About Us
Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V) is an employee-owned, multi-disciplined civil engineering firm with ten offices serving Michigan and Indiana. Our team encompasses a broad range of services designed to provide our clients with a one-stop-shop consultant. Providing a wide range of services allows us to design custom-fit solutions and award-winning projects - on time and on budget. Our growth has been an outcome of hiring the best people, doing great work, and focusing on client relationships.
We believe great relationships are built over time through communication and an understanding of our client’s needs. We work collaboratively to gain that understanding by uncovering potential issues and concerns prior to beginning work. Knowledge of those critical success factors gives us agreed upon expectations and allows us to work together towards successful projects.
We also understand the critical component funding has in turning a project vision into reality. Our team of funding experts actively pursues grants and low interest loan opportunities on behalf of our clients. We work diligently with state and federal organizations to find and obtain the best option for each project. Since our inception, we have obtained more than $1 billion in grants and low interest loans for our clients.
Our History
F&V was co-founded by Larry Fleis, PE, and the late Steve Vanden Brink, PE, in 1993. Following their examples, we continue to invest in our people and provide them with opportunities, tools, and technology to be the best. We continue to create a demand for our services and expertise by providing clients with exceptional service, innovative solutions, and great advice on how to fund projects.
Today, our executives are a new generation of leaders, but they still stem from a long line of friendships and long careers at F&V. Our executive team (pictured above, from left to right) includes Bob Wilcox, vice-president of operations, John DeVol, president, and Craig Shumaker, senior vice-president. They lead a team that has grown from two to nearly 300 multi-disciplined professionals providing engineering, operations, and construction management services.
Fleis & VandenBrink (F&V) wholly owns F&V Operations (FVOP) and F&V Construction (FVC). The synergy between the three companies allows us to serve our clients in many different capacities as well as provide a wide range of professional consultation across each of their respective industries. This unique structure of working together allows us to “Design. Build. Operate.” successful projects for our clients.
Employee-Owned
As an employee-owned firm, F&V provides all employees the opportunity to participate in our Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). This benefit allows our employees to share financially in the growth and success of what we do. It has also allowed us to maintain ownership of our firm entirely through our staff. The result is that each employee at F&V has a personal economic interest in the success of our firm. We believe that our broad-based shared ownership also benefits our clients, as we know the key to our continued success is building and maintaining long-term trusting relationships and delivering successful projects on-time and on budget.
F&V is recognized for its expertise as a strategic partner, the leader for design, construction & operation of projects, and the home for top professionals who are making a difference.
Our People
Our team is made up of civil engineers, architects, water resource specialists, landscape architects, geologists, environmental scientists, surveyors, GIS specialists, inspectors, field technicians, construction managers, professional emergency managers (PEMs), operations specialists, and administrative support.
Our people show dedication, creativity and passion for their projects, clients and co-workers because they know quality begins with them.