40 Years Tells a Story
MCGILL CELEBRATES ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY IN 2024
As McGill celebrates our 40th anniversary, we are filled with pride and a sense of accomplishment as we reflect on the journey that has brought us to this momentous occasion. Founded in 1984, our firm was built on the bedrock of trustworthiness, dedication to our clients’ needs, and a commitment to shaping communities and improving the lives of individuals living within those communities.
From the very beginning, McGill has pledged to provide the highest quality service, to always put our clients’ needs first, and to work hard to maintain strong relationships with the communities that we serve – and we believe this has been a driving force behind our longevity and continued success.
Today, McGill remains standing as a testament to the enduring power of these values in the world of engineering, land planning and recreation, and consulting. As we mark this significant milestone, we reflect on how we got to where we are today, and we look forward to the next 40 years with great anticipation.
“Let me say that 40 years of experience in this line of work means a lot. It means McGill is credible, reliable, delivers, and executes on building the infrastructure that will enable communities to grow and become all that they envision to become,” explained McGill Client Services Manager, Gary Jackson.
HISTORY OF MCGILL
McGill is a shining example of a business that has grown and thrived over the past 40 years. What began as a small office on College Street in Asheville, North Carolina, with a handful of hopeful employees, has expanded to include offices in eight locations across three states.
After the Asheville office opened, McGill continued to grow rapidly, so we opened our second office in Eastern Tennessee in 1995. To better serve an expanded client base, we then established across North Carolina: Hickory (1999), Pinehurst (2007), Raleigh (2014), and Shallotte (2017), before venturing into Virginia (2018).
Our founder, Gary McGill, always envisioned the company to be owned by staff members over outside interests. In 1999, a small group of employees were able to purchase ownership of the business from Gary. Following his sale of company stock, Gary remained president of McGill for two years during a leadership transition.
In 2001, Joel Storrow, PE, was elected by shareholders as the new president of McGill. He remained in that position until 2019, when Andy Lovingood, PE, was named president of the firm. Having just three presidents over our 40-year history speaks to the strong and consistent leadership that is prioritized within our organization.
McGill Asheville Office Manager, Mark Cathey, reflected on McGill’s expansion over the years, stating: “I started with McGill in February of 1996 as the 40th employee. Now we have 159 employees – so I have witnessed McGill experience significant change and growth.”
EXPANDING OUR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Over the past four decades, McGill has shown consistent dedication to the professional services we provide, expanding our team to include a wide range of disciplines – ensuring that we have the knowledge to handle all aspects of projects and needs of our clients.
Our team now includes professionals in water and wastewater, civil, electrical, MEP, and solid waste engineering, as well as environmental, land planning and recreation, surveying, construction administration, and consulting. This breadth and depth of expertise allows us to assist our clients with identifying and resolving problems and developing and executing cost-effective and innovative solutions.
THE HEART OF MCGILL IS OUR EMPLOYEES
One of the key factors that has contributed to McGill’s success is our internal relationships. Over the years, we have emphasized the importance of a strong and supportive culture, and we have brought together a group of talented and dedicated professionals who are passionate about their work and deeply committed to the success of our clients. This strong and cohesive team dynamic is reflected in the work we do, as it allows us to approach each project with a high level of knowledge, collaboration, and creativity.
Reflecting on the culture at McGill, Marketing Manager Mary Frances Kiffmeyer, highlights the supportive environment that our team members enjoy: “The culture at McGill is very supportive. We celebrate our wins, and we have a really good time working together and lifting each other up.” This is crucial in fostering a sense of shared purpose, and it plays an important role in our ability to consistently deliver exceptional results.
Former McGill President and current Senior Principal, Joel Storrow, said, “I was president at McGill for around 20 years – succeeding our founder, Gary McGill. I always wanted to make sure our employees were treated fairly. Over that time and through today, we have stayed the course of keeping our employees engaged and we have kept it fun for everybody.”
Not only through this continued emphasis on fun, employee satisfaction, employee professional development, and teamwork – but also through effective collaboration and a deep understanding of our clients’ needs and goals – have we been able to help shape the best outcomes for each client and community we serve. We pride ourselves on our ability to work closely with our teammates in the office, as well as with our clients, to develop solutions that are tailored to their specific needs.
ADAPTING TO CHANGES OVER THE PAST 40 YEARS
The field of engineering has undergone major changes and advancements over the past 40 years, and McGill has adapted to and grown along with them. From the introduction of new technologies and methodologies, to the increasing emphasis on sustainability and environmental stewardship, we have remained at the forefront of these developments, continuously expanding our expertise and capabilities to better serve communities. Our team of professionals is constantly seeking out new knowledge and skills, ensuring that we are always equipped to meet the diverse and evolving needs of our clients.
In addition to adapting to the changes in our industry, McGill has also expanded our services to accommodate our clients’ growing and changing needs. While we began primarily as an engineering firm, we have since added on service offerings in landscape architecture, surveying, construction administration, funding, and environmental consulting. This expansion has allowed us to provide comprehensive solutions for our clients, addressing all aspects of their projects and ensuring that they receive the highest level of expertise and support throughout the entire process.
LEARNING FROM THE PAST AND LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
“40 years ago, we were called McGill. Today, we are still McGill. I feel confident we will have a 50th anniversary and 60th anniversary, and that is the exciting part,” noted McGill Vice President and Virginia Regional Manager, Danny Bridges. “The firm is in good hands. We have the right people in the right positions, and we are able to adapt. One thing I think is important is that when you adapt to your industry, you have to be deliberate about it – you have to be pragmatic and smart and, overall, McGill has done so well at that.”
Our 40 years in business has brought us a wealth of experience and a roster of longstanding clients who have placed their trust in us time and time again. However, we are also excited about the new clients we have the opportunity to serve. We are dedicated to providing all of our clients, both old and new, with the same level of excellence and dedication that has been the hallmark of McGill since the beginning.
McGill Vice President, Keith Webb, confirmed that “McGill stays focused on our clients. It is part of what we do as engineers to meet our clients’ needs. I hope the communities that we work for see us as an asset, and if they have a problem at 11 o’clock at night, they feel like they can call us.”
McGill is filled with excitement and gratitude for the journey that has brought us to this point. The past 40 years have been filled with challenges and triumphs, and we are immensely proud of all that we have accomplished.
Looking ahead to the next 40 years, we are committed to remaining at the forefront of innovation and excellence in our field. We aim to continue to foster sustainable and resilient communities through our work, taking into account the evolving challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.
We are driven by our passion for serving the public interest and leaving a positive legacy for future generations. We look forward to continuing to shape communities through our dedication to excellence, integrity, and innovation.
McGill Roanoke Office Manager, Wes Fleming remarked, “I think it is really cool that McGill has been around for 40 years. And what I hope for the next 40 years is continued growth and continuing to do the same great things we have done in communities all over North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.”
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY
Send us an email at info@mcgillassociates.com to learn more about how McGill can serve your community, support you on your next project, and provide you with innovative engineering, land planning, and consulting solutions.
Be sure to follow along with McGill throughout 2024 to learn more about our past, present, and future!
