What CE Group does

CE Group is a multi-disciplinary engineering consulting firm founded in 1998 by NC State University graduates Joe Faulkner and Mark Ashness. Headquartered in Raleigh, NC with a second office in Pittsboro, NC, the firm holds three professional licenses (Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, and Landscape Architecture) and delivers integrated services across the Carolinas. Its service portfolio spans boundary and ALTA/NSPS surveys, laser scanning, civil site engineering, entitlement and due diligence, and landscape architecture, covering the full project lifecycle from conceptualization through construction staking and as-built certification.

The firm operates a principal-led delivery model in which all seven named principals (holding PE, RLA, ASLA, and PLS credentials) are directly engaged on every project, differentiating it from larger competitors where work is delegated to junior staff. Technology adoption centers on modern surveying instrumentation (laser scanning, ALTA/NSPS-compliant surveys) integrated into planning workflows, though the firm does not disclose proprietary AI/ML or software assets. Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees rather than recurring subscriptions, with custom pricing per engagement.

CE Group serves real estate developers (mixed-use, master-planned communities, multi-family), industrial and corporate clients (manufacturing, light science/tech parks), and government/municipal entities (water infrastructure, dam safety, regional lift stations). In 2024, CE Group expanded its resources and market reach by joining LJA Engineering, Inc., a larger engineering platform, while retaining its brand and North Carolina operations. Named enterprise clients include Lee-Moore Capital Company, Focus Design Builders, and Community Properties Inc., with multi-decade relationship tenures. The firm's geographic focus on the high-growth Carolinas corridor (Raleigh-Durham-Chatham) positions it inside one of the Southeast's most active development markets.

Name

CE Group

Legal name

CE Group

Website

https://cegroupinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CE Group is a Carolinas-based multi-disciplinary engineering firm providing land surveying, civil engineering, landscape architecture, and entitlement services to real estate developers, industrial clients, and government entities across the project lifecycle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering and Land Surveying Services

NAICS

Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Landscape Architectural Services (541320), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Green Building & LEED Consulting (BPAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP) & Permit Compliance Support (EUAHAAAF), Architecture, Planning & Surveying (AIA, Planning, Land Surveyor CE) (EDAAALAG)

Keywords

• Land surveying services
• Civil engineering consulting
• Landscape architecture design
• Entitlement due diligence
• Site development engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Raleigh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: Fee-for-service professional consulting across land surveying, civil engineering, and landscape architecture. Services span from conceptualization and entitlement through construction services including stakeout and as-built certifications. Revenue generated through project-based engagements rather than recurring subscriptions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CE Group is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm offering Land Surveying, Civil Engineering, Landscape Architecture, and Entitlement/Due Diligence services. The firm participates in projects from conceptualization and entitlement through construction services including stakeout and as-built certifications, serving clients in traditional and design/build formats across the Carolinas.

Product overview

CE Group is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm that offers a unified portfolio of land surveying, civil engineering, and landscape architecture services. The company provides these services as an integrated offering, participating in construction projects from conceptualization and entitlement through construction services including stakeout and as-built certifications. The four core service areas—Civil Engineering, Land Surveying, Entitlement and Due Diligence, and Landscape Architecture—work together to support land development and infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Civil Engineering Services Engineering consulting covering mixed use development, master planned communities, multi-family and industrial projects, commercial and institutional projects, regional wastewater lift stations, elevated water tanks, dam safety, reclaimed water utilization, and traditional neighborhood development. Served to developers, construction firms, industrial clients, and government entities.
• Land Surveying Services Surveying services including boundary and annexation surveys, ALTA/NSPS surveys, tree surveys, laser scanning, topographic surveys, subdivision surveys, construction staking, and as-built surveys. Served to developers, construction firms, and government entities.
• Entitlement and Due Diligence Services Site suitability evaluation, rezoning or comp plan changes, off-site infrastructure evaluation, and land planning services to support project entitlement. Served to real estate developers and project owners preparing for land development.
• Landscape Architecture Services

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• LJA Engineering, Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCE Group has expanded resources and markets by joining LJA Engineering, Inc. This expansion positions CE Group within a larger engineering organization, potentially expanding service capabilities and market reach while maintaining its brand identity and operations in North Carolina.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Thomas & Hutton: Southeast-based (SC/GA/NC) multi-discipline engineering, planning, and surveying firm serving private developers, municipalities, and industrial clients. Closely comparable in mix of land surveying, civil engineering, and landscape-oriented planning services.
• WK Dickson: Southeast-focused engineering and consulting firm specializing in civil engineering, surveying, and infrastructure services across the Carolinas and broader region. Comparable as a regional multi-discipline engineering peer serving similar infrastructure and development clients.
• McKim & Creed: North Carolina-based multi-discipline engineering and surveying firm offering civil, structural, environmental, and geospatial services to public and private clients across the Southeast. Highly comparable to CE Group in service mix, regional focus, and project types.
• SEPI Engineering & Construction: Raleigh, NC-based engineering and construction services firm offering surveying, civil engineering, and environmental services across the Southeast. Comparable multi-discipline regional practice serving similar real estate, transportation, and government clients.
• ESP Associates: Charlotte, NC-headquartered multi-discipline engineering firm providing surveying, civil engineering, geotechnical, and construction services throughout the Carolinas. Comparable in size, geography, and service portfolio to CE Group.
• WithersRavenel: North Carolina-headquartered engineering, planning, and surveying firm serving municipalities, developers, and private clients across the Carolinas. Directly comparable in core service offering (civil engineering, surveying, planning) and customer base of developers and municipalities.

Broad incumbents

• Mead & Hunt: National multi-discipline engineering and architecture firm with established Carolinas operations serving transportation, water, federal, and land development clients. Overlaps with CE Group's civil engineering and surveying capabilities as part of a much broader service portfolio.
• Kimley-Horn: One of the largest US planning, engineering, and design consulting firms with significant Carolinas presence and broad service portfolio including land development, transportation, and environmental services. Overlaps with CE Group in land development and surveying but at much greater scale and geographic breadth.
• Stantec: Global engineering, architecture, and consulting firm with strong Carolinas operations serving developers, municipalities, and industrial clients. Comparable in core land development and infrastructure engineering but at significantly larger scale.
• LJA Engineering, Inc. CE Group's parent organization and a national multi-discipline engineering firm offering civil, structural, transportation, and surveying services. Direct parent and most relevant scaling benchmark; comparable in service mix but operates at materially larger scale across multiple states.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 CE Group