Widseth is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, marking a golden milestone since it was first created in 1975 by civil engineers Dick Widseth, Howard Smith, and Don Nolting in Crookston, Minnesota.
The original mission of Widseth Smith Nolting, now known simply as Widseth, was to meet the engineering needs of rural communities like Crookston. Since then, Widseth has evolved and become home to over 250 architects, engineers, land surveyors, environmental scientists, and more. The firm is a full-service company, with 18 disciplines ranging from engineering and architecture to GIS and aerial mapping. Since its founding, Widseth has seen evolution in its size, experience, and versatility.
Chris Satterlund is a technical designer who joined Widseth in 1994. “When I started, every person working at Widseth was their own one-stop shop,” he says. “We lived by the phrase, one call we do it all.” Widseth still “does it all,” but they now have a multitude of employees who specialize in each department. Their range for projects is vaster, and their abilities and skills are focused on their respective disciplines.
Widseth’s Brainerd office Grand Opening in 1981.
Between shared phones, old blueprint machines, and mechanical pen plotters, Widseth’s technology has advanced greatly since 1994. Designs that used to take nearly an hour to plot and print now only take a matter of minutes. The technological evolution wasn’t all at once, however.
By 1997, Widseth had three offices, its first Global Positioning System (GPS) for land surveying, and one internet computer. With fewer than 10 specialties offered, Widseth was a growing company, fueled by multi-project clients and rural communities. Chris Jordheim, the firm treasurer, started at Widseth in 1997. “Widseth’s overall growth has always been seamless and natural, both by a technological and business standpoint,” he says. “Comparing today and 28 years ago makes it look drastic, but Widseth isn’t a reactive, knee jerk company. We maintain our company by thought-out decisions and evolution over time. We also focus on what the people need.”
With 12 offices in Minnesota and North Dakota, Widseth makes an active effort to stay connected with the communities they are in. Brent Dammann, director of architecture and vice president, who has been with the company for 25 years, says, “A driving force behind Widseth’s success is the effort we put into connecting with the communities. As a multidisciplinary firm, we recognize when a community has a need for a different form of service, and we accommodate that and adapt to what they need from us.”
Widseth adds Hibbing location after acquiring Architectural Resources Inc. (ARI).
The firm’s decisions are calculated, setting itself up for years of not only survival, but success. “Change without thought is change for change’s sake,” says Jordheim. “It isn’t to better the company; what makes Widseth better is the dialogue behind change and admitting when something can be made more beneficial.”
The culture of Widseth has evolved with the changing times. Whether it’s their clients or their staff, Widseth welcomes everyone with a level of “dignity and respect that makes it stand out,” according to Jordheim. The firm provides growth opportunities for its employees through career planning, relevant training programs, advancements in technology, and an atmosphere where both their professional and personal lives can thrive. “Widseth has stayed successful for so long because it’s made of good people who care and take ownership of their projects. They’re proud to be putting out good, honest work,” Satterlund says.
Moving forward, Widseth plans to maintain its steady, strategic growth to keep the company improving, along with keeping the community- and people-focused business ideology at the heart of the firm. “We take pride in being leaders in our communities and have developed many long-lasting relationships over the years,” Tim Ramerth, Widseth’s president and CEO, says. “We realize relationships are key.”
