Ohio-based engineering firm opens first Florida office in Tampa Email Share
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Nov 10, 2023

Ohio-based HEAPY, a national engineering, commissioning and construction administration firm, is expanding to downtown Tampa.

The company, founded in 1945, has conducted more than 70 projects in Florida over the past 10 years. The company signed a lease for an approximately 4,000-square-foot space at Fifth Third Center, 201 East Kennedy Boulevard. This is its first office in Florida.

“We like urban settings but we also like for them to be very livable,” Mark Brumfield, CEO of HEAPY, told the Business Journal. “Talent right now is really hard to get so we want to go to places where we know people want to live. We really felt like Tampa checked a lot of boxes. You have a ton of great investment downtown and along the Bay and the river. It's so accessible, an urban environment that has that lifestyle people enjoy."

The company currently has offices in Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina. HEAPY “provides mechanical, electrical, plumbing and technology engineering design solutions, as well as design-build construction management and commissioning services across the healthcare, education, corporate, government, science and technology, cultural, and mission-critical markets.”

HEAPY has hired two local Tampa colleagues to “spearhead growth” in the region: Cyndee A. Dornblaser, business development specialist, and John Callaghan, project manager.

The firm plans to hire additional individuals over the course of the next six months to “support the firm’s growing portfolio in the region.” Brumfield said while there is not a specific hiring goal he hopes that by the end of next year they will have a range of five to 10 employees.

“Joining HEAPY allows me to become part of a well-respected and forward-thinking organization with a long history of innovation, which will be vital as Tampa continues to attract leading technology companies,” Callaghan said in a release. “I look forward to providing exceptional service to our clients while building upon my knowledge and existing relationships in the community.”

Part of the appeal of Tampa was the fact that the University of South Florida is in its backyard. The University of Florida and the University of Central Florida are a few hours away and all three schools have strong engineering programs. Brumfield said they will be recruiting graduating students and said the program is “an additional asset” that is unique to Tampa Bay.

HEAPY had been searching for its next office for quite some time before Brumfield heard that the Dayton Ohio Chamber of Commerce — which is where the company is headquartered — had selected Tampa as the destination for its annual summer trip. Brumfield leapt at the chance to come and said they met with the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce and other economic groups.

While they were aware of the strong healthcare industry in the area they learned of the other “hidden gems” and got more insight into just how strong the local industries are. Brumfield said Tampa did a “phenomenal job” of receiving the group and representing the opportunities in the region.

Brumfield was drawn to the science and tech industries and felt it was key to make Tampa the group’s first investment in Florida. HEAPY also has a strong focus on sustainability and wellness, which Brumfield said they will be prioritizing highlighting those opportunities throughout the state.

HEAPY has overseen more than 450 LEED projects as well as net zero and WELL certified projects.