Leadership… Then and Now
OCBA was involved in many large projects when I joined the firm in 1993, including the Leila Arboretum Entry, Au Gres Riverfront Park and Streetscape, Genesys Health Park in Grand Blanc, and Huron Avenue Streetscape in Port Huron. We had four experienced project managers (PMs), CR Cowell, Eric Lyons, Ken Peregon, and Sam Lovall; two newer but quickly up and coming PMs, Brian Doud and Wes Steer; and two staff who managed smaller projects and drafted for the PMs, Marlies Manning and I. We also had three office support staff people: Mary Faupel the general secretary, Cathy (O’Boyle) Smith leading the marketing effort, and Kathy Blalock, who was the office and financial manager. And over all of that was Bob O’Boyle, with knowledge of everything going on in the office internally - projects, marketing, financial; and externally – competition, economic conditions, environment.
Bob took it all in, charted the course, and successfully grew the firm until that point, and for another 10 years after. I am fortunate to have been able to see how he managed OCBA – and it was a firsthand view because we shared an office for a few years and went to Rotary meetings together every Monday. I always remember him saying if you have talented people, provide them with great projects and a supportive environment, it will inevitably be successful. This is the foundation on which I have operated the business for the past seven years.
Today we are involved in many large projects, including the Board of Trustees Plaza Renovation at WMU, the Farmers’ Markets in both Kalamazoo and Grandville, the re-imagining of Lakeview Park in Portage, and nature playscapes at 12 schools in Troy to name a few. We have two experienced project managers Rachel Hughes-Nilsson and Katie Chase, newer but quickly up and coming PM Deborah Dawe, Samantha Fee who manages smaller master planning projects and social media, and Tammy Stefl who worked at OCBA in the 1990’s and is back today as a contractor. I try to stay on top of everything going on internally and externally just like Bob did, which gives me a whole new appreciation of how successful the firm was under his guidance.
The OCBA Team, 2023
— Sandy Bliesener
OCBA President
