AJREAD ABOUT THE ACQUISITIONADJHFDJCURRENT FISHER CLIENTS ADJHFDVISIT LARSON DESIGN GROUPHJ
JH(click here for municipal ordinances and maps)
AJREAD ABOUT THE ACQUISITIONADJHFDJCURRENT FISHER CLIENTS ADJHFDVISIT LARSON DESIGN GROUPHJ
JH(click here for municipal ordinances and maps)
One Vision. Made Real.
On June 30, 2008, Larson Design Group (LDG) acquired Fisher Engineering, Inc.
The merging of LDG and Fisher Engineering not only expands their municipal capabilities and geographic reach; more importantly, this transition will benefit all clients and combined staff through additional opportunities for growth and collaboration.
Acquisition of a business is a serious undertaking, however our firms have realized early on that we share a common theme of entrepreneurship and growth.
These attributes will continue to bring success to the clients and communities in which we do business.
History
Fisher Engineering, Inc. (FEI) was established in 1989 by entrepreneur James R. Fisher, P.E., in an office at his home. Jim’s vision was to provide design services to individual home owners, developers, professional land surveyors, and area municipalities. It didn’t take Jim long to become successful in the municipal market.
In 1994, FEI was incorporated, and an office was opened in the Lincoln section of Ephrata in Lancaster County. In 1995, a branch office was opened in Bethel, Berks County to serve local clients in Schuylkill, northern Lebanon and Berks counties. In 2006, the main office was moved to an impressive historic (circa 1856) structure in Ephrata. FEI has provided civil, sanitary, and environmental services throughout Pennsylvania to public and private sector clients including individuals, architects, surveyors, engineers, planners, local government, and also residential, commercial, agricultural, and institutional developers.
During this same period of time, Larson Design Group followed its own course of success and growth. Founded in 1993, LDG provides full-service architectural, engineering, and surveying services to public and private clients in the municipal, transportation, academic, healthcare, and retail markets. Like FEI, LDG was the vision of entrepreneurs. An engineer, architect, and professional land surveyor made real their vision for a design firm that would benefit its clients, employees, and community.
In 1993, the employees, through a 100% stock buyout, acquired ownership of the Williamsport office from its parent company. The firm was renamed Larson Design Group, Inc. to reflect the company’s new ownership and independence. Larson Design Group is now a regional, employee-owned company, with all employees owning stock in the corporation through its Employee Stock Ownership Plan. Pre-acquisition, LDG has grown to 195 employees headquartered in Williamsport, with offices in Bloomsburg and Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania as well as Corning, New York. In January of 2007, LDG released a new brand to increase its value, recognition, and trust with the clients in the markets it serves. In early May of that same year, LDG relocated its Selinsgrove office to a new facility on Route 522.
Our Vision of the Future
The former FEI locations and staff will remain unchanged after the acquisition and additional hires are anticipated. Andrew Keister, P.E., Director of LDG’s Site Engineering, will be located in the Ephrata office for one year to oversee office operations and will focus on private sector clients. Jim Fisher, P.E. will focus his efforts on municipal clients.
Throughout the transition we will remain committed to keeping the clients first.
“In order to grow a design firm, you have to remain client centric,” said Keith S. Kuzio, P.E., LDG’s Chief Executive Officer. “While firms may be different in size, it’s clear that we have had similar experiences. It’s all about the client, always listening to determine what they need and when they need it. The key to implementing this approach is a quality staff. By staying focused on the client and supporting our people as they improve, our firm can grow.”
More than anything, our employee-owned culture will help make the acquisition successful because every employee’s success depends on our clients’ successes.
As Jim Fisher puts it, “FEI and LDG have taken the same approach. Ours is a personal commitment to the client. Sure, you hire the firm to get all the talent the team brings, but the person that manages your project makes it happen the way you need it. When you build understanding and trust, the value of our company’s services increases. My staff has been the key to my success, and it’s the same with LDG. Both firms know how to do it. Now, we can do it together.”