At WGI, momentum is everythingāand right now, weāre building it faster than ever. Whether itās expanding our reach, welcoming new talent, driving efficiencies through innovation, or achieving major project milestones, our growth is a direct reflection of the values that guide us every day.
Our core valuesāPassion for People, Be the Change You Seek, and Commit to Greatnessāarenāt just words. They are the foundation of our culture and the reason we continue to stand out in a competitive, fast-evolving industry. Fulfilling these values allows us to create a virtuous cycle of happy clients, associate growth opportunities, and create positive, lasting impacts on our communities. As we approach the mid-way point of 2025, we find ourselves in a strong position across our U.S. footprint due largely to our associates living out our core values within the firm while taking ownership of our clientsā challenges.
On the sales and backlog front, we continue to see strong activity across our divisions. In fact, our backlog has grown significantly, highlighting our clientsā trust in our capabilities and positioning us well for the months ahead. We were fortunate to have a very strong start to the year. Each of our operating divisions exceeded our first quarter budget for new contracts signed, and consequently, our backlog has increased to some of the highest levels weāve ever had. I would be remiss if I missed the opportunity to thank our valued clients for continuing to put their trust in our firm to deliver on their behalf, and to our associates, whose dedication leads us to provide best-in-class client service.
At the end of May, we welcomed Miami-based Roadway Design Solutions (RDS) to the WGI familyāfurther strengthening our transportation capabilities and expanding our presence in a key Florida market. Led by Ricardo Castro, RDS is known for providing highway and interchange design, particularly to the Florida Department of Transportationās Districts Four and Six in South Florida. The addition of RDS is consistent with our continued growth in both the southeast Florida and transportation marketplace, and weāre excited to welcome Ricardo and his team to the WGI family.
This past March, Kristen Nowicki, AICP, a Senior Project Manager at WGI, was appointed to the University of Floridaās Urban & Regional Planning Advisory Council. This prestigious council is dedicated to shaping the future of Urban and Regional Planning by advising UFās Department of Urban and Regional Planning on industry trends, curriculum development, and strategic initiatives. Kristenās appointment is a testament to her leadership, expertise, and passion for advancing the field of Urban and Regional Planning. At WGI, we take pride in supporting our leaders who are making an impact beyond our organization, and we know Kristen will bring valuable insights to the council.
Iām thrilled to report that long-time WGI associates Jeremiah Slaymaker, based in Tallahassee, Florida, and Austin, Texas-based Coleen Johnson, were promoted in March to Director roles at WGI. Jeremiah and Coleen have been instrumental in the sustained success of our Geospatial division, and we look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in their new roles and the lasting impact they will have over the years to come!
We continued delivering thought leadership through insightful publications and client-focused education events to our clients and prospective clients. The first quarter was no exception in this regard, as we published three white papers and hosted a client education webinar, which were very well received in the marketplace.
January saw the publication of āProviding Data Centers Superior Landscape Designā from Landscape Architecture Studio Manager Darcy Nuffer, ASLA. WGIās expertise in the hot data center market is well recognized, and this paper offers insights on how thoughtful landscape design can significantly enhance efficiency, sustainability, and community impact, all while reducing operational costs.
In February, we published our annual tech trends paper, titled AI Tech Trends Unlocking Value in the AEC Industry. Downloaded over 100 times since publication, this paper explores how AI is revolutionizing the industry and provides actionable insights into how WGI is leveraging cutting-edge technology for smarter, more efficient, and cost-effective project execution. The lead author of this publication was Ayse Heckel, Innovation Engineer for WGI. Ayse also delivered a client education webinar on the same topic in April that attracted hundreds of attendees.
Most recently, Cliff Kendall and Katie Steele from our Austin, Texas office published Land Subdivision: A Practical Guide for Central Texas. Land subdivision comes with layers of regulations, jurisdictional complexities, and evolving development requirements. Whether you're a developer, engineer, real estate professional, or landowner, understanding the legal and technical framework is essential to avoiding costly delays. This paper is a go-to resource for navigating subdivision regulations in Central Texas with confidence.
Finally, weāre proud to share that WGI has achieved Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 2āMaking us one of the first firms in the U.S. to reach this critical milestone under the newly implemented CMMC 2.0 framework. This certification underscores our commitment to national security and solidifies WGI as a trusted partner for defense-related projects as we continue to lead the way in cybersecurity by proactively meeting the rigorous requirements needed to protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the Defense Industrial Base.
Itās certainly been a very busy but extremely rewarding first half of 2025. For several years, our competitive marketplace has demanded a change to how our world is envisioned, designed, and experienced. At WGI, we are meeting these market demands head-on with technology-based solutions combined with the realization of our core values. I look forward to seeing what the back half of 2025 brings to all of us.
David Wantman, PE
Chief Executive Officer, WGI
