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TRANSACTIONS PAPE-DAWSON ACQUIRES FLORIDA- BASED INNERLIGHT ENGINEERING Pape-Dawson has acquired Innerlight Engineering, a civil engineering, surveying, and land planning based in Florida. The partnership expands resources for employees, enhances service to clients, and deepens support for communities in one of the fastest-growing regions. Innerlight Engineering has earned a reputation for technical excellence and trusted client relationships throughout Northwest Florida. By joining forces, the combined team will offer a broader range of engineering and planning solutions to meet the needs of Florida’s growing communities. This is Pape-Dawson’s fifth acquisition in Florida in the last three years, following the additions of Poulos & Bennett, GradyMinor, Morris Engineering, and Bonnett Design
Group. Together, these partnerships bring local expertise and statewide resources to help shape Florida’s future. “Florida is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. Expanding our team here means more opportunities for our employees, stronger partnerships with our clients, and a greater ability to serve Florida’s communities,” said Trey Dawson, president of Pape-Dawson. “Innerlight Engineering’s expertise and reputation in the Florida panhandle make them an ideal partner, and we are excited for what we’ll accomplish together.” “Joining Pape-Dawson allows us to expand our services and resources while staying true to the values that have guided us from the beginning,” said David Smith, managing director of Innerlight Engineering. “This is an exciting step for both our employees and our clients.”
CHAD COLDIRON , from page 1
doors or rebalancing the kinds of projects your firm pursues. The key is to stay in motion and to make learning part of how you operate. What I have seen in the best AEC firms across the country is that they all have one thing in common: they pay attention. They listen to their people, their clients, and their collaborators. They make small bets, learn from them, and adjust along the way. They do not get too comfortable, and they do not assume that past success guarantees future results. That openness is what keeps them relevant. The opposite of that is rigidity. Too many firms hold onto the idea that predictability equals stability. Predictability can feel safe until the market shifts, and suddenly your processes, priorities, and pricing are out of step with the world around you. Real stability comes from confidence, the confidence that your people can adapt, that your culture supports change, and that you have the leadership in place to navigate whatever comes next. At Zweig Group, we have seen this lesson play out firsthand. Our founder, Mark Zweig, built this company on a willingness to adapt. Over nearly four decades, the business has evolved through changing markets, new ownership, and different eras of growth, but the spirit has always been the same. Stay curious, move forward, and never get stuck. That adaptability is the reason Zweig Group is still here today. The same principle applies to every firm in this industry. The world will keep changing, and the question is how well you can listen, learn, and adjust as it does. Whether you are rethinking your services, your people strategy, or your role in the market, the ability to respond rather than resist is what separates the firms that thrive from the ones that fade. So take Bruce Lee’s advice. Be like water. Stay flexible. Stay aware. Keep moving. Chad Coldiron is a principal and director of client relations and development at Zweig Group. Contact him at ccoldiron@zweiggroup.com.
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THE ZWEIG LETTER DECEMBER 8, 2025, ISSUE 1612
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