Business for a Better World: Q&A with PowerHouse Companies CEO
Company: PowerHouse SMART
Address: 610 Robert York Ave., Deerfield
Phone: (847) 767-7077
Website: PowerHouseAdvisors.com
Industry: Leadership in Luxury Design, Build & Real Estate
An interview with Wendy Cohen, CEO, PowerHouse Companies:
Q: Describe your company.
The PowerHouse suite of companies serve the residential and commercial design, construction, and real estate industries nationally — empowering people to grow personally and professionally.
PowerHouse SMART focuses on member businesses that provide luxury products and services. Together using carefully curated events, members grow their career with others in a platform that provides a venue to connect, learn and grow with unique access to industry technology, education, trends and opportunities.
Ten years into PowerHouse SMART, Cohen and her advisory board determined by hosting a luxury conference more people could attend and benefit from the networking formula. The Luxury Conference was born in Chicago, in its eighth year and will be held March 6 at the Merchandise Mart.
The Luxury Conferences are “PowerHouse SMART on Steroids” featuring national speakers and local icons, education, and plenty of networking. Forward-thinking and timely topics such as AI, hiring top talent, cutting-edge outdoor living spaces and building a culture are presented. Another conference perk is the PowerConnections (SM) Groups — deliberate networking groups, hand selected by Cohen, and professionally moderated to propel group members into action.
PowerHouse Recruiting is a natural extension to the PowerHouse Companies bringing Cohen’s niche expertise and contacts full circle by successfully placing candidates across the country. For the 2017 Chicago Luxury Conference, Cohen recruited 20 Emerging Leaders who were job-seeking candidates. Through speed networking, four of them got jobs. Cohen continually checks in with candidates and their employers. She even filled her own recruiting position at developer client LG Group after hiring 30 people for LG during her consultancy for them.
PowerHouse Companies also has a consultancy component, PowerHouse Advisors, due to many in the luxury industry who are eager to receive advice on how to create the culture and replicate the success of PowerHouse clients.
The engine driving the PowerHouse train is Social Integrity. PowerHouse SMART members agree to a code of conduct; what is known as Social Integrity. Having Social Integrity means that you live in accordance with your deepest values, you're honest with everyone, and always keep your word.
With Social Integrity, even if a company has a dispute in the course of business dealings, it is resolved through self-deliberation because of mutual trust and respect. Simply stated, treat others how you would want to be treated.
Why Social Integrity? Social Integrity creates a more productive world and community by empowering one another to use our talents and tools for the betterment of society.
Q: What's the hottest trend in your industry?
The two prevailing topics in our industry are generative AI, and hiring and retaining talent.
Q: Does your company donate time or money to any philanthropic causes? If so, what causes?
At all PowerHouse conferences, a nonprofit receives a portion of the ticket sales proceeds. For example, Designs for Dignity, a Chicago based nonprofit, transforms nonprofit environments through pro bono design services and in-kind donations — empowering lives through design. D4D has been a PowerHouse charity beneficiary for more than 15 years, and PowerHouses’ new nonprofit beneficiary in Minneapolis, Matter, launches projects that improve communities all over the world.
Q: Does your company do anything else to make your community better?
Our company is entrenched in building community relationships. For example, PowerHouse SMART has grown from the Midwest (Illinois/Wisconsin) to Southern California, Minnesota and Naples/Southwest Florida. Events are held at a variety of host locations in each community, our members/guests understand that the concept of “coming together to grow together” includes all human spirits. Not to mention we invite and collaborate with other associations from local chambers, local charities, local hubs and trade associations across many fields. PowerHouse Recruiting puts on many education sessions focused on inclusivity, training the next generation of leaders and internship platforms.
Q: What do you do to make your business a good place to work for your employees?
For the past 17 years we have been speaking, leading, and teaching the importance of creating an empowering Company Culture. This is exactly what I did in my past life at OP, which was instrumental in our company growth and success.
This idea is present at almost every event and communications from PowerHouse. The 2023-2024 Conference theme is “Igniting Innovation: Creating A Culture of Growth & Empowerment”
Q: Do you have a business mantra?
“The secret to happiness is helping others” and “We come together to grow together.”
Q: What is one interesting fact about your company that most people may not know?
Happy dancing when a client succeeds. We love hearing the success stories from our clients, colleagues, and community. If it’s a new project that comes together because we connected two people/firms or a new hire we placed six months ago gets a promotion in their new company.