Awards

WSB ranks #6 on 2025 Hot Firm List

May 29, 2025

We are proud to announce that WSB has been named a 2025 Hot Firm by the Zweig Group – marking our twelfth consecutive year on the list and our highest ranking to date. This year we’ve climbed to #6, breaking into the top 10.

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 2025 Elevate AEC Conference in September. 

We are incredibly honored to share this milestone and grateful to our team for driving our continued growth and success.

View the complete list of Hot Firm winners. Zweig Group announces the 2025 Hot Firm List

Celebrating Our Staff’s Achievements at IRWA

May 13, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that three of our outstanding staff members have been recognized by the International Right of Way Association (IRWA) for their exemplary contributions to the profession.

• April Randall has been named the IRWA Oklahoma Young Professional of the Year by the Oklahoma Chapter of IRWA.
• Audrey Fincannon has been honored as the Oklahoma IRWA Professional of the Year by the Oklahoma Chapter of IRWA.
• Christie Saenz has been awarded the title of Texas IRWA Professional of the Year by the Texas Chapter of IRWA.

These awards celebrate individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment to the Right of Way profession. We are immensely proud of their achievements and their dedication to advancing the field.

Congratulations to April, Audrey, and Christie on these well-deserved honors!

Wright County CSAH 35 Project Receives Prestigious Concrete Paving Award

February 6, 2025

WSB is proud to announce that a recent project we supported has received a prestigious Concrete Paving Award from the Concrete Paving Association of Minnesota (CPAM) and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). This recognition highlights the high-quality concrete pavement construction and rehabilitation for the Wright County CSAH 35 project. The award ceremony is set to take place on March 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Park Event Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. 

The CSAH 35 project was a significant undertaking involving the reconstruction of a three-mile rural road into a four-lane urban concrete paved road with three roundabouts. Now a safer corridor for the new three-mile multi-use trail with ADA crossings and neighborhood access. This major thoroughfare better serves the growing communities of St. Michael and surrounding areas, enhancing safety and supporting residential development. WSB played a crucial role in this project, providing design services, environmental compliance, construction administration, inspection, materials testing and survey work. 

The firm is fortunate and proud to be part of the team for this project and to be recognized for everyone’s efforts. This honor is a testament to the collaborative efforts of Wright County, WSB’s team, the contractors at S.M. Hentges & Sons Inc. and Shafer Contracting Co., Inc. and The City of St. Michael. WSB extends its gratitude for the opportunity to contribute to this successful and impactful project. 

City of North St. Paul Honored with Concrete Paving Award for 7th Avenue East Project 

February 10, 2025

The 7th Avenue East Project in North St. Paul recently received a Concrete Paving Award in Category 7 for City New/Reconstruction. This prestigious award underscores the complexity and significance of the project, which involved extensive preliminary work, design, construction, surveying, materials testing and construction observation. WSB was proud to support the project, and the firm’s comprehensive involvement spanned from inception to completion, showcasing its expertise and dedication. 

This project was part of a larger effort to revitalize downtown North St. Paul, aligning with a long-term vision aiming to rejuvenate the area. The project included the construction of a new water main, storm sewer, and brand-new concrete pavement roadway with sidewalks, lighting and landscaping. Notably, there were several complex challenges, including utilities crossing an 88-inch storm sewer and the need for vibration monitoring due to a medical manufacturing facility immediately adjacent to the project. 

This award is a significant honor as it highlights a major urban project for the City of North St. Paul to revitalize the community and accommodate future growth. The 7th Avenue East Project not only improved infrastructure but also enhanced the character of downtown North St. Paul, attracting residents and businesses and supporting the city’s vision for the future. 

Close collaboration between the City, Eureka Construction, Inc., Curb Masters, Inc., and WSB was integral to the project’s success and the achievement of this award.  WSB is honored to be a part of the collaborative team, together with all project stakeholders, where the combined talents and expertise from all culminated in the successful delivery of this award-winning project for the City of North St. Paul.  

WSB Awarded Special Achievement in GIS

August 2, 2024

WSB was recently awarded Special Achievement in GIS (Geographic Information Systems) at the 2024 Esri User Conference. This award is given to users around the world recognizing outstanding work with GIS technology. WSB was recognized for its work as a consultant supporting renewable energy organizations with implementing Esri GIS technology.

Esri is the global market leader in GIS software, location intelligence and mapping. The firm is honored to have received this prestigious award.

2023 Economic Developer of the Year

January 29, 2024

We are proud to announce that Jim Gromberg, Economic Development Coordinator, was recently awarded the 2023 Economic Developer of the Year. The Economic Development Association of Minnesota (EDAM) honored Jim with this award at the 2024 Winter Conference in Bloomington, MN. This Association recognizes projects and professionals in the economic industry who have gone above and beyond or overcame significant challenges in the last year. This is a career achievement for Jim, and we are honored to have him receive this award through his work at WSB.

EDAM champions economic development through education, collaboration, and advocacy. This is a professional association of individuals and organizations throughout the state of Minnesota that provides economic development professionals a forum for exchanging information and staying abreast of current economic development strategies and practices as well as valuable networking and educational opportunities. EDAM members are leading economic developers in the state of Minnesota. EDAM consults with the state on public policy issues related to economic development and helps continually define and improve the profession.

Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers Recognizes Rachel Scheu with the 2023 Young Engineer of the Year Award

February 21, 2024

Each year, the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MnSPE) recognizes an outstanding individual with the Young Engineer of the Year Award. The recipient is selected based on their achievements of a licensed MnSPE member under the age of 35. We are proud to announce Rachel Scheu, Graduate Engineer, was selected as the 2023 recipient. Rachel was awarded this honor at the MnSPE Luncheon Awards on February 21.

Rachel was selected as the 2023 Young Engineer of the Year award for a variety of reasons. She supports municipalities with any civil engineering needs they may have, and she demonstrates many technical and soft skills. Rachel’s leadership among her peers also makes her an excellent choice. Not only did she serve on our internal LEAD committee, but she is also a member on the MnSPE Board of Directors and leads the Young Engineers committee group.

This is a great accomplishment for Rachel early in her career, and we are proud to have her on staff.

WSB Ranks #178 on Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms List

April 28, 2023

WSB is honored to be ranked #178 on Engineering News-Record’s (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms. This is the 11^th consecutive year WSB has been ranked on the list, and we are proud to be included.

Each year, ENR completes an annual survey that ranks companies throughout the United States according to the revenue for design services performed. Covering topics such as business management, design, construction methods, technology, safety, law, legislation, environment and labor, ENR provides industry professionals with information to do their jobs more effectively.

Since WSB’s inception, we have dedicated ourselves to the value of strong relationships, collaboration and forward-thinking ideas. We aim to discover innovative solutions that look beyond the needs of today’s infrastructure and prepare us and our clients for the future.

WSB staff and their ambitious ideas and work ethic are what allows this company to continue to thrive. We would like to thank our staff for their diligent efforts and for advancing WSB and the industry. We look forward to continued partnerships with clients and building what’s next in infrastructure.

More information on ENR’s Top 500 Design Firms List is discussed in the article. https://www.enr.com/articles/56351-2023-top-500-design-firms-power-through-inflation

Bret Weiss, WSB President & CEO, named a Most Admired CEO

May 1, 2023

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal has announced that Bret Weiss, WSB’s President & CEO has been named one of the Most Admired CEOs of 2023. This award recognizes the outstanding professional accomplishments and the involvement in communities of Twin Cities business leaders.  

Weiss is well-deserving of this award. His years of leadership and vision have guided him to be the business leader he is today. Throughout his tenure, he has remained committed to finding solutions to support the growth of WSB and has lent his expertise and leadership skills to our industry and business community.  

Weiss will accept this honor in September during the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO award ceremony.  

Click here to read the full article.

WSB places #43 on Zweig’s Hot Firm List 

June 2, 2023

WSB was recently named a 2023 Hot Firm by the Zweig Group for the tenth consecutive year. The list honors the fastest growing firms in the AEC industry in the U.S. and Canada. The chosen companies have surpassed both the economy and their competitors to emerge as frontrunners in their respective industries. Ranking is based on three-year growth in revenue, by both percentage and growth. WSB ranks #43 on this year’s list.  

Hot Firm #43

The Zweig Group is the leading research, publishing, and advisory services resource for firms in the AEC industry. The Zweig Group’s awards programs recognize and celebrate top AEC industry firms in several categories.  Winners will be recognized at the 2021 Elevate AEC Conference in November. 

View the complete list of Hot Firm winners.