Category: Firm News

G2 has once again been named to the Zweig Group Hot Firms List, recognizing the 100 fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the United States and Canada.

This marks the sixth time G2 has earned a spot on the prestigious list. According to Zweig, Hot Firm honorees have “outperformed the economy and competitors to become leaders in their chosen fields.” Since 2021, G2 has grown revenue by 57%

G2, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024, continues to expand project work across a range of industries, including infrastructure, commercial and industrial, energy, education, telecommunications, and healthcare. The firm has completed projects in more than 35 states.

“G2’s promise of Smart. Results. Fast. has helped us build strong relationships and win new work in our target markets,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., principal at G2. “We’re grateful for the trust our clients place in us and proud of our team’s ability to deliver results through smart, effective collaboration.”

Zweig Group will honor the 2025 Hot Firm winners at a black-tie gala during the Elevate AEC Conference & Awards Gala, taking place September 11–13 in San Antonio, Texas.

G2 Consulting Group is proud to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its Chicago-area office, marking a quarter-century of engineered solutions, technical innovation and trusted client partnerships.

Originally opened in 2000 to serve G2’s growing telecommunication clients, the Chicago office has since expanded its reach to include projects in commercial development, education, healthcare, industrial, infrastructure and energy. Today, it plays an important role in the firm’s continued national growth, with project work in more than 35 states and an increasing demand for services.

“G2 planted its flag in the Chicago market 25 years ago to be closer to some of our earliest telecom clients,” said Anthony Poisson, P.E., who leads the Chicago office. “While our portfolio has grown significantly since then, it’s rewarding to say many of those original clients are still with us today. That’s evidence that our strategy worked.”

The Lake Zurich office now employs 10 full-time professionals who are supported by G2’s broader team of nearly 170 engineers, managers and staff in the Troy, MI headquarters and Ann Arbor offices. The Chicago team provides geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting and construction services across a wide range of sectors.

At the core of the firm’s continued success is its commitment to “Smart. Results. Fast.” a straightforward philosophy that drives every project and client relationship.

“Our industry has evolved a lot since 2000,” Poisson said. “Technology, client expectations and project timelines have all changed. But G2’s commitment to delivering smart engineering solutions, producing value-driven results and doing it all on time has remained rock solid.”

Part of that commitment includes consistently investing in the latest technology — from advanced field and lab equipment to cutting-edge software — to enhance project efficiency. Poisson notes that these tools, combined with a culture that prioritizes innovation and responsiveness, are key reasons why G2 has thrived in a highly competitive market.

In recent years, G2’s Chicago office has supported a wide range of complex projects across Illinois and beyond, including mixed-use developments, health care and educational facilities, municipal infrastructure upgrades, and road work.

Chicago’s contributions have supported G2’s sustained national growth. The company was recently named to the Zweig Group’s Hot Firms list for the sixth time in a decade. The Zweig list recognizes the 100 fastest-growing AEC firms in North America. The firm has grown revenue by more than 57% over the past four years alone.

“We’ve never been busier than we are right now,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., one of G2’s founding partners. “That’s thanks in large part to the work coming from our Chicagoland office and the strong team Tony has built. We’re excited about the future.”

As G2 looks ahead, the Lake Zurich team remains a cornerstone of the firm’s long-term vision.

“From our beginnings in the basement of a partner’s home to now having established offices in Troy, Ann Arbor and Chicagoland, we’ve come a long way,” Poisson said. “Like all businesses, I think it’s a ‘people’ story. We know that providing great service starts with having great people. That’s why we’re committed to offering a strong corporate culture, competitive benefits and clear career paths. It’s a formula that has served us well and ultimately helps us develop great client results. We’re proud of what we’ve built.”

G2 Consulting Group announced today that it has been awarded “below the ground” work on two major high rise construction projects in southeast Michigan, the 711 Church Street student housing project in Ann Arbor and two high rise multi-family developments on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit.

The Ann Arbor project, owned by Texas-based real estate developer LV Collective, will be a 485,000 sq. ft. student apartment building offering 273 market rate rental units ranging from studio to six-bedroom units. The building, immediately adjacent to the University of Michigan campus, will be called “The Rambler” and, at 17-stories, will be one of the tallest buildings in Ann Arbor.  It will feature a street level café and is being designed to blend with the neighborhood.

G2’s geotechnical and construction services include concrete and density testing, evaluation of auger cast piles and shallow foundations during construction and post tensioning testing and evaluations. G2’s Ann Arbor office has a material testing laboratory, helping area projects move forward quickly and efficiently without delaying construction.

The Detroit projects, at 7850 Jefferson Avenue, will consist of two identical 12-story buildings using a basement and podium deck with post tensioning in the concrete podium slabs to support the superstructure. Because the construction site is located near the Detroit River, specialized geotechnical considerations relative to sea walls, water table and other groundwater issues are especially critical.

“The projects are very different in many ways, but they both require the type of thorough, in-depth understanding of ground conditions and constructability specifications that G2 specializes in. With projects of this height and overall size, understanding and solidifying foundational issues is Job One. Nothing is more important during construction and for the long-term viability of the buildings,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E. and principal at G2.

G2 has been focusing on ‘everything below the ground’ since the company was founded 30 years ago. G2 has the people and experience, backed by state-of-the-art equipment and technology, to fully understand localized environments and then recommend and engineer the right, most cost-effective approach.

“Living up to our promise, ‘Smart. Results. Fast.’ is more than keeping us busy, but if we can help our clients to better understand the challenges and better build their projects, that’s why we’re here.  It’s an exciting time for us and an exciting time to be part of this industry,” Smolinski says.

Industry veteran and longtime G2 Consulting Group employee, Patrick T. Bell, P.G., has been appointed to the newly created position of Group Leader – Environmental Services where he will focus on strategic growth initiatives and client service excellence. Bell has honed his skills on over 5,000 projects throughout North America ranging from standalone commercial sites to large-scale renewable energy projects.

“Since joining G2 in 2016, Pat has leveraged his extensive experience in land development, construction and program management to add new services to the firm and differentiate our environmental consulting services from others in the industry. He is the right person to lead our team and will be especially valuable to our clients,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., Principal at G2. “Pat’s seen and done it all, everything from developing first-of-its-kind EPA-approved compliance processes to managing major national client development programs. He has the knowledge, experience and dedication to lead our environmental team to the next level.”

G2 also added Kennan D. Robins, an environmental services expert, to the team. Robins comes to G2 from Intertek-PSI in Plymouth where he served as Environmental Services Manager. He previously worked at PM Environmental in Berkley and Huron Consultants in Clinton Township. He will work in G2’s Ann Arbor office.

G2’s environmental services team regularly completes environmental due diligence investigations for a variety of industries as well as conducting specialized studies for UST compliance, PFAS, vapor intrusion, brownfields, hazardous materials, NEPA, wetlands, and other environmental planning and permitting processes.

“Environmental consulting and development entitlement is my passion, and that’s why I’ve been doing it for over three decades,” said Bell. “I’m looking forward to my new role expanding G2’s environmental services by identifying new opportunities and consistently delivering ‘Smart. Results. Fast’ to our clients. It’s what were known for and the reason G2 continues to be one of the fastest growing companies in the space.”

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has named G2 Consulting Group, a nationally recognized, Troy-based geotechnical, environmental and construction services firm, as one of its pre-approved engineering teams through a two-year “as-needed” indefinite service contract.   

 G2’s selection for the 2025-2027 RCOC agreement is a result of the company’s past performance on projects and its design and geotechnical engineering capabilities in service areas deemed critical for future planned projects. Road reconstruction in Michigan has become a top priority for the state’s leadership team and has been accelerated by additional funding via the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.  With more than 2,700 miles of roadways, RCOC is the largest county road system in Michigan. 

 “We have the know-how and capability to bring real added value to road design and construction,” says Mark Smolinski P.E., G2’s president. “With all the construction projects and all the roadwork being done in Michigan these days, we welcome this opportunity to contribute.” 

 G2 has worked on major infrastructure projects for three decades including geotechnical engineering and materials testing on hundreds of public and private infrastructure projects. The firm has seen a rise in innovative intersection configurations, including increased roundabouts and newer “diverging diamond” interstate highway interchanges. G2 has also been involved in many notable bridge projects and is engaged in significant culvert updates and replacements throughout Oakland County.     

 “With RCOC and all of our public and private clients, our goal is always to help get the job done smarter and faster,” says Smolinski. “We work with our partners to do whatever’s required to assure that our part of the job goes smoothly and stays within budget. That’s what our clients expect from us, and we pride ourselves on delivering on our promise – Smart. Results. Fast.” 

G2 Consulting Group (G2) was featured on the Crain’s Detroit Business list of “Largest Engineering Firms in Metro Detroit.”

G2 was ranked #21 based on its number of local engineers, which now stands at 61. The company was cited for having the second-largest increase in its number of engineers in 2024 with an increase of 12 versus the prior year. Crain’s also mentioned G2’s 2,500 projects completed in 2023 as one of the most significant year-over-year increases of any company on the list.

“G2 celebrated its 30th anniversary earlier this year, and I assure you, when the other founding partners, Noel Hargraves-Thomas and Bruce Wilberding, and I started in a basement, we never dreamed of becoming one of the largest and most respected engineering firms in the region,” said Mark Smolinski P.E., G2 principal. “But, after years of hard work and dedicated client service, we’re incredibly proud of the growth we achieved and appreciate this important recognition from Crain’s.”

G2’s work has steadily grown across its service areas of geotechnical, environmental and construction services. The company’s projects cross a variety of industries including infrastructure, commercial and industrial, energy, education, telecom and healthcare to name a few. The company has completed projects in more than 35 states.

“Our philosophy has never changed,” Smolinski said. “We provide practical, value engineering solutions to complex engineering challenges. That’s what our clients expect and demand. While simply being ‘big’ has never been the goal, we believe this recognition is an important validation of G2’s ability to consistently deliver on our promise of Smart. Results. Fast.”

Crain’s subscribers can review the complete “Largest Engineering Firms in Metro Detroit” list here.

G2 Consulting Group has hired Erik K. Ventura, P.E. and promoted Kathryn A. Crow, P.E. to project manager positions.

Ventura joins G2 after spending eight years with Neyer, Tiseo & Hindo, LTD., where he was a senior geotechnical project engineer specializing in deep foundations, slope stability analysis, solar projects, subsurface investigations and site characterization. Ventura’s recent projects included seawalls and dams, solar facilities, public utilities, infrastructure and bridges, including the Gordie Howe International Bridge where he completed geotechnical analysis according to MDOT, AASHTO, LRFD and FHWA methodology.

Previously, Ventura worked with Geoengineers Inc. on projects primarily in the western U.S. He received his bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Michigan State University and his master’s in geotechnical engineering from University of Michigan. He is currently licensed in both Michigan and Texas.

Crow has more than eight years with G2, primarily in the firm’s fast growing solar department where she oversees laboratory technicians, conducts soil testing and has been active in field testing and design analysis. Involved in nearly 160 solar investigations, Crow regularly assists in foundation design, geotechnical investigations and determinations of soil thermal, electrical and corrosion properties.

Crow received her Bachelor of Science, Environmental Engineering degree from Michigan Technological University and her Master of Science, Civil Engineering from Lawrence Technological University.

“The solar industry continues to grow, but that doesn’t mean it’s not without challenges” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., G2 principal. “These large-scale solar developments have significant environmental and geotechnical needs that require careful consideration and sound geotechnical engineering. Erik and Kathryn are invaluable resources whose in-depth knowledge and solar insights will help G2 deliver Smart. Results. Fast. to our clients.”

“We’re happy to promote from within, especially when we have a person of Kathryn’s caliber on the team. At the same time, we’re always seeking experienced outside talent to join our team and are confident that Erik will be a great asset for a host of geotechnical projects and services.”

G2’s continued growth has presented opportunities for employee advancement throughout the firm. The company emphasizes career development opportunities and launched a proprietary interactive training platform to help prepare its next generation of leaders. In 2023, G2 was named to the Detroit Free Press “Top Workplaces in Michigan” list and to the 2024 Zweig Group’s “Hot Firms List.”

“Smart. Results. Fast.”  Those were the ideas behind G2 Consulting Group when the company was founded 30 years ago. They are still the driving ideas behind the company today.  Be smart. Deliver desired results. Do it on time.

Put another way, G2’s goal is “to deliver responsive geotechnical engineering, environmental consulting and construction services to help clients build better, build smarter and, ultimately, build profits.”

Either way, G2 has succeeded.  For a company founded by three guys in the basement of one of the partners’ homes 30 years ago to a company with offices in three cities – Troy, Ann Arbor and Chicago – and with nearly 150 employees and growing, G2 has surpassed its founders’ dreams. And they got out of that basement in less than a year!

“We’ve stuck with our guiding principles, and it’s worked,” said Mark Smolinski P.E., and one of the three founding partners. “Our philosophy has never changed. We provide practical, value engineering solutions to complex construction engineering problems. That’s what our clients expect, and demand.”

G2 has completed thousands of projects in over 35 states in its 30 years.  The company that began with a focus on telecom infrastructure has expanded into commercial development (mixed use, office, retail and parking), all levels of education (public and private from kindergarten to university), health care, water, power and energy, industrial, and infrastructure including literally thousands of public and private roads, bridges, ports, dams and more.

“We’ve always said that we specialize in ‘everything below the ground,’ so it’s fitting that the company was founded in a basement,” Smolinski said. “What happens below the ground necessarily has an enormous impact on the ultimate success or failure of a project.  A thorough geotechnical investigation of the soil and site conditions that a project is being built on are all critical to a successful project. You can’t shortchange the early project due diligence.”

Smolinski, and his partners – Founding Partners and Principals Noel Hargrave-Thomas P.E. and Bruce Wilberding P.E. – have never been busier than this year with construction projects driven by the federal non-partisan “Build Back Better” program. One of their major ongoing tasks is identifying and training the added talent needed to keep up with the demand. “It’s a good problem to have,” they all agree. “Our focus at G2 has become one of recruiting and retention of great people through a strong corporate culture, great benefits, and career pathing.”

“I’m not sure any of us expected the level of success we’ve achieved when we started G2 30 years ago,” says Smolinski.  “We owe it to our clients who have the confidence in us to give us the work and our teammates who carry it out with an incredible amount of hard work and professionalism.”

G2 has continually invested in new technologies that bring additional efficiency to projects. “Our industry looks a lot different than it did 30 years ago. G2 takes pride in our ability to quickly and seamlessly incorporate the latest equipment and software capabilities to support our engineering talent. Investment in people and technology is how we’ll continue to grow for the next 30!”

“Providing engineering services to complex projects has never been easy but it’s what we love to do and it’s been a great 30 years,” Smolinski said. “We’re all exceptionally grateful for our clients, teammates, partners and suppliers who have helped shape our company.”

G2 Consulting Group is once again included on the Zweig Group’s “Hot Firms” list for 2024.

Each year, Zweig honors the fastest growing architecture, engineering, environmental, planning, construction and related professional services firms. Firms are ranked based on three-year growth in gross revenue, by both percentage and dollar growth. G2, which is consistently included on the list, was ranked #81 of the nationwide firms surveyed.

“The 2024 Hot Firms have outperformed the economy and their competitors and are leading the AEC industry,” said Zweig Group CEO Chad Clinehens. “Their commitment to a strong culture, innovative marketing, and adaptability to change help set them apart as successful, growth-focused firms.”

G2’s work has steadily grown across its service areas of geotechnical, environmental and construction services. The company’s projects cross a variety of industries including infrastructure, commercial and industrial, energy, education, telecom and healthcare to name a few. The company has completed projects in more than 35 states.

“At G2, we believe revenue success follows customer service,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., G2 principal. “We feel fortunate to have a great team, great partners and great clients who have all helped us to be successful and to consistently deliver on our promise of Smart. Results. Fast.”

Zweig Hot Firm winners will be honored at a black tie gala during the 2024 Elevate AEC Conference & Awards Gala in Tampa Bay, Florida, September 18-19.

Buoyed by Governor Whitmer’s announcement of a planned additional $700 million expenditure in Michigan highway and bridge construction in 2024, the Michigan construction and engineering industry is looking to another strong year. The additional highway investment completes $3.5 billion in road construction projects in the state since 2020 and furthers the Governor’s pledge to “fix the damn roads.”

MDOT Director Brad Wieferich announced his 5-year-plan that includes $4 billion investment in 2024 financial year, which is estimated to support 53,000+ jobs annually by continuing the state’s investment in “the preservation of the transportation system, safe mobility for motorists, and efficient system operations.”

Mark Smolinski P.E. and Principal at Troy-based G2 Consulting Group, believes the industry is ready to get the job done. “Despite some ongoing challenges, there is good news on the construction front. The pandemic-induced wildness in material availability and raw material costs is dissipating and the supply industry is starting to normalize. That means we have access to materials we need to get jobs completed on a timely, predictable basis without the dramatic fluctuations in cost.”

Bernd Ronnisch of Ronnisch Construction Group sees the industry remaining strong, as it has been for more than a decade, with access to capital and talent remaining as key issues. “Each year, more and more seasoned construction veterans are retiring. The younger generation is well educated, but there’s just not as many of them nor do they have the experience of those who are exiting.”

“Capital is still tight and higher interest rates are keeping some people on the sidelines. New creative funding solutions are becoming necessary, especially for the legacy-type projects that have longer-term returns,” Ronnisch said. “We’re still seeing office and spec buildings slow, but other niche projects, like car washes and logistics sites, have been hot helping to make up for the office decline. The industry looks strong in 2024, however, it’s somewhat unprecedented to have 12 consecutive years of growth, so we’re keeping our eyes open for any signs that the other shoe may drop.”

Dan Mitchell of Hubbell, Roth & Clark, mentioned the impact from the recent UAW strike and major infrastructure investment as industry drivers. “Although the automotive labor strike initially caused turmoil and delays, the industry quickly recovered and continued on its ambitious facility expansion and redevelopment. The move to EV production, although slower than originally forecasted, requires significant capital investment in new facilities as well as reconfigurations to current ones.”

“Major infrastructure projects are programmed several years in advance and attract firms from across the U.S. The long lead time makes it difficult to price projects given uncertainty in cost of money, labor and materials,” Mitchell said. “Like everyone in the industry, we’re looking for additional team members, but HRC is careful to only hire the right talent to fill our needs – we don’t want to ‘hire and fire’ but rather carefully build our team.”

Scott Willson, Vice President/Owner at Kimley-Horn of Michigan, Inc. in Southfield, cites the downward shift in the Fed rates and the presidential election as two key events in 2024 that could bring about an uptick in development opportunities for certain industries such as light industrial/manufacturing, E-commerce, and mutli-family. “There’s a lot at stake coming out of 2024 and entering 2025 that can change the development landscape that has been lagging behind last year and into this year. Isolated geographic locations and certain industries, such as Mission Critical, have been immune to the recent downward market trends. We’re anticipating increased access to affordable capital in 2024/25 for our clients which will encourage a lot of new projects that have been waiting in the wings. The question remains is how much of the capital will be considered affordable by the development community depending on the Feds and the election. We should know going into 2025, if not earlier.”

“Mission Critical – data centers – have never been stronger for our business across our firm as new technological developments such as Artificial Intelligence have developed further over the recent few years,” Willson said. “With more established and robust tech infrastructure now in existence across the country, data centers no longer need to be concentrated in specific locations such as Chicago or Northern Virginia, but can spring up almost anywhere, provided sufficient access to power and water. Hence, we see data center construction to remain a big portion of the development community over the next several years.”

Along with infrastructure, the industry insiders agree that utilities, alternative energy (particularly solar), ecommerce logistical sites and K-12 education continue as construction standouts in Michigan. Federal support for fiber and internet deployment, especially to underserved and unserved areas, continues to propel the telecom sector.

“Michigan is in a good place with a number of highway and other major infrastructure projects well underway. The transition to EV’s in the auto world is creating opportunities for large manufacturing plants and R&D facilities. We expect the influx of international companies to continue for many years. Michigan’s construction industry is well poised to meet the current challenges and future opportunities. My expectation is another strong year for our company and our industry,” Smolinski said.

G2 has promoted two long-term employees, Michael G. Dagher, P.E. and Mohamad K. Khalil, to the role of Project Manager.

“At G2, we work hard to identify, cultivate and reward talented employees,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., G2 principal. “So, it’s especially gratifying to announce the promotions of Michael Dagher and Mohamad Khalil, two highly skilled engineers who have been essential to our success and growth.”

Dagher brings a strong background in geotechnical engineering analyses and design, including soil mechanics, laboratory testing, drilling, construction quality control, pavement engineering and other areas. His strong technological background enables him to effectively leverage the latest software and applications to support complex client projects. Dagher earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Massachusetts – Dartmouth. He is a 2022 graduate of the ACEC/Michigan Emerging Leaders Program.

Khalil has spent 11 years concentrating on geotechnical engineering, construction materials and pavement engineering in both Michigan and his native Australia. His current areas of work includes bridges, concrete and bituminous roadways, tunnel construction, rail corridors, schools, hospitals, earth retention and other commercial and residential buildings. Khalil earned his Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Technology in Sydney, Australia. He graduated from GBA Emerging Leaders Class 5 in April, 2024.

G2 Consulting has experienced business growth over the past ten years. During that period, the company’s employment has grown from 35 to almost 150 across its three office locations in Troy, Ann Arbor and Chicago. In 2023, G2 was named to the Detroit Free Press “Top Workplaces in Michigan” list and to the 2024 Zweig Group’s “Hot Firms List.”

The firm’s continued growth has presented opportunities for employee advancement throughout the firm. G2 emphasizes career development opportunities and launched a proprietary interactive training platform to help prepare its next generation of leaders.

G2 Consulting Group, LLC (G2) is pleased to announce it has received a strategic investment from The Great River Company, Inc. (GRC).  Through this investment, GRC will partner with G2 leadership to continue the establishment of an engineering services platform with a core focus on geotechnical, environmental and construction engineering.  G2 will continue to operate independently under their own brand and be led by their existing leadership team.  Together, the leadership teams will focus on organic expansion and complimentary add-on acquisitions.

G2 was founded in 1994 to provide geoprofessional engineering services.  Their philosophy is to create lifetime clients who value the expertise and knowledge of the people of G2. Clients represent the infrastructure, K – 12, telecommunications, power and energy, manufacturing, and commercial sectors of the built environment. While the company is entering a new phase of growth, the goal is to continue providing long term clients with Smart. Results. Fast. and our employees with a commitment to an exceptional work environment with personal growth opportunities.

The Great River Company, Inc. (GRC) is a Minneapolis based private investment company backed by business owning families seeking long-term investments across five strategic platforms.  Their investment in G2 reflects the belief the US built environment market will continue to play a strong role in the overall economy for years to come.