Braun Joins HKS
12.06
Peter Braun joins HKS, Inc. as vice president of people and organizational development. He will be responsible for directing the firm’s education, training, performance management, and human resource services.
Braun has more than 19 years experience in organizational effectiveness, culture change management, continuous process improvement, performance management, leadership development, organizational learning, and team building. Prior to joining HKS, he served as manager of organization and leadership development programs for Lockheed Martin Corporation’s 27,000-plus employee Aeronautics Division. His additional experience includes work with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Rockwell International Corporation, and the U.S. Government.
“My goal is to help HKS become a world-class learning organization,” said Braun. “We will leverage learning as a primary means of future competitive advantage. Our focus will be to instill confidence in all employees to do their jobs well and create a road map for career growth, nurture and develop future leaders, and promote a learning culture that focuses on knowledge sharing and innovation.”
“We are excited about our new organizational development program,” said Ralph Hawkins, FAIA, FACHA, president and CEO, HKS, Inc. “We are pleased to have Peter Braun direct these important efforts. His experience in the industry and knowledge of crucial business tools – such as 360 reviews, Six Sigma, and multi-office training – will prove beneficial in promoting our most valuable resource, our people.”
In addition to his corporate experience, he was on the faculty at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, Wis.; Concordia University in Mequon, Wis.; Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
Braun received a bachelor of arts in radio/television/film from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pa. and a master of science in human resource management and organizational behavior from the Krannert Graduate School of Management at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.
“Once people join the firm, it is vital to retain them,” said Braun. “They must see it as a place of personal growth. Formal programs of staff development and continuing education need to take place regularly. In fact, the architecture firm of the future will resemble a college of architecture and vice versa.” 