At ABES Engineering and ABES Contracting, we believe in building teams that are smart, humble and hungry.
One of the ways we do this is by holding an annual company retreat where we come together to grow, learn and connect with one another. “I think it’s critical that we have an annual retreat where we can learn from each other and from our speakers and reconnect as a team,” says ABES Engineering CEO Emmanuel Tuombe. “These retreats are an important investment in our team and our company.”
The 2025 ABES retreat in Memphis was filled with plenty of learning, but it was also full of laughter and fun. Here’s a peek at what our week looked like:
Monday, May 5
The first day of the retreat featured video interviews conducted by Sam Coates. Each year, we document our journey with these interviews – sharing our experiences, our vision and our goals for the future. It’s an exciting opportunity to hear from everyone on the ABES Engineering and ABES Contracting teams.
Tuesday, May 6
On day two of our retreat, the teams met with leaders from Shelby County to share the growth and progress of both ABES Engineering and ABES Contracting. We’re grateful for the trust the County has placed in us and the support they’ve shown since the very beginning.
It was especially meaningful for the County team to meet many of our staff—most of whom are actively working on Shelby County projects. They expressed their appreciation and praised the impact our team is making in the community.
Day two also included a site visit to Shelby County projects that ABES is working on.
The second day of the retreat ended with a social event at Wiseacre Brewing Company in Memphis, a time for us to reconnect with our clients, partners and friends. The social gave us a perfect opportunity for our team to show off some of their non-engineering skills. Three members of our team, Grace Souder, Brad Davis and Nick Wong, even performed with the band!
At the social, the team also celebrated 10 years in business for ABES Engineering and three years for ABES Contracting. It was a fantastic evening of connection, celebration and community.
Wednesday, May 7
Day three of our annual retreat included a very special meeting with the City of Memphis
As we celebrated 10 years of ABES Engineering and three years of ABES Contracting, we never forget that the City has been in our corner from the very beginning. They have given us meaningful opportunities to contribute to our community and entrusted us with projects that make lasting impacts. To hear their positive feedback about our contributions was gratifying and gave us new fuel for the growth to come.
On the evening of day three, we gathered at a team-only cookout where team members showed off their BBQ and grilling chops.
Thursday, May 8
Day four of the ABES Retreat was all about building bridges and memories. The ABES team spent the day connecting with the community and with each other in powerful ways.
They started by visiting Orange Mound, an important project ABES Engineering designed with purpose and pride. It was a proud moment to see our work shaping the community and enhancing lives—proof that engineering is not just about structures, but about people.
From there, the team shifted gears and embraced the beauty of nature, kayaking at Hyde Lake in Shelby Farms. It was the perfect way to build relationships, strengthen teamwork, and simply enjoy each other’s company outside of the office.
Friday, May 9
The ABES teams finished the week with a guided discussion on the book “The Ideal Team Player,” led by Shad Berry of Edmundson Berry Group. We also heard from Rick Gafford from Fisher Arnold.
Under Berry’s guidance, the team explored their strengths and weaknesses. They examined ways in which they can stay smart, hungry and humble, concepts outlined in “The Ideal Team Player.”
The discussion was impactful, as everyone engaged in activities that build trust and communication.
Following the workshop on “The Ideal Team Player,” Gafford shared his engineering journey, challenging our team to keep exploring new opportunities, and reminding us of the importance of building a strong, values-driven company culture. We’re grateful for the long-standing partnership between ABES Engineering and Fisher Arnold!
Although the 2025 retreat is in the books, we are continuing to study the concepts we explored, including becoming ideal team players. We look forward to the 2026 retreat and can’t wait to see how our team will grow and learn in the coming year.
