Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 24, 1993 TAG: 9301260200
SECTION: ECONOMY PAGE: EC-21 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: AMANDA BARRETT STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
ARCHITECTURAL FIRM FEELING THE PINCH
Its airy office, with green carpet and white walls dotted with photos of past projects, makes Motley & Associates appear the picture of prosperity.But that image is a little misleading.
"The economy has taken a toll on us as a profession - engineering, design and construction companies," said Benjamin Motley, the managing principal of the firm. "We've been able to maintain clients and increase clientele, but there haven't been that many clients to pick up."
Kenneth Motley formed the company last March when he purchased assets of Smithey & Boynton, a long-established architectural firm with offices in Roanoke, Richmond and High Point, N.C.
He consolidated the three offices into one, closing the Richmond and High Point offices and moving part of the staff to downtown Roanoke. Now, there are 18 full-time staff members and three part-time workers.
"Professionally, we've felt a strain," said Benjamin Motley, his son. "We've had salary reductions, reduced staff and still have a heavy workload, but still, I feel pretty blessed."
In the past few months, the elder Motley has turned over daily operations of the firm to his son so that he can concentrate on other areas, such as marketing.
The younger Motley says the state of the economy has made him more cautious.
"I've always been fairly conservative, and now I plan to stay that way. I try to avoid debt like the plague," he said.
Like others, he knows people who are struggling through bad times. Last year marked the first recent economic downturn in which his profession was hit with widespread layoffs and sharp retrenchment.
"When I was managing the office in Richmond, resumes came in constantly from architects, young and middle-aged, looking for work," he said. "I've also seen friends lose their jobs."
Even though his profession has been going through rough times, Motley said he remains upbeat about the economy.
"I'm truly optimistic, tempered with caution. Now, we're seeing some slow and conservative activity, though it's not real consistent," he said.
For the future, though, Motley said his firm will play it safe.
"We'll stay here in Roanoke and probably not look for expansion. Most of our business is outside the Roanoke area and in other states, so we'll keep a foot in the door in Richmond and North Carolina."
Motley said he would like to see less government involvement and more tax breaks during President Clinton's administration.