Forty Under 40: Nick Griffin

Nick Griffin stumbled into a career in civil engineering as a computer major in college who decided he didn’t want to sit in front of computers all of his life.

After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the University of Arkansas in 2004, the Alma native worked as a civil engineering consultant for 12 years. He spent the majority of those years working for Mickle Wagner Coleman Engineers, managing a $100 million, 48-inch water line project for the city of Fort Smith.

“That was a once in a career type project,” Griffin said. “We only did work for Fort Smith essentially, and they don’t build transmission lines every day.”

He also worked briefly for Hawkins-Weir Engineers. While working as a consultant, he learned about ArcBest, which is a holding company for less-than-truckload carrier ABF Freight and other logistics companies. He designed infrastructure for its corporate headquarters at the 7,000-acre Chaffee Crossing.

“For me, it was going from a really small engineering firm to this really large corporation,” Griffin said. “It was a big change.”

Griffin started at ArcBest in September 2016 as an engineering and construction manager. He was promoted to his current role Jan. 1. He works in a department of eight employees and manages more than 250 freight dock, warehouse and general office facilities in the United States and Canada. When he started at ArcBest, the company was building a new corporate headquarters, and it recently started to renovate its former headquarters building.

In May, Griffin earned an MBA from Harding University. He supports St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and has started a website to promote cycling in the Fort Smith area. He spends his free time outdoors and enjoys cycling, canoeing and rock climbing.