Success for Heyer

Leadership evolution builds opportunities for Fargo-based structural engineering firm

WhenHeyer Engineering President Jim Heyer got his career start at a large architectural-engineering firm back in the late 1970s, it didn’t take him long to realize his ambition was leading him in a different direction.

Just a few years out of college in 1983, at age 29, Heyer decided to start his own structural engineering business in his basement, at the same time he and his wife Sherry were raising two daughters, Lisa and Dana, and an infant son, Ryan (youngest, Kylie, came later).

Jim Heyer, President

“I learned a lot from my mentor Paul Jacobson and Mark Foss of Foss Engelstad Foss at the time,” Heyer said. “But there were a lot of things I wanted to do differently on my own, so that’s how Heyer Engineering got started.”

Six months after opening, the then-new entrepreneur and father moved into an office outside of his home after landing one of his first big projects, the Midwest Federal Office (now the Bell Bank building) at 3100 13th Ave. S., in Fargo. “It will always be my favorite project,” Heyer said.

A MESSAGE FROM JIM HEYER, PRESIDENT HEYER ENGINEERING

Reflecting on the past 40 years of my career, there are three things that stick out in my mind: The first is all the amazing and talented people who work with us now and the past. In addition, I’m grateful for all the great clients and business associates we have been fortunate enough to work with, some who have become close personal friends.

Secondly, I’m blessed my son Ryan has adopted a love for this business, similar to me, and how satisfying it is to watch him grow and evolve into his career.

Finally, I’d like to express my gratitude for the undying support, advice and confidence given to me by my wife Sherry. She has been and always will be a large part of this firm.

Thriving Firm

Today, Heyer Engineering is a thriving structural engineering firm working on projects from coast to coast. The firm currently has six principal owners and 36 employees who work from offices in Fargo, Sioux Falls, SD, and satellite locations in Corona, Calif., and Minneapolis.

The firm’s portfolio includes many notable buildings in the Red River Valley corridor, including Essentia Health on 32nd Avenue in Fargo, Tharaldson Ethanol Plant in Casselton, University of North Dakota’s Ralph Engelstad Arena & Medical School, North Dakota State University’s Bison Sports Arena, STEM building and Newman Outdoor Stadium, The Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead, Minn., as well as numerous primary and secondary schools, and churches.

Currently, many projects are planned or in the works for the Heyer team, a growth projection that recently led to a corporate reorganization. For Heyer, who is approaching retirement age (though admits he’ll likely never fully retire), that meant naming five partners from within the firm: Dave Bruns, Jason Skiple, Eric Greiff, Ryan Heyer (Jim Heyer’s son) and Darren Neff.

Experience And Collaboration

Heyer Engineering has the advantage of being owned by principals who collectively have more than 160 years of experience in the industry. It’s a leadership team that understands the nuances of business and how to succeed operationally through collaborative decision-making.

“Even though we’re all different and we have different work styles and thought processes, we all have similar personalities, and we’re respectful and open to one another’s ideas,” said Principal and Senior Engineer Jason Skiple, who has been with Heyer since 1996. “We love coming up with different and exciting alternatives to various challenges by incorporating creativity, the latest technologies and challenging design.”

Their close-knit culture is part of what sets the firm apart, according to Principal and Senior Structural Engineer Eric Greiff, who joined Heyer Engineering in 1999.

“We have a highly collaborative team, with a lot of different ways of thinking,” Greiff said. “In reality, you’re not just working with one of us, you’re working with the whole team. We’re looking for steady and sustainable growth. We’ve never had layoffs when there’s a slowdown. We hire for the long-term. It’s what we do.”

Due in part to the collaborative structure and focus on steady growth, Heyer Engineering enjoys a 90 percent return-client base. “We let lead- ership focus on the business while allowing our team to do the work they know and love. We want to be able to step back as managers and lead our team so we can make large-scale decisions that make the most sense for the company,” Principal and Structural Engineer Ryan Heyer said.

Ryan, Jim’s son, says he naturally transitioned into a leadership role with the company.

“I spent a lot of time at an early age in my father’s office,” Ryan Heyer said. “Doing odd jobs here and there, delivering documents, mailing, filing, drawing pictures on his employees’ white boards, etc. It seemed like a good profession and I saw my father as a very prominent figure in the community. I wanted to be that person.”

Even though we’re all different and we have different work styles and thought processes, we all have similar personalities, and we’re respectful and open to one another’s ideas. We love coming up with different and exciting alternatives to various challenges by incorporating creativity, the latest technologies and challenging design. JASON SKIPLE, Principal and Senior Engineer

About Heyer Engineering

► Principals: Jim Heyer, Dave Bruns, Jason Skiple, Ryan Heyer, Eric Greiff, Darren Neff

► Established: 1983

► Headquarters: Fargo, ND

► Industries: Athletics, Industrial, Commercial, Health Care, Religion, Education, Government, Hospitality

► Office locations: Fargo, ND, Sioux Falls, SD, and Corona, Calif.

► Number of employees: 36

► Combined years of experience: 250+ years

Fresh Perspectives

Principal and Senior Structural Engineer Darren Neff, the newest addition to the leadership team, joined the firm in 2017. From his vantage point, he believes working for and working with Heyer Engineering is an opportunity unmatched in the communities they serve.

“Being the new person, I think we do a very good job of being flexible and listening to the client and meeting their needs, and we love to keep learning,” Neff said. “As architects get more and more creative, the solutions we bring to the table need to be more and more creative. As a result, I’ve gotten to work on projects I don’t think I would have been able to work on had I not worked here.”

Room To Grow

Principal and Senior Structural Engineer Dave Bruns, who’s been with Heyer since 1984, said the firm has almost doubled in growth the past three years alone, and he and his partners don’t see that changing anytime soon.

In fact, the firm is about to break ground on a new building space located on 42nd Street South in Fargo.

“In future years, there will be a time where the present partners will be looking at taking a step back, so that the next generation can evolve into the ownership arena. The fortunate thing is that the plan for that to happen is in place,” Bruns said.

For more information or to contact Heyer Engineering, visit www.heyerengineering.com