civil engineering | Civil Engineering Consulting Firm | Civil Engineering News | Civil Engineering Careers

Story

About

Our Story

who we are

We are a consulting firm serving communities for more than half a century.

Our company creates solutions and designs that actively improve the future of our communities. Named after our founder, George Houston, Houston Engineering, Inc. (HEI) first opened its doors in 1968 as a civil engineering and surveying firm in Fargo, ND. Since that time, we have expanded our capabilities, our staff, and the geographic area we serve. Today, we provide a full range of civil engineering, surveying, environmental, planning, and technology consulting solutions for clients across the United States.

years of experience
0 +

We first opened our doors in 1968 as a civil engineering and surveying firm.

Locations
0

We started with one office and have grown to 15 locations across the Midwest.

States Served
0 +

We have served clients in more than 42 states as well as in Mexico and Canada.

Employees
0 +

We take pride in our biggest asset, our people.

our values

We are people first.

Client-Focused Mindset

Simply put, when our clients are successful, we are successful. Our clients have always been our highest priority, and we give them our best effort every time. We value being seen as a trusted partner and are grateful to earn repeat business.

Committed to Quality and Excellence

We believe that true excellence lies not only in the final result, but in every step of the journey. This commitment to quality is ingrained in our culture, reflected in the caliber of our team, and evident in the outstanding results we achieve.

Striving to be the Ideal Team Player

Our team members are encouraged to be "The Ideal Team Player" described in Patrick Lencioni's book of the same name, exemplifying the virtues of being humble, hungry, and smart, leading to a cultural commitment of teamwork to better serve our clients.

recognition

Award-winning innovation

Our track record of award-winning innovation speaks volumes about our forward-thinking approach. 



These accolades not only validate our dedication to pushing the industry forward but also serve as a testament to our team’s ingenuity and expertise. We strive to redefine what’s possible in civil engineering, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest advancements and the most efficient, sustainable practices in the field.

our team

Corporate Leaders

Gregg - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Gregg Thielman
President/CEO
Mike Opat - Houston Engineering INC.
Mike Opat
Director Of Operations
Naomi Disrud - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Naomi Disrud
Director of Marketing and Communications
Bethany Fraase - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Bethany Fraase
Director of Finance
Lois Erickson - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Lois Erickson
Human Resources Manager
Brenda Stroh - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Brenda Stroh
Controller
Josh Barth - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Josh Barth
IT Manager

Business Sector Leaders

Zach Herrmann - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Zach Herrmann
Water Resources Business Sector Lead
Jeremy McLaughlin - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Jeremy McLaughlin
Transportation Business Sector Lead
Drew Kessler - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Drew Kessler
Environmental Business Sector Lead
Jim Schlieman - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Jim Schlieman
Surveying and Reality Capture Business Sector Lead
Brian Fischer - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Brian Fischer
Geospatial Technology Business Sector Lead
Sherwin Wanner - Houston Engineering Inc. Team
Sherwin Wanner
Municipal Infrastructure Business Sector Lead

Office Managers

Sherwin Wanner - Houston Engineering INC.
Sherwin Wanner

Bismarck, ND

Office Manager
Charles Ikenberry - Houston Engineering INC.
Charles Ikenberry

Des Moines, IA

Office Manager
Shawn Soehren - Houston Engineering INC.
Shawn Soehren

Dickinson, ND

Office Manager
Jerry Bents - Houston Engineering INC.
Jerry Bents

Fargo, ND
Aberdeen, SD
Alexandria, MN

Office Manager
Trent Berg - Houston Engineering INC.
Trent Berg

Grand Forks, ND

Office Manager
Jeff Langan - Houston Engineering INC.
Jeff Langan

Maple Grove, MN
Eden Prairie, MN

Office Manager
Dave Schwengler - Houston Engineering INC.
Dave Schwengler

Minot, ND

Office Manager
Tony Nordby - Houston Engineering INC.
Tony Nordby

Thief River Falls, MN

Office Manager
MechenbergSara 02 e1740163769995
Sara Mechtenberg

Omaha, NE
Lincoln, NE

Office Manager
HansonStan web
Stan Hanson

Sioux Falls, SD

Office Manager
Employee Videos

Hear from Our Team

built on teamwork

Empowering People, Enhancing Communities.

JOIN OUR TEAM!

At HEI, we champion a collaborative spirit that celebrates both personal and professional milestones, offering diverse project opportunities aligned with individual interests. Our commitment to work-life balance fuels quality results and personal growth.

play Life at hei

quote icon - Houston Engineering Inc. Team

Being able to suggest ideas to management where we can apply new tech to solve problems faster and better makes me feel like our company listens to the employees and that we are all working towards the same goals as a team.

Employee Survey Response

company news

HEI Updates

Welcome Joachim Nyanchiri to HEI

October 20, 2025

Welcome, Joachim! We are thrilled to announce that Joachim Nyanchiri has joined HEI as a Civil Engineering Technician in our...

Welcome Romē Chelmo to HEI

October 15, 2025

Welcome, Romē! We are thrilled to announce that Romē Chelmo has officially joined the HEI team! Romē will be working...

Conferences

HEI’s October Conference Presentations

October 10, 2025

We are thrilled to announce that HEI’s talented team is presenting at several renowned conferences in the coming weeks. These...

Scroll to Top

Grant Research

We begin by thoroughly researching available grant opportunities to identify those best suited to your specific project needs. Our team leverages our deep understanding of federal, state, and local grant programs, as well as foundation grants, to ensure a comprehensive search. We evaluate eligibility criteria, funding priorities, and timelines to match your project with the most appropriate funding sources. This targeted approach maximizes the potential for securing financial support for your project.