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# 2: LJA Engineering
Encouraging an entrepreneurial spirit Employee-owners oversee firm’s volunteerism, R&R activities, and establishing culture of success; leaders say awards will help organization in recruitment efforts.
Additionally, a series of acquisitions has allowed it to diversify its services while expanding its geo- graphic reach. For example, in 2012, LJA acquired LEAP Engi- neering LLC and incorporated coastal engineer- ing, midstream infrastructure, and environmental services, with additional offices in Galveston and Beaumont. LJA also added rail engineering to its list of services that year. CLIENTS + EMPLOYEES = SUCCESS. Calvin Ladner, presi- dent, believes that LJA is at the top of the Hot Firm List because of its clients and employees. “Our employee-owners attract the best clients, some who have been with us since our founding. We encourage an entrepreneurial spirit and believe that our unique approach to employee ownership and involvement has helped us grow by 30 percent in the last three years.”
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent W ith a mission is to establish itself in its cho- sen disciplines, as the premier engineering firm in Texas by providing high quality, innovative and cost effective services to clients, LJA Engineering Inc. (Houston, TX), a 550-person, employee-owned, multi-discipline, consulting engineering firm, is closing in on that mission. Coming in at No. 2 on the Hot Firm List and placing as a Best Firm to Work For just serves to illustrate its desire to be the best, for not only its clients, but also for its employees. ROOTS YIELD GROWTH. LJA traces its roots back to 1972, when John “Dutch” Lichliter founded the firm in response to a lack of land development engineering support in the greater Houston area. Since then, the firm has enjoyed phenom- enal growth: The number of employees has grown from 47 to 550; in addition to its headquarters in Houston, it has expanded its Texas presence with offices in East Houston, The Woodlands, Katy, Spring, Deer Park, Beaumont, Galveston, Austin, Cedar Park, Dallas, Corpus Christi, and San Antonio. It also recently opened up offices in Omaha, Nebraska, and Jacksonville, Florida. From the beginning, LJA has kept pace with the times, recognizing the importance of innovative engineering solutions and visionary leadership.
See LJA , page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER AUGUST 3, 2015, ISSUE 1114
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