1140

stwood

Zweig Group is social and posting every day! C O N N E C T W I T H U S

facebook.com/ ZweigGroup

twitter.com/ ZweigGroup

linkedin.com/company/ ZweigWhite

blog. ZweigGroup .com vimeo.com/ ZweigGroup

While industry observers see plenty of good years in the future, Greenhagen and his firm are already enjoying the sheer verticality of the upturn. “Our solar group has doubled its revenue since 2014 and we are planning for another 50 percent increase in 2016,” Greenhagen says. “The solar industry is growing and West- wood has been involved in renewable energy project devel- opment for a long time. Westwood was fortunate to iden- tify solar as an opportunity and enter the market early on. … We anticipate continued and steady growth in our solar energy business.” The industry will surely attract its share of new arrivals in the next few years, and there’s a good chance that when they do, they’ll be looking up at Westwood. The firm has worked in renewable energy dating back to 1997, when it conducted a survey for a wind installation. Since that time, the firm has expanded into solar, a sister industry to wind, and in general, is considered an across-the-board expert in power – wind, solar, delivery, and oil and gas pipeline – and all associated forms of technology. With plenty of expertise, Greenhagen sees plenty of oppor- tunities for business development. “We’ve done hundreds of projects, and our clients haven’t done that,” he says. “Your experience is what your clients are after.” In the last eight months, the firm has hired over a dozen staffers for its wind and solar units. In a time when A/E/P firms compete, and compete vigorously, for talent, that’s no small feat. Though Greenhagen knows that recruiting is an ongoing issue, some positions – and for that matter, some firms – just seem to sell themselves. “We’re so involved in the industry that we meet a lot of peo- ple,” Greenhagen says. “We’re seen as the guys who have “We’ve done hundreds of projects, and our clients haven’t done that. Your experience is what your clients are after.” “The solar industry is growing and Westwood has been involved in renewable energy project development for a long time. Westwood was fortunate to identify solar as an opportunity and enter the market early on. We anticipate continued and steady growth in our solar energy business.”

been in this for a while and people are attracted to us.”

In December, Westwood acquired Pogue Engineering and Development Company Inc. (McKinney, TX). With Pogue, a respected name in engineering and land surveying, West- wood expanded its footprint in the Dallas-Fort Worth mar- ket, one of the largest in the United States. “The Pogue Engineering acquisition, with Randy Pogue and his team, was a perfect fit,” Greenhagen says. “Our compa- nies and people share the same values: quality work, client satisfaction, and high integrity. We anticipate continued growth in Texas and will continue to focus on expanding our reach throughout the state.” In January, Westwood followed up on the Pogue acquisition with that of Kadleck & Associates (Plano, TX), an engineer- ing and surveying firm founded in 1987. With all six of its engineering segments – land, power, water resources, pipeline, transportation, and construction man- agement – represented in Texas, the firm went from 0 to 90 employees since 2010, making Texas the firm’s most dy- namic region. Westwood started looking for an acquisition around the end of 2014, and several potential firms were identified, but it wasn’t until Pogue that things worked out. Since solar en- ergy is on a huge growth curve, acquisitions aren’t so easy. “We’re so involved in the industry that we meet a lot of people. We’re seen as the guys who have been in this for a while and people are attracted to us.”

Greenhagen explains.

“A lot of people are doing well and a lot of people aren’t looking to sell,” he says.

But if they are, Greenhagen plans on finding them

“I see more M&A happening soon,” he says. “We’re being picky, but our goal is to grow organically and through acqui- sition – and definitely in new markets.” Though expertise, technology and connections are key to business development, another element, a website, is also in the Westwood mix. In 2014, the firm did a brand refresh, and a bright and shiny website was among the results. “It’s too early to measure, but it’s been helpful for recruiting people, acquisitions, and for getting short-listed for proj- ects,” Greehagen says. “What does it add to profitability and revenue? That’s hard to see, but site visits are up dramati- cally.”

uary 22, 2016, ISSUE 1140

Made with FlippingBook Annual report