Owner Vs. Principal 2

[twinnell]

I can not find the answer to this anywhere. I have formed a PLLC and don't know what title to use on business cards and correspondence. Can I use Principal as my title?

 

[GregLamberson]

If none of the other readers knows for sure (like me), you can contact your Secretary of State and find out. Or, whoever formed the entity for you, your registered agent should be able to tell you and it should be in your incorporation documents and by-laws.

Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com

 

[zdas04]

To maintain the thinly veiled pretense that a PLLC is anything but a partnership or sole proprietorship I'd use "Principle Engineer" (notice the spelling, this item was beaten to death in the Engineering Language/Grammar Group a year or so ago, and the absolute conclusion is that the proper word is "Principle" not "Principal").

David

 

[bvanhiel]

zdas04,

I think you need to reread that thread. A principal is a person. A principle is an ideal.

-b

 

[zdas04]

I just did a Google search and found:
thread1010-137746
faq1010-1182

I got bored with the thread before it reached its conclusion. In the early part it looked like you should be a "Principle Engineer", but by the end it looks like "Principal Engineer" and the FAQ says

Principal; Noun
One who holds a position of presiding rank, especially the head of an elementary school or high school.
A main participant in a situation.
A person having a leading or starring role.

And none of the definitions of Principle seem to fit.

I'm changing my business cards back to Principal Engineer. Good thing cards are cheep.

David

 

[swertel]

The title on my business cards simply say "Principal" because I am the head of my company. I also have P.E. after my name so the "engineer" part would be redundant. Not to mention, I function in a greater capacity than just the engineer, since it is my own company.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[zdas04]

Scott,
Does anyone ever ask "what elementary school are you Principal of?" when they see your card? I'm always concerned about people who think they are witty (and they're typically half right) derailing a productive conversation.

David

 

[swertel]

Some try, but thankfully the people I pass my card to are already familiar with what I do. Not to mention, the business name on the card matches my last name and it doesn't end in "school." It doesn't even rhyme with school.

So they make the joke thinking that they are the first ones to have thought of it. I give them the blank dear-in-the-headlights look. And then we move on.

If they are being at all belligerent, I give them the verbal "HA HA. That's pretty funny. HA HA" <You dumba$$.> And then I talk to the next person completely ignoring the idiot. If no one else is around to talk to, I just turn and walk away. If they are that stupid... Well, let's just say I can't afford to waste my time with a client like that so no loss.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[zdas04]

I get enough of the crap with "The Simpson's" jokes. I didn't want to get into Principal jokes as well.

David

 

[Theophilus]

I'm always concerned about people who think they are witty (and they're typically half right) derailing a productive conversation.

Damn, that was smooth.

I think principal in this case has to do with ownership and management. So in an LLC, a principal might be any managing member of the LLC, no?



Jeff Mowry

http://www.industrialdesignhaus.com

Reason trumps all. And awe transcends reason.

 

[Marinov]

Hey Scott,
if you are the main person in charge for the company, why don't you simply use :
CEO&co-founder
I. Marinov

 

[swertel]

Because CEO implies that I just sit in an office all day planning the vision of the company and socialize with important clients. Principal implies that I not only socialize, but I do work as well.

Not to mention, I hate titles. And by definition nothing is above a principal. So I could assign a CEO title to someone else and I would still outrank them! ;-)

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[Marinov]

You've got a point Scott. Good luck
I. Marinov

 

[panelman]

I just have Engineer on mine

 

[jhill72]

My company bears my last name.
So all I wrote on my cards for a title was "Stuctural Engineer"
The owner and principal titles are obvious.
And of course the P.E. is after my name.
There has been too many "all nighters" to not have those initials on the card.

 

[RDK]

I simply omit the job title. I also don’t put titles on employee’s cards either (the few times that I have had employees that is)

It helps that my name is part of the company name so people know that I’m the owner.



Rick Kitson MBA P.Eng

Construction Project Management
From conception to completion

http://www.kitsonengineering.com

 

[rtmote]

Smack 'em, be proud!
I write Director, Principal engineer, all my qualifications and registrations. All on my card. It is your advertisement.

If you're good, you're good. All those things you can add are reassurances of your commitment to your profession.
It's principal!

Dr. Robert Mote P.E. PhD, MSc, BEng (Hons)
Director

http://www.motagg.com

 

[bvanhiel]

rtmote,

You forgot to add your primary school graduation, SAT score, and little league batting average to your list of life achievements.

The MSc and BEng are a little much considering the PhD already suggests a higher level of academic success. I personally would also leave off the Dr. unless you teach. It's also indicated by the Phd.

P.E. and PhD are powerful enough on their own. All you've done is add some meaningless chrome and bling when you pile on the self adulations to the end of your name. Your card would garner a snigger and a trip to my trash basket, as I wouldn't want to work with someone that so obviously needs continuous ego stroking.

-b

 

[rtmote]

bvanhiel
I agree with you, I do teach. I have seen and worked with engineers/lawyers/doctors with strings more, but it is not ego-stroking. It shows depth and range. My first degree is my profession, my second and third are external.

While I would end in your trash basket and there are plenty of those regardless, there are many more that would be reassured. It becomes irrelevant after the first contact when the trust is established; until then, don't be shy is all I am saying. For years I did as you say but I've realised I am doing myself a disservice.

When you are the client and you have to make a choice and you have the money to spend, you will look for clues, any clues. I do, actively. It's not about you or what your mates think, it's about enthusiasm, opportunity and maximising your chances. The only thing I am looking for the is first chance for a contact. After that you can call me Bob and chuck it all away.

 

[bvanhiel]

rtmote,

Depends on who you're trying to impress. If you're trying to impress a layman then perhaps the alphabet soup is a good thing. Anyone who knows what it takes to get a PhD, which I think is most of us that went to college, would have to wonder why you'd put your BS and MS degrees on the card.

Most MD's and JD's have initials that indicate their specialties, as there are many fields of law, medicine, and engineering that don't really overlap. Based on your card, I can't tell what kind of engineer you are. The fact that you have a bachelor's degree as well as your masters and PhD doesn't convey any new information. I'd add your professional organization memberships and take off the BS and MS if you want to keep the weighty length and still look like an expert in they eyes of other experts.

Of course you should keep in mind that my free unsolicited advice is probably worth exactly what you've paid for it. If what you're doing works for your sales, then stick with it.

-b