AKS Engineering & Forestry LLC (AKS) and Tenneson Engineering Corporation (TEC) announced the merger of the companies effective July 1, 2023. The merger expands the geographic reach of AKS while TEC gains additional resources and expanded capabilities.
TEC is a consulting firm based in The Dalles, Oregon and White Salmon, Washington that traditionally serves small communities east of the Cascades. Established in 1952 as Wall & Tenneson, the company incorporated under its current name in 1959. TEC provides civil engineering, land surveying, structural engineering, land use planning, water rights, and construction support services. Their clients include local municipalities, special districts, ports, private landowners, and local developers along the Columbia River Gorge.
Tenneson will continue operating under the same name for the next few years and will eventually transition to be known as AKS. As part of the transition, the staff of TEC joined AKS and TEC co-owners Ben Beseda, PE, PLS and Darrin Eckman, PE became owners in AKS.
Beseda joined TEC in 1994 after graduating from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He served as president of TEC and was responsible for land surveying operations. He is a registered professional civil engineer and land surveyor in Oregon and Washington.
Eckman came to TEC in 1996. He is a graduate of University of Portland with a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering. He has been serving as vice president and was responsible for engineering operations. Eckman is a registered professional civil engineer in Oregon, Washington, and California.
“When we first met Ben and Darrin and their team, it was clear that this would be a perfect fit. We provide very similar services, have the same common values, pride ourselves on quality work, and want to continue serving our employees, clients, and communities. This will prove to be an excellent partnership and opportunity for all of us for years to come.” noted AKS Managing
Member, Blair Carlson.
AKS is a regional engineering firm with four existing offices in Oregon and Southwest Washington. The company offers in-depth expertise and resources in civil engineering, water resources, surveying, and land use planning. In addition, AKS also provides natural resources, landscape architecture, arborist, forestry/forest engineering, GIS, hydrographic surveying, and aerial drone/LiDAR surveying. Together with TEC, the company will have six offices including Vancouver and White Salmon, Washington; Bend, Keizer, The Dalles, and Tualatin, Oregon with a total of 350 employees. Established in 1996, AKS’ portfolio of work includes some of the largest mixed-use communities in Oregon, as well as industrial, commercial, institutional, and public works. AKS has also earned recognition as a Top Workplace in Oregon numerous times since 2018.
