Professional Profile: Will Swearingen
Will Swearingen is the director of ownership transition at Zweig Group in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Earlier this month on Feb 8, Zweig Group announced that its client ISG acquired ETHOS Design Group of Ankeny, Iowa. Will oversaw and connected the two, ETHOS specializes in interior design and architectural services with an expert background in commercial, educational, municipal, recreational, and housing services. ETHOS is said to pair well with ISG’s government and cultural services bolstering the merger’s presence in the Iowa area. Lab Design spoke to Will about the acquisition, his career, and his favorite takeout order.
Q: How did you get started in your career? Did you major in your field in college, get an internship, switch careers mid-stream, etc.?
Zweig Group
A: My career path has not been typical or linear. I received my undergraduate degree in biology from UNC-Asheville with a minor in anthropology. While I was in school I worked in architectural salvage, where we would deconstruct old homes and barns for the lumber and antique finishes. My first job after college was working offshore in the oil industry as a surveyor on a range of production and research vessels. We provided positioning services for seismic operations, dive support for platform and pipeline surveys, and other marine-based operations. I returned to Arkansas to get my MBA from the Walton College of Business and met Mark Zweig there. After a short stint at Anheuser Busch managing pricing for their products in Walmart stores, I moved to Zweig Group to help support the M&A business. Since then I have held a number of leadership roles at Zweig Group in research and consulting. As a principal and owner of the firm, I continue to wear many hats but focus on ownership transition via both internal and external paths.
Q: Can you tell me more about the acquisition? How were you able to connect the design teams? And how did you know they would be a good fit?
A: Zweig Group has a strong network that allows us to make connections where appropriate. We knew there was a mutual respect between the design teams. There was also a regional component that made the growth opportunity for both firms make sense. ISG is continually ranked as the Best Firm To Work For and has a unique culture that sets it apart from many of its peers. The Ethos Design team was a natural fit with ISG. We look forward to seeing what they can do together!
Q: What are some of your career highlights so far?
A: There are so many. We get to work with some of the best clients in the world. I can point to a number of projects where I have gotten to work with ‘starchitects’ and other very successful business owners on some problems that are both unique to the firm and the individual but are also: commonplace situations in privately held design firms. We are able to help our clients grow and realize great value that impacts their lives, their families, and the communities they serve. Our mission here is to ‘Drive purpose and performance in the AEC industry.’ That’s something I can wake up every day and get excited about.
Q: What is the biggest work-related challenge you've faced? How did you overcome it?
A: Business ownership comes with a number of challenges. Anytime there is a change in leadership or adjustment in structures, it takes time to recalibrate and get the horse back up and running. Every time we have had to make an adjustment here, we have gotten stronger and better on the other side.
Q: Are there any exciting projects you have on the horizon?
A: Always!
Q: If you weren't in this profession, what job would you like to have instead?
A: Scuba instructor in the Caribbean.
Q: What is your go-to takeout order?
A: Thai food!
Q: If you could tell your younger self something, what would it be?
A: Keep going – always keep going.