Leadership change at N.K. Bhandari shows why having a plan is key

SYRACUSE — Businesses change hands for numerous reasons — including illness, death, and retirement — and the best piece of advice from those who have been through the process is to have a plan.

Setting a plan made for a relatively smooth transition at N.K. Bhandari, Architecture & Engineering, P.C. (www.nkbpc.com), even with unexpected bumps along the way, says the firm’s new president and owner Christopher Resig.

When he rejoined the firm in 2010, the business carefully planned for Resig to step into the role previously filled by his brother James. Christopher Resig previously worked for the firm for just more than 12 years until the mid-1990s.

James Resig worked for the company since its founding in 1980, eventually becoming president and owner. When it came to his attention that Christopher, who spent 15 years working elsewhere, wasn’t really happy with his job, he approached his brother and offered him a job with the opportunity to eventually become the owner.

“It took me less than probably two weeks to think about that,” Christopher says. “It just looked like a marvelous opportunity for Jim and I to work together again.”

So Resig, an architect, rejoined N.K. Bhandari, and he and his brother got to work mapping out a succession plan. While they worked hard over the past five years creating that plan with a team of advisers and gradually transitioning responsibilities to Christopher Resig, the process hit an unexpected twist just over two years ago when James learned he had cancer.

“There was nothing unplanned and unorganized regarding the transition, except his health,” Christopher Resig says. While his brother underwent treatment, Resig assumed more responsibilities at the business and allowed his brother to focus on his health. The transition to president took place on Jan. 1 of this year. James Resig, 60, passed away on Feb. 1.

Christopher Resig says he is so grateful he had been able to spend the past five years working side by side with his brother and to be there to support both his brother and the business during the past two years. “The way he and I looked at this situation was that the good Lord put us together,” he says.

Other changes at N.K. Bhandari include the addition of Daniel Heukrath as practice leader, where he will oversee business development and client relationships, and Carl Nordberg as senior project engineer, where he will work with clients, staff, and project managers in the development and delivery of large, complex projects.

Resig credits the firm’s transition team for helping the process go as smoothly as it did. That team included attorney Elizabeth Hartnett of Mackenzie Hughes, LLP; CPA William Killory of Dermody, Burke & Brown CPAs, LLC; and strategic-planning consultant Jan Thirlby of Thirlby Consulting, LLC. “They advised us every step of the way,” Resig says. 

Another benefit to him during the transition process was participating in the Small Business Administration’s 2014 Emerging Leaders Program. The seven-month program covered a range of topics from setting goals to human resources. “Going through the Emerging Leaders Program prepared me for ownership of the firm,” Resig says.

Now at the helm, Resig says he’s continuing to build the legacy started by his brother and firm founder Narindar K. Bhandari. To help accomplish that, the firm has been working for several years on a strategic plan for growth and diversification.

In 2010, about 95 percent of N.K. Bhandari’s revenue came from a single client with a single contract, Resig says. Today, its revenue comes equally from about four or five different sectors and clients. While the firm previously focused on federal-government work before, it now serves several different markets — federal, state, corporate, industrial, higher education, K-12 education, health care, municipal, and facilities.

“We have retooled who we are,” Resig says.

Going forward, N.K. Bhandari will also begin work in the K-12 education field and hopes to soon land a five-year federal contract that would generate “significant” revenue for the firm, he says. Resig declined to disclose revenue totals or projections.

N.K. Bhandari is also looking into a technology initiative that would help design buildings that perform better for clients, he adds.

“We are on the precipice of marvelous things going forward,” Resig says.

Headquartered in just over 5,000 square feet at 1005 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse, N.K. Bhandari provides architectural and engineering services to a variety of markets. The firm has 12 full-time employees, plus it calls in five employees as needed.        

SYRACUSE — Businesses change hands for numerous reasons — including illness, death, and retirement — and the best piece of advice from those who have been through the process is to have a plan.

Setting a plan made for a relatively smooth transition at N.K. Bhandari, Architecture & Engineering, P.C. (www.nkbpc.com), even with unexpected bumps along the way, says the firm’s new president and owner Christopher Resig.

When he rejoined the firm in 2010, the business carefully planned for Resig to step into the role previously filled by his brother James. Christopher Resig previously worked for the firm for just more than 12 years until the mid-1990s.

James Resig worked for the company since its founding in 1980, eventually becoming president and owner. When it came to his attention that Christopher, who spent 15 years working elsewhere, wasn’t really happy with his job, he approached his brother and offered him a job with the opportunity to eventually become the owner.

“It took me less than probably two weeks to think about that,” Christopher says. “It just looked like a marvelous opportunity for Jim and I to work together again.”

So Resig, an architect, rejoined N.K. Bhandari, and he and his brother got to work mapping out a succession plan. While they worked hard over the past five years creating that plan with a team of advisers and gradually transitioning responsibilities to Christopher Resig, the process hit an unexpected twist just over two years ago when James learned he had cancer.

“There was nothing unplanned and unorganized regarding the transition, except his health,” Christopher Resig says. While his brother underwent treatment, Resig assumed more responsibilities at the business and allowed his brother to focus on his health. The transition to president took place on Jan. 1 of this year. James Resig, 60, passed away on Feb. 1.

Christopher Resig says he is so grateful he had been able to spend the past five years working side by side with his brother and to be there to support both his brother and the business during the past two years. “The way he and I looked at this situation was that the good Lord put us together,” he says.

Other changes at N.K. Bhandari include the addition of Daniel Heukrath as practice leader, where he will oversee business development and client relationships, and Carl Nordberg as senior project engineer, where he will work with clients, staff, and project managers in the development and delivery of large, complex projects.

Resig credits the firm’s transition team for helping the process go as smoothly as it did. That team included attorney Elizabeth Hartnett of Mackenzie Hughes, LLP; CPA William Killory of Dermody, Burke & Brown CPAs, LLC; and strategic-planning consultant Jan Thirlby of Thirlby Consulting, LLC. “They advised us every step of the way,” Resig says. 

Another benefit to him during the transition process was participating in the Small Business Administration’s 2014 Emerging Leaders Program. The seven-month program covered a range of topics from setting goals to human resources. “Going through the Emerging Leaders Program prepared me for ownership of the firm,” Resig says.

Now at the helm, Resig says he’s continuing to build the legacy started by his brother and firm founder Narindar K. Bhandari. To help accomplish that, the firm has been working for several years on a strategic plan for growth and diversification.

In 2010, about 95 percent of N.K. Bhandari’s revenue came from a single client with a single contract, Resig says. Today, its revenue comes equally from about four or five different sectors and clients. While the firm previously focused on federal-government work before, it now serves several different markets — federal, state, corporate, industrial, higher education, K-12 education, health care, municipal, and facilities.

“We have retooled who we are,” Resig says.

Going forward, N.K. Bhandari will also begin work in the K-12 education field and hopes to soon land a five-year federal contract that would generate “significant” revenue for the firm, he says. Resig declined to disclose revenue totals or projections.

N.K. Bhandari is also looking into a technology initiative that would help design buildings that perform better for clients, he adds.

“We are on the precipice of marvelous things going forward,” Resig says.

Headquartered in just over 5,000 square feet at 1005 W. Fayette St. in Syracuse, N.K. Bhandari provides architectural and engineering services to a variety of markets. The firm has 12 full-time employees, plus it calls in five employees as needed.