News

WSB Earns a Spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List 

August 12, 2026

WSB is proud to announce its inclusion on the 2026 Inc. 5000, the prestigious annual ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Earning the #2186 spot on this year’s list, WSB joins an elite group of organizations recognized for driving growth, innovation, and lasting impact within their industries and communities. 

This recognition reflects the dedication of WSB’s staff, the trust of its clients, and a shared commitment to delivering innovative solutions that help communities thrive. As the firm continues to grow and expand its reach, the Inc. 5000 ranking serves as a testament to the strength of WSB’s people, culture, and long-term vision. 

In addition to its overall ranking, WSB achieved several notable distinctions, placing 23rd among engineering companies nationwide on the Inc. 5000, 32nd among all ranked companies in the Minneapolis metro area, and 34th among Minnesota-based organizations recognized on this year’s list. 

WSB remains focused on creating meaningful impact through forward-thinking solutions, strong partnerships, and a people-first culture. The firm is grateful to everyone who has contributed to this milestone and looks forward to continuing its momentum in the years ahead. 

See the full list here: Inc. 5000 2026: Meet the Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America 

WSB’s Internship Program Recognized by Abode 

July 24, 2026

WSB earned three Early-Career Engagement Awards from Abode for mentorship, community building and intern development.

The awards highlight organizations that create impactful early-career experiences and support intern growth through meaningful mentorship, professional development and community-building opportunities.

At WSB, interns gain hands-on experience while building relationships with mentors, peers and leaders across the company. The program is designed to help students develop professionally, expand their networks and explore future career opportunities.

The recognition reflects WSB’s commitment to creating an engaging and supportive internship experience and investing in the next generation of professionals.

WSB Expands Environmental Leadership Following Acquisition of Alta Science & Engineering

July 23, 2026

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — WSB, one of the nation’s fastest-growing design and consulting firms, today announced the addition of several senior leaders following its acquisition of Alta Science & Engineering, Inc., a science and engineering firm with more than 35 years of experience delivering environmental and infrastructure solutions across the western United States.

The addition of these leaders strengthens WSB’s environmental and natural systems platform, bringing expanded expertise in environmental strategy, operations, investigation and remediation. Their leadership will support WSB’s continued growth while enhancing the firm’s ability to deliver integrated, science-based solutions.

Alta leaders joining WSB include:

• Derek Forseth, vice president, strategy

• Jon Munkers, vice president, operations

• Susan Spalinger, senior director, environmental investigation and remediation

“Welcoming these leaders to WSB is an important step in the continued integration of Alta Science & Engineering,” said Jon Chiglo, WSB chief operating officer. “Their expertise, leadership and commitment to technical excellence strengthen our environmental platform and help us deliver even greater value to clients. Alta has built a strong reputation for thoughtful problem-solving, high-quality science and a people-first culture, and these leaders will play an important role in advancing that legacy as part of WSB.”

WSB announced its acquisition of Alta Science & Engineering in May 2026. The firms will officially integrated on Tuesday, July 14, and move forward as one unified WSB team.

Matias Mendez named ASCE Oklahoma Section’s 2026 Geotechnical Engineer of the Year

July 22, 2026

WSB is proud to announce that Matias Mendez, PhD, PE, Director of Geotechnical and Pavement Services, has been named the ASCE Oklahoma Section 2026 Geotechnical Engineer of the Year. This prestigious award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional technical expertise, leadership and contributions to advancing the geotechnical engineering profession in Oklahoma.

Matias leads WSB’s geotechnical and pavement services team and brings extensive experience supporting transportation and infrastructure projects across Oklahoma and beyond. In addition to his project leadership, he serves as President of the Oklahoma Geo-Institute chapter and has contributed to advancing industry practices through research, professional service and mentoring.

This recognition reflects Matias’ commitment to technical excellence, innovation and service to the engineering profession. Congratulations, Matias, on this well-deserved honor.

WSB Ranked #3 on Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Employers List 

July 17, 2026

WSB has ranked #3 on the Employers List in the July 3, 2026, issue of the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

This recognition reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where staff can grow, collaborate and make a meaningful impact for clients and communities. As WSB continues to expand across the country, our people remain at the center of everything we do.

Thank you to our staff for helping make WSB one of the region’s top employers. This achievement belongs to all of you.

WSB Recognized with Gold and Silver Marketing Excellence Awards 

July 13, 2026

WSB is proud to announce that we have received two Marketing Excellence Awards from Zweig Group, recognizing our commitment to advancing our brand, engaging our audiences, and delivering innovative marketing solutions. 

This year, WSB earned a Gold Award for our external website redesign and a Silver Award for the WSB Flying Chevron, an internal marketing campaign designed to strengthen staff engagement and company culture. 

These awards reflect WSB’s dedication to creating meaningful experiences for both external audiences and our staff. From enhancing how clients, partners, and communities connect with our brand online to fostering a strong and connected workplace culture, our marketing efforts are focused on supporting the continued growth and success of the firm. 

Zweig Group is the leading research, publishing, and advisory services resource for the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Its Marketing Excellence Awards celebrate firms that demonstrate outstanding achievements in marketing, communications, branding, and business development. 

These recognitions underscore WSB’s commitment to continual improvement and innovation as we serve our clients, support our staff, and grow our presence across the markets we serve. 

Read more about our award-winning submissions and the Marketing Excellence Awards here: WSB – Zweig List 

WSB Staff Elected to Leadership Roles with MnSPE 

June 29, 2026

The Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MnSPE) recently announced its election results, recognizing WSB team members for their leadership and involvement in the organization. 

Grace Liljenquist has been elected to the MnSPE Board as a new member and will serve a one-year term.  

Rachel Scheu has been elected President and will assume the role in July, advancing from her current position as Vice President.  

WSB values opportunities to support and engage in the professional engineering community. We appreciate our staff who continue to contribute their time, leadership, and expertise to organizations like MnSPE. 

WSB ranks #4 on 2026 Hot Firm List 

June 4, 2026

We are proud to share that WSB has been recognized by the Zweig Group as a 2026 Hot Firm, earning the #4 spot moving up from #6 in 2025. This marks our thirteenth consecutive year on the list, our highest ranking yet, and our first time breaking into the top five. 

The Zweig Group’s Hot Firm List honors the fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the U.S. and Canada. Rankings are based on three-year growth in revenue, both in dollar and percentage terms. Firms recognized have outpaced the economy and their peers to become industry leaders.  

The Zweig Group is a leading provider of research, publishing, and advisory services for the AEC industry. The Zweig Group’s awards programs recognize and celebrate top AEC industry firms in several categories.  Award winners will be recognized at the 2026 Elevate AEC Conference in September. 

We are incredibly honored to celebrate this milestone and grateful to our team for making our continued growth and success possible. 

View the complete list of Hot Firm Winners: Hot Firm – Zweig List 

Newsletter | Volume 8 | Issue 1

WSB Co-Founder Ron Bray Receives ACEC Minnesota Distinguished Service Award 

May 26, 2026

WSB is proud to announce that co-founder Ron Bray was recently honored with the ACEC Minnesota Distinguished Service Award, recognizing his sustained contributions to the council and the consulting engineering profession. 

This award is one of ACEC Minnesota’s highest individual honors, reserved for individuals whose service has had a lasting impact on the organization and the industry over the course of their careers. 

Ron has been a dedicated contributor to ACEC Minnesota, most notably serving as the longtime chair of the sponsorship subcommittee for the Minnesota Transportation Conference and Expo (MTC&E). His leadership has played an important role in the continued strength and success of the conference and the broader engineering community it supports. 

Throughout his involvement with ACEC, Ron has been known as a thoughtful and respected leader, bringing valuable perspective from both his early career at MnDOT and his work in consulting. His ability to guide conversations toward practical, effective solutions has made a meaningful impact on the organization. 

Ron is one of the founders of WSB, which was established in 1995 and has grown into a leading design, consulting and engineering firm. Over more than three decades in transportation project development and construction, he has contributed to projects across Minnesota, including work on the I-35W bridge reconstruction. His expertise spans pavement design, geometric layout, public involvement and the project development process. 

Known for his open, honest communication and commitment to delivering for clients and the public, Ron’s career reflects the qualities this award is intended to recognize. This honor highlights Ron’s lasting legacy and the important role he has played in advancing the consulting engineering profession.