Congratulations to Veronica Kunkemueller in Corporate Human Resources, as she recently celebrated 25 years with HOK!

I had heard that Veronica was one of HOK’s pioneers for flexible work hours, and I was curious to know more.  Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down with Veronica and Jerry Sincoff, who served as the President and CEO of HOK from 1990-2001, and got the scoop on how it came about.

Veronica, how did you come to HOK and what was the workplace like 25 years ago?  

Veronica: I actually answered an ad in the paper for a “collections” person. Seems clients weren’t always paying their bills on time!  So I was hired to work with Project Managers to call clients who had outstanding bills.

Physically we were located in the old Boatmen’s Bank Building – lots of cubicles everywhere. 

Honestly, things were about a traditional as they get in a firm of designers and creative thinkers.

Jerry: What she means is that it was pretty masculine back then.

Veronica: (laughs) Yes, it was pretty conservative but everything was back then. 

There was not a lot of wiggle room for outside the box working hours etc., though I have always found the culture to be friendly and the leadership approachable.   

I have always felt able to walk into my boss’s office and talk about whatever I needed to over the years. 

But overall, prudent business practices were a little “looser” back then.  We’ve gotten much better as we have grown up over the  years.

I understand that with Jerry’s help, you Veronica were one of the pioneers of flexible work hours at HOK.  Can you tell me how that came about? 

Veronica: It’s funny, for all of these years, I have never thought of myself as pioneer for flexible work hours at HOK but I guess I was one of the first to do it. My son reached school age, and I knew I wanted to home school him, so I put in my notice to resign.

Jerry: The way I remember it, there were were actually two women at the time, Veronica being one of them and Mary Ann Lazarus being the other, who thought they would have to quit HOK to take care of their young children.  Veronica gave her notice, and when I got wind of it, I called her into my office and asked what she was going to do once her son was done with school.  She said she didn’t know, and so I asked if there was a way she could stay connected to HOK somehow.

I just thought, why lose wonderful employees if we can work something out? 

We went to John Mahon, and John found a place for Veronica in Corporate Human Resources, as there was a need for someone to handle the expatriate relocations. 

Veronica: I knew little about our international offices at the time, and I started just at one day a week, then two days a week, and then back up to 32 hours a week. 

Jerry:  I always knew the work would get done.  We just had to make a way for it to work out. 

But really, that is just what HOK has been trying to do all of these years…finding a way to make things work for the very talented and dedicated people in our organization.

What are some of your fondest memories as you look back on your 25 years at HOK?  

Veronica:  By far, my most poignant memories are of Jerry asking me to “stay connected to HOK” and of John “finding a place for me.”  I will be forever grateful for these two gentlemen for that.

Most of my memories though are tied to the great people I have worked with at HOK.  Weddings, babies, deaths of loved ones, living life stuff….

Both of you have seen firsthand how HOK has grown in the past 25 years, how has this shaped your perspective as we look ahead to the next 25 years? 

Veronica: I have no doubt that HOK will continue to be on the leading edge of ideas to meet the need of our clients.  I have seen how we have added services over the years to respond to opportunities in the marketplace.  But standing back, what I think about most is how we have always been at the leading edge of technology, the leading edge of delivering services to clients and I am confident we will continue to push that leading edge.

Jerry: I would reinforce the service idea about what Veronica has said.  It is a wonderful way to think about our work in this profession.  HOK has always looked at how can we offer more to our clients.  What we always try to do is to keep our clients as the center of attention.  The notion is if the client is at the center, then you can continuously help that client and be of the best service as possible.  

What thoughts or observations would you share with people, particularly those who are new to HOK?             

Veronica: HOK has been my work home for 25 years.  Wow!  It has gone by in the blink of an eye!

Just as HOK cares about and responds to the changing needs of their clients, they have responded to the changing needs and life situations of their employees.  Not only have I experienced this myself, but I have seen it over and over again with others as well.  They care about people. That, for me, is what has made HOK a great place to work.

Be good to HOK and they will be good to you.  Learn from those around you.  Take charge of your particular area of responsibility.  Be thankful that you have the opportunity to work for this great organization.  Have a servant’s heart.  If this sounds like motherly advice, it is.