About Us

WHO WE ARE

Summit at a Glance

Summit is a compact design and engineering firm structured to adapt quickly and efficiently to our client’s needs. We offer our clients innovative design solutions utilizing cutting-edge technology and comprehensive project management for full-service project delivery.

At Summit, we know that one size rarely fits all. That’s why we approach every project with careful consideration, tailoring a unique approach to the individual needs and challenges they present. We want to ensure that our client’s projects are not only successful but that our design solutions exceed expectations, bringing their vision to life through innovation, collaboration, and community support.

Our Purpose

We build partnerships with clients to shape our communities.

Our Vision

To thoughtfully enhance the built-environment by delivering resilient and impactful projects.

#SummitIs

A Welcoming Community

We encourage and support each other in our endeavors. We welcome different perspectives and ensure everyone’s voice is heard.

Trusted

We do what is right and act with integrity and transparency. We are passionate about our pursuit of excellence.

Versatile

We are nimble and deliver innovative solutions. We are responsive and collaborative in our approach. We lead with purpose and embrace adversity.

Building Success

We know diverse relationships and strong partnerships build sustainable communities. We promote individual growth and share success with our team and partners.

Fun

We work hard and play hard. We invest in community and company events that help our employees and their families feel connected. We make fun part of everything we do.

Our History

Summit Design and Engineering Services is founded in 1997 under the name Callemyn-Parker, Inc., when CEO Jim Parker and land surveyor Alois Callemyn combined their resources.

Services Offered

Surveying

Civil Engineering

Learn More About Our Engineering Services

The Sear-Brown Group, Inc. acquired Callemyn-Parker

The Sear-Brown Group, Inc., located in Rochester, New York, took notice of Callemyn-Parker in 2001 and chose to acquire the firm.

The Sear-Brown Group is dissolved. Mr. Parker, sensing the opportunity to bring the company back to its roots, establishes Summit Design and Engineering, PLLC, alongside Sherry Jones, Kevin O’Dell, PE, Edmund Purcell, PLS, and Bill McCarthy, PLS.

Jim, Parker, PE, PLS

Sherry Jones

Kevin O’Dell, PE

Bill McCarthy, PLS

Edmund Purcell, PLS

Vector icons featuring a housing structure and a drill.

Architecture, Geotechnical Engineering and Drilling were added as a service at Summit.

The firm begins offering Architecture, Geotechnical Engineering and Drilling services alongside Surveying and Civil Engineering.

Learn More About Our Architecture Services

Learn More About Our Geotechnical and Drilling Services

Structural Engineering was added as a service at Summit.

Summit merges with GKC Associates, PA, to add Structural Engineering to the services offered to clients.

Learn More About Our Structural Engineering Services

Planning was added as a service at Summit.

Summit merges with Community Planning Partners, Inc. (CPP) to add Planning to the services offered to clients.

Learn More About Our Planning Services

Summit now has 14 office locations.

Summit now employs over 400 people across a multitude of states. We have branch offices across North Carolina in Raleigh, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Asheville, Pittsboro, and Wilmington. Outside of NC, we also have branch offices in Richmond, Franklin, and South Boston, Virginia; Fairmont, West Virginia; Fort Mill, South Carolina; Denver, Colorado; and Tampa, Florida.

We are licensed to practice throughout the U.S.

Summit Design and Engineering is licensed to practice in multiple states in the U.S., including Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Iowa, Maryland, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Texas, Alabama, and Colorado.

Jim Parker, Jr., PE, PLS

Chief Executive Officer

Jim is a true entrepreneur. When he sees an opportunity, he goes after it and never looks back. He doesn’t just see possibility everywhere—he surrounds himself with people who are just as determined as he is to win. Jim is proud of the close-knit team environment he has cultivated by encouraging his employees to grow and seeing his clients succeed. Behind Jim’s leadership and experience, Summit has grown exponentially, expanding into new markets and becoming a well-known firm in the southeast.

"The Visionary"

Troy Dover, PE

President

It’s said that Troy has never met a stranger, and this sentiment rings true. That’s because Troy is not your typical engineer. Sure, he enjoys all of the things that engineers are known for—crunching numbers, pivot tables, solving problems—but he’s also a real man of the people. He's got a reputation for checking in with employees around the office daily, ensuring they’re all happy and thriving. Even after doing his rounds to make sure everyone has what they need to succeed, Troy still manages to find time to keep Summit moving forward by identifying new and exciting opportunities for the firm. Although we all roll our eyes when he says “we’re building dreams here,” we know he has everyone’s best interests in mind with every decision he makes.

"The Catalyst"

Scott Ashton, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Scott has always been a self-proclaimed bean counter. He’s been working as our CPA since Summit began, but now, he flies our colors and leads our crew of financial experts. Scott manages to find the calm in any storm—after all, being both trustworthy and capable has let him sail through over 40 years in finance. A perfect weekend for Scott would be spent kicking back on a boat while fishing for marlin or mahi-mahi, enjoying a cheeseburger in paradise, or participating in some competitive barbeque. During the week, you can find Scott settled in at our corporate headquarters, keeping an eye on the skies and helping guide our success.

"The Captain"

Philip Becht, Jr.

Senior Vice President

If you have been to a conference in the southeast, you will likely have met Philip. He has over 25 years of experience on construction projects and has met many friends along the way, giving him key insights into the how-to of building successful teams. At Summit, Philip enjoys creating and implementing our vision for growth through new opportunities and existing markets. He also enjoys spreading the word about Summit’s positive culture and fun work environment.

"The Network"

Rick Leone

Senior Vice President

Rick started with Summit in 2018 and played in a golf tournament on his second day. That’s not to say that he isn’t a hard worker, though—Rick is doing about 200 different things at any given time, mainly focusing on growing our company’s reach. He is no stranger to the industry, either, with over 25 years of experience in the environmental and engineering consulting world. Rick was one of several employees recruited by Jim Parker after they had several run-ins in downtown Hillsborough. What Rick enjoys most about working for Summit is doing what he loves every day (and getting a little work in, too).

"The Golfer"

Zack Weddle, PE, CCM

Chief Engineer

It’s hardly a mystery why Zack is our current Chief Engineer. With a background in construction engineering, transportation engineering, traffic engineering, and land development, Zack has over 39 years of civil engineering experience within the industry. Before his current role, he managed our operations in Virginia. His hard work, determination, and “charge ahead” attitude has helped us pave our way into new and emerging markets within the state. Zack is happy to be at the head of Summit’s charge because it offers him the opportunity to grow a company that he cares about, one that has great people working for it and places high value on employees and clients.

"The Pioneer"

Ginny Kirk Andrews

Vice President, Marketing & Communications

When Ginny Kirk joined our team, she brought her talents in communication, community relations, and speaking loudly with her. She manages the workflow of the marketing department, which is integral to winning work for our firm. She also leads community relations efforts and organizes our entire organization's internal and external communication. Her favorite part about working here is that she is encouraged to command a room with her outgoing personality.

"The Voice"

Sue Holaday, SPHR

Chief Human Resources Officer

Sue was the firm's first full-time HR professional, and ever since that first day, she has been all about securing more talent for Summit. This is no small task—With over 400 current employees, Summit is known for both its award-winning projects and its meteoric growth! Sue stays very busy between employee orientation and career fairs, ensuring our people have the best benefits we can offer. Being a part of our continued growth and the numerous opportunities that come with it makes her excited to be part of the Summit team.

"The People Person"

Matt Bales

Director of Strategic Initiatives

Matt Bales has over ten years of experience in the government relations field. His career has centered around developing a plan and story, communicating it to the right audience, and shaping the outcome – basically, being the amicable chess player we all like to have on our team. He loves the sense of purpose that comes with his job and enjoys being surrounded by people equally as passionate about positive change as he is. When he’s not discussing strategy or collaborating with our leaders on crafting the future, you can find Matt relaxing on the Cascades Trail off the Blue Ridge Parkway with his family or practicing his fly-fishing skills.

"The Chess Player"

Shane Parker, PE

Director of Operations | Core Markets

Shane has worn many hats in his career. From Asset Manager to Chief Estimator and everything in between, he’s had his fair share of roles. Budgeting, bidding, working on proposals: if it’s related to operations management, he’s had a hand in it in the past. At Summit alone, he’s worked in Construction Materials Testing, Surveying, and Maintenance Management before stepping into his role as Director of Operations. Outside of work, he’s a steadfast and stable guy with down-to-earth interests and no fear of speaking his mind. A perfect day for Shane involves spending time with his kids at the beach, mowing the lawn, and fixing up projects around the house—the picture of a reliable family man.

"Mr. Reliable"

Ben Wallus, PE

Director of Operations | Emerging Markets

Ben has been working in transportation construction since 2009 and has the expertise to show for it. He’s conducted work all over the region, with a portfolio featuring projects across Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina. In fact, he’s earned his Professional Engineering license in ten different states! This makes him the perfect person for his role as Director of Operations, where he’s gotten to know many of the managers, clients, and business contacts we rely on for our work to thrive. We call Ben “The Chameleon” because he has the unique ability to blend into any role, any time, to ensure Summit’s continued success.

"The Chameleon"

Nute Thompson, JD

Director of Legal Affairs

A graduate of the University of North Carolina's School of Law, Nute brings Summit a fresh and modern perspective on legal consultation. He's got his eye on the intersection between business and legislation, which makes him instrumental to Summit's ongoing business development strategy. His history of advocacy makes him a force for positive change at Summit, which is how he earned his nickname. When he's not busy tackling the legal nuances of Summit's day-to-day operation, you can find Nute on the golf course or exploring the great outdoors. As a native North Carolinian, Nute has visited every county in the state, hiking and exploring alongside his four-legged companions. With Nute on our side, we know we're in good hands!

"The Advocate"

Our Leadership

Our Diversity & Inclusion Efforts

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Community Involvement

Committed to Making a Difference.

Summit is deeply committed to the communities in which we live and work. Members of the Summit family sponsor, support, and lead various organizations as diverse as our staff and the projects they lead. We take pride in knowing our employees make a difference.

Some of the events that our firm has been involved with over the years include:

Team Build Day with the Habitat for Humanity
The Holt Brothers Foundation Flag Football Tournament (2017, 2018, 2019, 2022)
WTS Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day
AIA Triangle’s CANstruction (2018, 2022).
Toys for Toys donation drives
SECU Family House
AIA Triangle’s Barkitecture
NCDOT Litter Sweep
Central Virginia Salvation Army Angel Tree Program

These events allow Summit the chance to get involved with our community in a way that is both meaningful and fun for all involved.

An excavator made out of cans for the AIA Triangle Can-Struction event.

Summit team posing together behind cornhole boards.

Summit team decorating Christmas ornaments.

Our Active Memberships

► ACEC North Carolina

► ACEC Virginia

► Virginia Transportation Construction Alliance (VTCA)

► Regional Transportation Alliance (RTA)

► Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce

► Asheville Chamber of Commerce

► Wilmington Chamber of Commerce

► Hillsborough Chamber of Commerce

► Franklin County Chamber of Commerce

► Chatham Chamber of Commerce

► Urban Land Institute (ULI)

► American Institute of Architects (AIA)

► Society of Marketing Professional Services (SMPS)

► American Public Works Association (APWA) North Carolina

► American Public Works Association (APWA) Virginia

► Florida Transportation Builders Association (FTBA)

► Halifax Chamber of Commerce