S. W. Cole Engineering, Inc.

Our team is always learning and growing. Congratulations to our team members who have recently earned promotions!

Our field and laboratory testing services measure the conformance of the materials and construction of your project to the project specifications. We provide independent construction materials testing, both in the field and at our nine regional laboratory facilities. Most of the tests are completed in-house, saving our clients time and money. Each year our team performs tens of thousands of field and laboratory test procedures. Here are some of the numbers from 2024 to give you an idea of the scale we are operating at. Thank you to our hardworking team for your efforts to provide high-quality and responsive testing services! Looking for an experienced Construction Materials Testing firm? Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Gathering as a team allows us to connect and collaborate. At our recent annual meetings, we reflected on our progress, looked ahead to the future, and engaged in both technical and companywide discussions. Beyond the learning, these gatherings are also about strengthening relationships, sharing ideas, and of course, having some fun!

The American Ladder Institute has designated March as National Ladder Safety Month. During our annual company meetings this month, Director of Health & Safety Jess Smith took some time to discuss ladder safety with our Construction Services team. Jess reviewed how to check that a ladder is safe before using it and how to minimize risks associated with ladder use. #LadderSafetyMonth

We take pride in our team culture, knowing that we achieve more together than we could alone. Recently, our team was on-site at the Roux Institute’s future campus in Portland, Maine, conducting testing and observations relating to concrete placement, drilled shafts, and pile installation. We’re proud to contribute our expertise to this project and provide a skilled team to support its success. Left to right: Matt Surette, Sam Dunton, Fred Closs, Chris Pierce, Johnathan Anderson, Kyle Kaserman

Nathan Strout, P.E., Senior Geotechnical Engineer and President of the Maine Section ASCE, was featured in the latest issue of Maine Trails magazine discussing the 2024 Report Card for Maine's Infrastructure.

As part of an ongoing effort to recognize team members who are demonstrating our Core Values, we spent the months of January and February honoring team members who displayed remarkable QUALITY. From safely performing test borings in challenging conditions to completing their tasks with exceptional attention to detail, these people went above and beyond expectations to provide high-quality services. The following team members were recognized as a part of this effort. ⭐️ Robin Carmody, Construction Services Coordinator ⭐️ Sean Hlywa, Staff Geotechnical Engineer ⭐️ Jean Lamontanaro, Marketing Manager ⭐️ Julie Strayer, Administrative Assistant ⭐️ Zoe Swett, Administrative Assistant ⭐️ Sarah Sylvia, Construction Services Coordinator Congratulations to all and thank you for demonstrating our Core Values through your actions!

In celebration of Women in Construction Week (March 2-5, 2025), we asked our female team members to share about their journeys in the construction industry. Kayla Richardson, Administrative Services Coordinator, shared her story: I started with S.W. Cole Engineering, Inc. as a part time Administrative Assistant in 2014 in Somersworth, NH. While working at S.W. Cole, I completed my bachelor’s and master’s degrees in fields relating to mental health. The company was highly supportive of college students and accommodated my need for a flexible schedule. S.W. Cole has also been supportive of my volunteer work with local nonprofits. The company continued to expand and in 2016 I transferred to the Londonderry, NH office. I explored careers in mental health but left that field to join S.W. Cole full time as an Administrative Assistant and was later promoted to Administrative Services Coordinator. In my current role, I am a part of a team of administrative professionals that assist our Construction Services clients with scheduling and sharing reports. Even though I am no longer working in the mental health field, I am still able to draw on my past experiences and education when working with and supporting our team and our clients.

In celebration of Women in Construction Week (March 2-5, 2025), we asked our female team members to share about their journeys in the construction industry. Brenda Hazzard, Construction Services Coordinator, shared her story: Before joining S.W. Cole, I had experience selling real estate, including multi-family condominium conversions, new subdivision construction, and commercial real estate expansion. I became a broker and part owner of a real estate company. After the real estate market crash, I was forced to look for a new career. I started at S.W. Cole as an Administrative Assistant. Eager to learn more, I moved up to the Director of Administrative Services overseeing the day-to-day operations of our administrative team. I was promoted again to my current position of Construction Services Coordinator to work with our Somersworth Construction Services Manager and the team of technicians. Scheduling and problem-solving while learning every day is very rewarding. I enjoy being able to be the go-to person here in Somersworth! S.W. Cole has been and continues to be a great place to work.

We are excited to be a part of this year's Engineering Week Expo! Thank you to the Maine Engineering Promotional Council for putting on this event to show kids how exciting a career in engineering can be. Kids, parents and other community members are invited to explore the world of engineering at the University of Maine Field House this Saturday, March 8, 9am-2pm.