With nearly three decades of field-to-office leadership experience across electric power transmission, renewable energy, telecommunications infrastructure, and professional services, David brings a rare blend of firsthand field expertise and executive-level strategy to the team. His career began in survey, construction layout, and tower erection before progressing into roles leading national business units and enterprise growth initiatives along with large-scale engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) programs.

Based in Colorado, David will focus on building out operational excellence in transmission and renewables, including wind and solar, while also drawing on his deep experience in telecom and fiber. He brings particular strength in subsurface utilities and supporting multidisciplinary teams across geospatial survey and aerial engineering.

Prior to joining Atwell, David led a number of high-profile projects including serving as Regional Manager on Pattern Energy’s SunZia project which is one of the largest clean energy infrastructure projects in the United States. SunZia is a 730-mile, 3.5 GW, 535 kV wind generation and transmission line spanning Arizona and New Mexico. Most recently, he served as Director on another significant effort- Nevada Energy’s Greenlink project, a 700-mile, 525 kV transmission project connecting the state.

David holds Bachelor of Arts, Juris Doctor, and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Missouri and the University of Denver.

Outside of work, David is a part-time fly-fishing guide on weekends and enjoys mountain biking and skiing in his home state of Colorado.

Please join us in welcoming David to the team!

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July 1, 2026 (Southfield, MI) – Atwell today announced the acquisition of NEI Electric Power Engineering, Inc. (NEI), uniting two industry leaders to create an integrated platform for critical power and energy infrastructure. The combined team is equipped to support clients across the full project lifecycle, from site selection, routing, and development through engineering, construction support, and operations. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

The creation of this national platform comes amid rising electricity demand driven by data center growth, electrification, and renewable energy development, trends that are placing increasing pressure on the nation’s power infrastructure and the engineering resources needed to deliver it.

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, NEI is a recognized leader in transmission engineering, substation design, and power systems engineering. The firm’s more than 380 technical professionals serve utilities; renewable energy developers; industrials; hyper-scalers; engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractors; and large-load infrastructure clients across 38 states.

“NEI has built a remarkable organization known for technical excellence and solving complex power engineering challenges,” said Matthew C. Bissett, President and CEO of Atwell. “Demand for power is outpacing the infrastructure to deliver it, and that gap is the defining challenge facing our clients. By combining NEI’s expertise in transmission, substations, renewable interconnections, and power systems engineering with Atwell’s capabilities in land development, permitting, surveying, environmental, and program delivery, we can move a project from raw land to an energized grid as a single integrated team. That means helping clients modernize the grid, expand transmission networks, integrate renewable resources, and meet growing power demands, while compressing timelines the industry has long treated as fixed.”

Atwell and NEI have successfully partnered on projects for more than a decade, giving the combined firm a proven working relationship and a delivery model built to reduce risk on complex infrastructure programs.

“Joining Atwell represents an exciting opportunity for our employees, clients, and the future of our business,” said Clifton Oertli, President and CEO of NEI. “For more than four decades, NEI has built its reputation on industry-leading expertise, trusted client relationships, and a commitment to delivering solutions through adaptation, collaboration, and innovation. Atwell shares those values. Our clients will continue working with the same trusted teams while gaining access to expanded resources, additional services, and a nationwide network of expertise.”

The combined platform positions Atwell among the leading firms serving the fastest-growing segments of the power and energy market, from data center development to grid modernization and transmission expansion across North America. Moreover, it will drive the Atwell flywheel across land development and infrastructure, where projects benefit from similar expertise.

For Atwell, Morrissey Goodale served as financial advisor, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel. For NEI, Black Iron Advisers served as financial advisor, and Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP served as legal counsel.

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Related Digital is advancing a $16 billion hyperscale data center campus in Saline Township, Michigan, developed for Oracle and marking the largest capital investment in the state’s history. The more than 1,000-megawatt campus will help expand advanced artificial intelligence and cloud computing capabilities for Oracle and Open AI.

Atwell is supporting the project with concept planning, due diligence, land surveying, civil engineering, wetland permitting, landscape architecture, and construction management services. Our team is helping move this large-scale development from early planning through execution while supporting the infrastructure needed for long-term growth and innovation.

“Projects of this scale require strong collaboration and thoughtful planning from day one,” said Eric Lord, Vice President at Atwell. “We’re excited to help deliver the infrastructure needed to support long-term innovation and growth in Michigan.”

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Blaze brings more than two decades of experience leading multidisciplinary surveying teams and delivering complex projects across land and infrastructure development with top engineering consultant firms. In his new role at Atwell, he will help drive our continued expansion, providing operational leadership, supporting project execution, and fostering strong client relationships. Blaze will also play a key role in developing talent and growing teams in strategic markets aligned with Atwell’s long-term growth strategy.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps, Blaze combines technical expertise with a disciplined, mission-driven approach to project delivery. His experience spans project types ranging from Government to environmental and major land development, boundary, topographic, and easement mapping, as well as bathymetric, and aerial surveying, leveraging technologies such as LiDAR, SLAM, and indoor mobile mapping.

Blaze holds a Master of Science in Survey Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Science with a minor in Cadastral Land Surveying. He is a Licensed Land Surveyor (LLS) in Connecticut, a Professional Land Surveyor (PLS) in Maine, and Rhode Island, and a Registered Professional Land Surveyor (RPLS) in Pennsylvania.

With Blaze joining the team, Atwell is well positioned to continue expanding its survey presence in key markets, supporting clients with innovative solutions while investing in the people and partnerships that drive long-term success.

Please join us in welcoming Chris Blaze, MS, LLS, PLS, RPLS, to Atwell.

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This recognition celebrates a firm’s continuous commitment to cultural excellence and the employee experience, including workplace practices, benefits, retention rates, compensation, performance recognition, and professional development. The distinctions are largely influenced by the firm’s employees, who complete a survey about their experiences and opinions of their workplace.

Atwell was also recognized as #22 on Zweig Group’s 2026 Hot Firm List, moving up eight spots from #30 in 2025. The Hot Firm List recognizes the 100 fastest-growing architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) firms in the United States and Canada based on revenue growth and overall performance.

We thank our team members for their dedication and expertise, and our clients for the trust they place in us as a partner. Together, they drive our growth, strengthen our culture, and help us deliver meaningful results for the communities we serve.

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Atwell is pleased to welcome Brad Agius as a Director in its Environmental Services group. Agius brings more than 20 years of experience in renewable energy development and environmental consulting, with a focus on permitting, natural resources, and project delivery. In his role at Atwell, Agius will support environmental services initiatives while leading cross-functional teams, driving client relationships, managing budgeting, business development, strategic planning, and QA/QC oversight.

Throughout his career, Agius has supported more than 300 projects across 26 states, contributing to over 15 gigawatts of solar, wind, and battery energy storage development. His experience includes both distributed generation and utility-scale projects, where he has led efforts from early-stage due diligence through permitting and construction.

He has extensive experience in environmental permitting; wetland delineation; surveys of rare, threatened, and endangered species; and geospatial analysis. Agius has also managed multidisciplinary teams and development partnerships across multiple regions, supporting project execution, regulatory compliance, and successful delivery to commercial operation.

Agius holds a Master of Science in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Marine and Freshwater Biology. He is also a certified Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) and Geographic Information Systems Professional (GISP).

Please join us in welcoming Brad Agius, GISP, PWS, to Atwell.

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Thanks to the continued dedication of our talented team and our clients, Engineering News-Record (ENR) has ranked Atwell #70 on the 2026 list of Top 500 Design Firms. Each year, firms across the country are evaluated based on key factors such as new initiatives, active projects, and overall revenue growth.

We are proud to be recognized among the top firms in our industry and remain committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients while continuing to build on our momentum.

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We’re proud to share that Matthew C. Bissett, Chief Executive Officer and President of Atwell, has been named a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2026 Michigan and Northwest Ohio program.

Now in its 41st year, Entrepreneur of the Year is one of the most respected programs recognizing leaders who drive meaningful change through innovation, growth, and leadership. An independent panel of judges selects finalists based on their entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, company growth, and lasting impact in building long-term value.

Matthew’s leadership continues to guide our growth, strengthen our culture, and shape how we serve clients across the country. We’re honored to see him recognized among a strong group of leaders in Michigan and Northwest Ohio.

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Mike Bruen brings more than 30 years of experience in the built environment and engineering services industry, along with deep expertise in leadership, business development, and operations. He will focus on driving strategic growth across the broader Mid-Atlantic region, leveraging his experience to identify new market opportunities and guide regional expansion efforts. Throughout his career, he has held senior executive roles focused on growth strategy, market expansion, and leading cross-disciplinary teams. He previously served as President and Chief Operating Officer at a national consulting and engineering firm, where he helped guide significant growth and organizational transformation.

Matt Lawrence brings over 25 years of experience in the built environment and engineering services industry and will lead Atwell’s Northern Virginia operations. He previously served as Associate Vice President and Principal Engineer at a leading design and consulting firm, where he directed teams to deliver large-scale, data center and community development projects throughout Northern Virginia. His work spans some of the region’s most demanding hyperscale and mixed-use developments, requiring deep expertise in entitlements, infrastructure design, and multi-stakeholder coordination. At Atwell, he will play a critical role in accelerating regional growth, strengthening key client partnerships, and advancing our position as a leader in delivering complex land development solutions.

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Atwell is excited to share that Deshon Fox has joined the company as a Director of Engineering, based in Orlando, Florida.

Fox brings more than 20 years of experience in civil engineering and land development, with expertise spanning utilities, roadways, stormwater management, site infrastructure, and large-scale public and private developments. He has led multidisciplinary teams across Florida and the Bahamas, delivering complex projects while driving business growth and client relationships.

Prior to joining Atwell, Fox served as a leader for the Central Florida region at a top-ranked engineering firm, where he oversaw regional leadership, quality control, staff development, and business development. Earlier in his career, he founded and led a civil engineering firm in the Bahamas, supporting major infrastructure, cruise ports, mixed-use, and luxury residential projects. He is recognized for expanding into new markets, strengthening client partnerships, and positioning firms as trusted advisors.

Fox holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Florida. At Atwell, he will focus on expanding our footprint in Central and North Florida.

Please join us in welcoming Deshon Fox to Atwell.

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