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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.
SE 1st Street Improvements sun dial in the middle of the turnaround
Historical photo of stacked MacKay & Sposito embroidered patches reading Engineers, Surveyors, Planners with a cartoon surveyor icon, resting on a newspaper.

Major Moments.

1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
Now
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.
1970s

Building the Foundation

MacKay was born in 1974 when Don MacKay and Richard Sposito purchased the Vancouver, WA branch of MacKay & Somps. The focus was on land development work, including the early stages of the Cascade Park master planned development that eventually evolved to reshape the Vancouver area and surrounding communities. Our primary service areas began as civil engineering, land surveying, and planning.

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

Progress & Persistence

The recession of the early 1980s took its toll, but MacKay & Sposito weathered the storm. We designed increasing amounts of public infrastructure as our presence in the Public Works market continued to grow. Richard Sposito became our company’s second President upon Don MacKay’s retirement.

Historical satellite view of a MacKay project area, with an irregular red boundary outlining a mixed-use development amid surrounding residential neighborhoods.
1990s

Maintaining Momentum

MacKay & Sposito experienced growth in both Land Development and Public Works sectors. Major projects that began during the 90s include the Fisher’s Landing master planned development in east Vancouver and Columbia Tech Center, one of Vancouver’s largest employment centers.

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

Results & Resilience

MacKay & Sposito rode the wave of the new century’s construction boom, opening our first branch office, located in Kennewick, Washington. Al Schauer became MacKay’s third President after the retirement of Richard Sposito. Our construction management service area took root, and in 2006 we added landscape architecture to our services. The Great Recession hit, but we survived and thrived by being creative, adaptable, and finding new ways to utilize our skills within the Energy market.

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

Evolution in Action

Tim Schauer became MacKay Sposito’s fourth President when Al Schauer retired. We opened a branch office in Federal Way, Washington and began working on Tehaleh, a 4,300-acre community in Pierce County. MacKay Sposito rebranded in order to better showcase and reflect the company we have become. In 2019, Derrick Smith became our fifth President, and we added environmental services to our roster.

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

Reaching New Heights

Inspired by the opportunity to extend our influence and sharpen our impact, MacKay embarks on a considered course of growth and expansion. Seeking out partnerships with established firms aligned on purpose, vision, and values, we proudly add to our roster of talent and reinforce our services and capabilities. We welcome Olson Engineering and Olson Environmental into the fold, building off their steadfast service to Southwest Washington since 1968. Burrell Consulting Group joins our ranks, adding 30+ years of land surveying, land planning, and engineering expertise to our team. Riparia Environmental comes aboard, adding a full range of natural resource-based environmental services in addition to deep community roots. With each new addition, our team, and our dedication to clients and community, grows even stronger.

SE 1st Street Improvements sun dial in the middle of the turnaround
Now

Expanding our Horizons

Today, MacKay serves clients across 11 states, with a regional presence spanning the Pacific Northwest, Southwest, and Midwest. As an infrastructure and environmental services firm rooted in civil engineering and related services, our continued growth reflects intentional expansion through strategic partnerships and acquisitions, advancing our vision to become a national leader by empowering our people to solve the industry’s most complex challenges and deliver long-term resilience.

Where We’re Headed