LPA Wins Giles-O’Malley Excellence in Leadership Development Award

LPA Design Studios has been recognized for its dedication to firmwide education and professional development by the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF). The center connects CSUF students, faculty and Southern California organizations through a variety of executive and student programs. The 15th Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon, held on May 8, honored organizations that demonstrate excellence in internal leadership programming, executive leadership, cultural change and community engagement. LPA received the Excellence in Leadership Development Award.

“What LPA has put together is a systematic, multi-level investment in talent development, leadership development and organizational learning that sets it apart from other companies in the design industry,” said Dr. Jay Barbuto, Founder and Director of the Giles-O’Malley Center for Leadership. “Other design companies should take notice.”

The award, which LPA President and Chief Design Officer Keith Hempel accepted at the event, acknowledged LPA’s commitment to integrated design and the elevation of team members across disciplines.

“We need every team to build expertise and confidence in order to advocate with our clients for better outcomes,” he shared at the event. “That requires rigor, determination and leadership.”

Hempel added that LPA’s success stems from a shared culture reinforced by continuous learning opportunities. LPA University, the firm’s internal education and professional development program, offers a growing body of AIA-credentialed courses available live or on-demand, and includes sustainability sessions, Tech Talks, Lunch and Learns and more for employees across various topics.

For young professionals, the Integrated Design Residency builds empathy by having designers work simulated real-world scenarios from multiple disciplinary perspectives, while the Developing Future Project Leaders program prepares current design coordinators and project engineers for leadership roles.

At the senior level, the 10-month Leadership Accelerator Program provides high-level coaching on building strong client relationships and leading effective teams.

In addition, LPA has given more than $1.15 million in professional development grants, available quarterly for any employee, to promote individual growth and expand the firm’s collective knowledge base.

Looking ahead, the firm’s career development path outlines unique routes for advancement, as well as the opportunity for team members to follow their passions in terms of design excellence, technical expertise, management and technology.

Over the past six decades, LPA has worked across nine disciplines and seven areas of practice, fostering a shared collaborative culture embraced by 530 employees in seven studios.

“We pride ourselves on the last 60 years and plan to be here at least another 60,” Hempel said at the event. “We need to develop the leaders who will carry our vision forward.”