Building on Our Strengths – Sarah Bergman Promoted to Associate

When the leadership of the firm sat down to discuss possible advancement candidates at the end of 2020, without any exception, Sarah’s name was put forward as the top contender for Associate level promotion by everyone in the group. 

Joining the Dreyfuss + Blackford team in early 2019, it was very clear the strengths Sarah brought to the table:  great organization, exceptional team building skills, a clear design sensibility and strong dedication to the work. Sarah is one our core leaders in the D+B Healthcare group—a practice team of design, management, research, and production experts delivering healing environment projects of all types over the last 40 years in Northern California.

During our relatively short time working together and through the stresses and strains of this profession, Sarah’s strengths have come into focus and grown immensely.  I have witnessed a skilled professional, learning and advancing in her career, all the while with an empathic eye towards understanding the client and their individual needs and concerns. This has been most evident in Sarah’s passion for the healthcare market and the substantial design issues needing to be solved in this context.  As the Healthcare Director at D+B, I have been involved with many projects over the years of all sizes and complexities and seen numerous project managers work through the complexity of these unique healing environments.  As one who is not fazed by deep water, Sarah immediately dove-in to the work as a grand conductor of our internal teams while managing the full design process. 

Whether it be a new concept Crisis Stabilization Unit; a project that was shoe-horned into an existing aged hospital facility; to a fully re-envisioned Outpatient Surgery Center or rebranding of an established medical provider; Sarah brings a critical eye for detail, mindful listening, and successful “design-through-action” to deliver great work. Additionally, she innately understands D+B’s strengths and challenges and is always moving towards making our work processes better.  Sarah does not shy away from the tough conversations and freely and appropriately applies her critique to the matters-at-hand.  I have grown to value her thoughtful feedback and I look forward to our collaborations in the years to come.

We are all very happy to welcome her as the newest Associate at the firm as a clear recognition of her strengths and endless potential at Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture.