In June 1962, Harry Herbert, Robert Rowland and John Strangarity founded a new firm, stressing business sense and quality service. These principles and integrity have sustained this firm for years and continue to foster decades of loyalty from our clients.
1960s – 1970s
When Herbert Associates, Inc., opened its doors for the first time that long hot summer, our founders had a storefront office, a card table, four chairs, and two clients.
Initially, the firm concentrated in the environmental field, providing consulting services for the design of sewer systems, sewage treatment plants, water systems, and related public works projects. In addition, the firm was active in civil engineering and construction administration, specifically related to the development of recreational facilities. Major projects included the Swatara Township Authority Water Pollution Control Plant, the Steelton Water Filtration Control Plant, and the water and sewage facilities for the 1973 and 1977 National Boy Scout Jamborees.
By the end of the 1960s, the company had grown to employ ten people. In the decade that followed, the firm expanded our focus to include municipal engineering, which continues to be one of the foundations of our client base. As a testament to the quality of our service, we continue to serve many of these municipal clients more than 30 years later.
1980s
In 1981, we changed our name to Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., and co-founder Robert Rowland became president. Over the next 10 years, HRG diversified into a full service firm offering expanded capabilities in highway and bridge design, land development, financial consulting, and surveying. In addition, we cultivated new opportunities in the private sector, which helped to fuel tremendous growth. By decade’s end, we opened our first regional office: in Lancaster. In 1989, current president Robert Grubic became CEO.
1990s
Under Grubic’s leadership, the firm continued to expand into new geographic markets throughout the 1990s, adding offices in State College in 1991, Gettysburg in 1993, Pittsburgh in 1994, and the Pocono Region in 1997. We also continued to diversify our service offerings with the addition of Geographic Information System and electrical engineering capabilities.
Today
From humble beginnings in that first storefront office, HRG has grown to encompass nine regional offices with close to 300 employees, and we have consistently ranked among Engineering News-Record’s Top 500 Design Firms since the end of the 1990s.
The early years of the 21st century have seen HRG acquire two firms (Hickory Engineering in 2004 and Alliance Environmental Services in 2008) and open new offices in Lewisburg and Dunmore. With the acquisition of Alliance Environmental Services, HRG has significantly expanded its capabilities in environmental compliance and remediation.
