Employee-owned with Projects in Over 50 Countries
Illinois Chamber member Hanson Professional Services Inc. goes all the way back to 1954. Walter E. Hanson began an engineering company in Springfield, Illinois, where valuing quality service and leadership shaped what we know as Hanson today. In 1972, Hanson became employee-owned, which remains one of the fascinating characteristics about the company to this day. “Walt was instrumental in promoting and advancing the engineering profession, researching new techniques and theories and completing important engineering and infrastructure projects in Illinois and around the world. He was definitely a mentor to me,” Chairman and CEO Sergio “Satch” Pecori said.
Not only have the engineers worked in the U.S., they also have supplied many different consulting services and dozens of new projects in more than 50 countries around the world. Their projects include undertakings such as the Sabaneta Dam and Rincon Dam in the Dominican Republic, the Voice of America transmission facility on Sao Tome Island, and facilities for other stations globally as well as a wide variety of liquefied natural gas facilities internationally.
As the effects of the pandemic linger, Hanson has prioritized the well-being of their employees while still achieving the mission of their clients. “We all hear about ‘the new normal,’ and for us, that means flexible and remote work options. Our information technology group very quickly coordinated home-use hardware deliveries and online collaboration tools,” Pecori said. “Even during the worst of it, our dedication to keeping our client’s projects on time and within budget never wavered. I’m very proud of the work by our employees during that very challenging time.”
While the pandemic has slowed the activity of some industries, the infrastructure needs of the state economy remain constant. Hanson is actively involved in the Illinois Chamber’s Infrastructure Council, where they focus on strategic and thoughtful ways to boost the overall business climate in Illinois. Some of these include roads and bridges, railways, commercial navigation, and airports. “Our membership in the Illinois Chamber has had a positive, profound impact on our 67-year-old, employee-owned company. Hanson has benefited from the Chamber’s efforts to educate its members on business trends that have the potential to affect our business and profitability,” Pecori said.
The Infrastructure Council engages the overall state business climate, but it also engages a number of policy entities with participation in various steering and planning committees. “The Chamber gives us numerous opportunities to join other businesses — Chamber members — under the Chamber’s strong leadership and guidance to proactively affect legislation and rulemaking that influences not only our business and industry but the overall business environment in our state. This is especially important to us because our business is part of a regulation-driven industry, so the advocacy, networking, and legislative focus the Chamber provides is invaluable,” Pecori said. “Additionally, the Chamber’s diverse membership fosters a collaborative, inclusive environment that has helped us work toward innovative and dynamic ways to achieve our business goals and serve our customers.”
Since the very beginning, Hanson’s mission has always been their core values to help shape the growing company. To this day, Hanson continues to expand their business nationwide with a strong focus to grow an inclusive, diverse workplace. “The engineering industry has a very promising outlook for hiring, with the federal infrastructure bill expected to create tens of thousands of jobs. So, we not only have dozens of positions open now, but we are also focused on developing our future personnel through our internship and minority participation programs such as Grow Our Own,” Pecori said. “It’s important to have diverse talent, because diverse perspectives benefit our work and our clients.”
The longevity of Hanson is owed to their continuous commitment to doing things right. Service, honesty, and discovery are some of the many qualities championed in the workplace. “Things have changed since Walt created our firm, but what hasn’t changed is our focus on and service to our clients, employees, and projects,” Pecori said.
We look forward to working alongside Hanson as they continue to expand and shape Illinois’ infrastructure one day at a time.
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