2022 Economic Impact Awards 16-29 Years in Business Finalist: Toth and Associates Inc.

The last two years for Toth and Associates Inc. have been punctuated by a building purchase in Springfield and the opening of two offices in the Northwest, the consulting engineer’s secondary market.

New locations in Tri-Cities, Washington, and Billings, Montana, bring the office count to five. The firm already operated in two Oregon cities – drawn out by electric utility consulting opportunities.

“That’s a niche market, so if you’re good in that space you can work anywhere throughout the country,” says Adam Toth, executive president of Toth and Associates.

Noting a client in Arkansas spurred the work opportunities in the Northwest, Toth says the firm has added 10 clients in the past 18 months – a satisfactory growth rate. “The utility industry is slow to move,” he adds.

The headquarters moved in 2020 with the sale of Toth’s East Primrose Street building and purchase of the former McKesson Corp. and NetSmart property at 1550 E. Republic Road. After a complete remodeling, the firm occupies two of the three adjoining buildings and leases the third.

The current capacity is for 170 workers. The firm’s count is up to 136, as roughly 20 employees were added last year – on pace with its hiring trends for the past five years – and 126 of them work out of the Springfield office.

The firm has projects in 35 states, according to its website.

And to think it all started at the Toth family’s kitchen table. Founder Lou Toth was focused on electric utility engineering, and his son, Adam, has expanded the vision to a multidisciplinary firm with electrical, civil and structural engineering, GIS/mapping services, land surveying, utility rate analysis and grant writing.

Often contracting with public entities, such as schools, electric cooperatives and government districts, the firm recently mixed it up through a contract with the 7 Brew Coffee shops on site development and expansion locally and nationally.

“That has been our first national opportunity in the civil engineering area,” Adam Toth says, noting the corporate work started with the local franchisees.

Officials tout the pay levels for the skilled professionals on staff. In the past year, average hourly wages increased to $44.07 from $39.28. Toth says the leadership wanted to get out in front of increasing inflation and issued 3% raises in January and another 5% in July.

“We have had very little turnover even through this ‘Great Resignation.’ We have taken care of our staff,” he says. “Our best tool for recruiting continues to be internal referrals.”