In our latest newsletter, we are highlighting the outstanding performance of Jonathan Bolbach and Mark LaBell, winners of SSOE’s Founder’s Award. Their accomplishment — developing the AutoNavis software application — met two of the award’s key criteria: delivering exceptional value to clients by saving them time, trouble, and money and implementing an innovation that leads to improved processes and quality. Read more
Greg Brogley, PE, PMP, Strategic Business Unit Manager, Facilities Northern Operations and Senior Vice President, was recently featured in a Building Design+Construction article that showcases the publication’s “Industrial Giants” who reported increases in the sector last year, despite the marginal decline in construction of industrial buildings over the past five years overall. Within, Greg discusses the ever-important need for scheduling due to ongoing supply chain delays and shortages and our Mexico operations’ newfound niche designing distribution centers with automated storage and retrieval systems. The article also highlights the facility SSOE designed in central Mexico for automotive supplier Continental, dubbed “plant of the future” for its innovative bells and whistles. Read more
Erick Kuri, Mexico Business Leader and Operations Manager, recently authored an article in LATINtalk eJournal. Many industry leaders from other countries want to establish operations in or transfer them to Mexico. As part of this process, it’s imperative that they understand the complex process of obtaining permits and other legal aspects. These may vary from one region to another but are equally complex nationwide. One of the biggest challenges companies face is the time it takes to navigate legal and permitting requirements, which is often not built into the project schedule. In the article, Erick shares key perspectives and strategies for the permitting and legal process that owners need to navigate in Mexico. Read more
LEÓN, Guanajuato, Mexico, October 26, 2023 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is proud to announce the expansion of its León, Guanajuato, office—a direct result of the firm’s continued focus on and investment in its Mexico operations. Last month, an open house reception, consisting of a special town hall with a ribbon-cutting and blessing ceremony, was held to inaugurate the expansion of SSOE’s León operations as it now occupies a third additional floor within the office complex. Read more
Challenging. Competitive. Rich with opportunities. From where we sit as a global provider of EPCM services, those words sum up the world’s current economic landscape. Our management team, like yours, studies information on economic trends and their affect on the production of goods and provision of services worldwide. Our expansion plans are all about being wherever our clients want to be. READ MORE
Whether our clients decide to further expand within their home country or break new ground across the globe, increasingly the projects have tight schedules. The most obvious reason is the faster the products can be manufactured, the sooner they can generate revenue. Once the decision is made to develop the facility, time becomes a key factor. As the completion date draws near, every week is measured by production gained or lost. If the facility is to be developed in an unfamiliar location, working with a company that lacks global experience invites delays and missteps. READ MORE
“It’s a small world after all” is proving more and more true – except when selecting a site for a new location across the globe. When a company is faced with finding a site for a new facility thousands of miles and several cultures removed from “home,” the distance factor can seem insurmountable. SSOE’s site selection services neutralize the difficulties this challenge poses. READ MORE
Erick Kuri, Mexico Business Leader and Operations Manager, recently authored an article in LATINtalk eJournal. In the article, Erick shares his perspective on how EPCM gives owners substantially greater insight into the entire project cycle. In addition, EPCM results in fewer surprises that might challenge a project for cost, schedule, or quality reasons.
Erick Kuri, Mexico Business Leader and Operations Manager, recently authored an article in LATINtalk eJournal. In the article, Erick shares insight on how mega-retailers are seeing a rise in online shopping, which means a growing necessity for building large distribution centers. This new type of building, as well as many of them being in Mexico, creates challenges these retailers have not previously faced. Erick explains that technology can assist in making the work process much smoother. Read more
ATLANTA, Georgia, April 26, 2023 — SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is excited to announce the hiring of Viviana Donikian as Director, Talent Management and Development. Donikian will be based in SSOE’s Atlanta, Georgia, office and will report directly to the firm’s Senior Vice President, People and Culture, Brad Rowe. Read more
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico, March 21, 2023 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm, is excited to announce it has established operations in Chihuahua, Mexico. SSOE’s first Mexico office was opened in early 2014 in León, Guanajuato to support the region’s growing automotive manufacturing base. Read more
Erick Kuri, Mexico Business Leader and Operations Manager, recently authored an article in LATINtalk eJournal. In the article, Erick focuses on how EPCM is a very effective way to optimize project delivery both in the U.S. and Mexico, however, it requires a change of mindset as the EPCM team assumes more ownership for the duration of the project. Read more
“This is a phenomenal enterprise,” began Ohio Governor Bob Taft at a press conference at SSOE’s headquarters on July 18. “There is more work getting done here more quietly then anyplace in the entire state of Ohio. What this company does is incredible and it is a great success story. [SSOE] is a company that is investing and growing and expanding here and has an impact world wide. In fact, just this year I was very proud to present SSOE an “E” Award for Excellence in Exporting for the second time. They come with me on my trade missions. They are operating in China and Europe; they are operating in Mexico. They are truly a global enterprise.”
LEÓN, Mexico, January 21, 2022 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce continued growth and investment in their Mexico operations. That growth has resulted in expanding and renovating current office space in León, Guanajuato to accommodate our growing team and creating a more flexible and collaborative office for our employees. Additionally, staff will move toward a permanent hybrid / collaborative office model in the near future. SSOE’s León office is now the firm’s third largest office behind their Toledo, Ohio headquarters and Portland, Oregon location. Read more
Joe Badalamenti, PE, PMP, Business Development Executive at SSOE, was recently featured in this article in Food Engineering Magazine. Joe and other AEC experts weigh in on what’s trending in the food and beverage industry. Based on the publication’s annual survey, the industry has seen a peak in the number of construction projects recorded in 2015 — the highest number in the last 10 years. The driver? Food safety. Read more
SSOE experts, John Gill, PE, PMP, Director of Virtual Design and Construction, and Mike Duffey, PE, Principal Account Executive, explore the many benefits of combining an integrated approach with Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) to achieve a collaborative aerospace facility. With this approach, significant advantages result, including a more transparent and collaborative team environment that fosters participation and valuable input during the early stages of a project, increased flexibility and efficiency during the project’s development in the virtual world, and reduction of RFIs. On average, SSOE has seen 20%+ schedule reduction through strategies including concurrent engineering and the use of prefabrication and modularization. Read more
Alexandra Segers, Dipl.-Ing, PE, MS, General Manager of SSOE’s Southeast U.S. operations, was recently published in Area Development Magazine discussing the worldwide trend of OEMs—and subsequently suppliers—moving operations to Mexico. With this number growing every day, Alexandra reminds readers the Southeast U.S. is still a viable, competitive option for automotive parts production. Read more
SSOE Group is a leader in leveraging the latest technology to enable integrated and collaborative project delivery. SSOE Group was featured in BOSS Magazine, in an article highlighting the company’s technology strategy and culture — both of which are helping provide better solutions to clients. Driven by collaboration, SSOE is using innovative tools and customized applications to deliver high quality projects more efficiently, while working to maintain employee engagement along the way. Read more
Cultural and commercial variances between the U.S. and Mexico can sometimes result in construction delays or expensive component substitutions. When strategic plans rely on heavily maintaining schedules, the following insights, which are often grouped under the head of tropicalization, should add confidence to the planning and executing of projects here in Mexico. Read more
Alexandra Segers, Dipl.-Ing, PE, Program Manager and International Account Executive at SSOE Group, was recently featured in this Site Selection Magazine article discussing Mexico as a growing, viable option for major league players in automotive (think Toyota, Ford, and BMW) who are crossing the border to set up shop. BMW sites the country’s high number of international trade agreements as a significant determinant in taking operations to Mexico. Segers, who is no stranger to international site selection and advised BMW on the project, explains that much evaluation goes into the decision-making process, with reliability and water being popular concerns for companies considering an investment in Mexico to better serve their customers.
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Vince DiPofi, Chief Strategy Officer at SSOE Group, is featured in the July issue of Engineering News-Record (ENR) Magazine. The article discusses current trends in manufacturing, in addition to the new technologies appearing in the automotive sector.
TOLEDO, Ohio, February 4, 2020 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce its Engineering News-Record (ENR) Global Sourcebook Rankings. The rankings were released in the December edition of ENR’s Top Global Sourcebook and provides market analysis and rankings of the largest international AEC firms based on revenue for design services performed outside of the United States. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, October 21, 2019 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, is proud to announce that they are serving as a global alliance partner for American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM)—a global leader in design, engineering, validation and manufacturing of driveline, metal forming, powertrain, and casting technologies for automotive, commercial, and industrial markets. Read more
AGUASCALIENTES, Mexico, July 19, 2019 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management was hired by Continental AG to perform engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) services for their new 25,000 sq. m. (nearly 270,000 SF) automotive electronics components production facility located in FINSA Industrial Park in Aguascalientes, Mexico. This facility has been designed as a “plant of the future”, incorporating cutting-edge technologies and energy efficiencies with the goal of achieving LEED® Gold certification. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, December 20, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, announced today that two project teams have been selected as recipients of the firm’s Founder’s Award and five individuals have been selected as recipients of Leadership Awards. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, October 11, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, announced today the appointment of two new Principals, effective January 1, 2019. SSOE’s Board of Directors named Jens Ebert and Brad Rowe as principal owners of SSOE. Read more
LEÓN, Mexico, September 24, 2018 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global project delivery firm for architecture, engineering, and construction management, announced the addition of Jaime Chema, Project Manager, and Carlos De Los Santos, Human Resources Manager, to their growing team in Mexico. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, March 8, 2016 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm welcomes Robert “Scott” Goodwin, COSS as Corporate Safety Manager. Scott comes to SSOE from Associated General Contractors (AGC) of Northwest Ohio where he served as the Director of Safety and Training.
In this role, Goodwin is responsible for providing safety leadership, training, and guidance. This includes conducting safety audits and inspections for SSOE’s corporate facilities and construction work sites as well as developing contractor qualification standards, reporting safety metrics, and authoring weekly safety tips for staff as well as the company’s safety blog. Read more
TOLEDO, Ohio, January 15, 2016 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, announced today that one of their employees earned a professional registration and ten additional employees earned professional certifications during the first and second quarters of SSOE’s 2016 planning year. Attainment of professional licensures is strongly encouraged at SSOE. In fact, the company covers the expense of preparation classes and exam fees as well as provides paid time off to take the exam. As an added incentive, once a staff member has passed an exam, they are awarded a recognition bonus. Read more
MONTERREY, Mexico, May 29, 2015 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), ranked 12th internationally among Engineering Firms (Building Design + Construction, 2014), announced today that they have opened an office in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico—their second office in the country. SSOE’s first office was opened in early 2014 in the city of León, Guanajuato, Mexico to support the region’s growing automotive manufacturing base. The addition of the Monterrey office will allow SSOE to better serve for our current food and automotive clients located in Saltillo, Ramos Arizpe, Monterrey, and surrounding areas, with a closer geographical concentration of resources. It is the second office SSOE has launched to serve the growing industrial investment in North America in as many months. Read more
Toledo, Ohio – June 3, 2014-— SSOE’s Board of Directors announced today that it has selected Bob Howell to be the next President and CEO of SSOE Group—a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm . Effective December 3, 2014, Bob Howell will assume the reins from current CEO, Tony Damon, who announced his plans to retire late last year.
LEÓN, Mexico February 14, 2014 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), ranked 10th internationally among Manufacturing Design Firms (ENR, 2013), announced today that they have opened operations in León, Guanajuato, Mexico—their first office in the country. SSOE now has operations in eight countries. Over the next three years, SSOE plans to hire 25-30 individuals to support the León office. SSOE’s expansion into Mexico continues the company’s trajectory of international growth; the firm has added nine offices in new geographic markets in the last three years through both acquisition and organic expansion.
Toledo, Ohio, May 31, 2013 – SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm along with their client Volkswagen Group of America is proud to announce that it has received one of eight Grand Awards for Engineering Excellence at the 47th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards—a national juried competition sponsored by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC). The award, presented in honor of the new Volkswagen Assembly Plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was presented to SSOE and Volkswagen representatives at an award gala in Washington D.C. on April 23, 2013.
TOLEDO, Ohio, January 31, 2013 –SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm, is proud to announce that it has been ranked second by Engineering News Record (ENR) in their 2012 Top International Design Firm Rankings survey results for Auto Assembly. The rankings were released in December and are based on revenue.
Toledo, Ohio, November 14, 2012 –SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm is proud to announce it has been named one of Consulting-Specifying Engineer’s (CSE) 2012 MEP Giants. The MEP Giants program ranks the top 100 mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), and fire protection engineering firms in the United States based on total MEP design revenue. SSOE ranked thirteenth, moving up six spots from 2011.
October 14, 2010, Toledo, Ohio – SSOE Group, a global engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) firm announced expanded roles for key staff as it plans for continued international growth despite the turbulent economic climate. Currently SSOE has 19 offices domestically and two in China, in Shanghai and Beijing. As international opportunities continue to increase and become a larger part of SSOE’s growth strategy the firm plans to open two additional offices in China, two in India, and two in Canada in 2011. Currently SSOE’s international business comprises 8% of total revenue. By 2015 the firm projects that 25% of their total revenue will be generated internationally, increasing to 33% by 2020. According to Tony Damon, CEO and President of SSOE, “Expansion of our business globally is one of the key drivers of our growth strategy including driving growth here in the U.S. to service the growing international marketplace.”
September 23, 2010, Toledo, Ohio– SSOE Group (www.ssoe.com), a global EPCM firm, was recognized for its success in the global marketplace by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland and Ohio Department of Development Director Lisa Patt-McDaniel at a luncheon held in Columbus yesterday. SSOE was named the “Large Exporter of the Year.” In total, 20 Ohio companies were presented with the Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award (“E”Award). This is SSOE’s third time being an “E” award recipient; they also received this honor in 2002 as well as 2006. The Governor’s Excellence in Exporting Award annually recognizes Ohio companies that have increased sales and Ohio-based employment as a result of export activity, or have implemented a strategy to expand international sales.