- February 19, 2024
- Kimley-Horn Corner
Kimley-Horn’s 2024 Kickoff Celebrates Collaboration, Community, and Success
Elevate, Seize the Opportunity, Set Sail, Dare to Explore—these are just a few of the themes from Kimley-Horn's 2024 regional Kickoff meetings.
Each year, employees from more than 100 offices travel via planes, trains, and cars to gather at their regional Kickoff meetings to celebrate the past year, prepare for the new year, make meaningful connections, and serve local communities. In January, our 10 regions—spanning from Florida to Mountain Pacific—hosted their own uniquely themed Kickoffs.
Kimley-Horn’s Kickoff meetings are focused on aligning all 10 regions and preserving our small company soul. Regional leaders introduced goals and opportunities for 2024, and teams celebrated impactful projects and success stories. Employees also received recognition for their outstanding achievements, participated in team-building activities, and attended breakout sessions—including one that will develop the firm’s new vision.
Connecting with Colleagues
Connecting with others is not only a focal point of Kickoff but is also one of our employees’ favorite aspects of these annual meetings.
Carley Nevarez, Florida
“Starting the year together in-person makes Kickoff one of my favorite days every year. There's nothing quite like coming together to kick off a new year with such a talented group of individuals. I am looking forward to what the rest of the year holds!”
Employees were able to catch up with old friends, network with new colleagues from across the region, and spend time forging meaningful relationships with one another.
“During Kickoff, I was able to meet some of my peers in the Asian Pacific-Islander sphere within the region and firm! It's been almost a year of chatting and calling virtually and we finally got to meet up, expand our network, and chat about our mutual backgrounds, cultures, and what makes us all unique within one of the best places to work in our industry!”
Jordan Tran, Virginia
Additionally, our Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) hosted booths at some of our Kickoffs—showcasing their commitment to our firm’s diversity and inclusion efforts. Representatives from our Black Kimley-Horn Network, Women @ KH, Unidos @ KH, and Pride KHonnect ERGs set up tables to share information, resources with employees.
Jonathan Hernandez, Illinois
"This was my third Kimley-Horn Kickoff, and I'm still in awe of how much the firm invests in its people. The investment doesn't just come from a financial perspective but also a burning desire to elevate everyone throughout the firm. At this year's event, I was able to share more about Unidos, our newest Hispanic/Latino ERG, alongside bright minds such as Perla Diosdado, PE, and Jose Castaneda, to 700+ partners. Thank you for such a great event, and I look forward to the rest of 2024!”
Contributing to the Community
As a firm, we are passionate about giving back to our local communities and encouraging our employees to actively volunteer. To further support this passion, each Kickoff featured a charitable activity with the goal of serving a local organization.
At our Southwest Kickoff, our employees worked together to make blankets for Amanda Hope Rainbow Angels, a Phoenix-based nonprofit organization with the mission to “bring dignity and comfort into the harsh world of childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.”
Additionally, our Atlantic region had a blast making creations and sculptures out of canned goods—which were donated to Cornerstones, a nonprofit organization in Reston, Virginia. In total, the region collected and donated over 6,700 cans and bags of food to Cornerstones’ Hunger Center!
Other regions participated in service events for organizations including Baby Bundles of Charlotte, North Carolina; The Open Door Pantry of Eagan, Minnesota; and Meals on Wheels Montgomery County of Conroe, Texas.
Setting the Stage for Success
This year’s Kickoff brought together more than 7,000 employees across all 10 regions—fostering connections, providing professional development opportunities, serving the community, and aligning our goals. We are grateful for the excellent service our employees provide to our clients and our communities, and we are looking forward to another successful year.
At Kimley-Horn, we are invested in our people and creating an environment where they can flourish, develop professionally, and create long-lasting connections. Interested in joining our team? Find open opportunities here.
