Our History

Sain Associates Through the Years

  • 1972

    Charles “Hack” Sain founded Charles H. Sain Associates in 1972, with a goal to do what no others were doing – uniting engineers, architects, and contractors in seamless communication, planning, and execution. At that time, the business consisted of consulting engineering services. The initial total of authorized capital stock was $2,000.
  • 1972-1979

    The 1970s was the decade of enclosed shopping malls. Much of the firm’s business during that time was focused on site engineering for construction of regional malls.
  • 1980s

    Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. built hundreds of stores throughout the eastern United States, and the firm provided site engineering and survey work for distribution warehouses, urban redevelopment sites and Greenfield sites, including Cullman Distribution Center in 1983.
  • 1987

    The name of the firm was changed from Charles H. Sain Associates to Sain Associates under the leadership of then President, Randy Sain.
  • 1989

    Joe Meads, PE, led the design team for the design of SR-35 widening in Rainsville, AL – the firm’s first transportation design project.
  • 1994

    The firm obtained a continuing service on-call contract with Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for traffic engineering services (ALDOT’s first on-call contract).
  • 1997

    Sain was awarded a planning contract with the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), and soon after that established its office in Pulaski, TN.
  • 1999

    The firm won a Best of the Best Companies for Working Families award from Birmingham Family Times magazine.
  • 2000s

    Sain Associates provided survey, site engineering, and roadway design for large industrial park projects like the Jefferson Metropolitan Parks at McCalla and Lakeshore, Jasper Industrial Park, and Prattville South Industrial Park.
  • 2006

    The firm celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Pulaski, TN branch in 2006.
  • 2010

    In 2010, Randy Sain retired, and Jim Meads, PE, became President/CEO.
  • 2012

    Sain Associates diversified its capabilities by expanding its ITS and GIS services. The firm continued to diversify its civil services with projects like Martin Army Community Hospital, VA Hospitals, Social Security Building, FBI Building, and Redstone Gateway.
  • 2020

    In 2020, the firm opened a branch office in Huntsville, AL. Sain Associates received a National Recognition Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies for its work on the Interstate 20/59 Central Business District Bridge Replacement in Birmingham.
  • 2022

    Sain Associates celebrates its 50th anniversary!