As Schmidt Associates marks 50 years of design excellence, we are honoring the individuals whose talent, leadership, and vision have shaped the firm’s identity and continued success. Brett Quandt, chief financial officer and one of the firm’s most quietly influential voices, is celebrating his own milestone in 2026—20 years helping shape the firm’s next chapter.

Building THE FOUNDATION

When Brett joined Schmidt Associates in 2006, the firm had never had a chief financial officer. There were no established financial systems to inherit, no roadmap for the role, and no predecessor to learn from. He built the position from scratch, creating the structure, processes, and financial discipline the firm needed to grow.

That kind of organizational stewardship rarely makes headlines. But without it, little else is possible.

Over the past two decades, Brett has helped guide the firm through significant change: a Louisville expansion, the growth of six distinct studios, leadership transitions, and a workforce that has grown to more than 150 team members. Through all of it, his role has been to build and maintain the operational foundation that keeps everything else moving forward.

His work helps architects, engineers, and everyone else on the project team know where they stand so they can tailor their inspiration to each Owner’s budget. Owners can rest easy knowing their budget is part of every conversation, every time.

What is less visible, but equally important, is the investment Brett makes in the people around him. Behind the spreadsheets and balance sheets is a mentor, advocate, and quiet force who has shaped the careers of many at Schmidt Associates.

By the Numbers

 

LEARNING TO LEAD FROM THE BEST

Brett’s path to Schmidt Associates was shaped by people who modeled what leadership looks like long before he stepped into a CFO role. Growing up alongside his father at a civil engineering firm, Brett developed a work ethic that never left him. That foundation caught the attention of firm founder Wayne Schmidt, who brought him on board at Schmidt Associates, making Brett the firm’s first-ever CFO.

Wayne Schmidt, late COO and Principal Ron Fisher, and Retired Principal Tom Neff each left a distinct mark on how he leads today. “From Ron, Wayne, and Tom, I learned to work with a plan, how to understand what is most important, and how to keep calm in tough times,” Quandt said. “Each of them taught me something different, and I am forever grateful.”

MENTORSHIP AS A CALLING

Brett’s precision with numbers is what keeps the firm’s operations running smoothly, but his approach to mentorship is what makes the culture run deeper.

His philosophy is individualized and intentional. He listens with purpose, assesses constantly, and pushes his teams to grow, not for the firm’s sake alone, but for theirs. He meets with his teams weekly and hosts monthly lunches with no formal agenda, creating space for connection that goes beyond the work.

Project Information Specialist Lauren Strandlund knows that dynamic firsthand. What started as an occasional interaction grew into a mentorship that quietly reshaped her path at the firm.

The people he has mentored over the years tell that story clearly:

• Project Accounting Specialist Denise Hughbanks identified a gap in employee benefits, built a case for change, and got it approved by leadership.
• HR Manager Parveen Tai set her sights on becoming an associate of the firm. Brett encouraged her and helped her present more effectively to the committee until she reached her goal.
• Strandlund joined the firm in a different capacity, but her skill set and motivation led her toward technology. She is now the firm’s resident Deltek Vision expert and a trusted advisor to the teams she serves.
• Sa’adiya Tai came on as an intern and was hired full time as an information security specialist.

The consistency behind those outcomes is no accident. Quandt builds trust by staying true to his word, communicating regularly, and taking the time to know his teams beyond the work they do.

Servant Leadership in Practice

Brett’s understanding of servant leadership is grounded in the same principle that drives everything else at Schmidt Associates: the work is not about you. “The culture here is really about the people, employees who all strive to make a difference,” Quandt said. “And when it comes to our projects, they’re not truly ours. They belong to the communities, the school corporations, the people we serve. That’s servant leadership.”

That belief extends well beyond the firm’s walls. Brett serves on the board of directors for Christamore House, one of Indianapolis’ longest-standing neighborhood service organizations. Schmidt Associates has maintained an ongoing relationship with Christamore House, supporting projects including building improvements, an athletic building addition, early childhood education rooms, and a senior annex and preschool expansion. His board role deepens that connection, reflecting the same posture he brings to the office every day: show up, do the work, and make sure the people around you have what they need to succeed.

A Legacy That Compounds

As Schmidt Associates marks 50 years and Brett marks 20, the timing is a reminder that milestones are rarely built alone.

The financial foundation Brett has built is one the firm relies on every day. But the careers he has shaped, the confidence he has quietly cultivated in the people around him, and the culture of care he has helped sustain are the returns that compound over time.

We are privileged to celebrate someone whose steady, behind-the-scenes leadership has made Schmidt Associates a stronger firm and a better place to work for two decades and counting.

Explore 50 years of impact—celebrating the people, projects, and moments that have made us who we are.