WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — National design and professional services firm WGI, which specializes in technology-based solutions for the construction of public infrastructure and real estate development, has been in overdrive for the first three quarters of 2019, exceeding 2018 in the expansion of its employees, services, clients, and geographic footprint.
WGI kicked off the new year with the acquisition of Austin, Texas-based Big Red Dog, adding to its Texas market presence with five locations in the state and a gaining a team with a reputation as disruptors in the profession. That energy set the stage for three quarters of exceptional performance, additional new offices in Colorado and Virginia, entry into another new market – the Bahamas — the addition of 200 new associates, 1,000-plus new contracts, and more.
Once again, the business community took notice with a list of recognitions and professional awards for specific work, including:
• WGI rose in rank to No. 47 on the South Florida Business Journal’s “Top 100 List of Private Companies” and to No. 3 on its “Top 25 Engineering Firms in South Florida” list;
• The Zweig Group ranked WGI No. 24 on the Best Firms to Work For list as well multiple other list placements;
• WGI rose 26 places over 2018 to rank No. 224 on ENR’s list of 2019’s Top 500 Design Firms;
• WGI’s Parking Solutions Division won the Texas Parking & Transportation Association’s 2019 Parking Restoration Project of the Year for Campus at Legacy West;
• WGI’s Big Red Dog team won the Austin Business Journal’s 2019 Commercial Real Estate Awards for Multifamily – Tyndall at Robertson Hill, and Retail – Belterra Village;
• The ACEC-Florida also awarded WGI the Engineering Excellence Outstanding Project Award in its Outstanding Design-Build Category for I-75 Express Lanes.
Slowing down is neither an option, nor part of WGI’s core philosophy. Since stepping into the role of president in September of 2018, Gregory Sauter and David Wantman, the firm’s CEOs, share a transformative vision for the firm founded in 1972.
“Greg and I both believe that our profession is in a constant state of evolution,” said Wantman. “We have to recognize, assess, and then integrate the continual advances that will result in resilient, sustainable, and connected communities.”
“I came to WGI because David built a culture and a team of associates that understand – and are eager – to look at the future of our profession,” said Sauter, “They get excited about being catalysts in the collaborative culture needed for WGI to advance toward our 2025 vision as a market-leading company with outsized impacts on our clients and communities by fundamentally changing how infrastructure is envisioned, designed, and delivered. We are re-envisioning the entire delivery process and challenging ourselves to invent the future. It’s not one division, or one line of business – it’s the entire interconnectivity of how what we do affects the lives of so many.”
WGI’s trajectory attracted significant and high-profile new hires in 2019, bringing total associates to nearly 600, including:
• Lisa Nisenson, vice president, new mobility and connected communities;
• Robert Hanson, vice president, geospatial;
• David M.Y. Millikan, vice president, Texas transportation regional manager;
• Glenn Havinoviski, manager, transportation technology and connected communities;
• Kimberlee DeBosier, director of project excellence; and
• R. Mark Pitchford, operations manager, geospatial division/Tampa, Florida.
Both Sauter and Wantman agree that making sure the firm’s growing range of capabilities and services are marketed to both existing and potential clients is exponentially enhanced by the addition of vice president/chief marketing officer Will Schnier, Big Red Dog’s creative leader.
“We are building a firm with extraordinary talent and great vision,” Wantman said. “We are investing heavily in cutting-edge technology. We are evolving our corporate image through the addition of Big Red Dog’s disruptive marketing energy.”
For more information, visit https://wginc.com.
