L-R Former Associated Engineering Presidents & CEOs, Stan Lawrence, Norm Lawrence, Vince Borch, current President & CEO, Kerry Rudd, and current Chairman, Alistair Black

Associated Engineering marks 60 years of service

In the mid-1940s, Canada was celebrating the end of World War II and experiencing an economic revival after the Depression. Cities and towns were growing as a result of the baby boom and increasing immigration. Municipalities needed to expand their infrastructure to accommodate the population growth. Civil engineer, Herb Ripley, a former Engineering Officer with the Royal Canadian Navy, returned from the war and saw opportunities to provide consulting engineering services to these towns and cities.

Herb Ripley started his first consulting engineering firm in 1945 with Ed Davis, also a navy engineer. However, the partnership of Ripley and Davis was not destined to last, and the two separated shortly thereafter.

Herb remained in the consulting business as Ripley and Associates, but sought partners for his company. Herb recruited Norm Lawrence, a former military engineer, and Al Rowand, who had experience from the Saskatchewan Department of Highways. Together they established a new consulting engineering firm in downtown Edmonton. Seeking a more inclusive name, in 1948, they established a new company, Associated Engineering Services Ltd.

Sixty years later, Associated Engineering has become one of the most stable and successful consulting engineering firms in Canada. On May 10, 2008 at the company’s Annual Shareholders Meeting, Kerry Rudd, President & CEO, noted, “During the past 60 years, we have seen many changes in the consulting engineering industry. Associated Engineering remains true to our roots as a wholly Canadian, employee-owned company. While we have grown in size and expanded our capabilities, we have maintained our culture and values. Our success results from the loyalty of long-term clients, dedication of our staff, and the contributions of our predecessors who gave thoughtful and far-sighted attention to building the company we know today.”

Four of the company’s former Presidents & CEOs, Norm Lawrence, Stan Lawrence, Vince Borch, and Alistair Black, joined the shareholders at the Annual Shareholders Meeting. Norm Lawrence, one of the founders of Associated Engineering in 1948, was President & CEO from 1954 to 1969. Stan Lawrence, who was President & CEO from 1985 to 1992, was instrumental in restructuring the company to the Associated Engineering group of companies during the economic downturn in Western Canada.

Vince Borch became President & CEO in 1992, holding the position until 1996. Alistair Black, currently Chairman of our Board of Directors, became our President in 1996 and retired from his role as CEO in 2006.

Special thanks to Norm Lawrence for joining Associated Engineering’s shareholders at the Annual Meeting in Vancouver. Norm, who turned 90 years old on July 24 was enroute to his vacation with his wife Jean and friends in Fairmont, BC. Norm “sidetracked” to Calgary to catch a flight to Vancouver to attend the shareholders meeting. He then returned to Calgary, and drove to Fairmont to resume his vacation!

Thank you to our clients, staff, “Associated Engineering alumni”, and our many friends who have contributed to the success of the company over the past 60 years.