This architecture firm learned to grow in spite of the Great Recession.
Scott Ritter says he was inspired to start his own business
because he wanted to create a better way of working and chase projects that big
corporate firms don’t usually work on.
Ritter began his career at a prominent architectural firm in
New Orleans. In 2002, he launched Ritter Maher Architects in Baton Rouge with
his business partner Steve Maher. Ritter describes their work as design-driven,
but client-directed, with the goal of having all customer projects meet budget
expectations within an environment of high design. Their projects and experience
range from office and retail spaces to industrial and fabrication facilities.
While they work mainly along the Interstate 10/Interstate 12 corridor, Ritter
Maher Architects is licensed throughout the South.
Their firm experienced steady growth for the first four to five
years, Ritter says, but the recession hit them hard. They had to cut staff and
furlough others, and both he and Maher took pay cuts. In the last three years,
however, things have started to turn around. The firm is rapidly growing again
and is poised for even more growth in the coming years. In addition to two
principals, Ritter Maher Architects now employs eight full-time support staff.
“Our size and agility allow us to be ever-flexible and ready to
jump on an opportunity quickly,” Ritter says. “This works well for both our
clients and ourselves.”
As the firm continues to grow, however, Ritter says his biggest
challenge is dealing with the finances.
“We aren’t CPAs or MBAs; I’m just an architect,” he says. “And
as gross revenues climb, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage finances
in-house. Add in the additional LLCs and development projects, and the finances
can get overwhelming for a small operation like ours. This has been our
greatest challenge over the last two to three years, although—as they say—it’s
a great problem to have!”
