L.I. Smith & Associates
L.I. Smith & Associates is a privately held civil engineering and surveying firm founded in 1975, headquartered in Paris, Tennessee, with about 50 employees licensed across 12 states. It provides boundary and route surveying, infrastructure design, and construction administration to state DOTs, airports, federal agencies, and private developers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersParis, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What L.I. Smith & Associates does
L.I. Smith & Associates is a privately held, full-service civil engineering and surveying firm founded in 1975 and headquartered in Paris, Tennessee, with a second Tennessee office and approximately 50 employees. The firm is licensed to practice in 12 U.S. states and delivers boundary surveying, route surveying, construction layout, hydrology and hydraulics, site and infrastructure design, and construction administration services. Its technical toolkit includes drone-based aerial surveys, terrestrial laser scanning, and 3D grading models used to produce digital deliverables for transportation, aviation, and land-development clients.
The firm operates a project-based business model, billing under hourly and fixed-fee contracts that are typical of qualifications-based-selection (QBS) procurement in the public sector. Its client base is split between government agencies — most prominently the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT), the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority (MNAA), and various federal entities — and private developers and contractors in commercial and residential land development. Repeat public-sector work has been the dominant revenue driver for several decades, supported by a documented track record that includes ACEC Grand Awards for the Nashville International Airport (BNA) terminal planning work in 2019 and the Crump Boulevard project in 2025.
Operational structure is centered on dual-licensed engineering and surveying professionals, with a formal talent pipeline developed in partnership with the University of Tennessee at Martin and Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT). The firm has expanded its development pathways in recent years with a Construction Survey Technician (CST) Program launched in 2024 and a CAD/Construction Management Internship Program launched in 2025. Founder-era leadership has been succeeded in part by a second-generation executive team, including the promotion of Chris Conrad to Chief Operating Officer and the appointment of principal Tommy Young to the Tennessee Board of Examiners for Engineers and Surveyors.
L.I. Smith & Associates firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- L.I. Smith & Associates
- Legal name
- L.I. Smith & Associates, Inc.
- Website
- https://lismith.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- L.I. Smith & Associates is a privately held civil engineering and surveying firm founded in 1975, headquartered in Paris, Tennessee, with about 50 employees licensed across 12 states. It provides boundary and route surveying, infrastructure design, and construction administration to state DOTs, airports, federal agencies, and private developers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where L.I. Smith & Associates is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
L.I. Smith & Associates business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Engineering Services: Professional civil engineering services including land development, infrastructure design, road design, bridge design, sewer design, storm water studies and design, commercial site development, and industrial development. Revenue generated through project fees based on scope and complexity of engineering work.
- Surveying Services: Comprehensive land surveying including ALTA surveys, boundary surveys, construction surveys, aerial mapping, laser scanning, as-builts, control surveys, and topographical mapping. Revenue generated through per-project fees based on property size, complexity, and survey type.
- Construction Layout Services: Construction staking and layout services providing precision layout, grade stakes, alignment, and construction lines for highway, road, and infrastructure projects. Revenue generated through project-based contracts.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
L.I. Smith & Associates product offering
Product offeringCore offering
L.I. Smith & Associates is a full-service civil engineering and surveying firm providing professional services to public and private sector clients across 12 states in the Central and Southeast United States. The company delivers three core service lines — land development, infrastructure design, and surveying services — including subdivision and site design, road and bridge design, storm water studies, highway construction staking, ALTA surveys, boundary surveys, aerial mapping, laser scanning, and topographical mapping. Revenue is generated through project-based fees tied to scope and complexity.
Product overview
L.I. Smith & Associates (LIS) is a full-service civil engineering and surveying firm offering an integrated portfolio of professional services. The company operates three core service lines: Land Development Services (subdivision design, site design, topographical mapping, permitting), Infrastructure Design Services (road design, bridge design, sewer design, storm water design, commercial site development), and Surveying Services (ALTA surveys, construction surveys, boundary surveys, aerial mapping, laser scanning, as-builts, machine control models). These services are delivered through experienced field crews and technical staff across multiple offices, with highway construction layout as a specialized offering that has delivered over $1.5 billion in completed work. The company is licensed in 12 states throughout the Central and Southeast regions of the United States.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Land Development Services
- Infrastructure Design Services
- Surveying Services
- Highway Construction Layout
- ALTA Surveys
- Topographical Mapping
Quantifiable outcome
- More than $1.5 billion in highway construction layout and staking work delivered
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use L.I. Smith & Associates
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
L.I. Smith & Associates technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
L.I. Smith & Associates partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Tetra TechminorPartnered with Tetra Tech on unexploded ordnance (UXO) removal and environmental remediation surveying at former military installations, supporting safe clearance and environmental restoration of complex federal sites.
- AECOMminorCollaborated with AECOM on UXO clearance and environmental remediation surveying projects at former military installations requiring specialized expertise.
- UXB InternationalminorWorked alongside UXB International on unexploded ordnance removal projects supporting federal land redevelopment and environmental restoration.
- WRS CompassminorCollaborated with WRS Compass on environmental remediation and surveying projects at former military facilities.
- Matrix Environmental ServicesminorPartnered with Matrix Environmental Services on federal land redevelopment surveying projects requiring environmental remediation expertise.
- Levi Miles FoundationcoreLIS provided engineering and surveying services valued at $12,000 as an in-kind contribution for Ogburn Park development. The partnership demonstrates commitment to community service and inclusive development in Henry County.
- Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)coreLIS supports TCAT expansion projects across the region by providing surveying services for TCAT Crump, TCAT Northwest, and TCAT Henry/Carroll campuses, contributing to workforce development through technical education infrastructure.
- University of Tennessee at MartincoreEstablished two annual scholarships - Lucile D. Smith Land Surveying Scholarship and Larry I. Smith Civil Engineering Scholarship - with job shadowing requirements to bridge classroom education with real-world practice. Also partners for student internships and marketing projects.
- Murray State UniversityminorAcademic partnership for engineering and surveying student internships, bringing students from multiple areas of study including civil engineering, surveying, business, finance, and marketing.
- Lipscomb UniversityminorAcademic partnership providing internship opportunities for engineering and surveying students, including those from Lipscomb's civil engineering and surveying programs.
- Leaders Credit UnionminorCommunity partner that provided financial wellness presentation at LIS Staff Training Day, supporting employee financial education initiatives.
- Henry County SchoolsminorSTEM education partnership with local schools including Harrelson Elementary, Henry Middle, E.W. Grove, Henry County High School, supporting workforce development and career awareness programs.
- Paris-Henry County Arts CouncilminorCommunity arts council with board membership participation supporting local cultural development.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights4 records
L.I. Smith & Associates competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Barge Design Solutions: Barge is a Tennessee-headquartered, full-service engineering and surveying firm with comparable civil engineering, surveying, and land development offerings. Operates across the Southeast in largely the same customer set (DOTs, municipalities, developers).
- Smith Seckman Reid (SSR): SSR is a Nashville-based engineering firm providing civil, structural, environmental, and surveying services. The closest geographic and service-line comparable to LIS in the Tennessee market.
- ESP Associates: ESP is a Southeast-focused engineering, surveying, and planning firm with similar full-service offerings (civil engineering, transportation, land surveying). Directly comparable in scale and customer profile.
- Garver: Garver is a multi-discipline engineering firm with strong transportation and infrastructure practices across the South and Midwest. Directly competes with LIS on DOT work and infrastructure design.
- Volkert: Volkert is a Southeast-focused engineering and infrastructure firm with comparable transportation, civil, and surveying services. Operates in largely overlapping geographies with LIS.
- DRMP: DRMP is a Southeast-based engineering firm providing transportation, civil, surveying, and construction services. Direct competitor to LIS on DOT and private development work.
- Wade Trim: Wade Trim is a civil engineering and surveying firm operating in the Southeast and Midwest with similar core services. Comparable in size and service scope to LIS.
Broad incumbents
- TRC Companies: TRC is a larger national engineering, environmental, and consulting firm. Overlaps with LIS on transportation infrastructure and surveying but operates as a broad incumbent with a wider portfolio.
- Kimley-Horn: Kimley-Horn is one of the largest US engineering and planning consultancies. Significant overlap with LIS on land development, transportation, and surveying, but operates as a broad incumbent with national reach.
- AECOM: AECOM is a global engineering and infrastructure firm. Already a confirmed partner of LIS on federal UXO remediation projects, and competes for large-scale transportation and federal work in the same geographies.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
L.I. Smith & Associates social profiles
Digital presenceL.I. Smith & Associates compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
L.I. Smith & Associates financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
L.I. Smith & Associates leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
L.I. Smith & Associates funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
L.I. Smith & Associates 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 L.I. Smith & Associates
What does L.I. Smith & Associates do?
L.I. Smith & Associates is a full-service civil engineering and surveying firm providing professional services to public and private sector clients across 12 states in the Central and Southeast United States. The company delivers three core service lines — land development, infrastructure design, and surveying services — including subdivision and site design, road and bridge design, storm water studies, highway construction staking, ALTA surveys, boundary surveys, aerial mapping, laser scanning, and topographical mapping. Revenue is generated through project-based fees tied to scope and complexity.
Is L.I. Smith & Associates a public or private company?
L.I. Smith & Associates is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was L.I. Smith & Associates founded?
L.I. Smith & Associates was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is L.I. Smith & Associates based?
L.I. Smith & Associates is headquartered in Paris, United States, in the North America region.
How does L.I. Smith & Associates make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Engineering Services are the primary driver. The others are surveying Services and construction Layout Services.
Who are L.I. Smith & Associates's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Barge Design Solutions, Smith Seckman Reid (SSR), ESP Associates, Garver, Volkert, DRMP and Wade Trim. Broad incumbents are TRC Companies, Kimley-Horn and AECOM.
Does L.I. Smith & Associates have an API?
No public API is recorded for L.I. Smith & Associates.