Designing Connection at Z Group’s Retreat in Moab

Where story, landscape, and legacy converge in the La Sal Mountains

This fall, the Z Group Architecture & Interior Design team left the office behind and headed for the high desert of Moab, Utah. Our destination was Pack Creek Ranch, a historic haven beneath the golden aspens and towering cliffs of the La Sal Mountains.

Surrounded by sandstone towers, rustling cottonwoods, and views that stretch from desert floors to alpine peaks, we gathered for something deeper than design: to reconnect—to each other, to our shared vision, and to the values that have shaped our legacy since 1952.

A People-First Culture, Strengthened by the Landscape

Led by Andrea Polman of Roaring Fork Leadership, our retreat focused on team-building, trust, and growth. Through guided discussions and quiet reflection, one theme came through again and again: our work is only as strong as the people behind it.

We are curious, collaborative, and driven. We bring humility to the table and show up for one another—consistently and wholeheartedly. We embrace differences, listen with intention, and laugh—often.

After sessions, we embraced the spirit of the West: hiking the slickrock trails, mountain biking desert singletrack, and exploring Arches National Park. We played rounds of night Bouclé Ball, laughed through Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza, and made space for joy, vulnerability, and perspective.

“To hear the team now use the same language we dreamed up five years ago—collaborative, curious, values-driven—it was powerful. What we envisioned is now embedded in our culture.”— Seth Hmielowski, Senior Principal

Legacy, Leadership, and a Serendipitous Connection

Five years ago, Seth, Scott, and Randy stood on this same ranch, dreaming of the firm’s future. This retreat brought that vision full circle. The culture they once imagined—thoughtful, creative, human-centered—is now lived out, daily, by our growing team.

And in one of those rare, meaningful coincidences, we discovered a poetic link between past and present. Ken Sleight, a friend of Edward Abbey, the iconic American environmentalist, once owned Pack Creek Ranch. Sleight inspired the character Seldom Seen Smith in Abbey’s The Monkey Wrench Gang—a book that deeply resonated with Sam Caudill, Z Group’s founder.

Sam was known to live by one of Abbey’s most passionate calls to action:

“Do not burn yourselves out. Be as I am. A reluctant enthusiast and a part-time crusader. A half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves for pleasure and adventure.

It is not enough to fight for the West. It is even more important to enjoy it while you can. So, get out there. Hunt, fish, mess around with your friends. Ramble out yonder and explore the forests, encounter the griz, climb a mountain, bag the peaks, run the rivers, breathe deep of that yet sweet and elusive air.

Sit quietly for a while and contemplate the precious stillness of the lovely, mysterious, and awesome space. Enjoy yourself, keep your brain in your head and your head firmly attached to the body, the body active and alive.

And I promise you this one sweet victory over your enemies, over those desk-bound people with their hearts in safe deposit boxes, and their eyes hypnotized by desk calculators.

I promise you this: You will outlive the bastards.” — Edward Abbey

To gather in this same place—linked to Caudill, Abbey and Sleight—was a symbolic moment for our team, reinforcing the moral belief that guides us: honor the land, design with intention, and always leave room for adventure.

Designing Forward: Our Team, Our Future

As we look ahead, we carry the clarity that comes from stillness and shared experience. The Moab retreat reminded us that exceptional design is rooted in empathy, and innovation thrives where trust and humility are present.

Whether we’re designing homes in Aspen, civic buildings across Colorado, or destination spaces throughout the West, we remain committed to something greater than form. We’re building relationships. We’re shaping legacy. And we’re doing it together.

Join Our Journey

• Meet Our Team – Get to know the creative minds behind our projects.

• Explore Our Legacy – From Sam Caudill’s founding vision to today’s impact.

• View Our Work – See how we bring architecture to life across the Western Slope and beyond.

Scroll down to explore the retreat in images—our people, our place, and the moments that made it unforgettable.