This event was really interesting because Timmons Group is not your typical engineering and technology firm and Brian Bortell offered a unique perspective as to why.  Brian started at Timmons as the lowest level engineer at Timmons.  He worked his way up and by the late 90s had been part of the group that bought Timmons out and later became the COO.  When Bortell and others bought Timmons, they created a physical copy of their mission, values, and strategic plan, which before that had just been common knowledge among the company because it started out so small.  But, as the company grew it became more important to have a hard copy of these things and to educate all employees about them.  Bortell became the CEO in the early 2000s.  He still reaches out to all the new employees to explain Timmons’s mission and values to ensure that all employees understand what the company is about and that they stay grounded in their values.  Timmons operates under a very personal form of leadership.  Bortell started working at Timmons when it was a very small firm, and he keeps this environment alive in his leadership style by staying connected with all employees despite how large the firm has grown.  The firm also upholds their value of teamwork because when Bortell and others bought out the firm, they restructured it since it had grown into departments that work together in order to emphasize the firm’s success over individual or department success.  This discussion was very encouraging to hear that there are firms and company’s out there who operate with such positive leadership models to ensure that all employees enjoy their work and the company stays successful at the same time.