By Debra Solomon Baker
Pat Whitaker
president & CEO,
Arcturis
The economy may be limping along elsewhere, but when president and chief executive, Pat Whitaker, walks through the door of Arcturis each morning, she sees business bustling as usual.
The multi-disciplined design firm's largest current project is Edward Jones' expansion of its campus at Interstate 270 and Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights and its headquarters at Manchester and Ballas roads in Des Peres.
Like so many of its clients who return to the firm time and again, Arcturis has spent more than 15 years working for Edward Jones. Company estimates place the repeat rate of clients at about 88 percent.
The multi-disciplined design firm's largest current project is Edward Jones' expansion of its campus at Interstate 270 and Dorsett Road in Maryland Heights and its headquarters at Manchester and Ballas roads in Des Peres.
Like so many of its clients who return to the firm time and again, Arcturis has spent more than 15 years working for Edward Jones. Company estimates place the repeat rate of clients at about 88 percent.
When Whitaker formed Arcturis as a one-woman operation back in 1977, she never imagined that the company would grow with such magnitude.
Today, with 140 employees, Whitaker says that more than anything, she wants Arcturis to be known as "a quality firm with quality clients."
"We have designed our services all with clients' needs in mind," Whitaker says.
To this end, Arcturis does not simply provide architecture and design services. The firm also offers planning, civil engineering, real estate services, landscape architecture, interiors, facilities services and technology solutions.
Its clients include communities, major corporations, higher education, financial institutions and public facilities. Arcturis is currently the lead firm working with the Danforth Foundation on the design of the Arch Grounds Connector Project.
Whitaker's impressive client list also includes Commerce Bankshares Inc., and Ameren, Centene Corporation, and Scottrade Center.
Down the road, Whitaker expects to see an expansion of market sectors, such as hospitality and higher education.
Meanwhile, employment at Arcturis brings with it an open, collaborative, family-friendly environment.
"We had flex time for ten years before it was in vogue," says Whitaker.
Arcturis is a registered Woman-Owned Business and is committed to strengthening the community through philanthropic service and by embracing our environment with sustainable practices and design.
As for Whitaker herself, her passion, contemporary art, is nurtured through a board position at the Contemporary Art Museum. She also serves on the United Way board and, through that, is particularly involved in the Women's Leadership Giving initiative.
LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
INSIGHTS
if you were trying to sell st. louis to an
out-of-towner, what would be your major selling point?
"I generally tell them that St. Louis is a very friendly place with world-class institutions and cultural attractions that rival much larger cities. It's a great combination of down-to-earth people, outstanding quality of life, and of course, the Cardinals."
Marc l. Purcell,
Rear Admiral USN (Ret.)
associate partner,
IBM Global Business Services
"What makes St. Louis unique, is its large, productive work force, its lower-than-average cost of doing business, and its pioneering work in new technology and genetic engineering. Both convenient and accessible, St. Louis has the lowest cost of living of the top 20 metropolitan areas. All of this, along with rich cultural activities and entertainment make St. Louis a great place to live, raise a family and work."
Jack Schreiber
president & COO,
Commerce Bank, St. Louis Region
"It's the overall quality of life here in St. Louis which is extraordinary and probably not fully appreciated by those who have lived only here and no where else. The combination of tremendous and mostly free cultural attractions, great major league sports, world-class universities, a rich history, involved citizens and businesses, a great cross-section of cultures with strong Midwestern values and much more."
Doug Yaeger
chairman, president & CEO,
Laclede Gas Co.
For more information on the Leadership Circle, please contact John Diefenbach, vice president-membership, (314) 444-1184 or jdief@stlrcga.org. |
