What Hey and Associates does

Hey and Associates, Inc. is a privately held engineering, ecological consulting, and landscape architecture firm headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1976 by Dr. Donald Hey, who developed the technical foundation for Illinois stormwater management regulations and established the firm as one of the original Upper Midwest wetland consultancies in the mid-1980s, the company operates three offices (Chicago and Volo, Illinois; Richland Center, Wisconsin) serving northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin. The firm delivers integrated services to municipalities, counties, park districts, forest preserve districts, water reclamation districts, conservation organizations, and private developers, with a practice combining water resources engineering, ecological restoration, and site design through a single multi-disciplinary team.

The company's service portfolio is organized into three core divisions: Engineering (stormwater management, floodplain engineering, green infrastructure, water quality planning, civil/site design, construction engineering, subsurface drainage analysis, and FAA-certified UAS drone reconnaissance); Ecology (wetland delineation and permitting, ecological restoration, wetland mitigation design, lake assessment and management, ecological surveys, and certified arborist services); and Landscape Architecture (site design, natural areas restoration, parks and recreation, transportation landscape, and green infrastructure planning). Technical capabilities include HEC-RAS and HEC-HMS hydrologic and hydraulic modeling, sonar-enabled bathymetric mapping, subsurface drainage evaluation, and FAA-certified unmanned aerial operations for reconnaissance, construction documentation, and ecological mapping. The firm holds Illinois Department of Transportation prequalification across seven categories (Roads and Streets, Location Drainage Studies, Waterways Typical and Complex, Pump Stations, Landscape Architecture, and Construction Inspection).

The firm operates as a professional services practice using a sales-led, project-based model, pursuing engagements through RFQs, RFPs, and direct proposals to government, institutional, and private sector clients. Revenue is generated through fee-for-service contracts for planning, design, permitting, and construction phase services, with pricing determined by project scope, complexity, and qualifications. The firm transitioned to employee ownership in 1997 when founder Donald Hey sold it to past and current management. It is currently led by President Jeff Wickenkamp and Vice President Vincent J. Mosca, with Principal Engineers Dave Kraft and Patrick Lach heading engineering operations in the Volo and Chicago offices respectively.

Name

Hey and Associates

Legal name

Hey and Associates, Inc.

Website

https://heyassoc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hey and Associates is a Chicago-based engineering, ecological consulting, and landscape architecture firm serving municipalities, conservation districts, and private developers in northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin with integrated water resources, ecological restoration, and site design services since 1976.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil & Environmental Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Landscape Architectural Services (54132), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Water, Wastewater & Stormwater Compliance (BPAHAJAJ), Site Assessment & Remediation (Phase I/II, Cleanup Oversight) (BPAHAJAC)

Keywords

• Civil engineering services
• Ecological consulting
• Landscape architecture
• Stormwater management
• Water resources engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 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 Engineering Services: Civil engineering planning, design, and construction phase services for federal, state, local government and private development projects including sanitary sewers, storm sewers, watermain, pavement, grading, and site improvements.
2. Ecological Consulting Services: Ecological consulting including wetland delineation, ecological restoration, environmental compliance studies, and regulatory permitting services for public and private sector clients.
3. Landscape Architecture Services: Landscape architecture services including site design, natural areas planning, parks and recreation design, transportation landscape improvements, and construction administration.
4. Field Services: Field services including construction observation, ecological restoration implementation, planting, monitoring, and management of natural areas.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Hey and Associates, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary professional services firm providing engineering, ecology, and landscape architecture consulting for water resources and natural resources projects. The firm delivers civil engineering, stormwater and floodplain management, ecological restoration, wetland delineation and permitting, water quality planning, and landscape architecture services to public sector, institutional, and private developer clients in northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.

Product overview

Hey and Associates, Inc. is a professional engineering, ecological consulting, and landscape architecture firm that provides comprehensive solutions to complex water resources and natural resources challenges. The company operates as a single unified consulting practice organized into three core service divisions: Engineering Services (civil engineering, stormwater management, floodplain management, water quality planning, construction engineering, and unmanned aerial reconnaissance), Ecology Services (wetland delineation, ecological restoration, mitigation design, lake management, and arborist services), and Landscape Architecture Services (site design, green infrastructure, natural areas, transportation, and parks/recreation). These multidisciplinary services are offered through three office locations (Chicago, Volo, and Richland Center, WI) and are designed to work collaboratively to deliver integrated environmental and infrastructure projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Engineering Services Comprehensive civil engineering services including stormwater management, flood control, green infrastructure, streambank and shoreline projects, conveyance improvements, site improvements, and utilities for institutional, public, and private sectors.
• Ecology Services Professional ecological consulting including wetland delineation and permitting, ecological restoration and management, wetland mitigation design, lake assessment and management, ecological inventories/surveys, and certified arborist services.
• Landscape Architecture Services Landscape architecture services including site design, green infrastructure planning, natural areas restoration and management, transportation projects, and parks and recreation planning and design.
• Stormwater & Floodplain Management Regional leadership in stormwater and floodplain management engineering, including green infrastructure design and policy development for institutional, public, and private sector clients.
• Water Quality Planning Water quality planning and analysis services including watershed-based plans, water quality monitoring, and design of water quality improvement projects for municipal governments and organizations.
• Construction Engineering Construction phase services including construction observation, resident engineer services, construction layout, inspection, quantity documentation, and pay estimates.
• Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance UAS (drone) services for aerial photography, videography, construction progress documentation, erosion control compliance, vegetation mapping, and data collection with FAA Certified UAS Pilots.
• Wetland Delineation & Permitting Expert wetland resource and regulatory consulting services navigating federal, state, and local regulations and permits for projects of all scales.
• Ecological Restoration & Management Full-service professional ecological services and natural resource management including restoration planning tailored to specific site opportunities, constraints, budgets and schedules.
• Wetland Mitigation Design Wetland mitigation project planning and design ranging from a few to several hundred acres, with field experience to implement, monitor, and manage all types of wetland mitigation projects.
• Lake Assessment & Management Lake and watershed management services including water quality monitoring, submerged aquatic vegetation populations assessment, and customized algae and aquatic weed control.
• Certified Arborist Services Arboricultural services including tree protection planning, woodland management, tree replacement plans, tree health assessment, and tree ordinance compliance consulting.
• Green Infrastructure Regional leadership in green infrastructure development to ameliorate flooding, protect water quality, prevent basement backups, and reduce heat island effects.
• Natural Areas Planning, design, and construction administration of natural areas restoration and management combining art and science with understanding of ecology, hydrology, and construction delivery.
• Parks & Recreation Park and recreation planning and design services including trails, boardwalks, overlooks, comfort stations, parking facilities, nature-based play areas, and water feature naturalization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 180 acre-feet of flood storage capacity added to Buffalo Creek Reservoir
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regular, major and minor.

• Kane CountycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2023Partnered with Kane County on Fabulous Fox! Water Trail Kane County Access Project. U.S. Department of Interior designated Fox River as National Water Trail in June 2023. Project secured over $1M in funding including Federal ARPA grant funds and Illinois DCEO Tourism grants for access infrastructure improvements.
• The Conservation FoundationregularGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 February 2021Collaborated on Beyond the Basics virtual conference on innovative approaches to stormwater challenges. Hey's Dave Kraft and Tim Pollowy presented keynote on climate resiliency and waterway restoration.
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on 2022 Sustainability in Civil Engineering Achievement Award-winning Buffalo Creek Reservoir expansion project. MWRD project partners including Joe Kratzer and Justin Kirk participated in award presentation. Project provides 180 acre-feet of flood storage for regional flood management.
• Lake County Forest Preserve DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership on multiple conservation projects including Buffalo Creek Reservoir expansion (2022 Sustainability Award). Key partners Kevin Kleinjan and Michael Haug from Lake County Forest Preserves participated in award recognition. Multiple projects in Lake County including Sterne's Woods and Fen restoration.
• Forest Preserves of Cook CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive partnership on Powderhorn Lake Hydrologic Restoration project funded by Great Lakes grant. Other partners include Audubon Great Lakes, NOAA, and IDNR. Project will facilitate water level management between Powderhorn Lake and Wolf Lake for ecological restoration and fish passage.
• Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater ChicagocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMWRD is leading the Addison Creek Reservoir and Channel Improvements project. Hey is providing engineering design services for channel improvements. Construction is underway with details available on MWRD's project website.
• City of Chicago Department of Planning and DevelopmentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelected as part of consultant team for Resilient Corridors green infrastructure pilot project. Hey designed green infrastructure improvements including rain gardens and permeable pavement on ten lots along three west side commercial corridors to reduce basement backup risk. Stormwater monitoring equipment deployed on three sites.
• Park District of Highland ParkmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRetained by Park District to design The Preserve - a 100-acre nature park converted from former golf course. Hey led design from concept through construction documents and provided construction phase services. Project received IEPA 319 Grant and OSLAD Grant.
• City of Lake ForestregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssisted City with Seminary Ravine stabilization at Rosemary Road culvert crossing and Forest Park Bluff monitoring and stabilization project. Both are ongoing municipal infrastructure projects.
• Lake Forest Open Lands AssociationregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Jean and John Greene Nature Preserve at McCormick Ravine project. Hey designed driveway, expanded parking, trails, and boardwalks for improved public access to woodland and ravine ecosystems along Lake Michigan.
• Fox River Ecosystem PartnershipregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerHey's Jeff Mengler serves as president of FREP. Firm has been involved since its inception. Partnership focuses on Fox River watershed restoration and protection efforts in northeastern Illinois and southeastern Wisconsin.
• Audubon Great LakesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner on Forest Preserves of Cook County Powderhorn Lake Hydrologic Restoration. Collaboration on Great Lakes-funded project for water level control and ecological restoration.
• Great Lakes CommissionmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner on Powderhorn Lake Hydrologic Restoration. Commission prepared video documenting how the project will benefit the community and regional ecology.
• Waukesha County Land ConservancyregularStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Waterville Lake watershed improvement project. Scuppernong Creek restoration project identified on Conservancy-owned parcel upstream from Waterville Lake inlet.
• Hitchcock Design GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of project team with Hitchcock Design Group on Algonquin 10-year Parks Master Plan. Hey provided natural resource management input for the plan adopted by Village of Algonquin.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Tetra Tech, Inc. Global consulting and engineering firm with large water, environmental, and infrastructure practices; competes for larger regional stormwater, water quality, and resilience mandates where Hey would be subconsulted or outbid.
• Stantec Inc. International engineering, architecture, and environmental consulting firm with strong water and landscape architecture practices; relevant as a broader incumbent competing for integrated municipal and resilience projects.
• HDR, Inc. Large engineering and architecture firm with deep water resources, stormwater, and environmental practices that competes with Hey for larger Midwest municipal and water agency contracts.
• SmithGroup: Integrated design firm combining engineering, landscape architecture, and environmental planning; relevant incumbent with a comparable three-discipline service model at significantly larger scale.

Direct peers

• V3 Companies: Mid-size Midwest consulting firm offering civil engineering, ecological restoration, landscape architecture, and surveying services to public and private clients across Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana; most direct comparable to Hey's integrated three-discipline model.
• Spaceco (formerly Spaceco Inc.): Midwest civil engineering, surveying, and landscape architecture firm serving municipal and private clients; directly competitive in site design, stormwater, and infrastructure projects in the Chicago metro.
• Civil & Environmental Consultants, Inc. (CEC): Multi-discipline consulting firm providing civil engineering, ecological, environmental, and site development services to public and private clients; comparable on integrated engineering-plus-ecology project delivery.
• Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Inc. (HLR): Illinois-based civil engineering and surveying firm specializing in transportation, stormwater, and municipal infrastructure with strong IDOT relationships; competes for similar municipal road, drainage, and water resources contracts.
• Strand Associates, Inc. Midwest engineering consulting firm offering municipal water, wastewater, stormwater, and transportation services with offices in Illinois and Wisconsin; directly comparable on water resources engineering and public-sector project mix.
• Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. Illinois-based civil engineering and water resources consulting firm focused on stormwater management, floodplain engineering, and municipal infrastructure, competing for many of the same IDOT, county, and municipal clients as Hey.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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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 Hey and Associates