What Gibson-Thomas Engineering does

Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., Inc. is a multi-discipline consulting engineering firm established in 1916 and headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. The firm provides professional engineering services across eleven core practice areas: water and wastewater, municipal, structural, transportation, construction management, surveying, water resources, land development, environmental, GIS, and drone services. Its work spans feasibility, design, inspection, and construction management, delivered by approximately 160 employees including Registered Professional Engineers, scientists, surveyors, technicians, and certified construction inspectors. The firm maintains eight offices — seven across Pennsylvania (Latrobe, Lemont Furnace, Camp Hill, Indiana, New Castle, Wexford, Eighty Four) and one in Fort Myers, Florida — to support localized service delivery.

The firm's revenue is generated through project-based professional services contracts awarded via competitive bidding. Primary clients are Pennsylvania state government transportation agencies — notably PennDOT districts 5-0, 8-0, 10-0, and 12-0, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission — alongside municipal water and wastewater authorities including the Latrobe Municipal Authority, Municipal Authority of Buffalo Township, Greater Johnstown Water Authority, and Highridge Water Authority. Secondary work includes private land development and institutional clients such as St. Vincent College. Notable project scale signals include a $120 million PennDOT highway project, a $91 million Southern Beltway construction inspection subconsultancy with KCI Technologies, and a $22 million Pennsylvania Hazardous Sites Cleanup Act grant for the Petroleum Valley Water System.

The business model is consultative B2B sales targeting government and institutional buyers, with no consumer-facing channels, software products, APIs, or technology platforms. The go-to-market relies on long-standing client relationships, a project portfolio demonstrating multi-discipline depth, and industry recognition including AASHTO and ASHE awards. The firm is privately held with no disclosed institutional investment, acquisitions, or ownership transitions, and is led by President Mark J. Gera, PE and Vice President Edward F. Schmitt. Revenue figures, headcount growth rates, and backlog data are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Gibson-Thomas Engineering

Legal name

Gibson-Thomas Engineering Co., Inc.

Website

https://gibson-thomas.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Gibson-Thomas Engineering is a multi-discipline consulting engineering firm established in 1916, serving Pennsylvania government transportation agencies and municipal water/wastewater authorities across eight offices in Pennsylvania and Florida.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering Consulting Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Engineering Services (541330), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Structural Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Transportation & Traffic Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAC), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE), Construction Management (Agency/Owner’s Rep) (IMAFAAAC)

Keywords

• Civil engineering consulting
• Transportation engineering services
• Water and wastewater engineering
• Municipal infrastructure design
• Construction inspection services

Headquarters

HQ city

Latrobe

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: Professional engineering consulting services for government and municipal clients including design, inspection, construction management, and environmental services. Revenue generated through project-based contracts with PennDOT, municipal authorities, and other government entities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Gibson-Thomas Engineering is a multi-discipline consulting engineering firm that provides civil engineering services across roadway and bridge design, water and wastewater systems, transportation engineering, structural engineering, municipal infrastructure, construction inspection, surveying, water resources, land development, environmental services, GIS mapping, and drone-based inspection. The firm delivers these services primarily to government transportation agencies and municipal authorities through project-based contracts, serving clients across Pennsylvania and Florida.

Product overview

Gibson-Thomas Engineering is a multi-discipline consulting engineering firm established in 1916, offering a comprehensive portfolio of civil engineering services rather than software products. The firm provides integrated engineering solutions across eleven core service areas: Water/Wastewater Services (including treatment plants, pump stations, and distribution systems), Municipal Services, Structural Engineering & Design Services (bridges and buildings), Transportation Services (roadways and highways), Construction Services (inspection and management), Surveying Services, Water Resources & Design Services (dams and stormwater), Land Development Services, Environmental Services, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Drone Services. The firm has approximately 160 employees including engineers, scientists, surveyors, technicians, and certified construction inspectors, serving clients primarily in Pennsylvania and Florida with project types ranging from bridge replacements and highway reconstruction to water treatment facilities and residential subdivisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Water/Wastewater Services

Quantifiable outcome

• $120 million PennDOT project - largest by cost ever let by District 12-0 (SR 0070-W31 combined with SR 0070-T10)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KCI Technologies, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCI Technologies served as prime contractor with Gibson-Thomas as subconsultant on the $91 million Southern Beltway SR 0576 Section 55B project involving new turnpike extension from I-79 to Pittsburgh Airport. Gibson-Thomas provides construction inspection services on this major infrastructure project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Larson Design Group: Pennsylvania-headquartered multi-discipline engineering, architecture, and surveying firm with similar transportation, water, and municipal practices across PA and surrounding states. Direct competitor for PennDOT and municipal authority work.
• KCI Technologies: Multi-discipline engineering firm with strong transportation, water, and environmental practices across the Mid-Atlantic. Directly comparable to Gibson-Thomas and already a strategic partner, serving as prime contractor with Gibson-Thomas as subconsultant on the $91M Southern Beltway project.
• Pennoni Associates: Philadelphia-headquartered multi-discipline engineering consulting firm serving Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic across transportation, water, environmental, and structural disciplines. Direct peer in scale, geography, and service mix.
• Herbert, Rowland & Grubic (HRG): Pennsylvania-based multi-discipline engineering firm providing water/wastewater, transportation, municipal, and land development services. Closely comparable in geography, service portfolio, and client base to Gibson-Thomas.
• Borton-Lawson: Pennsylvania-based multi-discipline engineering and architecture firm focused on transportation, water/wastewater, structural, and municipal services. Comparable regional competitor pursuing similar PennDOT district and municipal client relationships.
• Whitman, Requardt & Associates: Mid-Atlantic multi-discipline engineering firm with strong transportation, water, and structural practices serving state DOT and municipal clients. Comparable in service mix and client type, though operating across a broader Mid-Atlantic footprint.

Broad incumbents

• WSP USA: Global engineering consulting firm with substantial Pennsylvania presence pursuing PennDOT, Turnpike, and municipal work. Competes for the same projects as Gibson-Thomas but as part of a global platform with far greater scale and bench depth.
• AECOM: Global infrastructure consulting firm with major Pennsylvania operations competing for PennDOT mega-projects and municipal water work. Operates broadly in transportation, water, and environmental sectors where Gibson-Thomas also competes.
• Stantec: North American engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting firm with active Pennsylvania water and transportation practices. Competes with Gibson-Thomas on PennDOT and municipal authority bids at scale larger than regional players.
• HDR Inc. Global engineering firm with strong US transportation, water, and environmental practices actively pursuing PennDOT, Turnpike, and municipal authority work in Pennsylvania. Larger, broader competitor with overlapping service offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/gibsonthomaseng
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1741948

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gibson-Thomas Engineering