Skip to main content

History & Timeline The MacKay
Story.

Since opening our doors in 1974, we’ve always seen ourselves as more than a consulting firm, and we’ve continuously strived to deliver work of significance. Then the same as now, we are a team of passionate professionals dedicated to enhancing the communities where we live, work, and play. Our purpose and values have been our inspiration from day one, and they continue to guide our growing team today and beyond. Join us in celebrating the milestones that have shaped our five-decade journey.
Historical MacKay photo of a man in a suit speaking into a handheld radio microphone at a suburban construction site, with houses and hills in the background.
Historical black-and-white MacKay office with staff at drafting tables, as a man stands speaking to a seated colleague in a suit amid blueprints, binders, and desk phones in an open-plan workspace.
Historical MacKay photo of a surveyor operating tripod-mounted surveying instruments beside a van, in black and white.
MacKay team members collaborate in a conference room, reviewing large engineering plans with drafting scales, mugs, and a laptop on the table.
Historical photo of a MacKay–branded pen/highlighter on a notepad atop architectural blueprints, with the MacKay logo visible in the background.
Historical photo of stacked MacKay & Sposito embroidered patches reading Engineers, Surveyors, Planners with a cartoon surveyor icon, resting on a newspaper.
Mackay building on 184th Avenue at sunset, with landscaped grounds and street signs for Holman Road and Bennington Drive

Major Moments.

1974
1980s–1990s
2000s
2010s
Early 2020s
2025
2026
Historical MacKay photo of a man in a suit speaking into a handheld radio microphone at a suburban construction site, with houses and hills in the background.
1974

The Beginning

MacKay & Sposito was founded when Don MacKay and Richard Sposito purchased the Vancouver, Washington, branch of MacKay & Somps. With roots in civil engineering, land surveying, and planning, the firm began building the expertise and relationships that would shape its future.

Historical photo of stacked MacKay & Sposito embroidered patches reading Engineers, Surveyors, Planners with a cartoon surveyor icon, resting on a newspaper.
1980s–1990s

Building Regional Roots

MacKay & Sposito weathered the recession of the early 1980s and expanded its work in public infrastructure and land development. Over the next two decades, projects such as Fisher’s Landing and Columbia Tech Center helped shape Southwest Washington while strengthening the regional relationships at the heart of the firm.

MacKay team members collaborate in a conference room, reviewing large engineering plans with drafting scales, mugs, and a laptop on the table.
2000s

Expanding & Adapting

MacKay & Sposito opened its first branch office and continued to diversify its markets and services. The firm expanded beyond its original civil engineering, surveying and planning roots and adapted through the Great Recession, building the resilience and broader expertise that would support its next phase.

Historical photo of a MacKay–branded pen/highlighter on a notepad atop architectural blueprints, with the MacKay logo visible in the background.
2010s

Evolving for the Future

MacKay & Sposito expanded into new locations and took on larger, more complex projects across the region. During the decade, the firm became MacKay Sposito, adopting a streamlined identity that reflected its evolution from a local practice into a multidisciplinary regional firm.

Jeep with company logo driving up gavel road with greenery in the background
Early 2020s

Preparing to Scale

MacKay Sposito laid the groundwork for a new phase of growth. Olson Engineering and Olson Environmental joined the firm, and Riparia Environmental was launched as a subsidiary. These steps expanded the firm’s capabilities and demonstrated how aligned teams could create new opportunities for their people and clients.

2025

A New Chapter

Two established firms joined MacKay Sposito, extending our presence into three new states and adding five offices. These partnerships marked a shift from gradual regional growth to intentional national expansion, bringing new people, client relationships, and technical capabilities into the firm.

Mackay building on 184th Avenue at sunset, with landscaped grounds and street signs for Holman Road and Bennington Drive
2026

Growth Accelerates

Five additional firms joined the company, extending our reach into new regions and adding significant depth across infrastructure and environmental services. MacKay Sposito became MacKay, reflecting the national firm we were becoming. By September 2026, MacKay included 25 offices in 11 states, serving seven market sectors through 10 disciplines.

Where We’re Headed