McGowan Broz Engineers provides mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and economic analysis to three major market segments: municipal infrastructure; industrial facilities; and commercial/retail projects for architects and developers. The six-year-old firm has work across the U. S. and in the Russian Far East, but the majority of projects are in the Pacific Northwest.

The firm has enjoyed substantial growth this year, increasing from a staff size of 9 to 17, and will bill over $2 million this year. McGowan Broz has had an excellent year financially, with record revenues and returns.

"The challenges we currently face are those associated with growth. One of the realities we've come to grips with this year is the transition from a truly small firm, highly dependent on direct management by the principals, to the next level where a second tier of professional managers is developed," said principal Bill Broz.

"Although we've heard the predictions about a slow down in the national economy, we're very optimistic over the continued strength of the Puget Sound area design and construction market," said Broz. "Part of this is the sheer quantity of public projects still in the pipeline. For instance, much of the Capital Improvement Program at Sea-Tac Airport is yet to be designed. Major downtown projects like the Sound Transit tunnel and stations, libraries and municipal campus are just now getting on the boards or lie ahead."

"The increased diversification of our regional economy away from heavy industry and toward services and high-tech should also mitigate slowdowns seen at the national level," he said. "Finally, we see tremendous opportunity in the incipient recovery of the East Asian economies. McGowan Broz completed several industrial projects in the Russian Far East before the collapse of the ruble," said Broz, "and we are optimistic that that market will come back in a big way."