UES President Brian Kirkpatrick was featured in Orlando Business Journal's "2022 Game Changers" article.
By Ryan Lynch - Staff Writer, Orlando Business Journal | Jan 3, 2022
Why he's important:
Kirkpatrick is the new leader of the Orlando-based engineering and consulting firm that's on a path to grow to a $1 billion company in the next few years. It announced eight acquisitions in 2021, and BDT Capital Partners announced an undisclosed investment in Universal Engineering Sciences, positioning it for more growth.
What's happening in his industry:
Construction activity came back strong after the early part of the pandemic delayed some commercial projects. Shortages of materials and labor also will create hurdles for companies, potentially resulting in more delays or driving up costs.
Benchmarks for 2022: Continue organic growth; grow local and nationwide workforce; make additional acquisitions; build upon existing markets in the U.S. South, West and Midwest.
"I'm incredibly proud of the 3,100-person strong organization that UES has become in 2021. We exceeded every goal set on paper for the business this year, and with the new partnership and support of BDT - and continued support of Palm Beach Capital and our partner companies - we're in the exciting territory of rethinking what is possible in a five-year plan."