Midland's Business Journal | May 30, 2014
Acquisitions drive Schemmer's expansion efforts
Steve Kathol, P.E., S.E.
SCHEMMER’S new president and CEO Steve Kathol, P.E., S.E., and principal and marketing director, Tracy Mumford, LEED AP, were recently quoted in the May 30 issue of the Midland's Business Journal. The article describes the ways that SCHEMMER is recovering from the economic decline through acquired offices in Des Moines, IA and Tulsa, OK, as well as opening a branch in Oklahoma City, OK. Kathol aims to take SCHEMMER to 60 percent growth over the next five years through opportunities that acquisitions present the firm now and into the future. "Acquisitions are a significant part of our strategic growth plan and have been for the past five years, but we've also pursued organic growth in a number of situations," Kathol said. SCHEMMER obtained C2A Engineering Inc. (Tulsa) and Reveal Architecture (Des Moines) that will help the firm expand into new geography and market sectors like environmental site assessment and waste water treatment work. The Tulsa acquisition has positioned SCHEMMER to take on more transportation work, including bridge and highway projects.
Tracy Mumford, LEED AP
The expertise obtained through the Des Moines acquisition is essential for multi-housing, senior living and health campus projects, some of which are taking SCHEMMER into Los Angeles, Houston and Virginia. "Our clients want to offer a residential feel rather than an institutional feeling," Mumford said. "There may be a wing of 8, 11 or even 16 rooms, but it will be surrounded by a lot of open space to accommodate interaction among residents." Kathol and Mumford said SCHEMMER is well-equipped to identify important design trends through the large number of senior living projects the firm has been involved with over the past few years.
Kathol talks about his fundamental belief that he sees as a differentiator in the success of the architecture and engineering firm. "It is important to allow for a collaborative approach and one without barriers," he said. "By use of technology such as video conferencing, a two-person office can do a $10 million to $20 million dollar project by sharing."
SCHEMMER uses their full-service capabilities to provide solutions for client needs. Material testing, concrete strength testing and overall evaluation of materials used in buildings and roads are offered through the firm's geotechnical labs in Council Bluffs, IA and Lincoln, NE. SCHEMMER has seen a rise in activity for waste water engineering projects ranging from surveying, geotechnical engineering, site assessment studies and design projects. Geotechnical services are a crucial part of SCHEMMER'S current 350,000 SF warehouse/distribution center for Sergeant's Pet Care Products near 126th and Giles Road in Sarpy County. "There's an extremely high automated product retrieval system with automated picking and sorting," Mumford said. "We don't just design something and put equipment into it, but rather we design it around their design."
To read the full article, go to the front page and page 26 of the Midland's Business Journal, May 30 edition, titled: Acquisitions drive Schemmer's expansion efforts.
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