This September marks ESP’s 40th anniversary. It is a meaningful milestone – and one made possible by the dedication and hard work of the people who have shaped the company across four decades.
It all began in 1986 when Catawba Land Surveys and King, Stewart & Associates merged to form ESP, bringing their engineering, surveying, and planning capabilities together under one roof to better serve clients. They set up shop in North Carolina with 25 team members.
Over the next decades, ESP grew. The firm diversified into public-sector work with NCDOT surveying, added Earth & Material Sciences and NC floodplain mapping, invested in new technology and additional offices – and expanded nationally. Each value-added service, capability, and location was designed to deliver greater value to clients. In 2007, ESP received its first ranking as an ENR Top 500 firm.
Joe Hendrick, who spent 38 years at ESP and served as President from 1999 to 2024, shared:
“ESP’s story has been shaped by generations of employees who brought integrity, creativity, and genuine commitment to their work, their clients, and one another. Their ability to adapt, persevere, and continue moving the company forward – through opportunities and challenges – is what built ESP’s reputation and made today possible.”
ESP’s 40-year journey is now strengthened by the addition of companies with their own deep histories and generations of experience. ESP expanded into key markets and regions by joining forces with Vickrey in 2020, Pickett in 2022, and CivilCorp and Ditesco in 2023. This year, we welcomed McClelland Consulting Engineers (MCE) and Roadway Asset Services (RAS) to our firm.
“The place we are today is rooted in a collective history, and we also celebrate the distinct contributions of every organization that makes up the ESP Team of Companies,” said CEO Dave Dickey. “We are now #186 on the ENR Top 500 list, with over 900 team members. Together, we are building upon a strong foundation and creating new opportunities for our employees, clients, and communities.”
Thank you to everyone – past and present – whose work has brought us to this moment. More to come as we celebrate 40!
