Sain Associates, a Birmingham-based, multi-disciplined consulting civil engineering and surveying firm received the prestigious honor and was inducted into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame in the corporation category on Feb. 26 at a ceremony at The Grand Hotel Golf Resort & Spa in Point Clear, Alabama. Sain was nominated for this honor by Milton Davis, Director of Business Development, International Division of BL Harbert International and Renee Anne Casillas, Executive Director of the American Council of Engineering Companies of Alabama.
Sain Associates has played an integral role in the advancement of engineering in Alabama. Since its founding in 1972, Sain Associates has actively contributed to improving quality of life through engineering excellence and advocacy for the engineering profession. The firm was founded 50 years ago by Mr. Charles “Hack” Sain, P.E., who served the engineering profession for many years and was a 2006 inductee into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame and the 2008 Associated General Contractor Construction Hall of Fame.
Under Hack’s leadership, Sain Associates developed into one of the largest civil engineering firms in the greater Birmingham area. Sain Associates has been instrumental in the development of over 1,000 commercial projects; design of municipal, correctional, educational, federal housing, and healthcare facilities; and over ten million square feet of industrial/distribution center projects on sites of 200 acres or more. The firm provided professional engineering services to Walmart for more than 28 years and has worked on over 240 stores across the Eastern United States.
Sain’s son, Randy took over the business after his father retired in 1997. Under Randy’s leadership, the company continued to evolve and diversify. In 2010, Randy handed the reins to Jim Meads, who became President and CEO. Under Jim’s leadership, Sain has over 60 employees, including staff who are licensed to provide engineering services in 23 states. In addition to Jim Meads, the current Senior Principals Joe Meads, Becky White, Alicia Bailey, and Vann Rutledge are planning for the fourth generation of Sain ownership.
Sain Associates’ mission has remained steadfast in that they continue building relationships with clients to help solve problems. To date, Sain Associates has worked on projects in 37 states in both public and private sectors. The company’s headquarters are in Birmingham, Alabama with offices in Huntsville, Alabama and Pulaski, Tennessee. Sain has received numerous awards for engineering excellence, including the Martin Army Community Hospital in Ft. Benning, Georgia, the Mack Hatcher Parkway Extension in Franklin, Tennessee, the I-59/20 CBD Bridge Replacement in Birmingham, and the Prattville South Industrial Park.
“We are thrilled and excited about receiving this prestigious honor as the 2022 corporate inductee into the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame,” said Jim Meads, President and CEO of Sain Associates. “Our team is proud to celebrate 50 years of engineering excellence. This is an incredible milestone for us to achieve, and we are humbled to be recognized in such a way by our peers in the industry.”
About the State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame:
The State of Alabama Engineering Hall of Fame was founded in 1987 by proclamation of the governor and in recognition of the sesquicentennial of formal engineering education in the state of Alabama. The Engineering Hall of Fame honors, preserves, and perpetuates the outstanding accomplishments and contributions of individuals, projects, and corporations/institutions that have brought and continue to bring significant recognition to the State of Alabama.
The Engineering Hall of Fame is governed by a 20-member board of directors. This body establishes the criteria for selecting inductees and determines the eligibility of candidates and how these candidates shall be elected to the Engineering Hall of Fame. All candidates must meet criteria established by the board for each category. Currently, there are three such categories: Individuals, Corporations/Institutions, and Projects.