Reid Middleton

Practice: Civil and structural engineering, planning, surveying

Founded: 1953

Leadership: Hugh Townsend, president and CEO

Business at Reid Middleton continues to be strong, said President Hugh Townsend. However, "Some of our major clients have re-evaluated their project lists to reflect the weak economy and shifting business and national priorities."

Reid Middleton's main office is in south Everett, with branch offices in Portland, Anchorage and downtown Everett. The firm provides civil and structural engineering and surveying for airports, waterfront, site development, buildings, utilities, streets and highways. Reid Middleton also specializes in planning and pe

rmitting for waterfront, commercial and industrial enterprises, and special-purpose districts. Firm size has remained steady in the slumping economy this year, down four staff members to 123. Gross fees have risen a little to $14 million.

"The lack of a unified regional transportation vision, together with a lack of public trust in government's ability to effectively complete transportation projects, has resulted in inadequate funding for needed transportation improvements," said Townsend. "This inhibits economic growth and contributes to the generally poor business climate in this region at this time."

The good news is that the regional economy is more diversified than at any time in the past, he added, and therefore more resilient to long-term slumps.

Recent projects include an Alaska Airlines hangar retrofit in Oakland; St. Edwards Seminary seismic retrofit in Kenmore; Leary Way Northwest rehabilitation in Seattle; Thea Foss Waterway marinas, Tacoma; the Prineville-Cooke County Airport in Oregon; the Snohomish County Justice Center in Everett; and the wastewater predesign for the Fire Training Academy in North Bend.