UMA
UMA Geotechnical Construction is a privately held, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business providing specialized ground engineering services, including HDPR injection, micropiles, soil nail walls, and Terra-Crete, to DOTs, general contractors, developers, manufacturers, and property owners across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersColfax, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What UMA does
UMA Geotechnical Construction, Inc. is a privately held, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) headquartered in Colfax, North Carolina, providing specialized geotechnical construction services across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States (North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Florida). Founded in 1997 by Jim DeSpain (current CEO, former Navy O-6) and now led by Brian DeSpain as President, the company delivers deep foundations, earth retention, soil stabilization, and void-filling solutions including High-Density Polyurethane Resin (HDPR) injection, micropiles, soil nail walls, shotcrete (including sculpted finishes), helical piers, Terra-Crete™ engineered cellular fill, and limited-access drilling for confined spaces.
The company's technical differentiation centers on its proprietary HDPR injection method (over 4,000 projects completed, with polymers injected at precise soil strata through small-diameter holes to depths beyond 40 feet), its in-house design-build delivery model combining engineering and field execution, and a specialized equipment fleet that includes Casagrande C7 drilling rigs and customized drill bits for challenging formations such as Cooper Marl. UMA has executed projects ranging from residential foundation repair and pool settlement correction to large-scale transportation infrastructure, including a record 115,610-square-foot soil nail wall on NCDOT's I-26 Exit 40 to I-40 expansion (the largest such contract in NCDOT history) and 304 micropiles installed in under two months for a South Carolina manufacturer.
Commercially, UMA operates as a project-based geotechnical subcontractor and prime contractor, generating revenue through competitive bidding, reverse auctions, and direct relationship-based engagement with state DOTs, federal agencies (via SDVOSB and NC HUB designations), general contractors, civil/site contractors, real estate developers, manufacturers, and residential property owners. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with multi-year contract cadences on major infrastructure engagements. The firm maintains distribution solely through direct sales channels with no reseller or marketplace presence, and its marketing relies on case studies, educational Lunch n' Learn sessions, client testimonials, and professional affiliations (e.g., International Association of Foundation Drilling) rather than broad consumer advertising.
UMA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- UMA
- Legal name
- UMA Geotechnical Construction, Inc.
- Website
- https://team-uma.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- UMA Geotechnical Construction is a privately held, Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business providing specialized ground engineering services, including HDPR injection, micropiles, soil nail walls, and Terra-Crete, to DOTs, general contractors, developers, manufacturers, and property owners across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
UMA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geotechnical Construction Services
- NAICS
- Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Site Preparation Contractors (23891)
- SIC
- Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Services-Engineering Services (8711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Piling & Deep Foundations (Driven, Bored, CFA, Micropiles) (IMAFAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Earth Retention & Excavation Support (Sheet/Soldier Piles, Diaphragm Walls, Bracing) (IMAFAOAD), Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK)
Keywords
Where UMA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Colfax
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
UMA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Geotechnical Construction Subcontracting: UMA generates revenue primarily as a geotechnical subcontractor on large infrastructure projects. They bid on and win projects as a subcontractor to general contractors, or directly with government agencies and developers. Revenue is project-based, one-time per contract, with no recurring revenue stream. Projects range from small residential fixes to multi-million-dollar DOT infrastructure contracts.
- Design-Build Geotechnical Services: UMA provides turnkey design-build construction services, combining in-house engineering solutions with field technicians. This allows them to design and construct structural solutions for clients, capturing both engineering and construction revenue on the same project.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-specific custom pricing based on scope and soil conditions |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
UMA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
UMA Geotechnical Construction delivers specialized geotechnical construction services for infrastructure, commercial, industrial, and residential projects across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Its core offerings include High-Density Polyurethane Resin (HDPR) injection for foundation stabilization, deep foundations (micropiles, helical piers, underpinning), earth retention systems (soil nail walls, shotcrete, tiebacks), and Terra-Crete lightweight cellular fill for void filling and backfill. Services are delivered through a design-build model that combines in-house engineering with field execution.
Product overview
UMA Geotechnical Construction is a geotechnical construction company offering a portfolio of specialized ground engineering services. The core offerings include Deep Foundations (micropiles, helical piers, underpinning), Earth Retention (soil nail walls, shotcrete, tiebacks, sheet pile walls), and Soil Stabilization (HDPR injection, Terra-Crete void filling). These services are delivered through Design-Build project delivery and Limited Access Drilling for confined spaces. The portfolio spans foundation repair, slope stabilization, void filling, and structural support for commercial, industrial, residential, and government projects.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Terra-Crete™: A lightweight concrete fill solution for void filling, backfill applications, and tunnel filling. Made of highly flowable lightweight cementitious material that can be placed or pumped with minimal labor.
Products and services
- High-Density Polyurethane Resin (HDPR) Injection
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 geotechnical construction projects completed with a 25+ year track record
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use UMA
Customer profileNamed customers23 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
UMA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
UMA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Flatiron Construction Corp.coreFlatiron Construction Corp. (Colorado-based) retained UMA as geotechnical subcontractor on the Greensboro Western Loop (I-73) project, one of UMA's largest soil nail wall projects. UMA served as subcontractor while Flatiron handled excavation and cast-in-place concrete work.
- United Infrastructure Group, Inc.coreUnited Infrastructure Group partnered with a Fluor-led joint venture (JV) for the NCDOT I-26 Exit 40 to I-40 Interstate Expansion Project. UMA served as geotechnical subcontractor to this JV, constructing 115,610 square feet of soil nail walls — the largest such contract in NCDOT history.
- Lane ConstructioncoreLane Construction contracted UMA to install approximately 45,000 square feet of soil nail walls with sculpted shotcrete finishes on the I-40/I-77 interchange improvements project in Iredell County, NC.
- Lakeshore EngineeringminorLakeshore Engineering (Atlanta-based heavy civil contractor) outsourced the Cherokee County pump station improvement project to UMA as geotechnical subcontractor. Lakeshore handled the excavation, soldier pile wall, and general civil work while UMA installed 24 rock anchors.
- Fessler & Bowman, Inc.minorFessler & Bowman served as general contractor for the South Carolina manufacturer micropile project in Goose Creek. UMA installed 304 micropiles across two phases while Fessler & Bowman handled the multi-layer reinforcement slab and concrete pours.
- National Bridge BuildersminorNational Bridge Builders (Kernersville, NC) contracted UMA to install ground anchors on two retaining walls requiring preservation during bridge demolition spanning Blanket Creek in Winston-Salem.
- Skyline SteelminorSkyline Steel supplied approximately 61,000 linear feet of Grade 75 epoxy-coated threaded bar for soil nail wall projects and 1-inch Grade 150 ksi DCP bar for rock anchors. Supplier relationship under FHWA Buy America compliance.
- Roanoke CementminorRoanoke Cement supplied nearly 800 tons of Type I/II cement for the Greensboro Western Loop Wall 4 project, mixed on site with a Colcrete Grout plant. Also supplying approximately 2 million pounds of Portland Cement for the I-26 project.
- OCI Division of Global Drilling SupplyminorOCI Division of Global Drilling Supply (Brookville, PA) supplied specialized drill bits for drilling through Cooper Marl formation on the South Carolina manufacturer project, working with UMA to customize bit dimensions for effective cutting and flushing.
- International Drilling EquipmentminorInternational Drilling Equipment (North Carolina-based) supplied UMA's Casagrande C7 drilling rigs, including the first C7 purchased specifically for the Greensboro Western Loop project and a second C7 XP-2 for subsequent projects.
- TerraconminorCharleston, S.C.-based Terracon provided the initial geotechnical report for the South Carolina manufacturer micropile project. UMA used this report as the basis for their design-build micropile solution.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
UMA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Hayward Baker: Largest U.S. specialty geotechnical contractor (Keller Group), offering deep foundations, ground improvement, earth retention, and chemical grouting — directly overlapping UMA's service portfolio but at national scale.
- Keller Group: Global geotechnical services parent company with multiple operating brands in North America — sets the competitive benchmark for specialty ground engineering pricing and scale relative to UMA.
Direct peers
- Berkel & Company Contractors: Specialty geotechnical contractor focused on drilled shafts, micropiles, auger-cast piles, and earth retention across the eastern U.S. — closely comparable to UMA on technology, customer base, and project types.
- Schnabel Foundation: Specialty foundation and earth retention contractor providing micropiles, soil nails, tiebacks, and shotcrete — directly competing with UMA on heavy civil infrastructure projects nationwide.
- Nicholson Construction Company: Geotechnical specialty contractor (Soletanche Bachy) focused on micropiles, anchors, soil nails, and ground improvement for transportation, energy, and commercial projects across the U.S.
- Geo-Con: Specialty geotechnical construction firm providing deep soil mixing, grouting, micropiles, and earth retention to DOT and energy clients — highly comparable offering and customer set to UMA.
- Richard Goettle Inc. Geotechnical contractor specializing in deep foundations, micropiles, helical piers, and earth retention systems serving the eastern U.S. — directly comparable mid-size peer to UMA.
- Case Foundation Company: Specialty deep foundation contractor providing drilled shafts, micropiles, and earth retention for transportation and commercial infrastructure — operationally comparable to UMA in scope and customer mix.
- Foundation Structures: Southeast U.S.-based foundation contractor providing micropiles, helical piers, and soil stabilization — geography and service overlap make it a direct regional counterpart to UMA.
Regional players
- Helical Drilling: Northeast U.S.-based geotechnical contractor providing deep foundations, helical piers, and ground improvement — a regional peer with overlapping services but a different geographic footprint than UMA's Mid-Atlantic/Southeast base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
UMA social profiles
Digital presenceUMA compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
UMA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
UMA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
UMA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
UMA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about UMA
What does UMA do?
UMA Geotechnical Construction delivers specialized geotechnical construction services for infrastructure, commercial, industrial, and residential projects across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern United States. Its core offerings include High-Density Polyurethane Resin (HDPR) injection for foundation stabilization, deep foundations (micropiles, helical piers, underpinning), earth retention systems (soil nail walls, shotcrete, tiebacks), and Terra-Crete lightweight cellular fill for void filling and backfill. Services are delivered through a design-build model that combines in-house engineering with field execution.
Is UMA a public or private company?
UMA is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was UMA founded?
UMA was founded in 1997. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is UMA based?
UMA is headquartered in Colfax, United States, in the North America region.
How does UMA make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Geotechnical Construction Subcontracting is the primary driver. The others are design-Build Geotechnical Services.
Who are UMA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Hayward Baker and Keller Group. Direct peers are Berkel & Company Contractors, Schnabel Foundation, Nicholson Construction Company, Geo-Con, Richard Goettle Inc., Case Foundation Company and Foundation Structures. Helical Drilling is listed as a regional player.
Does UMA have an API?
No public API is recorded for UMA.
What industry is UMA in?
UMA's product category is Geotechnical Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAOAA, Piling & Deep Foundations (Driven, Bored, CFA, Micropiles), with a secondary code of IMAFAOAD, Earth Retention & Excavation Support (Sheet/Soldier Piles, Diaphragm Walls, Bracing). Its NAICS code is 237 and its SIC code is 1600.