Focusing on Trust

It’s all about trust. When Jamal Anabtawi, PE, and Warren Zwick, PE, established A&Z Engineering, LLC, their mission was clear. More than 14 years later, their dedication to providing civil engineering solutions in a competitive, honest, fair manner has remained unchanged. 

“We created this company because we like what we do and we like to serve our customers,” says Anabtawi. “Our company is based on the principle of ‘just do the right thing’ and you can’t go wrong when you’re following that path. That’s where A&Z is different. When we say, ‘do the right thing,’ we mean do right by both our clients and our employees.” This philosophy has led to years of success for A&Z. 

The firm offers a variety of services, including roadway design, surveying, construction inspection, infrastructure and utilities improvements, and bridge design and structural engineering. The majority of its clients are local municipalities and counties, but A&Z also frequently works with the Indiana Department of Transportation and select private developers. Projects range in size and scope, but Anabtawi says each gets the same personalized attention to detail for which A&Z Engineering has become known. 

“Our company is different, and I hear that from all of our clients,” Anabtawi says proudly. “We’ve never taken on a project because it’s a one-shot thing or because we want to make the profit and run. We are committed 

to building long-term, lasting relationships with the clients we serve.”

For Anabtawi and Zwick, it’s about relationships that are built on sincerity and integrity. They value collaboration and feel strongly about keeping clients updated during projects. Recent jobs include Coldwater, Flutter and Maplecrest roads in Fort Wayne, Antwerp Bridge for Allen County, Bridge No. 6 for Wells County and several bridges throughout DeKalb County. The Coldwater Road project, designed and inspected by A&Z, won the 2019 American Public Works Association Indiana Chapter
“Co-Public Works Project of the Year” award. A&Z has also completed several roundabout projects such the Bethel/Till/Huguenard intersection in Fort Wayne and Husky Trail Road in Warsaw. Much of their work is in Allen County and the City of Fort Wayne, but stretches to St. Joseph, Kosciusko and surrounding counties. 

“I go back to our clients and get feedback and ask, ‘How are we doing? How can we get better?’ And what I hear most is, ‘We trust you guys.’ That’s really a big accomplishment and is at the heart of building long-lasting relationships,” says Anabtawi. 

That’s why about 95 percent of A&Z’s business comes from repeat clients. It’s also why the company has been able to build a committed, loyal team that’s grown from four employees in the beginning to 31 now. 

“If you take care of your employees, your employees are going to take care of your customers,” says Anabtawi. That is why creating a positive work environment is at the core of A&Z’s culture. According to 

Anabtawi, taking care of employees means treating them like family. 

“With over 35 years of working in six different companies, my experience with A&Z has been the best,” shares Senior Project Manager Nitin Timble, PE. “A&Z offers plenty of opportunities to learn and teach with a collective understanding that we are here to satisfy our clients and support our families through repeat work and new challenges.” 

Client Manager Mark Jesse echoed Timble’s thoughts. “A&Z has a different culture than other firms I have worked for,” states Jesse. “Employees really care about each other. We all work hard while having a lot of fun along the way. Every single employee contributes to making the firm successful.”

Keeping valuable employees is key for A&Z and other engineering firms across the state. “These days it’s very challenging. The entire state of Indiana lacks people in the engineering profession. There are a lot of bigger engineering companies that come in and recruit with some pretty great incentives,” Anabtawi says. A&Z offers flexible schedules, stock incentives, leadership and development opportunities for employees, along with their ‘family first’ attitude. 

“A&Z has grown through the partnerships and friendships we have with our employees and clients,” says Anabtawi. “We aren’t the largest firm but we are a trusted partner, focused on always doing the right thing for our clients and employees – that is what A&Z is all about.” 

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