he first time EMC Engineering was hired on a contract, the company operated behind the scenes. When major flooding hit the Kenai Peninsula in 2003, the state mobilized all available contractors to get the road system open again. EMC—then a fledgling company that had been in operation since 2002—was contracted by the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities, or DOT&PF, to verify time and materials used during the emergency response for contractor payments.
“EMC performed well during this contract, which gained us a strong reputation with DOT&PF,” says Tara Masters, EMC’s executive vice president and office manager.
Since then, EMC has worked all over Alaska—from Shemya to Prudhoe Bay—and in the Pacific, and Outside in locations like Guantanamo Bay and Wake Island.
EMC does a lot more than paperwork now. The company started as a construction management and civil engineering firm.
“We started small, making sure we were able to provide quality, trained personnel on all our projects,” Masters says.
Soon, though, EMC launched its own American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, or AASHTO, accredited lab and began providing materials testing services. This expansion led to the company offering special inspections and geotechnical engineering, as well.
Today, EMC has a diverse team of civil and geotechnical engineers, construction management staff, special inspectors, and materials technicians. Their primary clients include DOT&PF, the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Federal Highway Administration, and private contractors.
“I’ve worked with EMC on a variety of different projects, most recently the Barrow Maintenance and Operations Facility we built in Utqiaġvik for DOT&PF, a $21 million job,” says Scott Michel, project manager at ASRC Construction. For that project, EMC Engineering provided aggregate testing on gravel work.
EMC works on a variety of large projects—but they have a unique ability to deal with smaller projects, as well, Michel says.
“EMC stays responsive, timely, and fair, no matter the scope or size of the project,” he says.
“They’re fantastic to work with,” says Scott Dunlap, vice president for Roger Hickel Contracting, Inc. “EMC is very forward-thinking when it comes to conflict resolution. They’re there to find an equitable solution for everybody.”
EMC performed construction administration services for DOT&PF on the ANC B gates B1, B3 & B5 Reconstruction, on which Roger Hickel was the contractor.
Another airport project EMC completed contributed to a new start for Newtok. The village was relocated to Mertarvik due to erosion. EMC provided construction administration services for DOT&PF on the Newtok Airport Relocation project. This project resulted in a new airport, including a gravel runway, taxiway, and apron.
“This project was a unique opportunity for EMC and its staff. We got to be part of a project that provided a vital link for a community that is rebuilding,” says Masters.
“AGC really does a great job of providing resources, helping us air issues important to us, and bringing companies together,” says Masters.
One issue important to EMC is education. The company launched a scholarship program this year aimed at encouraging high school seniors to begin careers in the engineering field.
“Alaska has a unique need for engineering professionals. It was great to read what brought the applicants to engineering,” says Masters. “Many gave personal reasons, like living in a village without access to clean water and wanting to bring that infrastructure into their communities.”
In addition to promoting education through scholarships, EMC promotes continuing education within the company. The company has provided financial support for numerous employees who have obtained engineering and business management degrees, as well as other professional certifications, within the construction administration and special inspections field.
Masters came to EMC straight out of college herself in 2006.
“EMC was very small when I started, and we still try to maintain that. The cohesiveness of the company is extremely important to us—and being an employee-owned company perpetuates that feel,” she says.
Jamey Bradbury is a freelance writer who lives in Anchorage. Photos provided by EMC Engineering.