AE2S Employee-Owners marked the consulting firm’s 30th anniversary on October 1. “Thirty years ago today, AE2S was founded in Grand Forks, North Dakota, with a focus on drinking water projects. Over the past three decades, the firm grew from two people to over 300 full and part-time staff in nine states,” says Grant Meyer, AE2S CEO and President.

AE2S first opened in the basement of the Grand Forks Depot building with a borrowed desk. The firm now has 25 offices and satellite locations across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin. “AE2S was founded by providing drinking water services for communities. We have grown to provide solutions for communities that involve strategic planning, funding and financial management, public education and engagement, complete infrastructure consulting, and technology integration. All of these services combined have led to more than 9,000 successful projects in the U.S. and Canada,” says Jeff Hruby, Chief Development Officer.

In 2018, AE2S’ ownership model evolved when the firm became 100% Employee-Owned. “Our staff have always been engaged, hardworking, and entrepreneurial. Now as Employee-Owners, they directly benefit from the company’s ongoing success, and clients benefit from a renewed focus on client service,” says Lisa Ansley, Chief Operating Officer.

“We pride ourselves on the opportunities we provide to our Employee-Owners to work on challenging projects and develop their careers,” says Megan Houser, Chief Human Resources Officer.

“Lots of things have changed over three decades, including new technologies, changing regulations, and the ever-evolving engineering industry. However, two things haven’t changed at AE2S – our commitment to extreme client service and our Employee-Owners’ drive to think big and go beyond,” says Meyer.