“Their vision was to provide clients with superior support in site development, feasibility studies, planning, economic analysis, facilities management, and advisory services related to real estate and property,” says CEO Frank Quigley. Recognizing early on the importance of information technology, the founders sought to apply expertise in Information Technology (IT) to the tracking and management of real property assets. So, they pioneered the use of automated planning tools for the management of facilities and real property, which soon gained traction among various governing entities. “We deliver the optimal balance of consulting and automated solutions… We understand every aspect of facility, real estate, and real property management and support the policies, regulations, applications, financial considerations, and objectives of facility managers and the businesses or governments that they work for,” Quigley explains. These systems were initially adopted by the Army and later expanded to other branches of the military and the Secretary of Defense. Sadly, Jim Kirmse passed away early in the firm’s history, however, Bill Richardson and Gail Bolt continued to lead R&K toward its current success, and in 2005 they faced a critical decision regarding the company’s future. After exploring various options, they chose to transition the company to an employee-owned structure, becoming a 100% employee-owned company. This decision was rooted in their desire to maintain the company’s culture and ensure its continued success. It proved to be the right decision because employee ownership has become a cornerstone of R&K’s identity, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among all employees. The transition to an Employee Stock Ownership 4 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 07
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