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V O L . X X V I I I N O. X V R E A L E S TAT E / C O N S T R U C T I O N / E N G I N E E R I N G REV UP W hen Bangor-based engi- neering firm Haley Ward Inc. this year hired its first chief operating officer in the firm's four decades, it represented the next logi- cal step in a growth strategy that has included acquisitions, new internal processes, continued education, and the latest technologies that are all designed to enhance client services and employee engagement. "Creating a COO position in our company is an essential strategic step to support our continued growth," says President and CEO Denis St. Peter. In 2021, Haley Ward acquired the GeoEnvironmental division of cross-town partnering firm S.W. Cole Engineering and Whitman & Bingham Associates LLC, a surveying and civil engineering company in Leominster and Chelmsford, Mass. In 2020, the Maine company, then called CES Inc., acquired Haley and Ward Inc. of Maynard, Mass. (In the midst of rebranding, CES shortly after- ward changed its name to Haley Ward.) Financial performance has grown an average of 18% annually over the last five years, and staff doubled to about 140 employees across its Maine, Massachusetts and Florida locations. Acquisitions, the new COO position and other organizational changes are part of Haley Ward's geographic and service line growth strategy, with several prospective acquisitions in consideration this year. "We perform better as a company by growing," says St. Peter. Travis Noyes, a 20-year employee who became the new COO, says a pri- mary driver of growth for the company, which became employee-owned in 2020, is its culture of employee empowerment and opportunities. "People move up, and someone else moves into their role," Noyes says. "It's one big snowball rolling down the hill. at's the most exciting part for me – we say it, we live it, we do it. I think that motivates people to want to be with us." Industry snowball at snowball is rolling throughout the industry, where engineering firms are undergoing transformations, buying other firms, moving into larger quarters or expanding in other ways. What's driving growth? Factors include strong construction trends, organic and opportunistic acquisitions, new technologies and innovations. "We're not the firm that wants to do the repeat cookie-cutter projects," says Ellen Belknap, president of SMRT Architects and Engineers in Portland. "We're much better when we're asked to stretch and when we're innovating with our clients." As SMRT grows its nationwide practices, it's gone from 114 employees in 2020 to 125 today, with 15 additional hires expected this year. Offices are in Portland, Bangor, Schenectady, N.Y., and Andover, Mass. "We're seeing huge growth and transformation to the positive," says Belknap. "It's an incredible time to be practicing." SMRT recently relocated its Portland headquarters to a 20,000-square-foot space, at 75 Washington Ave., that provides better flexibility for how people work. "We're seeing an increase in the new projects we've brought into the firm," says Belknap. "In 2022, we're ahead of our budget projections and anticipate continued positive financial performance." e type of projects follows trends. Clean manufacturing is strong. For example, SMRT's growing clientele includes manufacturers of lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles, expanding the firm's geographic reach across the U.S. and Canada. e firm has also seen a huge increase in its workplace practice. "People are thinking about the return to work and how the workplace is differ- ent," she says. "ere is a strong focus on wellness, balance, and positive employee engagement." F O C U S Ellen Belknap, president of SMRT Architects and Engineers in Portland, says the firm is ahead of budget projections for 2022. We're much better when we're asked to stretch and when we're innovating with our client. — Ellen Belknap SMRT Architects and Engineers J U LY 2 5 , 2 0 2 2 24 P H O T O / T I M G R E E N WAY Engineering firms Acquisitions, larger quarters, new hires and big projects signal growth B y L a u r i e S c h r e i b e r

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