Simplify Solutions—
Passionately Design the Future.

About YOUR ISG

One Firm. Eleven Offices. Endless Solutions.

Commitment

True and responsive expertise—these qualities are the foundation on which ISG was built in 1973. Now, we stand as a nationally recognized multi-disciplinary design and engineering firm. Tenacity, empathy, and ingenuity all sum up how we strive to be Your ISG.

Focus

Empathy
We strive to see things from your perspective, and provide expertise and advice to improve your condition.

Relationships
Relationships are at our core. We learn more when we listen, and we deliver better results from those two-way, connected relationships.

True + Responsive Expertise
The original, simple foundation to our success dating back to 1973.

Aspirations
All of us have them, and they can be different, but as a firm, we are the sum of our collective aspirations.

Winning
Winning is the tangible result of being selected, and doing "it" right. Making the basket is where the points are, but doing it repetitively comes from great assist makers. Winning provides inspiration. Inspiration provides results.

Contextual Design
We have developed an ISG process to deliver quality solutions that meet or exceed a client's vision. Context is merely taking in all of the factors beyond four walls - site, community, image, goals, future, connectivity, etc.

Alternative Analysis
Alternative analysis requires one option to always be what the client asks, but two more that may enhance or alter their way of thinking. It's a unique balance between empathy and expertise, driven by context and the client.

Better Decisions, Faster
Develop consensus sooner. Draw a sketch, investigate an idea, and agree before committing big resources on an errant path; we seek to foster a better decisions mentality mindset.

Agility
Yesterday can look like today, and today can look like tomorrow, but when you look over the course of 2-5 years, you recognize quickly that things are dynamic, not static. We are dynamic and come with a drive and willingness to focus on what matters most; listening, building trust, investing, developing, designing, and growing.

Growth

Evolution

Founded in 1973, Mankato, MN: Gene Isakson and Ken Surprenant formalized I&S Engineers in Surprenant’s basement.
1973 to 1998: Developed a stable client base to sustain the business.
1999 to 2005: Achieved redundancy in service offerings and added services to satisfy client needs.
2005-2010: Adapted to client-centric strategy to achieve business growth and sustainability.
2011-2018: Shifted from Client-Centric to Market-Centric execution of strategies.
2018: Celebrated 45 years of true expertise and working ingenuity from humble beginnings.

Dynamic Business Model

Embraced change from geographic-centric to client-centric models, and shifted to current market-relationship model.
Transitioned from single ownership and shareholder model to 100% ESOP.
Leveraged a dynamic and diverse Board of Directors for internal and external influence.
Utilize a three-dimensional structure that fosters accountability, leadership, and engagement in practice groups, markets, and geographic locations.
Operates as a one-firm profit center.

Horsepower

Expanded from a humble beginning to more than 300+ employee owners.
Completed several acquisitions to solidify market expertise, enhance services, and grow geographic-based expertise.
Expanded Minnesota geographic office footprint into Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.
Developed office and market presence in urban core areas to serve clients and recruit talent.

Impact

Ranked #306 on Engineering News Record (ENR) 500 list.
Received designation on Inc. 5,000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America list.
Zweig Group 2021 Hot Firm
Received PSMJ Circle of Excellence designations.
Continue to embrace change and diversity.

ISG on the Move

ISG Grows K-12 Education Business Unit

Sue Peterson joins ISG as a K-12 Education Strategy Specialist to support school districts across the Midwest. She brings over 20 years of experience in referendum and strategic planning, community organizing, educational program and charter school development, fundraising, marketing, and school communications. Collaborating with ISG’s multi-disciplinary team of planners, architects, and engineers across the ISG footprint, Sue will deliver educational insights that guide school district facility planning initiatives.

ISG Adds Refrigeration Engineering Expertise

ISG continues to grow by expanding to the Milwaukee area and bolsters their food and industrial business unit through the acquisition of Golden Industrial Refrigeration (GIR) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The strategic addition of refrigeration design allows the firm to provide a greater breadth of services to its existing clients nationwide and expand its geographical footprint to better support clients in southeast Wisconsin. This expansion provides an opportunity for significant growth as the firm seeks to add key talent and build the office locally to bolster all 12 of ISG’s business units.

ISG adds Dynamic Talent to Further Advance Resources for Clients

ISG, a professional design and engineering firm, continually strives to find the right solutions for its clients. With 12 diverse markets that expand across the Midwest, the services offered strengthen relationships through the talented pool of employee owners that comprise ISG’s multi-disciplinary team.

ISG Adds Strategic Talent to Bolster Water, Transportation, and Government Business Units

February 11, 2021 (Mankato, Minnesota) – ISG is excited to welcome Darrell Pettis, PE, to its growing team. As Le Sueur County’s County Administrator, and previously their County Engineer, his vast experience covers leadership, administration, and engineering. Some of the significant works Pettis completed at Le Sueur County included multiple government buildings leading planning, design, and finances to bring those to life.

Simplify Solutions— Passionately Design the Future.