Maintaining Company Culture During Leadership Transition with Chris Kottra & Kami Farahmandpour - BTC

Jun 24, 2025

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In this conversation, Justin Neagle and Will Foret speak with Kami Farahmandpour and Chris Kottra from Building Technology Consultants, Inc. (BTC) about their experiences in the engineering industry, the founding of BTC, and the importance of company culture, leadership transitions, and quality in their work. They discuss the challenges of hiring in a niche market, the significance of training for autonomy, and the role of litigation in honing expertise. The conversation also touches on reflections and advice for future leaders in the industry.

Connect with Chris and Kami - Chris' LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-kottra-pe-rewc-ccca-61099b43/ Kami's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kami-farahmandpour-a9823115/ Website: https://www.btc.expert/ Connect with Justin & Will - Will's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willforet/ Justin's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/justneagle/ Learn More & Connect With Spot Migration - Website: https://www.spotmigration.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/spot-migration Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/spotmigration YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Spotmigration Do you want to be a guest on the show? Go to https://buildingscale.net/guests Need to discuss your IT and Cybersecurity Strategy? Go to https://buildingscale.net/help

(0:00) Introduction and early transition plans (1:17) Mission of the podcast and sponsor mention (3:08) Founding BTC and team member introductions (6:43) Career progression and planning for business transition (11:18) Transitioning ownership and cultivating firm culture (16:18) Evaluating ESOP and alternative business structures (20:14) Emphasizing merit-based promotion at BTC (22:02) Financing the business transition (29:37) Strategies for talent acquisition and retention (32:42) Managing growth while maintaining quality (37:01) Importance of training and mentorship programs (43:14) Measuring leadership performance and dynamics (47:06) Navigating litigation and providing expert testimony (50:53) Reflective advice to younger selves (54:59) Closing contact information and outro