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PROFILE
Finding opportunities: Leo Rubio President and CEO of Bennett Engineering Services + Y&C Transportation Consultants, a firm that provides enduring and award-winning civil engineering services.
By LIISA ANDREASSEN Correspondent
I n January 2023, Bennett Engineering Services and Y&C Transportation Consultants merged – and Rubio reports things are going well. The merger has allowed both companies to cast a wider net by providing more services to each other’s existing clients. Bennett Engineering Services remains its legal name. “We understand the low success rate with mergers but, after more than one year, we have seen only exceptional growth,” Rubio says. “Our success is a result of building a solid partnership with Y&C over the years before our merger. Of course, we’re always looking at ways to improve our systems and culture, but we learn from one another to make our team better as the company continues to grow.” The strength of Bennett+Y&C’s culture plays an important role in its success, and Rubio credits all of the firm’s employees for that. Taking care of staff and creating a safe and fun place to work is a big part of this business’ culture. Rubio says they encourage team-building exercises (e.g., a solar-powered car building competition last fall); employee recognition; professional development via Bennett Academy; and external training opportunities to build skills, expertise, and value. HELPING COMMUNITIES HITS CLOSE TO HOME. As a
Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Rubio shares that helping communities in need is “important to us.” That’s why the company volunteers and fundraises for charitable organizations throughout the year. They also work closely with their clients and funding agencies such as SACOG, Caltrans, USDA, SRF, and more to identify a project for a grant that fits all of the criteria to be competitive. “We help local agencies prepare preliminary designs, assist with outreach efforts, and with grant applications,” he says. To be competitive for certain grants, many applicants invest in the project and have gained community support. And, depending on the grant – equity, safety, water quality, urban greening, and/or GHG reduction may factor into the selection. “Our pride comes from seeing the impact our work has on the community,” he says. As a recent example, the firm supported the City of Sacramento in acquiring millions of dollars for the Franklin Boulevard Complete Street project. The city is taking great strides to transform Franklin Boulevard into a corridor that offers more
See FINDING OPPORTUNITIES, page 10
THE ZWEIG LETTER MAY 13, 2024, ISSUE 1537
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