Golder Associates Inc.

• Position: Alaskan consulting engineering firm - Company Profile

In Alaska and Russia's Far East, mining and civil engineering construction projects often demand a balance between environmental protection and human needs. Golder Associates Inc., a group of consulting engineering firms, brings three decades of innovative problem-solving into these arenas. From arctic mining to road building on volcanic slopes to protecting clean water supplies, Golder is known locally and internationally for taking jobs requiring highly specialized expertise.

Founded in 1960 by Dr. H.Q. Golder, a renowned soil mechanics expert, the firm now grosses over $110 million annually. Golder Associates is one of the world's leaders in applied earth sciences and engineering, with projects completed in over 120 countries.

"We have an incredible range of high-level technical staff available though our North American, European and Australian companies," says Norman Norrish, the managing principal of the Seattle (Redmond) office. "We form teams from our technically diverse personnel to meet the project requirements in the most cost-effective manner."

Drawing from its global "think tank," customer-driven Golder evolves new techniques to support specific projects. "We are continually advancing applied engineering and science to come up with innovative solutions that will save our clients money," says Dr. Robert "Bob" Burk, a principal managing Golder's Geosciences Group. An example is the deepest "soil nailing" project in the world (75 feet), in which Golder saved a Seattle hospital client over $500,000.

"The same high standards apply to the project, whether large or small," Norrish says from Seattle, the largest Golder office worldwide. "We're 100 percent employee-owned, resulting in highly motivated employees and satisfied customers."

All high-level managers are also technically proficient in their respective specialties. "None of us are afraid to...