Company History

In the beginning…

In 1987, the forerunner of GUY Engineering Services, Willard Engineering, was founded on hydrology and hydraulics (“H&H”) contracts for the Tulsa District Army Corp of Engineers. Julie Guy joined Willard Engineering in 1987.

1988: County bridge design work begins

In 1988, we became Swift, Karns & Guy Engineers, Inc. as Julie Guy became part owner. H&H work for the Corps of Engineers continued for several years. We also started doing small drainage projects for the City of Tulsa.

1990: Bridge inspections and more counties

In 1990, we became Swift & Guy Engineers, Inc. City of Tulsa street maintenance projects, county bridge design for Mayes and Nowata counties, and off-system bridge inspection for Nowata, Osage and Craig counties were our work staples. ODOT Local Government liked the detailed plans we prepared as we learned the “ODOT way” of plan preparation.

1996: New name – Guy Engineering

In 1996, Mark and Julie recognized that they each had different goals in business and decided to part ways. GUY Engineering Services was formed and continued to pursue transportation work, including utility relocation management.

2006: Survey department is formed

In 2006, Chris Cauthon, RLS was hired to head up our survey department. John Blickensderfer PE, CFM, LSI was also hired at that time. John and Chris were made partners in the firm in 2008.

The Guy team at a ribbon cutting

2012: Expansion in county work

In 2012, GUY opened our Oklahoma City office and began working in Washington, Choctaw, Bryan, Leflore, Pittsburg, and Pushmataha counties.

2014: Employee-owned company

In 2014, GUY became an ESOP, an employee-owned company, with the employees joining in ownership with Julie Guy and John Blickensderfer. With this change, John was named President, and Julie remained involved in the company as a part-time employee, leading the corporation as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.

2015: Federal HUBZone

In 2015, John acquired majority interest in the company. We also became a Federal HUBZone (Historically under-utilized business zone) supporting a community with fewer economic advantages.

2020: Woman-owned, Native American-owned small business

In 2020, John sold his 51% of the company to Rebecca Alvarez, making GUY a woman-owned small business again as well as a Native American-owned business.

Looking back, looking to the future

Over the course of our company history, we have worked with federal, state, and tribal entities, as well as numerous Oklahoma counties and municipalities. Our clients include the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, ODOT, and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, among many, many others.

Bridge 190 over Fourteenmile Creek