EP. 001 Carrying the Legacy Forward: Inside Neighboring Concepts’ Ownership Transition
Introduction
Neighboring Concepts has been reshaping the city of Charlotte for over three decades.
Founded by Darrel Williams, the firm grew from a small practice into a respected, minority-owned firm known for its deep connection to community, civic purpose, and social impact in underrepresented neighborhoods.
When Darrel began preparing for his transition, a new generation of leaders stepped forward to carry forward that mission and build upon the firm’s legacy.
But rather than follow a traditional succession model, they chose a different path: a shared leadership approach, where decision-making, strategy, and responsibility are distributed across a collaborative team.
Starting in 2022, Apostrophe Consulting partnered with Neighboring Concepts to guide this journey—through leadership planning, firmwide retreats, and the creation of a mentorship program to strengthen the culture of the firm through a transition.
What emerged is a story of multi-generational dialogue, trust, and continuity—a firm honoring its past while evolving for the future.
In this episode, you’ll hear from Darrel Williams, Cathy Morrison, Daniel McNamee, Luke Volkmar, and Frank Little as they reflect on how this transition unfolded, what it taught them about leadership, and how Neighboring Concepts continues to design for community, purpose, and progress.
About the Firm
Neighboring Concepts is a community-focused architecture firm. They incorporate public engagement into their projects, providing an opportunity for community members to help shape, plan, and design their living environment.
Their work spans civic, educational, transportation, and now healthcare projects that reflect the identity and diversity of the people who live and engage with their projects.
At its heart, the firm is built on connection—between generations, between leaders, and between architecture and the city of Charlotte.
Explore More
Visit the firm: https://www.neighboringconcepts.com/
Subscribe to the podcast and join us for future episodes as we explore how transformation takes shape — one firm at a time.
No Exceptions Taken is produced by Apostrophe Consulting. We help AEC firms lead with clarity, strengthen their culture, and navigate transformation with intention.
