KDW SALAS O'BRIEN, LLC
SEATTLE, WA

Recognize that we are all owners with direct influence on the success of our company. Provide positive energy, passion, and commitment to everything we do. Ensure the continuity of the firm through succession planning. Maintain a financially healthy firm. Capitalize on opportunities to strengthen the firm. Recognize that we are all owners with direct influence on the success of our company. Provide positive energy, passion, and commitment to everything we do. Ensure the continuity of the firm through succession planning. Maintain a financially healthy firm. Capitalize on opportunities to strengthen the firm. “Since the inception of our business relationship, Salas O’Brien’s entire staff has been insightful, knowledgeable, and professional in regards to our needs and the demands of our specific projects. The staff is always available for questions, they are courteous, easy to work, and very responsive. Salas O’Brien is an asset to our team.” —Managing Principal, national architecture firm “Salas O’Brien has been able to save the University thousands of dollars each year by effectively and efficiently reducing energy costs through upgrading our MEP design systems. They have served our campus for over 15 years and continue to provide excellent service to this day.” —Project Manager, construction firm in California Associated Commissioning Group (ACG) Carl Salas, Roy Goodman, John Salas and Louis Ortega joined the firm. featured Salas O’Brien Engineers as the first “energy auditing firm” in the United States, highlighting the firm’s vision, passion, and experience relating to energy efficiency, sustainability, critical systems, and power generation. The firm hosted and sponsored the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in San Jose. The parade has been a tradition in San Jose ever since, underlining the firm’s fundamental commitment to the communities where our team lives and works. Darin Anderson, Chuck O’Neal, and Paul Silva purchased 85% of the company from Carl and Marianne Salas. Darin became CEO, and Paul became President & COO. Several leaders were invited to ownership in the firm and “principals” were created in the organization, representing the senior leadership of the firm that is responsible for the values, strategy, and operation of the firm. Continuing the firm’s community leadership, Salas O’Brien sponsored and supported the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” fundraiser benefiting the San Jose YMCA. KDW PS, founded in 1983 and based in Seattle, joined Salas O’Brien. KDW was recognized for their mission-critical capabilities as a full-service architectural, engineering, and interiors firm. The five owners of the firm continued as principals with Salas O’Brien: Arnold Kraakmo, Steve Boie, Randy Jones, John Siefken, and Doug Diel (founder). Arnold became managing principal of the Northwest region. The firm was listed for the first time on the Inc. 5000 list of list of America's fastest-growing private companies. Revenue was $18,000,000. Kalmans Marshall Engineering, Inc. (KME), founded in 1980 based in Houston with offices in Dallas and Baton Rouge, joined Salas O’Brien. KME's primary clients were school districts and commercial clients, including both hospitality and retail. The firm was a recognized regional leader for its high-quality mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design work and outstanding client relationships. The five owners of the firm continued as principals with Salas O’Brien: Brad Kalmans, Karl Marshall, David Bonaventure, Keith Gassman, and Mel Kalmans (founder). Brad became managing principal of the Texas/Louisiana region. The firm also made ’s list of Top 500 Design Firms list for the first time, listed at #433. HESM&A, Inc., founded in 1989 based in Atlanta, joined Salas O’Brien. HESM&A’s primary clients were in education, healthcare, corporate/commercial, telecommunications, hospitality, and retail. The firm was recognized for its high-quality mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire-suppression design work as well as commissioning. The eleven employee owners of the firm all continued with Salas O’Brien, including the six principals: Stan Everett (founder), Tim Gilbert, Tom Evans, Toby Hunt, Dan Clifford, and Tim Brawner. Stan became managing principal of the South region. KLG, LLC, founded in 1990 and based in Atlanta, joined Salas O’Brien’s South region. KLG’s primary clients were in higher education, corporate/commercial, and hospitality. The two owners of the firm, Danny Lundstrom (founder) and Robert Zendejas Jr., became principals of Salas O’Brien. Salas O’Brien jumped 133 spots to #300 on ENR’s list of Top 500 Design Firms. Minick Engineering, Inc., founded in 1984 and based in Atlanta, joined Salas O’Brien. Minick’s primary clients were higher education, healthcare, industrial, and corporate/commercial. The two owners of the firm, Mark Minick and Debra Segal, continued as leaders in Salas O’Brien. Salas O’Brien became a 100% employee-owned firm, fulfilling the vision of Darin, Chuck, and Paul from the acquisition 10 years prior. All Salas O’Brien management and principals remained with the firm. “I have been with Salas O’Brien for over 20 years. I became an engineer to balance science and art and to come up with the best solution for our clients. I appreciate the flexibility Salas O’Brien has provided me to balance family and work.” “A significant portion of Salas O’Brien’s clients are technology-based firms. As Director of Critical Environments I have the pleasure of working with architects and engineering staff who have an amazing depth of experience designing in this fast-paced, continually evolving building type. Your information may be ‘in the cloud,’ but behind every cloud is a data center!” “As a Project Manager on commercial projects there are no quiet days!  Working on 10-15 different projects in a given day makes the days go by very fast. I am extremely proud of what we are delivering to our clients on a daily basis!” “I would never have guessed that 10 years ago, when I started as an office manager/receptionist in an office with just a few people, we would be where we are today. I am now a Senior Plumbing Designer, and our firm has had tremendous growth!”