growth in the region?
As engineers, we have a mission to provide the infrastructure that allows communities to grow and prosper. Our goal is to expand our services to coastal areas, assisting communities in developing sustainable infrastructure. With the daily influx of 1,000 people into Florida, the state’s aquifer is facing depletion. We also remain committed to supporting our electric utility partners in integrating renewable energy sources and electrifying various fleets. Additionally, we are thrilled about the prospect of individuals living and working on the moon. It is an honor to contribute to their efforts and collaborate with teams on the Space Coast.
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