Heidi Hendy, who founded her architectural firm 43 years ago, announced she is stepping aside as chief executive and named two long-time employees as co-CEOs.
Susan Dwyer, who has worked at H. Hendy Associates for 18 years, and Carolina Weidler, who has been there for seven years, are now principal owners of the company, which has formed an Employee Stock Option Plan structure. Hendy was named chair of the board.
“It is obvious that Susan and Carolina together are a significant force, each bringing wisdom, subject matter authority and sage leadership instincts to the mix,” founder Hendy said in a statement. “Their perspectives are complementary, and we’ve witnessed the power of their co-CEO compatibility these past two years as they expertly led Hendy through the pandemic with a priority for preserving our team and culture, diversifying the work, maintaining profitability and visioning for the future. A future that looks very bright, and one that I’m proud will keep the Hendy creative spirit alive for the next 40 years and beyond.”
Under the new co-CEO leadership structure, Dwyer will lead the firm’s finance and business operational functions while  Weidler is responsible for marketing and practice operations, leading with her Lean Six Sigma training. The pair will share oversight of human resources and organizational growth, including a goal to expand the firm into new markets and bolster its newly formed healthcare studio.
Hendy has worked on a variety of Orange County projects for well-known local companies like the Irvine Co. and Monster Energy Co. It ranked No. 16 on the Business Journal’s most recent list of architectural firms, reporting 41 OC employees and $9.6 million in OC billings for the year ended June 30.
