Line and Grade started by accident. Which, in reflection of the past decade, is a pretty good way to start a business. I brought with me no preconceived plans, or notions. No ulterior motives or axes to grind. I was in the right place at the right time.
Though, by all means or metrics, I was certainly not in the right place, nor was it the right time. I was working for a company that was very clearly going out of business. The ship was going down and I was on the ship. With a one-year-old and a three-year-old at home, I wasn’t exactly in a place where I was proactively managing my life goals and aspirations. Mostly I was just surviving.
So, on that fateful afternoon when my employer inevitably closed their doors there were two clients who needed their projects carried through to completion. And they put their trust in a newly formed business entity: Line and Grade, to finish the work. Two projects. And, according to my calculations, the proceeds of which would keep my family with food and housing (and not much else) for about 1 year. Which I felt like would afford me some time to figure out what my “real” next step would be. But instead of thinking ahead about the next steps, I did what came more naturally: I focused on the work at hand. I was deeply thankful to have work to do, and I wanted to give those two clients my best work.
And here we are, 10 years later. Our project database shows 348 projects completed or ongoing. Six dedicated team members with whom I’m honored to work alongside and continue forward in the way we began: focusing on the work. With gratitude. Delivering high-quality engineering work.
Many thanks to the clients and colleagues who have given us a chance. And thanks to the thirteen-year-old, eleven-year-old and best partner I guy could ask for – for understanding that sometimes things happen by accident.
It has been a privilege.
Daniel Hyer
Line and Grade
Engineering Common Ground
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