February 13, 2020

Classifieds: The Historic Santa Fe Foundation

The Historic Santa Fe Foundation is currently accepting applications for the 2020 Faith and
John Gaw Meem Preservation Trades Internship. The 10-week program begins June 8, 2020 in
Santa Fe, New Mexico. It permits a qualified student working in architecture, planning, design,
or a similar field to gain hands-on experience in the theory and practice of preservation by
working with foundation board members and staff.

The program began in 2005. Past interns have been students or alumni of institutions including
the University of New Mexico, Belmont College, Columbia University and USC. The program
was formed in response to the need for preservationists trained in the traditional crafts,
especially those skills so essential for the appropriate conservation of the Southwest’s unique
earthen architecture. The program provides an opportunity for emerging professionals to gain
hands-on experience with preserving and restoring historic earthen architecture.

Program Goals

The Preservation Trades Internship exists to provide:

  • Preservation trades training – hands-on adobe work, carpentry, window restoration,
    etc.
  • Exposure to the daily workings of a local preservation organization
  • Opportunities to observe local, state and federal preservation agencies as well as other
    preservation organizations in action
  • To connect emerging professionals with others in the field
    Internship Qualifications

Qualifications

The program is intended for emerging preservation professionals who wish to gain experience
in preservation trades, particularly relating to earthen structures. Ideal candidates have some
introductory skills in carpentry, masonry and related trades; and own their own basic hand
tools, but these are not required. Priority is given to applicants who are currently admitted to,
enrolled in or recently graduated from a college or graduate level preservation program. Intern
must be available for ten weeks starting on or about June 8, 2020

Compensation

Intern will be compensated for 40 hour weeks at the rate of $12 per hour plus housing. Intern
is responsible for food, transportation to and from Santa Fe, and within Santa Fe while in the
program, with mileage compensation for travel to and from work sites.

Position Description

View the full position description for more details.

To Apply

For more information on the intern program, and to download an application form, visit:
https://www.historicsantafe.org/internship/

Complete and email the application by March 2, 2020 to mara@historicsantafe.org or mail to:
Historic Santa Fe Foundation
545 Canyon Road
Suite 2
Santa Fe, NM 87501

For more information on the work and mission of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation visit
www.historicsantafe.org.

Have a job you'd like to share on TICCO? Email us at classifieds@go-ticco.co.

February 4, 2020

Leveraging Connections to Find a Path Forward

Often, the connections you've made are what lead to getting work as a city builder. None of us do this work alone - and to make a living doing it means building relationships that may translate to collaboration opportunities. For some, networking can be painful. Understanding how you can find ways to network that mesh with your personality and schedule are key to securing a future that comes with the ability to make your rent!

 

Use the Environment You're Already In

Are you a student? Make a concerted effort to build real relationships with your peers and instructors. Especially for those who already hold a position within a firm or agency that aligns with your interest, use your time in your program to sit down with them and ask: How did you find your way to your current role? If I wanted to work in a similar position, what steps would you recommend I take to get there? Instructors and professors in particular are often willing to sit down and offer guidance. They have office hours for a reason! Take advantage of that time to score some real, practical insights. Asking a principal or supervisor at your firm or agency to grab a cup of coffee can work as well for those who aren't currently enrolled in a degree program.

 

Keeping Tabs on In-Person Events

Have a free evening coming up? Make the decision to dedicate that evening to growing your network! Often, local professional associations and other groups that may be of interest to you are hosting a happy hour, learning event, or other gathering. While it's great to meet people who have had your same experience, try to step outside your comfort zone by attending an event for peers in a related (yet different) profession. For example, attend a gathering for architects and designers if you're an urban planner or street artist. Often, it's peer professionals who make the decision to hire someone with your skillset or expertise. Mingling with them can be a great opportunity to introduce yourself to local practitioners, hear about the work they do, and brainstorm ways you can fit your services into their rotation. Make sure to subscribe to newsletters of relevant local associations and chapters, as well as keep tabs on sources like Facebook Events for opportunities like these!

The Cold Email

No one likes to send a cold email or message on a social platform. In this approach, you reach out to someone you don't know or maybe have met casually in the past. Especially when sending one to a person whose work you admire, doing so can feel intimidating and like a lost cause. However, it's worth doing if you're interested in connecting with someone who you don't have a colleague in common with.

It is true that a cold email is less likely to receive a response, but when there's something in it for the recipient the odds of it working in your favor skyrocket! Never be afraid to cold email a professional you appreciate to congratulate them on a project well-done, great press coverage, or to ask for a brief phone call to get their input on your path as you choose a degree program or model your new consulting business. Everyone appreciates receiving emails of this nature, and if they have the time they'll be likely to respond - even if it's just to say thank you for the kind words.

October 27, 2019

All About Networking: Part I

In today’s business culture, networking online and in-person can feel so, so forced. We all know the feeling – you arrive at an event, get a cup of coffee, and then stand around awkwardly in hopes someone comes up to introduce themselves (or you see someone else standing awkwardly that you can go up to and introduce yourself.) Networking favors the extroverted, which can mean that those who are on the quieter side aren’t given the same opportunities, and don’t reach the same level of success.

To help you find a path forward, we’re taking a deep dive into Networking in a 3-part series. Here is part 1!

What even is networking?

When we talk about networking, we’re typically referring to the practice of speaking to or getting introduced to fellow professionals. These might be professionals you could be hired by, or that you could hire, or that you could partner up with. Ideally, when networking, you should be thinking about how your goals as an individual or as a company align with the mission, goals, or projects of the person you’re networking with. When you find someone who you feel could be a productive connection, taking next-steps to build some sort of relationship with them is the ideal product of a networking opportunity.

 

Why should you do it?

Although networking can sometimes feel forced, it is an integral part of growing your business. Whether you are self-employed or you work for an agency, firm, or studio, these connections can lead to collaborations, employment, or general mutually-beneficial relationships over the course of time. Whether or not you’re immediately hired or a project results directly from this connection, having a broad and robust network can mean that you are often introduced to valuable contacts, suggested as a resource by individuals in your network to other individuals, or just generally invited to events which help you spread the word about your work and (again) grow you network

How has networking typically been done?

Traditionally, networking has been carried out in an institutional setting. There are many flaws with this model (more on that in a bit) but generally it has resulted in great outcomes for those who have been able to participate. Traditional networking has been carried out in two primary settings:

  1. In professional organizations, members have attended conferences in order to find peers who share their interests and exchange contact information during allotted social time.
  2. In social societies, members have gathered to celebrate each others’ work, share their passions, and build relationships in a more personal setting such as over meals or beverages. This would often happen in a clubhouse or a private residence that was accessible only to members and/or a select group of individuals.

Do we still do it this way?

Traditional networking has experienced a major shift over the past fifty years. With public acknowledgement that exclusion of individuals is no longer acceptable, interests changing with each generation, and the introduction of digital tools, many groups which used to offer a robust networking environment are now shifting their approach, slowly dying, or are entirely dormant. For example:

For those that are carrying on in the age of technology, look to professional organizations. Many of those which used to exclusively revolve around formal professional gatherings have started diversifying their offerings. While some have embraced local happy hours and more informal meetups like bicycle tours, others have taken the next step to create digital tools for networking. Tools like this include the Urban Land Institute’s member database which allows members to find fellow real estate professionals who are members and APA Learn which enables members of the American Planning Association to pose questions to fellow members and access digital learning resources. While many professional organizations are seeing a decline in those who commit to becoming members, some are seeing an increase in engagement regardless simply due to professionals opting-in to these types of digital resources and experiences, even if they don’t commit to annual dues.

 

Many social societies have ceased operation entirely, and those which continue to operate have drastically reduced in size. Trade associations such as Masonic Lodges are still around, but many are in decline. Another reference point is Womens' Clubs which once enabled women to gather in a socially-acceptable manner within owned buildings, many of which now sit vacant, have been demolished, or are examples of adaptive reuse. In large part, the decline of these types of groups is directly linked with the Civil Rights movement. Many of these groups operated with bylaws which explicitly forbade the participation of people of color, people of a specific gender, or other individuals who are traditionally marginalized. While white men and white women with power remained in power by networking with their peers, doing each other favors, and sharing industry knowledge, others were continually left out and their dismissal resulted in a lack of opportunity. A growing agreement within society that this type of conduct is not okay has resulted in dwindling engagement with these organizations, and is one of the primary reasons for their decline. However, some groups are working to re-envigorate these organizations. Seen as institutions with a long legacy in the history of our cities, they feel that the original model they embraced for networking is effective, and can once again become a real force for our local economies if they are re-ignited with a more inclusive, relevant approach to bringing professionals together.

What are the strengths and pitfalls of traditional networking?

  • Pro: These types of groups can help you build meaningful relationships which translate into personal favors, introductions, sharing industry knowledge, or work opportunities
  • Con: This type of traditional networking almost always requires that you be in a specific place to take advantage of its offerings
  • Con: This type of networking is pricey! The organizations that facilitate it almost always own property, which comes with expenses and (sometimes) paid staff. When that's the case, dues tend to be higher as members' dues pay for much of those costs.
  • Con: Traditional networking is almost always exclusionary in one sense or another. Whether the organizations are white or male-dominated, or the environment simply caters to the extrovert, someone is likely to be left behind.

What can we do about it? Stay tuned for Parts II & III of our networking series. Make sure you see them first! Join Ticco and activate your Dashboard by bookmarking at least one Discussion to see posts like this right in your feed.

August 27, 2019

An entrepreneur’s guide to freelancing contracts and invoicing

Even if you’re not self-employed or freelancing today, there’s a good chance you’ve thought about it. For the past few years I've been living that self-employed life - I'm just one of the Millennials that makes up over 40% of our nation's self-employed workforce. In the years I’ve been doing this kind of work, I’ve learned a lot (like, a lot a lot) and I’m here to share the wisdom!

Contracts and invoicing can be so boring, but they are so important. You really can’t understate the importance of having a solid agreement in place with a client and a rigid financial management routine.

When you’re freelancing or running your own business, you are responsible for your own income. If you don’t develop a client base and routinely receive payments from those clients, you could be risking serious financial turmoil! Avoid common pitfalls and develop smart processes that work for you with these tips:

  • Use a contract, and stick to it!

    • Include a detailed scope of work, milestones or deadlines, your standard billing period, invoicing procedures, and accepted forms of payment
    • Look to your contract regularly to ensure you’re following it as well as your client
  • Track your time diligently

    • I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been saved by diligent time tracking. Tracking your time ensures that you are paid for the hours you work, and can help keep income consistent by portioning billable hours into your determined billing periods.
    • Use a software that allows you to produce a report for your client if requested, and note tasks you’re doing during each time record (because you won’t remember 2 years later when they ask for it!)
    • For a few years now I've been using Harvest, and I'm a fan! This desktop platform and mobile app allows you to track time down to the minute, log mileage expenses, and enter reimbursable expenses for every client and/or project. When it's time to bill, just run a simple report and you're good to go!
  • Choose the right accounting software for you. Consider:

    • What reports will you need to hand over to a CPA when it comes to tax time? Make sure you choose an accounting software that allows you to easily run those reports.
    • How many entities do you have? If you have multiple businesses, consider a software that allows you to easily switch back and forth between them.
    • What’s your budget? While accounting software is important, think about how complex yours really needs to be as a self-employed professional. If you can cut back on some of the bells and whistles, you can save a lot of $$! Personally, I've had a great experience using Wave as a free accounting software designed for small businesses.
  • Schedule time for a monthly finance review

    • Don’t fall behind in bookkeeping! It’s one of those things where once you’re behind even one month, the mental mountain you have to overcome to get back on track is overwhelming and it snowballs!
    • Use your monthly check-in as an opportunity to ensure that you’re spending within your means. Make sure to note tax-deductible expenses and track that you’re not behind on estimated tax payments.
  • Invoice on time, for the right amount of time

    • Choose a set billing period that you’ll follow every month, for every client. Stick to it! If you do this, your clients get consistency and are more likely to pay when invoices arrive. Extra perk? After a few billing periods, you’ll be able to gauge when payments will arrive and plan accordingly.
    • When you make invoices, run a report using your time tracking software to ensure that you invoice for the exact amount of hours you worked in this billing period.
    • If submitting an invoice with reimbursable expenses, include scanned copies of your receipts! It’ll ensure that your invoice is processed quickly (and you get paid faster.)

Are you freelancing and/or starting a consulting business? We’d love to hear your tips! Log in to Ticco and participate in our Discussion on this topic here to share your unique insights and see what others are saying.

 

Katie Rispoli Keaotamai is our CEO here at Ticco. When she's not with us, she's hard at work as a consulting project manager. In her consulting work, Katie works with real estate developers, local governments, companies, and private property owners to plan and oversee building relocations. Since 2014, Katie has relocated multiple historic buildings, including the world's first Taco Bell. 

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