2023 Economic Impact Awards 11-20 Years in Business: Toth and Associates Inc.

In 2003, at the family kitchen table, Lou Toth and his son Adam decided to launch their own engineering firm, and Toth and Associates Inc. was born.

“We picked up our first client and in January 2004, we started doing production work from our house,” says Adam Toth, a professional engineer and president of the firm.

Since its launch, Toth and Associates has seen exponential growth, working with 460 clients throughout its history – 300 with active projects last year, leading to a 14% increase in revenue. The company first focused on electric utility engineering but has evolved to include electrical, civil and structural engineers, land surveyors, accountants, geographic information system specialists and grant writers.

Toth and Associates grew to 164 employees in the past year, a 21% annual increase. Those staffers serve clients across the country from public and private utilities to municipalities, and architects to educational institutions, according to Kevin Grinder, director of marketing.

The team has become specialized in designing FEMA safe rooms, officials say, and it recently has begun or completed over 20 projects, including three for Springfield Public Schools; Springfield’s Fire Station No. 10 renovation; safe rooms for the Bolivar, Walnut Grove and Lockwood schools; and bond projects in Forsyth. Last year, it recorded 553 new projects, including its first international client.

The growth has caused the Springfield-based firm to add offices in Tri-Cities, Washington, and Billings, Montana, and Toth says he still values those kitchen-table startup dynamics.

“When we first started,” he recalls, “we only had about five to 10 employees. You have to be intentional to continue a family atmosphere as you grow.”

Toth says adding a new-hire training program has significantly impacted onboarding. Over five months, new employees engage with different employees and topics surrounding the company’s vision, structure and culture. Toth also says incorporating family events is a way to tighten bonds, referencing a recent family picnic with blueberry picking and barbecue.

Another important factor to maintaining growth but keeping a close-knit dynamic, Toth says, is by looking close to home for talent.

“I love Springfield,” Toth says. “We can help this community, and aside from engineering, the biggest impact we can have is to bring money into our community that may not have made it here by working with clients across the country. That goes for people, too.”

Being aware of employee needs, Toth adds, is not just good practice.

“It’s who we are, and it’s the right thing to do as a person. Putting people first has been a huge key to our success,” he says.