Client Spotlight: Hendrick

Our mission at 360 is to provide quality IT solutions to Metro Atlanta businesses. We wouldn’t able to do what we do without the small and medium businesses we serve. We will be featuring a different client each month to show our appreciation.

Hendrick 

Who they are

Founded in 1974, Hendrick is now one of the most established minority-owned, commercial interior design firms in the Southeast.

Hendrick has been shaped from the start by a passion for great design and an obsessive focus on building honest client relationships. Over four decades, Hendrick has become one of the most reputable and successful interior design firms. The team at Hendrick has a consistent mission to delivering creative solutions that help their clients grow.

In the late 60s and early 70s, Bill Hendrick was practicing architecture in Atlanta while working with some of the most storied and inventive developers in the city. Always curious and creative, Bill developed a fascination for designing interior spaces, seeing a great possibility to create spaces that inspire and enhance business. Bill got his chance to dive deep into interior design when he was approached to establish the in-house firm for developer Jim Cushman (who was the visionary behind Colony Square and pioneer in developing mixed-use properties). With Cushman, Bill started Design Atlanta. His success there and his growing reputation attracted considerable client interest outside the Cushman family as well.

In reaction to a strong desire to serve more clients and further push his vision, Bill split from Design Atlanta and founded Hendrick Associates in 1974. Joining him were three other designers and an administrative assistant. The spirit and determination of this small team led them to success both creatively and financially, and they built a strong foundation of clients — some of which are still active with the Hendrick today. In 1976, they moved to their current location in the newly-built Piedmont Center as a founding tenant. In 1978, Bill was overtaken by his growing obsession with furniture design. He relocated to Michigan to pursue this path and partnered with a progressive manufacturing company.

While remaining the owner of Hendrick, Bill entrusted the day-to-day operations to designer Marsha Cook, who was only 29 years old. Marsha’s youth and inexperience were transcended by her enthusiasm, work ethic and passion for design. She took the reins and ran the creative side of the business with fervor, instituting client relation and design principals that hold today.

The new-look leadership of Hendrick was completed in 1980 when Jim Ferguson joined to handle business and administration. Jim made his mark by initiating processes and systems that increased efficiencies and productivity while retaining the focus on creative solutions for clients.

Jim and Marsha assumed full ownership in 1983, and Hendrick quadrupled in size under their leadership. The core approach to client relations was developed, establishing the template for direct communications, deeper coordination into accounting, and an expectation of superior creative output.

Two key hires during this time were Chris Heard and Jennifer Treter. Chris and Jennifer had each worked with Hendrick, left to explore other opportunities, then “returned home.” Displaying leadership qualities, a passion for their craft, and the client focus that has been the common thread of Hendrick principals, they both became partners in 2001. Marsha retired in 2004, followed by Jim in 2008.

Since then, Chris and Jennifer have led Hendrick, continuing the charge of developing meaningful relationships and shaping spaces that grow businesses and brands.

What sets them apart

In the past three years, they have seen their portfolio grow to include seven of Atlanta’s top headquarters, a total of over 2.5 million square feet of interior design excellence. This has been a huge achievement and source of great pride for their staff. Beyond corporate office design, they continue to grow their institutional, government, and healthcare services. The team at Hendrick is hopeful that these segments will continue to grow and that the success of those projects will provide them with new opportunities to establish and grow new client relationships. They are also always mindful and grateful for their existing clients, whom they consider partners and friends. They keep a focus on nurturing these long-standing relationships as Hendrick grows.

They are particularly proud of their staff, whom they believe are the true driver and inspiration for their business. Over the past two years, they have focused on improving the staff’s well-being by developing and supporting our Hendrick Healthy Habits initiative. This is focused on encouraging their staff to be more physically and mentally engaged and happy by providing opportunities and awards for those teams that incorporate the new health-focused ideals into their daily activities.

Why they chose 360 Smart Networks

“We have been happy with our transition to 360 Smart Networks and are most satisfied with the one-on-one attention we are provided. It is so nice to have a person call to follow up on an issue and for us to have the confidence that our issues and concerns will be addressed quickly and professionally,” said Meggan Delano, Hendrick’s Marketing Director.