2008 Economic Impact Awards Finalist, Engineering Firms: Butler, Rosenbury & Partners

That vow was borne from watching his father’s architecture firm of 40 employees wither within 14 months of the elder Butler’s death at age 42.

No one had been groomed to take the reins.

Starting a company was not the younger Butler’s original plan.

“(My father’s) firm sort of died while I was away at college, so I had no choice,” says CEO Butler, of Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc.

Tim Rosenbury joined the firm in 1984, becoming a partner in 1986.

“We’re trying to build a … sustainable practice,” Butler says.

“When I’m retired, I want to sit on the front porch reading the paper about what my old firm is doing.”

But he’s not out the door yet. BRP is a busy company.

New markets

A Phoenix office, opened in 2006, continues to serve the “Sun Belt market” that remains a hub of development despite the mortgage meltdown and is an ideal place to serve the West, Butler says.

A China office, also opened in 2006, is another area of opportunity, albeit one that takes some finesse.

“China has a huge potential growth,” Butler says.

“It’s a huge, huge market. … It’s not a home run. It’s one of those that’s a work in progress. It’s all relationship-based,” he adds. “If you went over there and started knocking on doors – it just doesn’t work like that. It’s a whole other world over there.”

The firm continues to look for opportunities like Phoenix and China – such as Dallas and Orlando – in order to be closer to clients – but imminent expansion is on hold due to current economic conditions, Butler says.

The company’s work covers the gamut – from hotels, restaurants and convention centers to retail and entertainment projects.

It was through working with developer John Q. Hammons and national retailer Bass Pro Shops that BRP got a “leg up,” Butler says.

“That’s where all your experience comes from,” he says.

“We’ve learned a lot with both of those key clients. You can’t discount that,” he says.

The firm’s reputation, which helps it snag projects that companies in the large markets of Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle don’t get, drew John Miller to the Ozarks.

“We could live in a town the quality of Springfield and do top-notch projects,” says Miller, BRP’s vice president of structural engineering who moved here from Washington state.

“Springfield, especially, benefits from people who have an entrepreneurial spirit.”

Long–term focus

Miller credits Butler for having the vision to develop a firm that outlives its founder, which ultimately will keep the company contributing to Springfield’s economy.

Annual payroll is about $3 million a year, Butler says.

With about 30 percent of the firm’s work within a 30- to 40-mile radius of Springfield, the company continues to contribute to local business growth, he says.

BRP’s staff reduction of 10 percent in late March was “painful,” and no one likes to lose talent, Butler says.

But, again, the focus is long-term viability.

“We are always going to react to the market,” Butler says.

If the business is there … if we need more people, we’ll add more people.”

Butler, Rosenbury & Partners Inc.

Address: 319 N Main Ave., Ste. 200, Springfield, MO 65806

Web: www.brpae.com

Employees: 75 total; 12 engineering

2007 Revenues: $10.4 million total; $1.5 million from engineering

Information accurate at the time of the honor.