THREE GENERATIONS
WHEN SOUTH MOUNTAIN BEGAN, in 1975, I was 26 years old. Most of our clients were twice my age. Now, 35 years later, our long-time client base is aging. They (and their cohorts) have been our primary source of work and referrals, and now we must appeal to the next generation. Can we? Do we? Will we be able to serve their needs and desires?
At least we have set the stage.
During the past decade we have hired and cultivated a superb cadre of younger people – in their twenties, thirties and early forties. Some of them have become owners. This helps us in many ways as we begin to transition to Generation Two, but will it help us appeal to the next generation?
Tough Work, Worthy Goals
I rode the boat from the Vineyard to Woods Hole a few days back to see the energy efficiency work we’re doing to Katharine and George Woodwell’s house. George is the founder of the Woods Hole Research Center, where we are currently in the middle of construction of a major Deep Energy Retrofit of a large 1905 carriage house 
recently acquired by the center (the completed building will become office and meeting space for their expanding staff; they’re in the climate change business, so theirs is booming!).
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JOHN ABRAMS is co-founder and CEO
of South Mountain Company and the author
of COMPANIES WE KEEP read more
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COMPANIES WE KEEP is published by Chelsea Green Publishing
read more -
