TZL 1426 (web)

TRANSACTIONS WGI, INC. ACQUIRES NORTH CAROLINA’S SIMPSON ENGINEERS & ASSOCIATES, INC., ADDING STRENGTH AND NEWSERVICES IN THE TRANSPORTATION ARENA National engineering and design firm WGI, Inc. announced the acquisition of Cary, North Carolina-based Simpson Engineers & Associates, Inc., a 40-person consulting firm providing transportation structural design, in-service bridge safety inspections, environmental/planning services, construction observation, and rail project management. The acquisition continues WGI’s ongoing commitment to growth and sustainability, as SEA adds new services in the transportation arena including rail business management, rail facility management, railroad construction oversight, and a robust team of bridge inspectors focused on maintaining a safe and efficient transportation network. In addition, SEA complements WGI’s diverse structural design and transportation planning expertise. Headquartered in the Research Triangle Park area, SEA was founded in 2004 and led by David B. Simpson, Jr., PE. The firm provides services within the

southeastern U.S. with a particular focus on project management for the North Carolina Department of Transportation – Rail Division. SEA’s existing clients will continue to work with the same professionals already providing decades of exceptional service. David Simpson will continue leading the Cary operations. “I am very excited that David Simpson and his outstanding team in North Carolina have joined our WGI team. This acquisition allows us to fulfill a critical goal of expanding our North Carolina presence, adding to and strengthening our national transportation practice. It could not have come at a more opportune time with the recent passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s infrastructure and competitiveness,” said WGI’s CEO, David Wantman. For Simpson’s part, the fit seems natural; “I’ve built our firm over the past eighteen years, and it’s been an incredible journey. As I’ve come to know David Wantman, Greg Sauter, and the broader WGI team over the past year, I’m confident that our associates and clients will be in

the best hands imaginable. I’m looking forward to the next step in our growth and in contributing meaningfully to the continued success of WGI.” As amultidisciplinary solutions-providing consulting firm, WGI has 18 offices in eight states, serving an active client base in over 39 states, specializing in the following disciplines: mobility planning, transportation engineering, land development/municipal engineering, traffic and transportation engineering, parking solutions, geospatial and land surveying, subsurface utility engineering, restoration and structural engineering, landscape architecture, environmental sciences and water resources, architecture, land planning, and MEP engineering. In 2021, ENR ranked WGI No. 175 – up 12 places – on its list of the Top 500 Design Firms, while at the same time naming WGI its 2021 Design Firm of the Year in the southeast United States. South Florida Business Journal ranked WGI No. 5 on its 2021 Top 25 Engineering Firms, and No. 59 on its 2020 list of Top 100 Private Companies.

There is no doubt the pandemic has changed howwe approach work together. As the world gets back to a new normalcy, it will be critical for firms to not only ask for, but truly hear and consider employee feedback in their strategy. Employees have become much more comfortable stating their needs and expectations, and we will continue to see that as the younger generations move along in their careers. Employees are critical to any company’s success, and their feedback is important in developing a plan that will enable future growth and nurture passion and collaboration at every level. Michael Britt, CEO of Modjeski and Masters, one of the world’s leading bridge engineering firms responsible for the design and maintenance of some of the nation’s most recognizable structures. Connect with him on LinkedIn. “There is no doubt the pandemic has changed howwe approach work together. As the world gets back to a new normalcy, it will be critical for firms to not only ask for, but truly hear and consider employee feedback in their strategy.”

MICHAEL BRITT, from page 9

and virtual meetings. Our so-called “Zoom rooms” have digital whiteboards, large screen TVs, and provide more space for ample social distancing. We also developed more open, collaborative spaces to allow teams to better work together on complex projects. Through employee feedback, we found that both managers and employees feel it is easier to ask questions and get faster feedback in person to move projects along. That being said, most of our employees wanted to come back to the office at least part-time specifically for the collaboration factor, the transfer of knowledge, and educational and growth opportunities. When bringing on new employees, we find that it is especially important to provide training and opportunities to learn directly from our leading experts. There is a natural, unintentional exchange of information that happens in person. That exchange is so critical to a young engineers’ development, and unfortunately, much more difficult to replicate virtually. This past year, we’ve seen the issue of staffing challenges ripple across industries. In response, we are constantly looking to hire new engineers as we continue to grow, and providing these opportunities for education and teamwork will attract those looking to start and move up in their own career.

THE ZWEIG LETTER JANUARY 31, 2022, ISSUE 1426

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