Dewberry acquires J3 Engineering, promotes Darren Conner

Fairfax, Va. — Dewberry acquired J3 Engineering Consultants, Inc., a 28-person firm headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colo., near Denver, with additional offices in Louisville, Colo., and Boise, Idaho. J3 Engineering will continue to operate from its three locations and under its current management.

“J3 Engineering is excited to join the Dewberry Team. We believe this will provide better service to our clients in the marketplace, while maintaining our commitment to our staff, clients, and partners to exceed expectations,” says Jason Monforton, founding principal of J3 Engineering. “We look forward to offering expanded services to our current and new clients, while upholding the standards we have set over the past 15 years.”

“J3 Engineering has a great reputation within the building community and among local municipalities. They bring strong leadership, project management, and delivery skillsets to Dewberry,” says Donald E. Stone, Jr., Dewberry CEO. Dan Pleasant, Dewberry COO adds: “We believe their capabilities and client-focus will complement our culture and Denver-based practice, and we look forward to their contribution to our Colorado and Western region growth.”

“As we’ve teamed with J3 Engineering and spent time getting to know their employees, we’re confident that the combined strength of Dewberry and J3 Engineering will provide great service to both firms’ existing client base,” says Darren Conner, president of Dewberry Engineers Inc.

As Dewberry | J3, the firm will continue to deliver engineering analysis and design, land development, water resources, due diligence, entitlements, engineering inspection, floodplain management, urban planning, and project management services to local government and commercial clients.

Dewberry currently has an office of 45 employees in Denver, with specializations including complex water and wastewater treatment, water and wastewater infrastructure to include conveyance and pumping, resilience solutions, and building energy optimization.

Dewberry also announced that Darren Conner, P.E., has been promoted to president of Dewberry Engineers Inc., the firm’s nationwide engineering practice. Conner will oversee operations within more than 50 offices from coast to coast, with services that include environmental, site/civil, structural, mechanical/electrical, energy, and transportation engineering.

A civil engineer who has been with Dewberry for 33 years, Conner previously held the position of president of the firm’s southeast division, directing approximately 500 personnel in 24 offices. He succeeds Dan M. Pleasant, P..E, in the new role. Pleasant will continue as chief operating officer of Dewberry.

Conner has been instrumental to the firm’s growth through the years. He led the company’s corporate accounts initiative, which has resulted in a significant increase in the firm’s private-sector business. Over the last five years, he also led the acquisition and integration of two Florida engineering firms, adding nearly 250 employees to the firm.

In 2017, the Charles E. Via, Jr. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE) and the CEE Alumni Board appointed Conner as a member of the 2017 Academy of Distinguished Alumni at Virginia Tech. He is a member of the State Board for Community Colleges and past chair of Danville Community College’s Educational Foundation board of directors. A lifelong resident of Callands, Virginia, Conner earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Virginia Tech and an associate’s degree in pre-engineering from Danville Community College. He is a professional engineer in a dozen states.