Category: Firm News

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.

G2 is honored to be included on the 2023 Detroit Free Press Top Workplaces in Michigan list.

Top Workplaces rankings are determined based on employee surveys that ask questions about workplace culture, pay, benefits, leadership, and what people like or dislike about their jobs. The survey is distributed by Energage, a Philadelphia-based employee research and culture technology firm that performs Top Workplaces surveys across the country. G2 Consulting Group was listed in the Small Michigan Top Workplaces and was one of just three engineering firms to be included on that list.

“It’s been a challenging few years with the pandemic and disruptions to the supply chain, immediately followed by huge federal, state and municipal infrastructure investment,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., G2 principal. “It’s hardly been business as usual and that’s what makes us especially proud to be recognized as a Top Workplace. We have a phenomenal team and are gratified that this independent survey reflected the culture, career pathing and compensation packages that G2 provides are helping to make us an employer of choice.”

G2 Consulting Group has experienced business growth over the past ten years. During that period, the company’s employment grew from 35 to 125 across its three office locations.

The company recently developed and launched its Development In G2 (DIG) program, an interactive and transparent platform that consolidates employees’ training, certifications and prior accomplishments. It allows the company to quickly assess the best team members to assign to a particular project, based on the highly specific skills required on the job site. By offering robust training and certification programs, DIG also offers employees a clearer career path, allowing them to pursue their goals in the engineering areas of most interest to them.

G2 Consulting Group (G2) has contracted with the City of Novi as the latest Michigan municipality to join its growing portfolio of “as-needed” engineering contracts.

G2 works with dozens of Michigan cities, townships, counties and state agencies under as-needed engineering contracts that typically have multi-year terms. G2’s services are wide ranging, however are mostly centered on infrastructure where the firm provides environmental and geotechnical engineering and materials testing services on projects including storm water and sewer, roadways, bridges, utilities, dams and more to their municipal partners.

“G2’s mission is delivering ‘Smart. Results. Fast,’” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., principal at G2 Consulting. “We’re able to do that especially well for our ‘as-needed’ partners since we have a relationship in place — we know the people and understand their systems and preferred approaches. We’re ready to immediately jump in if there’s an urgent issue, or we can strategize with clients on the best ways to schedule and implement planned maintenance and improvements. It’s really a win-win.”

Without an as-needed contract, municipalities are left to create unique proposal packages for each project, then review the bids, determine if the supplier is up to the challenge, negotiate price, then educate the supplier on the existing systems — all before the work begins. Even then, there’s no guarantee of satisfaction.

“Municipalities face incredibly tough, complex engineering challenges. Our as-needed contracts are usually the reflection of a longstanding relationship with the client – we’ve proven that we can help their community with innovative solutions through all facets of a project’s lifecycle,” Smolinski said. “As-needed contracts are becoming increasingly commonplace as municipalities better understand the synergies they provide. Trying to find a new partner for each project is a crapshoot, and rarely saves time or money in the long run.”

Smolinski said that G2’s scope of work differs for each locale. Although G2’s individual project profit margins are typically lower compared to a one-off project, the firm benefits from the certainty of work and predictability which helps it manage its business. The efficiencies go both-ways. The client doesn’t have to navigate a cumbersome bid process with unknown suppliers. And, their as-needed contractor, G2, enters each project with a clear understanding of its goals and likely challenges both on the job site itself and in the broader municipal infrastructure ecosystem.

G2 Consulting Group (G2) has developed a comprehensive training platform that will benefit employees, clients and the company itself, and keep it at the forefront of the constantly evolving industry.

G2’s “Development In G2,” or “DIG,” is an interactive and transparent platform that consolidates employees’ training, certifications and prior accomplishments. It allows the company to quickly assess the best personnel to assign to a particular project, based on the highly specific skills required on the job site. By offering robust training and certification programs, DIG also offers employees a clearer career path, allowing them to pursue their goals in the engineering areas of most interest to them.

Today’s construction projects require a range of technical skills including specific concrete certifications, processes for deep foundation inspection, geotechnical investigation procedures, and various other building material evaluations, etc. No single person can do it all.

DIG represents significant investment for G2 and is designed to give clients peace of mind knowing that their projects are being managed by knowledgeable professionals who understand the very latest processes and techniques required for the particular assignment.

“DIG will help G2 as a company by teaching and reinforcing best practices that are critical to keeping our business at the top of our game. It will ensure that our field staff across the country always performs assignments using G2-approved methods, which are purposefully designed and continually scrutinized to ensure we deliver Smart. Results. Fast.,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., principal at G2.

The DIG system is a conduit between informational resources and the engineers and field staff. It also inventories each team member’s capabilities and certifications, so the company can quickly identify and assign the staff with the most precise and up-to-date qualifications for each client project. Importantly, DIG also reinforces G2’s approved methodology ensuring a consistent approach and seamless results.

DIG will be especially beneficial to G2 employees by making learning opportunities and certifications more frequent and more accessible, and career paths and advancement opportunities more transparent. It will ensure that staff continues to grow in knowledge and understanding of the business as part of their regular routine.

“In order to earn business and keep clients coming back, G2 continually invests in the best equipment to do the most complex jobs. What ‘equipment’ is more important than our own team of professionals leading the work?” Smolinski said. “At the same time, we have to attract and retain talent in a highly competitive job market. We believe the DIG platform will help us to be a better employer by offering tools and resources designed to help employees build their careers and achieve the skills they need to be successful. Simply put, it will make G2 a better company and offer tangible benefits for everyone involved.”

G2 is providing design-build services for five bridges in a $160 million Calhoun County project that will result in 10 miles of the I-94 freeway being rebuilt.

Working with C.A. Hull, Anlaan Corp., and Fishbeck on the Michigan Department of Transportation’s I-94 reconstruction team, G2 Consulting will support the reconstruction of five existing bridges. As part of the effort, G2 is supporting the development of several temporary bridges and crossovers that need to be built to accommodate traffic during construction. Construction has commenced and is scheduled over the next two years.

“The Calhoun County project is a significant piece of the overall I-94 redevelopment effort,” said Jennifer Casey, P.E., project manager at G2 Consulting. “All of these highway/bridge projects are complex and each one offers its own unique set of challenges. The big challenge in this project is to deliver it while also maintaining a focus on regional mobility needs during the construction.”

G2 is approved as an “as needed” provider of geotechnical engineering services for MDOT. The firm has a breadth of recent experience providing various services on similar MDOT projects including I-75 Segment 3 in Oakland County, the Rouge River Bridge over I-75 in Detroit, I-96 Grand River bridge replacement in Lansing, I-696 Reconstruction, and the I-75 / M-43 interchange project to name a few.

“As infrastructure continues to be a focus at the national, state and local level, G2 takes pride in working with high caliber teams on marquee projects like Calhoun County,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., a principal at G2. “These are incredibly complex projects, but along with C.A. Hull, Anlaan Corp., and Fishbeck, we have the team, the experience and the expertise to anticipate key challenges and address them in an intelligent and efficient way to minimize short-term disruptions while building long-lasting solutions.”

Each year, Zweig Group’s Hot Firms List 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 Consulting Group, which is consistently included on the list, was ranked #86 of the nationwide firms.

“Growth is the ultimate measure of business success and the 2023 Hot Firms are leading the industry,” said Zweig Group CEO Chad Clinehens. “Focusing on culture, investing in marketing, and embracing change are just some of the things these firms are doing to drive growth.”

G2’s work has steadily grown across its service areas of geotechnical, environmental and construction services. G2 is working across many industries including infrastructure, commercial and industrial, energy, education, telecom and healthcare to name a few. The company has completed projects in more than 30 states.

“This list is a reflection of our strong relationships with clients, our people and partners, who have collectively helped us to be successful,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., G2 principal. “We’re proud of our accomplishments and will continue to work hard every day to deliver Smart. Results. Fast. to our clients.”

G2 Consulting Group and its partners anticipate a strong year for Michigan’s construction industry as a number of funding programs combine to allow the state to address many of its most critical infrastructure needs.

“In Michigan, there’s no shortage of work to be done – the difference is that in the next few years, there’s also the funding available to do it,” said Mark Smolinski, P.E., principal at G2 Consulting Group in Troy… READ MORE.

G2 is experiencing robust activity in its core cellular tower services as a result of the continued deployment of 5G networks nationwide and the recent $65 billion federal investment to bring additional cellular and fiber services to underserved areas.

Despite a cumbersome launch, 5G rollout has greatly accelerated over the past two years with all major carriers now offering some level of 5G service. As new towers are erected, or as 5G capabilities are added to existing towers, G2 works with a host of clients to provide engineering and environmental services to ensure sites meet the local, state, and federal regulations.

“As the 5G rollout continues, we’re living in a world where a single tower may support multiple carriers, multiple technologies and an array of equipment,” said Anthony Poisson, P.E., from G2’s Chicago area office. “Increasing the tower load requires careful engineering due diligence and may trigger additional permitting and permissions, all areas where G2 is uniquely qualified to help as we continue to work with telecom clients nationwide.”

Poisson suggests the following as due diligence best practice:

1) Ground conditions: Understanding the geotechnical conditions on-site is critical for cellular towers. Not only do you have to ensure the tower foundation is stable, owners and carriers also have to understand how adding or subtracting weight will impact the structural capacity of the tower and foundations. G2 has provided geotechnical investigations and foundation mapping services across the county to provide the information required for design of new tower foundations and analysis of existing foundations.

2) Regulatory environment: Although the Federal Communication Commission governs much of cellular tower regulation, the myriad of other local, state, federal and tribal authorities laws are equally important. This includes the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) which created strict rules to govern call tower ecological impact.  G2 has nearly 30 years of experience on cellular projects and can help clients untangle the complex web of regulations.

3) Macro towers: Many tower companies and/or carriers are upgrading existing towers with 5G capabilities, effectively integrating new infrastructure into the current network. It’s important to note that these existing cell towers may also continue transmitting 4G signals and contain other hardware for respective service areas. Integrating the new tech requires careful coordination.

4) Small cell: In addition to towers, 5G coverage requires carriers to add at least 250,000 new small cell sites nationwide. Though these small cell technologies perform similar functions, they’re not your typical cell tower. While most current cell towers are large, freestanding structures, the small cell “towers” required by 5G are much smaller devices that can be mounted on existing infrastructure like traffic lights, lampposts, rooftops or other appropriate spot in urban spaces where licensing and construction issues can be particularly difficult.

5) Securing older equipment: With all the talk of new technologies, it’s easy to forget that many towers have been around for 25 years or more and subject to all sorts of weather and environmental conditions.  Further, most of the tower equipment is located at or near the tower’s highest point.  This “pressure at the top” cause structural stress over time. Tower companies need to shore up these older sites both to bring them into current code and to ensure they can safely accommodate the new equipment.

“5G is an exciting technology often delivering 20x speeds to help America keep up with its data demands. G2 works with telecom companies as they navigate the challenges to ensure a smooth, safe and efficient implementation, both to satisfy immediate need while also protecting the environment and safety within and adjacent to the tower areas,” Poisson said.

Specializing in “everything below the ground,” G2 prides itself in finding practical solutions to complex problems and delivering ‘Smart. Results. Fast.’ The company has completed thousands of telecom projects across the county and has the expertise to make your project a success.

The car wash industry continues to see unprecedented investment from both private equity and established operators finding themselves under increased pressure to offer state-of-the-art convenient facilities and services. Of course, for cash washes, the facility itself is only as strong as the pavement on which it is built.

“Cash washes are particularly hard on their pavement,” said Anthony Poisson P.E., project manager at G2 Consulting Group, a nationally recognized geotechnical, environmental and construction services firm. With the increased investment, G2 finds itself working with more car washes around the country. “Water and chemicals are primary drivers of pavement deterioration, especially when the weather gets cold, which, incidentally, is a particularly busy time at car washes.”

A geotechnical inspection or, in layman’s terms, an underground study on the property where the new construction work is being done, can identify problems in the soil and lead to the right pavement strategies before any actual construction begins. It’s especially important for soils which will be exposed to a lot of water.

“As we say, pavement always follows what’s below,” said Poisson. “If you don’t create the right approach from the start, your project will likely suffer from cracking, potholes, inadequate drainage, and other deterioration that may have been avoidable. Conversely, if you have the right study, you may be able to save cost on the actual implementation both immediately and in the long-term.”

Poisson suggests the following best practices before starting your project:

• Phase I ESA: Due Diligence required by local government and/or lending institutions, a Phase I ESA study helps owners understand environmental impacts.
• Geotechnical investigation: Whether concrete or asphalt is used for new or reconstruction projects, repairing is always an expensive endeavor. A geotechnical inspection is a critical first step to make sure it’s done right. Soil borings provide underground conditions to assist in appropriate design.
• Pavement engineering: After reviewing laboratory results, we’ll help owners plan and design the best pavement solution for the specific location. Value engineering methods help find opportunities to meet site needs while keeping costs down.
• RFP preparation: Support car wash owners in preparation of a construction RFP bid package with technical specifications for the pavement contractors. This ensures that all bids are consistent, apples-to-apples, to aid in contractor selection and, ultimately, ensure the job is done right.
• Construction services: Monitor construction activity and accomplish on-site materials testing.

“The cost of a geotechnical study will likely be an incredibly small percentage of the overall project cost but it’s hugely important to ensure the project is done right and to avoid unnecessary problems. It’s amazing how many times car wash owners skip this critical first step and cost themselves tremendous headaches – and dollars – when they have to constantly fill cracks and potholes or even need to deconstruct and rebuild,” Poisson said.

According to industry data, winter is the busiest season for car washes, many of which use in excess of 4,000 gallons a water a day. The constant freeze-thaw cycle can be extraordinarily difficult on the subsoil, which eventually manifests itself as deterioration of the pavement itself.

Specializing in “everything below the ground,” G2 Consulting prides itself in finding practical solutions to complex problems and delivering ‘Smart. Results. Fast.’ The company has completed dozens of car wash projects in the past two years alone working across the Midwest and in select southern states including Florida and Texas.