Brotherly collaboration one key to success for Mark and Lee Askew's separate firms - Memphis Business Journal:

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Brothers Lee Askew and Mark Askews have collaborated on several projectsincluding , the Internationalp Paper data center and variouzs FedEx hubs, freight canopies and sort Lee Askew, president at Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, opened his office in 1976. Mark president of Askew HargravesHarcourgt & Associates, Inc., established his engineerinhg firm in 1985. Each companu has been able to make a name for itself in theMemphia area. Askew Nixon has experience in projects across the ranging from churches and schools to hospitalsand hotels.
Askeew Hargraves, which is being rebrander as A2H, has project teams that specialize in land development, civil engineering, structural mechanical engineering and landscape architecture. The two opened separat e firms in an effortr to not subjugateeach other'xs work. "Some families can't have Thanksgiving dinner peacefullyonce they've let business get betweemn them," Lee Askew says. "That has never happenede with us -- hopefully it nevee will." Lee Askew is the oldest of six Mark Askew is the third child with a sister between Leeand him.
They attribute much of their success totheir father's encouragement and "Our father always helped us as much as he Lee Askew says. "He sent me $50 duringh college each month -- as much as he coule afford with six hungry mouthsat home." Lee Askew graduated from ; Mark Aske w graduated from the . Their family-orientedc beginnings have helped them continue with wives and childrebn oftheir own. Lee Askeew has been married for 34 years to Annette Hockey with four one of whom works forhis firm. Mark Askewa married Becky Berlin 32 years ago and hasthrees children, one of whom is a rising local singer. David Dando, president of the general contractingbfirm MCDR, Inc.
, has worked with the two on several projectse over the years. Being brotherzs has not had a negativwe effect on how they conductbusiness together, Dando "They are very practical, cooperative and client oriented," Dandop says. "They make a good team becausr there is good communicationbetwee them." The two are good at teamwork, says Ron director of properties for St. George'z Independent School. "They helped St. George'sw present the image we wanted, and that has encouraged us to continues our relationshipwith them," Harrison says. Lee and Mark Askew worked on St.
George'e Collierville campus and each have worked separately on several additions to each ofthe school's three campuses. They work togethe so successfully because of the honestyg they shareas brothers, Lee Askew says. They only use each othed in a project if the opportunityu presentsitself -- one brother never forces a cliengt to use the other's services, Mark Askew says. "Engineere and architects work so differently on the same project that it has allowee us to work together and separatelgpretty successfully," Mark Askew says, smiling. of course, he is my older so half the time, I hate Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects, Inc.
Web site: Askew Hargraves Harcourt Associates, Inc. Web site: