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Since opening in 1996, AKS has grown from a handful of employees to a diverse group of 250 professionals. In its early years, the company provided civil engineering, land surveying and forestry/forest engineering for a variety of underserved private clients. Today AKS has grown into a diverse company with four offices that also provides land use planning, water resources, natural resources, GIS, landscape architecture, consulting arborist, and construction support services.

Finding the right solution for the client, not just the project, has been a key element of the firm鈥檚 growth. 鈥淲hen your focus is on treating every project as if it鈥檚 your own money on the line, it changes how you think,鈥� remarked Senior Principal Alex Hurley. Clients found straight answers and solid solutions at AKS. With a core understanding of private development, the company鈥檚 reputation grew in the community. The consistent high quality of work kept clients coming back.

Although AKS is best known for its private development work and it still represents a significant portion of the firm鈥檚 work, local jurisdictions quickly took note of the high-quality plans that came across their desk for approval and were soon asking AKS for help with their own public improvements. The firm鈥檚 public infrastructure portfolio has grown significantly, supporting small cities, counties, military organizations, state agencies and utility districts.

AKS has enjoyed notable success in two main areas. The first is surveying, which now represents 25 percent of the company鈥檚 staff and is a service provided on nearly all of the firm鈥檚 projects. AKS is arguably the largest surveying company in the region with more than 20 field crews in peak summer months, and has emerged as a trailblazer in applying new survey technologies.

The second is in building communities. AKS is a leader in planning and design of entire communities. Its portfolio spans the entire Portland metro area and extends down the valley and into Central Oregon. Adding to all of this is an expanded portfolio that includes commercial, industrial, military, schools, parks and port projects.

When asked about what makes the company unique, both employees and clients will answer the culture. With offices located in suburban areas, the company boasts a casual but professional culture. The desire is to keep the small-company feel while continually growing. There are no rigid departments or individual profit centers. The company is organized around multidisciplinary teams that can respond quickly to project needs. One company with everyone working together to produce high-quality work for clients. The result is a collaborative environment with the ability to respond and adapt quickly.

The last decade has been particularly fruitful for the company. Since the Great Recession, AKS has grown from 25 people to more than 10 times that size and has opened new offices with plans for continued expansion. While poised for growth, the one thing that has remained constant over the last quarter century is AKS鈥� core principle of providing consistent high-quality work and building long-term relationships with both employees and clients.