Client First, Always: David Lourie’s Blueprint for Building a Lasting Geoprofessional Firm

Learn from geoprofessional experts on GeoHeroes, an audio series from the GBA Podcast. In the latest episode released today, host and GBA past-President Guy Marcozzi, P.E., LEED AP BD+C, F. ASCE interviews David Lourie, P.E., D.GE, F.GBA (Lourie Consultants).

What life-altering events inspired his journey into the geoprofessions and eventually opening his own firm (now more than 30 years old)? What are the key factors in his success? What’s his outlook for the future? There’s a lot to learn in this episode, including:

• How to differentiate your firm: “The way to do it is by differentiating based on client focus and service and the delivery of whatever services a client is retaining us to provide.”
• What profits really measure: “Many times, there’s too much focus internally on profit generation.”
• Why your goals should align with a client-focused approach: “If there’s one

complaint I hear… it’s a belief that some [firms] are more concerned about their own internal operations, welfare, and health and are less focused on the projects and understanding what clients’ needs are.”
• Leveraging technology for the benefit of clients vs. strictly internal processes: “We have technology and tools at our disposal; it’s a question of how we use them to benefit our clients.”
• Elevating the geoprofessions: “We need to invest in our people and give them opportunities. It’s OK to fail sometimes in the path to developing and learning and we need to allow that to happen.”
• A look to the future of the industry: “I’m optimistic about where we can go if we choose to define where we want to go and then do the things we need to do that. Some of that is getting back to the basics; listen more to our clients.”

This episode of the GBA Podcast was produced by Ryan White, P.E., G.E., F. ASCE (Apex Companies), Chair of GBA’s Multimedia Delivery Committee.

About GeoHeroes
In this series from the GBA Podcast, Guy Marcozzi interviews past, present, and future leaders in the geoprofessional industry to explore their personal and career journeys. The goal is to understand what motivates these individuals and what insights they have for the future of the profession. The podcast will examine the skills and qualities that have contributed to their success, as well as their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.