Ask a Busy Person
W. C. Jack Miller
V.P. Business Development and Human Resources
JRS Architect, P.C.
W. C. Jack Miller has over 30 years’ experience in strategic planning, business development, marketing/PR and leadership. He joined JRS Architect in 2006 when the organization was evolving its business model and expanding its footprint both geographically as well as industries served. Jack has led the creation and execution of a Business Development Strategy and rebranding activities. He is responsible for Business Development activities in New York City, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania and leads Human Resources for the firm. Jack maintains a strong network within the industry through groups such Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber (NJ) as a board member and with membership on the Program Committee, Phoenix Partners, a New York City Real Estate Group and others.
Jack has been an active member of Albright College’s Board of Trustees for over 20 years. Jack has continually engaged with non-profit organizations over his career and even created a non-profit museum, James and Doris Miller Foundation in 2021, preserving wagons, carriages, sleighs and other rural Americana items from the early 20th century.
Jack has a degree in Economics from Albright College and has supplemented this with additional training and certifications including Steven Covey’s Principle Centered Leadership and Consumer Bankers Association’s Graduate School of Retail Bank Management.
1. What was your first job?
Upon graduating college, I was hired into American Bank and Trust Company’s Management Trainee Program in Reading, PA. My first assignment after completing the training was in commercial banking. I shortly thereafter moved to the retail side, starting in the branch system and ultimately at headquarters in various marketing related positions including eventually managing the retail sales and customer service teams.
2. What led you to your current position?
American Bank was growing, organically and through acquisitions, at which time my career spanned retail banking and marketing. One of my roles was participating on the Mergers & Acquisition Team. As with banking, we were eventually purchased which led me to consider a change. I landed at Andersen Consulting, now Accentureb doing financial services consulting throughout the U.S. and Canada. After many years, I was getting a bit “road weary” and decided to trade in my “wings”. I had known JRS Architect, P.C. for some time and in fact had done some strategy work with them. I also enjoyed architecture. They had an unexpected need so I thought this would be an interesting transition for a year or two as I was able to leverage my sales and marketing skills in a different industry. Interestingly within the first year, JRS purchased another firm, so I also utilized my merger and acquisitions experience. A few years later, I took over Human Resources. Fast forward I have been at the firm now for over 18 years.
3. What is your favorite part of your job?
The diversity of my role coupled with strategizing on how we approach our clients and our work is one of my favorite components. This industry, like many others, continues to evolve. Overlay how the world has changed since COVID, it is an exciting time to rethink how we approach our work.
Having always appreciated architecture and design, I also get to be at “ground zero” which I enjoy. Architecture is tangible, has lasting impacts in a variety of ways and influences our daily experiences. I have been able to continuously learn about the components of architecture and emerging solutions. I am also fortunate to meet a broad spectrum of people from different organizations with a variety of experiences through my business development work.
4. What are the key responsibilities of your role?
I manage marketing, business development and human resources for JRS. I separate marketing from business development since the former focuses on marketing strategy, collateral materials, branding and delivery channels. The business development component involves building relationships to expand our opportunities through networking and participation in key events. For human resources, I manage all aspects related to such.
5. How would you describe a typical work week?
Time is spent in each of my three areas of responsibilities weekly. There is some seasonality to the work such as “on-call” renewals, planned client relationship meetings, business development related meetings and events, and human resources tasks for which I can plan. However, my week can and does change very quickly. If an unexpected Request for Proposal comes in or if I am in the midst of recruiting which then becomes the priority, I pivot to reprioritize. My weeks can be fluid and/or highly concentrated in one of my areas until the deadline is reached and I can rebalance my focus.
I also am on two non-profit boards, Albright College Board of Trustees where I have served for 20 years in various leadership positions. I currently chair the Trusteeship and Governance Committee and sit on the Academic Affairs, Compensation, Executive, and Property Land & Equipment Committees. The second board role is for the Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber where I am also a member of the Program Committee. Additionally, I run a small networking group and participate in two others. So, my week involves stepping into quite a few of these roles as well and sometimes will require a fair amount of time. I have always worked in non-profit organizations and sat on boards. This originated when I worked at American Bank working in sales development. My manager also was responsible for community relations, hence the tie. This commitment to giving back and engaging in the community has stayed with me throughout my career and has been extremely rewarding.
6. What are some of the biggest challenges you face in your work?
The biggest challenge for a while has been recruiting. JRS has been fortunate in our need for slow and steady growth. However, the market is tight so searches tend to be long, hard and extremely time consuming.
Wearing my business development hat, relationship cultivation is typically a slow and steady process which may involve different strategies depending on the client and industry. The challenge is effectively determining the best process and knowing when to move on.
7. Tell us something that most people don’t know about you.
My family has a private museum focused on preserving and promoting historical artifacts such as wagons, carriages and sleighs and related equipment including carpentry tools used in rural America, namely in York County, PA. Additionally, we have a preserved one-room schoolhouse. I chair this foundation.
8. What advice would you offer to someone new in your industry?
Be curious, watch others on how they do things to pick up on that which you wish to emulate and that which you do not, listen, demonstrate initiative without crossing the aggression line, and get involved in a leadership position with a non-profit to expand your skills and experience.
9. Outside of work, what are your hobbies?
Gardening which includes simply taking a walk in it after I can call it a day; cooking when I am afforded the time; and when I don’t have the time, enjoying good dining experiences.
