Engineering firm with NWA ties changes name

Missouri-based Anderson Engineering, which has nearly 20 employees in its Rogers office, announced Wednesday (April 12) that its new name is OWN Inc.

In a news release, CEO Jerrod Hogan said the name change reflects the firm’s success as a 100% employee-owned business (ESOP).

OWN has expanded from 70 employees to 230 over the past few years. The company opened its Rogers office five years ago and has supported numerous Northwest Arkansas projects with civil engineering and surveying services, including the 400-lot Orchard Park subdivision for Schuber Mitchell Homes in Centerton and the Hudson Road Townhomes in Rogers.

OWN serves the commercial, healthcare, education, residential, industrial, hospitality and sports, and entertainment sectors and the federal/military, state, county, municipal, transportation and utility industries. Licensed to operate in more than 40 states, OWN’s core services include civil and structural engineering, land surveying, field services and related subdisciplines.

Founded in 1954 as the Tri-Lakes Concrete Co., the firm has undergone several name changes and has operated as Anderson Engineering since 1977.

In 1998, it became employee-owned. The idea of employee ownership is familiar to engineering, but OWN believes its firm to be unique.

In a news release, the company explained that executives often own most shares and many times, the ESOP is a small percentage of the ownership structure. OWN is a 100% ESOP, owned 100% by employees, equitably. Most firms in the engineering space are named after the service they perform or after founders that may no longer be involved.

“Our new name grew out of the idea that our greatest asset is our ability to tap into the power of true employee ownership and deliver creative problem-solving and service that goes beyond the expected,” Hogan said in a statement. “We focus on the vital relationship between passionate engineers, their entrepreneurial drive, and the responsibility they share together as owners. Building on that success, the shift to OWN felt natural.”

OWN maintains headquarters in Springfield, with other Missouri offices in Joplin, Monett, Carthage, Kansas City and Columbia. There are Florida offices in Destin, Pensacola and Milton. OWN plans to open a Kansas office in Overland Park this summer.

The Rogers office is at 5311 W. Village Parkway in the Village on the Creeks development near Interstate 49 in Rogers.

“Our team works on everything from buildings to bridges to ballfields,” Hogan said. “Our work and track record have always spoken for themselves. And as for culture, we put people at the center of everything we do. The team is beyond excited for this new chapter and how we’re positioned for growth and expansion.”