Hubbard Merrell Engineering

What Hubbard Merrell Engineering does

Hubbard Merrell Engineering is a privately held structural engineering firm headquartered in Flagstaff, Arizona, founded in 2012 by Robert A. Hubbard and David S. Merrell, both previously employed at TOR Engineering since 1999. The firm operates two integrated service lines: a general structural engineering practice covering residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, educational, and power/utility infrastructure projects; and a specialized aerial adventure course engineering practice serving zipline operators, aerial adventure parks, challenge courses, and ropes course manufacturers across the United States. Core delivery tooling consists of industry-standard platforms — AutoCAD, RISA, and Revit — supplemented by a proprietary simulation product, Zip Design Tools, which performs pre-construction physics calculations for zipline systems (cable profile, tension, rider speed, brake-point velocity, wind effects, and trolley impact).

The firm's business model is project-based professional services billing. Revenue is generated through structural design, project review, construction administration support, and aerial adventure course-specific deliverables including inspections, audits, and regulatory compliance documentation against ASTM F2959 and ANSI ACCT 03-2019 standards. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales: principals and project managers engage architects, contractors, developers, utility companies, healthcare facilities, and adventure course operators, with project managers overseeing delivery from concept through closeout. The firm holds professional engineer registrations in 31 states (including Hawaii), enabling national service delivery with a stated concentration in the Southwest.

Customer concentration is intentionally diversified across healthcare systems, educational institutions, government agencies (National Park Service, City of Flagstaff), hospitality operators, and adventure tourism companies, with long-duration relationships including a 17-year engagement with Loven Contracting and repeat work with YoungLife camps. The firm operates with 11-50 employees under a leadership team that expanded in 2025 to include Senior Project Manager Geoffrey D. Wertz and Business Manager Jamie L. Miele as co-owners, following founder Bob Hubbard's retirement. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and there is no external institutional investment.

Name

Hubbard Merrell Engineering

Legal name

Hubbard Merrell Engineering

Website

https://hubbardmerrell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hubbard Merrell Engineering is a Flagstaff, AZ-based structural engineering firm founded in 2012 that serves architects, developers, healthcare facilities, government agencies, and aerial adventure course operators across 31 U.S. states via two practice lines: general structural engineering and specialized zipline/challenge course design supported by proprietary Zip Design Tools simulation software.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Engineering Services

NAICS

Engineering Services (54133), Engineering Services (541330)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAIAKAI

Cableway Operations, Maintenance & Ropeway Engineering Services

Travel & Hospitality/Rail, Bus & Ground Passenger Transport/Cable Cars, Funiculars & Aerial Tramways

SECONDARYEUADAKAG

Engineering design services (line design, substation design, civil/structural)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Electric Transmission & Distribution (T&D)/T&D Construction, Engineering & EPC Services

Keywords

• Structural engineering services
• Architectural engineering design
• Aerial adventure engineering
• Zip line design
• Construction administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Flagstaff

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Structural Engineering Services: Professional engineering services billed on a per-project basis for structural design and engineering across residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, educational, and power sectors. Services include preliminary structural systems design, project design, project review, and construction administration support.
2. Aerial Adventure Course Engineering Services: Specialized structural engineering for aerial adventure courses, ziplines, and challenge courses including design, reverse engineering, conceptual design, inspections, audits, documentation, and construction administration. Services are project-based and include regulatory compliance support for ASTM F2959 and ANSI ACCT 03-2019 standards.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Hubbard Merrell Engineering is a professional structural engineering firm that provides structural design and engineering services for residential, commercial, industrial, healthcare, educational, and power/utility infrastructure projects across 31 U.S. states. The firm operates a specialized Aerial Adventure Course Engineering division that delivers structural design, inspections, audits, documentation, and regulatory compliance support for zip line tours, challenge courses, ropes courses, and climbing structures. It also offers Zip Design Tools, a proprietary simulation and optimization software used to model zip line cable profiles, tensions, rider speeds, and wind effects prior to construction.

Product overview

Hubbard Merrell Engineering is a structural engineering firm offering two core service lines: Structural Engineering Services and Aerial Adventure Course Engineering. The Structural Engineering division provides design for residential, commercial, industrial, medical, and educational buildings across 31 states. The Aerial Adventure Course Engineering division specializes in designing zip lines, challenge courses, and ropes courses, and includes a proprietary sub-product called Zip Design Tools — a simulation tool used internally to optimize zip line system designs before construction. The firm is headquartered in Flagstaff, AZ and serves clients throughout the United States.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Professional engineer registrations in 31 states and counting, including Hawaii
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TOR EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTOR Engineering is an electrical engineering firm in Phoenix, AZ where principals Bob Hubbard and Dave Merrell worked together since 1999 before founding Hubbard Merrell Engineering in 2012. The two firms continue to enjoy a strong working relationship today, while focusing on different engineering disciplines.
• Challenge Works, LLCminorOthersPartnered with Hubbard Merrell on zip line projects, utilizing their expertise in applicable federal and state regulations for challenging regulatory requirements.
• Flagstaff Extreme Adventure CourseminorOthersCollaborated on 3 adventure zip courses at the largest County Park in Arizona, with Hubbard Merrell providing engineering details, documentation, and timely final inspection.
• Project AdventureminorOthersHubbard Merrell serves as a bridge between traditional adventure programming spirit and the increasingly complex world of challenge course standards, providing structural design and industry-specific consulting.
• YoungLifeminorOthersHubbard Merrell provides technical design work and consultative support surrounding challenge course programs, helping raise professionalism and safety standards.
• ABEE Inc.minorOthersABEE Inc. and Hubbard Merrell Engineering jointly designed and built aerial adventure parks, climbing towers, and ropes courses, with Hubbard Merrell providing engineering expertise and contributions.
• Outplay AdventuresminorOthersPartnered on TreeTop Adventure Park at Snow King in Jackson, WY, with Hubbard Merrell instrumental in coordinating the project to meet USFS requirements and ASTM Standards.
• Glynn Geotechnical EngineeringminorOthersLong-standing professional relationship built on open communications, attention to detail, and ethical practice. Glynn Geotechnical regards Hubbard Merrell as professional friends.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HubbardMerrellEngineering
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hubbard-merrell-engineering-corp-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Hubbard Merrell Engineering