Randolph & Associates, Inc., was founded in 1974, according to Jeffery P. Randolph, president and CEO. “Over the next 13 years, we became established as a local industry leader in all facets of engineering, with an emphasis on environmental engineering,” he said.

In 1987, the company was purchased by a local utility company and later merged with a national engineering firm, Randolph said. “However, Randolph & Associates, Inc., was reincorporated in 1993 in Peoria as a consulting engineering firm offering a comprehensive range of engineering and land surveying services. Our founder, Robert Randolph, has more than 44 years of experience in the consulting industry.”

He said the foundation of Randolph & Associates is its pledge of on time and within budget design work based on sound principals and ethics. “We draw upon experience in industry and private practice to offer our clients valued engineering and land surveying services. When a particular project requires specialized expertise or additional capacity, Randolph has developed affiliations throughout the industry to supplement those needs. We have a dedicated professional staff with the expertise to complete a wide variety of projects. Quality of service and reasonable costs are the cornerstone of the Randolph commitment.”

The company’s staff has a wide range of engineering experience in civil, transportation, structural, environmental, waste/water engineering, and land surveying, Randolph said. “Some of our recent project experience includes the O’Brien Field infrastructure, the Jefferson Street relocation in the City of Peoria, the RiverPlex parking area, the East Side Centre infrastructure, and being the engineer of record for the Peoria Housing Authority’s RiverWest redevelopment.”

Since the company’s inception, Randolph said there has been expansion in two areas. “These areas include the types of projects we’ve been the design professional on, as well as our client base expanding. This is directly tied to our belief that the client’s needs are paramount. Locally, the engineering industry is heavily saturated with competition. In a profession that doesn’t have a tangible product to sell, the design concept or idea, coupled with personality, clearly sets a firm apart.”

Another reason Randolph stands apart in a crowd is its people, he said. “Our inventory is our staff; they make the difference daily in working with clients. A long local history and dedicated staff, many of which have roots to our first incorporation, allows us the benefits and prospects generated from a stable, well-qualified firm. We pride ourselves on being the most up to date in technology and technological advances, which enhances delivery time and cost effectiveness.”

As in many industries, the September 11th tragedies changed the way business is done. “The post-9/11 environment in our industry has seen some dramatic changes and newfound awareness. The economy has struggled to recover with new construction. Many of the available projects deal with hardening and securing facilities to be better prepared for the future. The absence of new project lead-times that often included extending planning and available grants, along with general reluctance to start new projects, has had an adverse affect on our industry. The private sector has slowly begun to replenish new projects and development, while government spending hasn’t recovered,” Randolph said.

He said his industry is challenged by remaining independent from the construction industry, while at the same time being an integrated part of the process of construction. “We’re often invited to bid projects, which we’re protected from by the Quality Based Selection (QBS) Act or Brooks Architect-Engineering Act of 1972, which mandates QBS for all architectural and engineering services procured by the federal government. Qualifications-based selection is a method of procuring engineering and architectural services that makes superior qualifications and experience the basis for selection.”

In the future, Randolph said the company will continue to be successful using a progressive business model. “The customer today is demanding faster delivery without compromising accuracy. Technology speeds this concept daily. The future of our business depends on staying educated beyond the future needs of the client and also helping them plan it. The one constant is people. The tag line, ‘The only way to predict the future is to design it,’ rings true in the future outlook of the built industry. Much of the industry has seen retraction in foreign outsourcing, design work being done in house, as well as the design-build industry commoditizing engineering services. I anticipate a growth trend in the demand for engineering and surveying service. An immediate boost in our industry will come from a Federal Transportation Bill being passed.”

He said the most challenging aspect of his business is the diversification of the client base due to less governmental funding. “Ironically, the rewards come from this same scenario by creating an opportunity for us to develop new clients and projects, leading to great professional and personal growth.”

And in return for the trust the community places in Randolph & Associates, he said the company takes pleasure in returning the gift of success to those less fortunate in the area. “Through the philanthropic outreaches of our professional trade organizations, Rotary Clubs, Adopt-A-School Program, churches, and not-for-profit organizations, we’ve set high goals to assist others in need.” IBI