Kansas City, Mo. — The AIA Central States Region (AIA CSR) has selected Hoefer Welker as an Emerging Professional Friendly Firm in the 2021 AIA CSR Design Excellence Awards, one of only three in the category to receive the distinction of “Outstanding.”
The AIA CSR’s EP Friendly Firm award “celebrates architecture firms that create nurturing environments and professional development opportunities for emerging professionals.” An Emerging Professional (EP) is defined by the AIA as a student, recent graduate or architect licensed within the last 10 years.
Among its other award-winning attributes, Hoefer Welker offers an Emerging Professionals program (known as HW University) to help interns, new graduates and emerging professionals navigate their new roles within the firm. The program additionally offers participants different tracks based on areas of specific interest, including sustainability, leadership and project management. Objectives and resources within the program include orientation and onboarding, licensure training, leadership and professional development, community and industry involvement, and programming specific to mentoring interns, including an AEC Intern Program and Intern Passport Program.
Hoefer Welker also covers the cost for eligible Emerging Professionals to attend national, regional, or local conferences relevant to their roles; provides access to exam prep courses, study guides and groups, and designated mentorship for professional licensure testing; and reimburses exam fees and personal time off for employees to receive licensure.
“We couldn’t be more proud to receive this designation from AIA Central States Region,” said Hoefer Welker’s founder and CEO Mitch Hoefer. “Inherent in our culture is an unwavering commitment to our team and community, and we strive to position our employees for long-term success. Our goal is to help each of our employees develop a fulfilling, successful career through personal and professional growth in tandem with the firm’s growth.”
About Hoefer Welker
Founded in 1996, Hoefer Welker is a multidisciplinary architecture, interior design, medical equipment planning, technology consultancy and engineering firm known for collaborating with clients to create performance-driven solutions. From offices in Kansas City and Dallas, the firm works with clients in the healthcare, education, government, civic, multifamily and commercial markets on projects across the U.S. For more information, please visit: hoeferwelker.com.