2011 Hot Firm List announced

 FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. — ZweigWhite, publisher of CE News, just released the names of firms making The Zweig Letter 2011 Hot Firm List. Despite this year’s challenging economy, ZweigWhite was able to honor a total of 176 firms (175 winners and one "tie").

“Getting on The Zweig Letter Hot Firm List for 2011 is an amazing accomplishment, particularly when you consider the depressed state of the A/E/P industry. I am so proud of these firms I cannot tell you! They are making it happen in spite of many obstacles to their success,” said Mark C. Zweig, ZweigWhite founder and CEO.

The Hot Firm List, compiled yearly by ZweigWhite, recognizes architecture, engineering, planning, and environmental consulting firms that exhibit the fastest growth in the last three fiscal years. Rankings average percentage revenue growth and absolute dollar revenue growth during the period under review. Entrants were limited to firms based in the United States or Canada that derive the majority of their revenues from the practice of architecture, engineering, planning, environmental consulting, or allied disciplines. Design/build firms that provide both design and construction services were also eligible.

This year’s winner is Cardno USA, the American arm of the Brisbane, Australia-based Cardno Limited, a global infrastructure services firm. When Michael Renshaw, president and CEO, took the helm of the American operation eight years ago, Cardno USA employed only 350 people, a far cry from the more than 4,200 employees they have now, delivering services in more than 70 countries from more than 150 offices.

“For me, personally, it’s always been a goal (to make the Hot Firm List). It’s fair to say that when we started looking at growing in the United States in 2006, parts of my research led me to the ZweigWhite publications and surveys, and we have benefitted from the information,” Renshaw said. “We have assembled a very dynamic and talented leadership team in a relatively short time — a team that brings a depth of experience and an entrepreneurial spirit.”

All of the companies that earned a spot on The Zweig Letter 2011 Hot Firm List — which range from firms as small as six people to as large as 10,000 employees — will be celebrated at the 2011 Hot Firm Awards Banquet and Celebration, a special gala at The Zweig Letter 2011 Hot Firm Conference. The conference is being held Wednesday, Oct. 26, through Thursday, Oct. 27, 2011, at the Montage Hotel in Laguna Beach, Calif.

The top 10 on the 2011 Hot Firm List:
1. Cardno USA, Inc., Portland, Ore.
2. exp. (formerly Trow Global), Brampton, Ontario
3. HAKS Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors, P.C., New York
4. EMR, Inc., Lawrence, Kan.
5. Allen & Shariff Corporation, Columbia, Md.
6. GENIVAR Inc., Montréal, Québec
7. Sullivan International Group, Inc., San Diego
8. Binkley & Barfield, Inc., Houston
9. Dade Moeller & Associates, Richland, Va.
10. The Cadmus Group, Inc., Watertown, Mass.

“The Zweig Letter Hot Firm Conference and Awards Celebration is our best event every year. The energy, optimism, and can-do spirit of the attendees is something that leaves every attendee feeling renewed and energized and ready to achieve new heights in the year to come,” Zweig said.

For more information about the Hot Firm Conference, go to hotfirm.com.