Back in 1991, Marty Wells made a crucial decision to leave his position at a Washington, DC firm to venture out on his own and start a new transportation engineering firm. He didn’t know what the future would bring, but boy did it bring a lot. He created a legacy that lives on through the great work of many dedicated people.
What started as a one-person firm has grown to more than 50 employee-owners who have worked on more than 8,000 projects in over 36 states and five foreign countries in the last 30 years. As we celebrate our 30-year milestone, we reflect on Marty’s decision to start the company and the partnerships and friendships that it created.
Marty started his career in Washington, DC after graduating from Wayne State University in his hometown of Detroit and earning an advanced degree at Carnegie Mellon University. After a number of years in the both the private and public sectors, he decided that it was time to start a new chapter in his career.
“I had never done anything like this before. I had no staff, no clients, a mortgage, two small children in diapers, and very little capital,” he remembers. “But I had faith in myself and a very supportive family, and that was enough.”
When asked about his decision to launch his own company, Marty remembers both his excitement about the prospect of owning his own business but also his awareness that not all ventures succeed, especially in the middle of an economic recession which the country was in back in 1991. “I had never done anything like this before. I had no staff, no clients, a mortgage, two small children in diapers, and very little capital,” he remembers. “But I had faith in myself and a very supportive family, and that was enough.”
Marty worked on hundreds of projects over the years, but several memorable ones stand out in his mind, including “Project 001,” Potomac Yards in Arlington and Alexandria, VA; Colgate Palmolive in Jersey City, NJ; Kiplinger Property in Urbana, MD; Kentlands in Gaithersburg, MD; and the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC to name a few.
“What I remember the most, however, were the outstanding people I worked with, including Wells’ staff, clients, lawyers, architects, planners, engineers, other specialists, and public agency staff. It’s a pleasure to work with people you like and respect.”
“These were large, complex, multidimensional projects that took years of planning, and involved grueling public review and approval processes,” he said. “What I remember the most, however, were the outstanding people I worked with, including Wells’ staff, clients, lawyers, architects, planners, engineers, other specialists, and public agency staff. It’s a pleasure to work with people you like and respect.”
When asked what advice he would give to young professionals beginning their careers, Marty said, “Work for someone you respect and who shares your values. Work hard, work smart, and don’t cheat anyone. Learn everything you can from those around you. Stay informed. Read. This will take more time than 9-to-5 business hours, but it will be worth it in the end.”