News

Terracon Acquires Drilling Engineers Inc.

Clients to benefit from expanded drilling resources in the West

OLATHE, Kansas – Terracon, an employee-owned firm with a long history of providing excellence in engineering consulting services, announces the expansion of their drilling services with the acquisition of Drilling Engineers Inc. (DEI) of Fort Collins, Colorado. For nearly 60 years, DEI has served public and private sector clients with a complete suite of subsurface drilling services and has a long history of collaboration with Terracon.

DEI is now known as Terracon and will continue to operate from its Fort Collins location with support from Terracon’s existing Fort Collins office and additional Front Range locations in Denver, Greeley, Longmont, and Colorado Springs, Colorado; Cheyenne, Wyoming; and more than 175 locations nationwide. All DEI employees will join Terracon.

“With the largest drilling fleet of any engineering consulting firm in the United States, the addition of DEI further enhances our ability to quickly mobilize to support changes in workload and project demands and we are excited to welcome their team to Terracon,” said Gayle Packer, Terracon chair, president, and CEO.

“Joining Terracon is the next step for DEI in decades of continuous growth to becoming one of the most dependable and professional drilling companies in the West,” said Rick Rogers, president, DEI. “The addition of Terracon’s national resources and expertise will allow us to provide our clients with enhanced capabilities while still providing the same reliable service they expect.”

DEI is Terracon’s second acquisition in 2022, joining Wang Engineering Inc. of Illinois, and its 17^th acquisition since the beginning of 2017.

Terracon is an employee-owned consulting firm comprised of more than 5,500 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. We provide on-time and real-time data-driven insights, provided by our talented employee-owners, to create an unmatched client experience that spans the lifecycle of any project, any size, anywhere. ​Terracon consistently ranks as a top 25 design firm by Engineering News-Record.

Terracon Receives 2021 EBJ Business Achievement Awards

Environmental Journal Recognizes Firms for New Practice: Sustainable Planning, Design & Green Infrastructure; and Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions

SAN DIEGO — Environmental Business Journal®* (EBJ), a business research publication which provides high value strategic business intelligence to the environmental industry, has honored Terracon with awards for New Practice: Sustainable Planning, Design & Green Infrastructure, and Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions in 2021.

“In a year of economic recovery in 2021 that still posed its own challenges, it is a testament to the resilience of the environmental industry and its leaders in business and innovation to have such a fine constellation of winners of the annual EBJ Awards,” said Grant Ferrier, president of Environmental Business International Inc. (EBI, Inc.), publisher of Environmental Business Journal.

New Practice: Sustainable Planning, Design & Green Infrastructure

Environmental Planning Group, A Terracon Company, (EPG) was recognized for adding new services to Terracon, including landscape architecture and planning services, led by Dave Harris, PLA, ASLA, CLARB Certified, principal in landscape architecture and planning. EPG, which joined Terracon in 2021, offers services from its locations in Phoenix and Salt Lake City to local, national and international clients in the private and public sectors. Professionals specialize in: sustainable and environmentally sensitive planning, urban design, community place making, project management, detail design, construction documentation and construction administration, providing site inventory and analysis, master planning, site design, restoration/rehabilitation planning and design, project permitting, and public involvement and outreach services.

“Terracon is honored to be recognized by EBJ for the excellent work we’re providing for our clients,” said Lori Cathcart, a national director of environmental services in Terracon’s Orange County office. “Our team of experienced environmental professionals is continually expanding our offerings to meet our clients’ current challenges, while providing them with steady guidance in today’s rapidly changing environment.”

Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions

Terracon was recognized for Business Achievement: Mergers & Acquisitions, led by Kristi Tahmasiyan, director, mergers and acquisitions. In 2021, amid pandemic and remote operations, Terracon made three strategic acquisitions:

• GET Solutions, Inc. (Virginia Beach, Va.), a full-service geotechnical, environmental, and materials testing firm with 95 employees serving public- and private-sector clients throughout the mid-Atlantic region.
• Sport Environmental Services, LLC (Midland, Texas), which serves clients in the energy production industry by providing solutions for the oil and gas industry and unique expertise in environmental risks and liabilities.
• Pivvot (Kansas City, Mo.) Pivvot streamlines projects with geospatial location intelligence, including renewable energy siting and suitability, electric transmission and pipeline routing, environmental impact analysis, and custom data acquisition.

The 2021 EBJ awards will be presented live and in-person at the EBJ Business Achievement Awards banquet at Environmental Industry Summit 2022 on March 16-18, 2022, in San Diego. Environmental Industry Summit 2022 will be EBI’s first in-person meeting of the environmental industry since 2019.

*Environmental Business Journal® provides strategic information and market forecasts for executives involved in 13 business segments, including environmental consulting & engineering, remediation, water & wastewater, air quality & pollution control, hazardous waste, instrumentation, pollution control equipment, waste management, resource recovery, solid waste management, renewable energy and environmental information systems.

 About Terracon

Terracon is an employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 5,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

Using Innovation to Bring a Fresh Perspective to a Traditional Field

This article appeared in the Kansas City Business Journal's E-Week 2022 section. View the section here, and find our article on page 5.

History tells us that engineering has been around a long, long time -- possibly before recorded history. The profession really started to take off as a specialty in the 1500s, and by the late 1800s, special disciplines such as civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering emerged. In the 20^th century, engineering revolutionized how we live with advances that we can’t imagine living without. The current century promises even more dazzling advances as technology progresses and displaces traditional practices.

Engineering is not a singular pursuit – it takes place in an ecosystem including design, construction, technology, field work, scientific discovery, laboratory science, and more. Each person in the ecosystem of engineering has an important contribution that serves to help advance the broad field forward.

Clients and projects are moving more rapidly than ever before, and in turn those of us supporting the construction industry are challenged to lead by developing faster, more efficient processes. Timeframes for site selection, design, and construction have sped up and engineering is challenged to keep pace. At the same time, we are running short on our most precious resource – the people who work as engineers.

As an engineering consulting company, Terracon’s brand refresh reflects how we are reimagining the role of professional engineers to incorporate the most critical job functions while also reconsidering the way that other people and innovative technology can contribute to getting the job done for our clients. We know that it’s up to us to bring the right solutions to every project challenge, and that the mix of expertise, tools and resources needed will vary. What should never change is the sense of wonder and awe that engineers bring when they work to reshape the natural and built environment around us.

As the world around us continues to become more complex, engineering consulting in the future will require the ability to identify and avoid potential challenges, while at the same time having the ability to swiftly respond to issues that arise. This versatility must be present in individual engineers as they perform their jobs, as well as everyone else working alongside them during the clients’ journeys to project completion. While we respect the traditional methods of engineering consulting used in the past, we must strive to always improve and find new ways to succeed.

Technology is helping to transform how engineering is typically done. At Terracon, this can be seen through use of Stage1, a collaborative, online experience that allows clients to receive a fully remote preliminary investigation for any project site in the U.S. Stage1 is not invasive, and can be completed before land owners know their property is of interest. Easily scalable, with the ability to narrow or expand searches as needed, Stage1 is a fast way to compare multiple sites. Eliminating the need to be physically present on a site in early stages saves time and money.

TARGETID represents another innovation that upends traditional methods of manually accessing hundreds or even thousands of reports for large scale projects. This unprecedented technological solution leverages geospatial information to collect, communicate, and report materials testing results through a map-centric, highly visual and interactive interface, and all with real-time capabilities. TARGETID provides users with a way to quickly find and view specific data to make the timely, informed decisions demanded by today’s projects.

Reimagining the possibilities goes beyond tools and innovative technology solutions. As engineering evolves into the future, engineering firms need to evolve as well. That’s why now, in early 2022, Terracon has announced a brand refresh to better reflect its alignment with today’s client needs. As a leading national consulting engineering firm comprised of engineers, scientists, and field professionals who thrive on turning big ideas into reality for partner clients, employees, and the world. Terracon’s brand now invites clients to “Explore with us.” We invite you to join us.

Terracon Foundation awards $183,094 in grants

Grants and scholarships made to universities and organizations throughout U.S.

Olathe, Kan. — The Terracon Foundation today announced the awarding of $133,094 in grants and scholarships to 10 nonprofit organizations and 10 universities throughout the U.S. in addition to $50,000 in national partner grants. Established as the community investment arm of Terracon, the Foundation has granted more than $3.5 million to community organizations, universities, and dependents of employees as well as for disaster relief efforts.

Two national partner grants have been announced for 2022:  $25,000 to WTS Foundation, and $25,000 to Construction Specifications Institute (CSI) Foundation.

“The Terracon Foundation works continuously to support higher education in the form of grants for scholarships, fellowships, and programs in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics,” said Scott Kolodziej, P.G., chair of the Terracon Foundation and environmental manager in the Dallas office. “It’s our goal that grants like these will help students finish their studies, engage in research, and advance their professional development.”

The Terracon Foundation presented a total of $97,475 to 10 universities:

• Auburn University -- Auburn, Ala.
• California State University Fullerton -- Fullerton, Calif.
• Iowa State University -- Ames, Iowa
• Missouri University of Science and Technology -- Rolla, Mo.
• Tennessee Technological University -- Cookeville, Tenn.
• University of Central Florida -- Orlando, Fla.
• University of Louisville, Speed Scientific School -- Louisville, Ky.
• University of Washington -- Seattle, Wash.
• Virginia Tech -- Blacksburg, Va.
• Wake Technical Community College -- Raleigh, N.C.

“We invite our employees to submit grants requests each year and many do so in support of community organizations doing vital work serving children’s education and health,” Kolodziej added. “Each grant awarded was championed by a Terracon employee who is actively involved in the work of the nonprofit organization.”

The Terracon Foundation awarded more than $35,619 in community grants to 10 nonprofit organizations:

• The Arc of East Central Iowa -- Cedar Rapids, Iowa
• California Society for Ecological Restoration (SERCAL) -- Tucson, Ariz.
• Cincinnati Nature Center, EarthKids Community Outreach Program -- Milford, Ohio
• Charleston Junior Golf Foundation -- Mount Pleasant, S.C.
• Healthy City -- Midland, Texas
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society -- Rye Brook, N.Y.
• Macon Habitat for Humanity -- Macon, Ga.
• Monkey Brain Art -- Kansas City, Mo.
• Northern Virginia Children’s Science Center -- Fairfax, Va.
• United Way of Brazoria County -- Angleton, Texas

The Terracon Foundation was established with a goal to reach out and become a real part of the lives of Terracon employees and the communities where they live and work. For more information about the Terracon Foundation, visit terracon.com/foundation.

Terracon is an employee-owned multidiscipline consulting firm comprised of more than 5,000 curious minds focused on solving engineering and technical challenges from more than 175 locations nationwide. Explore with us by visiting terracon.com.

WTS Foundation and Terracon Foundation announce partnership

$25,000 grant to support WTS Foundation’s Transportation YOU program

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  The WTS Foundation and the Terracon Foundation announce a partnership between the organizations to support the advancement of women in transportation through a generous $25,000 National Partner Grant from the Terracon Foundation. The grant will support Transportation YOU, a hands-on, interactive, mentoring program that offers young girls ages 13 – 18 an introduction to a wide variety of transportation careers.

“Terracon is honored to provide the WTS Foundation with a national partner grant,” said Scott Kolodziej, P.G., chair of the Terracon Foundation and environmental manager in the Dallas office. “We value the opportunity to spur interest and support young women’s efforts to seek careers in transportation.”

The Terracon Foundation encourages employees to submit grant requests each year for organizations focused on education and the built and natural environment. To date, the Terracon Foundation has granted more than $3.5 million to community organizations, universities, dependents of employees, and for disaster relief efforts.

“We are honored and grateful to receive the National Partner Grant from the Terracon Foundation,” said Sara Stickler, President & CEO of WTS International. “This Grant will allow us to impact more young women through our Transportation YOU program, by expanding our DC Summit and allowing us to provide additional activities and educational opportunities. We thank the Terracon Foundation for their support and partnership in encouraging young women to seek careers in transportation.”

For more information about recent additional grants made by the Terracon Foundation, visit terracon.com/about/foundation/

The Terracon Foundation was established with a goal to reach out and become a real part of the lives of Terracon employees and the communities where they live and work. Terracon is an employee-owned engineering consulting firm with more than 5,000 employees providing environmental, facilities, geotechnical, and materials services from more than 175 locations with services in all 50 states. Terracon currently ranks 24^TH on Engineering News-Record’s list of Top 500 Design Firms.

WTS International is a member organization that works to attract, sustain, connect, and advance women in transportation through its 8,500 members and 65 chapters across North America. The WTS International Foundation is the 501(c) 3 arm of WTS that works to attract the next generation of young women into transportation. To learn more, visit wtsinternational.org/mission/foundation.