40 Under 40 Alumni Spotlight: Bruce Adib-Yazdi, 1999

Then: Architect and principal, Butler, Rosenbury & Partners LLP
Now: Vice president of development, The Vecino Group LLC; member, Springfield City Council

Architect and Springfield City Councilmember Bruce Adib-Yazdi, 62, enjoys the bragging rights that come with being a member of the inaugural class of Springfield Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 honorees.

“So many of them are still familiar names in our community,” he says. “We need a class reunion.”

Adib-Yazdi says in addition to his architectural work at the time with BRP Architects, his civic work was taking off, starting with bicycle advocacy.

These days, Adib-Yazdi serves on City Council while working for The Vecino Group.

He says it’s important to grasp opportunities as they arise.

“When you feel like it’s time to move on, remember, it’s a two-way street,” he says. “You don’t have to get up and go to work at the same place every day. Every change I’ve made in my career has always been better for the next one.”

Advice to young professionals? Go interview the people that you’re going to work for just as hard as they interview you – and don’t worry about the name of the company. Think about who you’re going to work with.