Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) announced Bret Weiss as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 Heartland Award earlier this week. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program recognizes the most accomplished business leaders who are building and sustaining successful enterprises worldwide.
The Heartland program celebrates entrepreneurs from Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. Applicants must be a CEO or president of a competitive company that has demonstrated long-term value and strong growth rates. Finalists are selected by a panel of independent judges and evaluated based on a variety of criteria including their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth and impact.
Regional award winners will be announced on June 9, 2022, at The Fillmore Minneapolis. The winners will then be considered by the National judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards.
Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world’s most prestigious business awards program. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth.
For over 35 years, EY US has celebrated the unstoppable entrepreneurs who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all. The Entrepreneur Of The Year program has recognized more than 10,000 US executives since its inception in 1986.
On Friday, February 26, the American Council of Engineering-Minnesota (ACEC/MN) presented WSB with two Honor Awards for the Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Water Treatment Plant in St. Paul Park and Highways 169/41/78 Interchange Improvement Project at the virtual Excellence in Engineering Awards.
For over fifty years, the association has been recognizing outstanding engineering projects through their awards program. Minnesota engineering firms across the state enter their most innovative projects and studies hoping to be recognized for the work they’ve done to make the state stronger.
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) Water Treatment Plant ACEC Honor Award
The Granular Activated Carbon Water Treatment Plant was constructed to provide residents a sustainable solution for bringing cleaner drinking water to the St. Paul Park community. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of manmade chemicals that do not naturally decompose due to their heat and water-resistant structure. Studies have found that consuming drinking water with elevated levels of PFAS can be associated with high cholesterol, reduced immune response, thyroid disease and kidney cancer. In response to this pervasive health threat, WSB partnered with the city to design the water treatment plant to remove PFAS from public drinking water and the surrounding environment. The implementation of the plant is anticipated to improve water quality and reduce the impact of harmful contaminants on community residents.
Highways 169/41/78 Interchange Improvement Project ACEC Honor Award
Scott County partnered with WSB to address freight, mobility, and safety problems on TH 169 between TH 41/CSAH 78 and CSAH 14, south of Shakopee. WSB completed preliminary and final design, environmental documentation, public engagement, permitting, and construction staging. The project included: replacing a signalized intersection at TH 41/CSAH 78 with a diverging diamond interchange; constructing a partial interchange at CSAH 14; addressing flooding at Picha Creek; improving an at-grade railroad crossing; geometric improvements at adjacent intersections on TH 41, CSAH 78, CSAH 14 and Red Rock Drive; closing 30 access points; constructing trails and noise barriers; and constructing 3.2 miles of frontage roads, 1.3 miles of CSAH facilities, and one mile of local routes; and reconstructing four miles of trunk highway.
Bret Weiss, WSB’s President and CEO, was presented the 2020 President’s Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies – Minnesota Chapter (ACEC MN).
Weiss’ involvement in ACEC MN extends beyond their annual membership program. His extensive background in engineering and leadership in the Minnesota business community has created many opportunities for a strong partnership to be forged. Weiss is committed to the advancement of infrastructure to support our communities and it’s through a commitment to strong partnerships and collaboration that this work is possible.
The President’s Award recognizes an individual annually who has made a significant contribution to ACEC MN’s organization.
The Zweig Group, the leading research, publishing and
advisory services resource for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction
(AEC) industry, has honored WSB with four awards in marketing and overall firm growth.
Every year, the organization offers an awards program that
specifically recognizes outstanding work within the AEC industry throughout
North America.
Marketing Excellence Awards
Zweig recently announced the winners of the 2020 Marketing Excellence Awards for outstanding, results-driven marketing. Zweig awards the top five firms in each possible category. WSB ranked first place in two categories and second in another.
Award entries were judged by a team of marketing
professionals and evaluated based upon overall creativity, messaging, results
achieved by the campaign, and level of design.
The WSB Newsletter received a first-place award in the
External Newsletter category and is our twice-yearly publication that we send
to many of our clients. For nearly 10 years, WSB has mailed a newsletter
highlighting projects, innovations, techniques and news. After our rebrand in
2018, we decided it was time to re-evaluate our newsletter strategy. We
dedicate many of our resources to digital marketing and communications
initiatives, but we still believe in the power of a well-done direct mail
piece.
The Year In Review received a first-place award in the
Internal Newsletter category. The annual internal publication’s goal is simple
– to tell the story of WSB to our staff. This year, we decided to take a unique
approach to the assembly of our publication. We organized our content based on
our firm values and wrote about our regional operations based on these values.
Internal Marketing | Intersection (WSB Internal Portal) |
2nd Place
WSB’s internal portal received a second-place award in the Internal Marketing category. WSB has always believed in creating a company culture that brings people together. As our firm expanded to 500 staff and 14 office locations across four states, we re-evaluated our internal communications to focus more heavily on sharing information and staying connected. The redesigned portal site offers an improved user experience featuring a mobile-friendly design, company directory, easy-to-access resources and enhanced search and navigation.
Hot Firm Award | #72
The Zweig Group announced the 2020 Hot Firm List in early July, honoring the fastest growing firms in the AEC industry. Firms are ranked based on three-year growth revenue, by both percentage and dollar growth. WSB ranked #72 on this year’s list marking our seventh consecutive year on the list.
Winners of the Marketing Excellence Awards and Hot Firm
Award will be honored at the 2020 Elevate AEC Conference in Denver, CO,
September 30-October 2 and at Zweig Group’s Virtual Elevate AEC Conference on
October 16. Winners will also be featured in Zweig Group’s weekly management
newsletter, The Zweig Letter, and Zweig Group’s other marketing channels.
WSB is honored to be named one of Engineering News Record’s (ENR) Top 500 Design Firms – climbing three spots to #210. For eight consecutive years, WSB has landed on ENR’s nationally ranked list.
Through ENR’s annual survey, companies throughout the United States are ranked according to revenue for design services performed. ENR’s mission is to connect diverse sectors of the industry with coverage of issues that include business management, design, construction methods, technology, safety, law, legislation, environment and labor.
Since WSB was formed 25 years ago, we have been committed to growth. For over two decades we’ve worked side by side in the communities we live and work in to build what’s next in infrastructure. It’s through our solid partnerships with our clients that we’ve been able to collaborate and solve some of our communities’ biggest challenges. Our growth would not be possible without our dedicated clients. Thank you for trusting us with your infrastructure needs.
It is always an honor to be recognized amongst our peers. Thank you to our staff who also play a large role in driving our growth. At WSB, we drive innovation through every level and service area, and we’ll continue to find cost-effective and efficient ways to serve our clients in the future.
On Friday, January 24, the American Council of Engineering-Minnesota (ACEC-MN) awarded WSB two Honor Awards for the Fallon Avenue Overpass and Minnesota Highway 52: Victory Drive Memorial Corridor at the 53rd Annual Excellence in Engineering Awards Banquet in Brooklyn Park.
The Engineering Excellence Awards Program recognizes engineering achievements that exhibit the highest degree of merit and ingenuity. Entries are based on originality and innovation; future value to the engineering profession; social, economic and sustainable design considerations; complexity and client expectations. Minnesota engineering firms across the state enter their most innovative projects and studies hoping to be recognized for the work they’ve done to make the state stronger.
The Fallon Avenue Overpass project is known as a bridge that
connects the community. Situated along both sides of I-94, the Fallon Overpass
serves as a major local connection in the city that improves transportation,
economic development opportunities and public safety.
The project was conceived over two decades ago to provide a local gateway for growth and economic development for the community. Since 1994, the city of Monticello has experienced significant growth, and the Fallon Avenue Overpass provides a critical alternative crossing over I-94 to alleviate heavy traffic on Trunk Highway 25, which has approximately 40,000 vehicles per day, and CSAH 18. The over $9 million project included several project partners and required coordination of many stakeholders.
Along the shady stretches of Minnesota Highway 22, known
locally as “Victory Drive,” 1,170 trees were planted to honor veterans from
Beauford, Mankato and Mapleton. The trees represent the veterans who gave their
lives in World Wars I and II.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation prioritized the total reconstruction of 11 miles of Victory Drive over two construction seasons, beginning in 2017. WSB was selected to complete preliminary and final design of the highway and the replacement of the bridge over the Cobb River, a popular canoeing route. During the project’s public outreach program, WSB’s Landscape Architectural Group was given the unique opportunity to work with the community to gather perspectives on how best to perpetuate the highway’s living veterans memorial for generations to come.
The Fallon Avenue Overpass project recently received an honorable mention for this year’s 2019 Minnesota Chapter APWA Project of the Year Awards. The APWA Awards program recognizes excellence in public works. We were honored to partner with the city of Monticello on a project that connects the community.
WSB was recently selected as a 2019 Small Cities/Rural Communities Projects of the Year recipient for the Downtown Afton Revitalization by the American Public Works Association’s (APWA). The revitalization project was featured in the Historical Restoration/Preservation award category. The award recognizes excellence in project management, administration, and coordination of public works projects. Winners are selected based on six project categories.
The APWA is a nonprofit organization that provides support to public works personnel through educational and networking opportunities. The Public Works Project of the Year winners will be recognized at the 2019 APWA Public Works Expo in September.
WSB is honored to be named one of the Top 150 Workplaces in Minnesota by the Star Tribune – ranking #7 on the top Midsize Employers list. For seven consecutive years, we have received this prestigious honor, recognizing the most progressive companies in Minnesota based on employee opinions measuring engagement, organizational health and satisfaction.
We are extremely thankful to have the industry’s best and brightest on our team. Together, we think big and take the lead to inspire change. We are a collective of curious and creative thinkers that are proud to work together to build what’s next in infrastructure. We want to take a moment to publicly thank our staff for continuing to strengthen our culture.
As we look to the future, we remain committed to creating an environment where our staff feel valued, have fulfilling work and feel like they belong.
WSB was recently named a 2019 Hot Firm by the Zweig Group for the sixth consecutive year. The list honors the fastest growing firms in the AEC industry in the U.S. and Canada. Firms are ranked based on three-year growth in revenue.
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 2019 Elevate AEC Conference in October.
WSB was recently named a 2019 Hot Firm by the