Why We Closed the Office (Again!) Last Friday

For the second year in a row, we closed the office on a Friday so our team could attend the LeadershipLegacy Experience hosted by Dove Development & Consulting at James Madison University.

This year’s theme, “Your Framework for the Values Advantage,” focused on something we care deeply about: defining and living our values. Our values shape how we approach our work, our clients, our team, and our commitment to engineering for a better world.

The day included keynote sessions from Wes and Cindy Dove, branding expert Lane Jones, and Mark Cole, CEO of Maxwell Leadership. The focus throughout the event was practical and timely: values are not meant to sit on a wall or live only in a handbook. They should shape decisions, guide communication, strengthen culture, and help teams move in the same direction.

Closing the office for a day is not something we do casually. But we know that investing in our team makes us better equipped to serve our clients and our community. A day spent learning together can create alignment that carries into the weeks and months ahead.

It also gives us time to step back from the immediate demands of project work and ask bigger questions:

• What kind of team are we building?

• How do our values show up in our daily decisions?

• Where are we doing well, and where can we grow?

• How can we lead more intentionally?

Those questions are worth the pause.

We're grateful to Dove Development & Consulting for creating a space where leaders can learn, reflect, and connect. It's encouraging to be part of a business community that values leadership, purpose, and meaningful growth.

We came back to the office with a fresh perspective, a stronger connection, and a renewed commitment to the values that guide our work.