Symonds

At Symonds Consulting Engineers, the year 2000 started with reductions in the 42-person staff and a slowing of work. However in May, as the company marked the 20th anniversary of its inception, the firm started to see an increase in workload. Symonds has since hired on additional staff to bring the staff size to 39 and anticipates gross fees to match last year’s $3.4 million.

Symonds provides comprehensive civil and structural engineering and land surveying services on projects ranging in size from major roads, regional wastewater facilities and port facilities to local schools and residential projects.

The post-Initiative 695 business climate has proven increasingly competitive as more firms compete for fewer projects. With so many technically skilled firms providing high quality services, it is a continual challenge to distinguish the firm from its peers, said Paul Gotz, who heads the firm’s civil engineering group. Coupled with increased competition is the persistent challenge of overcoming the lingering perception of Symonds as a subconsultant firm.

Gotz said that even though Washington has moved away from Minority and Woman-Owned Business participation quotas, the firm has to overcome its history as a WBE subconsultant in order to be considered a viable competitor as a prime consultant.