In 2001, DRMP opened its Charlotte, N.C., “office” in the most unusual place – an employee’s attic. That employee? Jim Beck. Beck PE, AICP, ENV SP, saw an opportunity to replicate DRMP’s success and work toward building a full-service firm in Charlotte, NC. Beck, a Senior Project Manager at the time, wagered that besides DRMP’s quality services, the firm had intangible advantages that set them apart: culture, and its long-standing reputation with clients. In a strategic leap of faith by DRMP leadership, the firm opened its first office outside the state of Florida.
The firm has since added three additional North Carolina offices in Asheboro, Cary, and Troutman, and has made significant strides in South Carolina, and beyond. And Beck, now a Vice President, is part of a team of nearly 100 North Carolina employees, some of whom have been developed into leaders.
Despite the ups and downs the industry has experienced in North Carolina, he credits the steady growth of what is now DRMP’s Carolinas operations, to staying true to the firm’s reputable work on every job performed.
“Every opportunity we got, from our first project win to our current assignments, we have strived to perform quality work. Additionally, working together as a team, through project turnarounds and challenges, develops trust with each other and our clients,” Beck said. “We seize those opportunities one by one which has paved the way for expansion.”
Diversification and Expansion
DRMP’s Carolinas operations have steadily grown over the years, adding construction engineering services (CEI), surveying and mapping/geospatial services in 2017, and structural engineering services the following year. The goal is to reinforce current services and add others to become a full-service firm in the region.
“Our focus is on diversification and expansion of our services and we’re making great progress. We’re strengthening our surveying services and performing specialty CEI services. And we’ve been able to perform ecological work through permitting projects in North and South Carolina,” Beck said.
Gaining New Territory
Along with DRMP’s strategy to expand and diversify its services, it is working to establish a strong presence in North Carolina’s western region, South Carolina, and Virginia. In Virginia alone, the firm has seen accelerated growth and has hired about a dozen employees to serve its clients and by the end of 2023, the firm is expecting to provide services throughout the entire state of North Carolina.
“There is definite room for growth in terms of the types of clients and our geographic footprint,” Beck said.
Growing the Next Generation of Leaders
Parallel to the growth of the Carolinas operations, DRMP employees are also growing professionally. DRMP’s Matt Elliott and August Thick II, PLS, are examples of how DRMP is putting rising leaders in place to continue their growth in the region.
Elliott joined DRMP in 2014 as a CEI Field Services Leader and Senior Inspector. He was instrumental in the expansion of the firm’s geographical reach by leading the opening of the firm’s Troutman, N.C., office. In 2020, he was promoted to CEI Area Leader. In January, Elliott was elevated to the role of Regional CEI Leader of North Carolina, overseeing North and South Carolina, where he manages nearly 70 employees.
“I’ve had great leaders. Robby Walker and Mark Puckett have been instrumental in my success. They believed in me and gave me opportunities I don’t think I would have had with any other firm, Elliott said." “It’s through the learning and mentorship that I am where I am.”
In 2000, Thick joined DRMP’s Surveying and Mapping/Geospatial Division as an Instrument Man and has steadily risen through the ranks. Based in Florida, Thick was transferred to Charlotte in 2017 where he obtained his NC Professional Survey License and was promoted to Survey Project Manager. At the beginning of 2022, he was promoted to North Carolina Surveying and Mapping/Geospatial Regional Manager. Thick recently got his Professional Survey license in Virginia and was also vital in the launch of DRMP’s Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) services. He holds a Federal Aviation Administration-certified commercial UAS pilot license and continues to lead and grow the firm’s surveying and mapping services presence in the region.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities to grow and the support I’ve received along the way in my career at DRMP. Experiencing personal professional development while growing the firm’s surveying and mapping division is special,” Thick said. “I look forward to continuing to build our services in the region and give up-and-coming staff the opportunities and mentorship that I was afforded.”
“Growing the firm’s business, serving our clients, and providing growth opportunities for employees is what will continue to make DRMP a sought-after firm in the Carolinas region,” Beck said.
“We want to be a top-tier firm in this market – not simply by size or market share – but in the minds of current and potential employees and clients,” Beck added.
