Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins Inc. consulting engineers announced a strategic merger with RTM Engineering Consultants as an opportunity to expand services for clients and opportunities for team members through its partnership.
The Overland Park-based firm specializes in mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering (MEP) for health care facilities, schools and hotels. The merger positions Malone Finkle Eckhardt & Collins to offer additional service in fire protection and civil engineering.
MFEC President Rod Finkle said the merger allowed the firm to welcome mid-level management, and provide team members with experience on larger projects and new business opportunities. The search for a partner came as the firm began to plan for future retirements of existing partners.
“It also gives us a larger resource for training people both from an engineering standpoint as well as a business development standpoint,” said Finkle. “But the biggest thing is, it gives us some resources to pull from, both from a getting larger projects to work on and letting our people in the office have more exposure to different types of projects, larger projects, projects that are maybe even at a different part of our geographical area that we work in.”
Prior to the merger, MFEC served a three- to four-state region with 40 employees; it now has 260 employees and reaches a nine- to 10-state region.
RTM is headquartered outside of Chicago. In addition to expanded services and a greater opportunity for new business, Finkel saw shared values in company culture with RTM.
“In general, (RTM’s) philosophy on business and work life was the same as our company. It just fit,” Finkle said. “It was interesting that the moment I started talking with Tony (Mirchandani, RTM CEO), I knew that there was something different about RTM than all the other ones we had looked at.”
RTM provides architects, developers and owners with sustainability, construction quality and streamlined schedules on projects, maintaining a focus on customer satisfaction.
“MFEC has earned a stellar reputation for designing innovative and energy-efficient systems for a wide range of projects and industries,” Mirchandani said. “This partnership expands our firms’ capabilities and strengthens our ability to serve diverse market sectors nationwide. We are thrilled to welcome MFEC to RTM Engineering Consultants.”
