As architectural firms adapted to meet project and team challenges in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, new practices and advanced technology presented opportunities for firm growth and retaining talent. AG adapted work practices, evolved communication methods and equipped team members with the needed tech tools. This allowed the firm to leverage its greatest asset, its people. When valued team member, Jonathan Spielmann, decided to relocate his family back home to Texas, this new model of operations presented the opportunity to keep him on the AG Team.
Before Spielmann made his way to Wisconsin, joining AG in 2019, he had a globally influenced upbringing and a Texas-based architectural education. He was born in the South Pacific (New Caledonia), spent his childhood in Cameroon, Africa and grew up in Dallas, Texas. His parents were linguists and missionaries, so Spielmann spent his early years playing on construction sites in Africa. Surrounded by cinder blocks, construction was part of his daily life, and he was gaining early insights into how a building gets put together.
He was ten years old when the family settled in the Dallas area and his love for construction was expressed with Legos and K’nex. Rather than following specific guided instructions, he enjoyed using his imagination and building his own creations. In high school a CADD class ignited his passion for architecture. He was heavily influenced by his teacher who was building his own house and sharing pictures of the process with the class. Spielmann liked to see how and why his teacher made different construction decisions.
“He walked us through the process of building his house,” says Spielmann. “That mindset is very much how I approach my work today.”
After high school, Spielmann pursued architectural studies at Texas A&M University. He also participated in ROTC in the Corps of Cadets. He was part of the first architecture-specific outfit of this program. Upon graduation, the job market was challenging so Spielmann pursued a retail path for a number of years gaining valuable experience in project coordination, store management and customer service.
His personal life led him to Wisconsin in 2019 and a position at AG as an administrative production assistant was the perfect fit for his exceptional problem-solving and organizational skills. His value to the AG team was clear from the start as he was immediately contributing to improvements in project accuracy and documentation.
“I love the architectural process,” says Spielmann. “I like exploring all of the layers of a building and making sure it is being constructed accurately.”
“Jonathan’s high energy and ability to jump in and take on anything in front of him have made him a valued team member at AG for many years,” says AG COO Tracey Schnick. “His drive to constantly learn and take on more makes him a huge asset to the team.”
His Texas roots were calling in 2020 as was his education. He worked part-time for AG while pursuing his Master of Architecture from the University of Texas at Arlington. This timing coincided with an AG project under construction in the Dallas area. This presented the perfect opportunity to keep him on the team and transition him to remote work. Spielmann supported the project management of Stevenson Oaks while completing graduate school. The Stevenson Oaks community has been gaining local and national recognition—it was named a Finalist in the 2023 EFA Design Showcase awards program.
Due to his ties to the Dallas area, AG is again seizing an opportunity to support firm growth. Spielmann’s friendly approach and customer service skills make him a natural networker, so he will be pursuing business development opportunities for AG in the Texas market.
“I really enjoy working with Jonathan to expand AG’s relationships in Texas,” says AG Director of Business Development Katie Miller. “His authentic Southern charm and friendly approach open the door to conversations that build trust and meaningful relationships.”
Spielmann looks forward to his continued work with AG and connecting with colleagues and industry professionals in the Dallas area. And when he is not figuring out the layers of a building or exploring a new business relationship, he is busy at home. From raising a newborn (19 months now) with his wife and cooking from scratch to building an addition to his mom’s house, Spielmann is a family man. And the AG Team is glad he is part of the AG Family.
