Beck Engineering: A Family Operation
Over the last two decades, Beck Engineering has established itself as the go-to firm for civil engineering, landscape architecture and land surveying.
“Brad started the company in May of 2001” said Brad’s wife, Teresa Beck, who has served as the company’s chief operation officer since 2006. “Over the years we have grown the company to what it is today, and we have 26 full-time employees and 7 part-time employees.”
Big Projects for Small Towns
Beck Engineering currently has two offices: the original in Spirit Lake and a newer office in Cherokee. The Cherokee office currently has seven full-time employees, and Teresa expects the staff there to continue to grow in the coming years. Between the two offices, they work on construction projects for a variety of clients, but most of their work is done for cities of fewer than 10,000 people in Northwest Iowa.
“When cities have projects related to infrastructure – streets, water and sewer, sidewalks and trails, parks, or any horizontal infrastructure needs they have – we serve as their consultants and help them manage those improvements,” explains Teresa. “We design them, solicit bids from contractors, manage the construction process, do the surveying and more.”
In addition to working with municipalities, Beck Engineering has also designed athletic facilities, bus loops and parking lots for schools; new recreational trails; and new developments for private clients.
In 2019, they provided civil engineering and land surveying services for a beautification project on Preservation Plaza at Historic Arnolds Park made possible by Imagine Iowa Great Lakes. The project included a concrete trail, drainage and water quality improvements, native plantings, stainless steel arches and more.
Beck Engineering also just completed the landscape architecture, civil engineering, and land surveying for a renovation project at the State Pier at Historic Arnolds Park. The project includes iconic stainless-steel sculptures with color-changing LED lighting, a large fountain and reflecting pool with new tables, chairs and benches, among other things.
Nurturing Talent from the Ground-Up
Beck Engineering also takes a family-like approach to their growth, electing to hire and grow their team organically. A robust internship program has made this a successful endeavor.
“Sometimes we hire high school students during their J term so they can explore the field to see if they are interested,” Teresa said. “Many of our employees were students at Spirit Lake High School who interned with us in college and came back to work for us after they’ve received their degree.”
Teresa says that everything they do is to create opportunities. The result has been a young, talented and motivated team.
A Reliably Secure Financial Partner
Since 2006, Beck Engineering has entrusted Northwest Bank with their banking and financial service needs. It started with an operational account but, today, Beck Engineering has a savings account, an ongoing line of credit and several digital financial solutions through Northwest Bank, including online Bill Pay and ACH for payroll.
“Bill Pay and ACH are fantastic products that save me a ton of time,” Teresa said. “I don’t have to print checks, stuff envelopes and put stamps on them or deliver them. On top of that, the multi-factor verification has made everything a very safe and secure process.”
Many of the commercial bankers at Northwest Bank have been with us for a long time, which has allowed Teresa to develop long-term working relationships over the years.
“I always know exactly who to call when I need something and they can answer it right away,” Teresa said. “It has been really nice to have these relationships with the employees.”
Beck Engineering saved time and money with Northwest Bank and you can too. Contact one of our commercial bankers today to learn how we can help your small business get to the next level.
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