Why WR Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Employee-owners at WithersRavenel have access to professional development opportunities, mentoring, leadership development, and tuition reimbursement to support their career growth.

WithersRavenel offers internships, co-ops, and entry-level opportunities to help students and new graduates gain experience and grow with the company.

WithersRavenel offers careers in engineering, planning, surveying, environmental sciences, funding and asset management, and administrative support. Open positions are posted on our Careers page.

WithersRavenel’s culture emphasizes collaboration, community, growth, and continuous improvement. As employee-owners, we are “All In. All the Time.” for our clients and each other.

WithersRavenel is 100% employee-owned through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Every employee has a financial stake in the company’s success, which creates accountability and pride in the work we deliver.

WithersRavenel’s core values are integrity, respect, collaboration, quality, sustainability, and community. (https://withersravenel.com/company/) 

• Integrity: We conduct business fairly and ethically regardless of the circumstances. We keep promises with a can-do attitude. 
• Respect: We do unto others as we would have them do unto us. We treat our clients and each other with respect at all times because respect is a precursor to trust, and trust is the foundation of all successful working relationships. 
• Collaboration: We are better together when we practice teamwork through communication and cooperation with our team members, clients, and communities. 
• Quality: We strive for quality in our work, our service, our communications, and our relationships, both internal and external. 
• Sustainability: By working hard and smart, we will make a fair profit. Profit enables us to reinvest in our community, our company and our employees, creating a sustainable cycle of high morale, quality work, good reputation, and positive financial performance. 
• Community: We invest in our communities through our work, our service, our relationships, and our contributions. Our services are vital to improving the quality of life in our communities. 

An Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) is a qualified defined-contribution employee benefit plan designed to invest primarily in the sponsoring employer’s stock. As a 100% employee-owned Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) company, our employees are empowered to deliver exceptional client and employee experiences because when you succeed, we all thrive. 

WithersRavenel is 100% employee-owned. Every employee has a direct stake in your project’s success. This ownership culture drives our commitment to delivering sustainable, high-quality solutions and building relationships that last.

WithersRavenel serves communities in the Southeast United States, with a strong presence in North Carolina. Our expertise extends across the region, and we frequently assist clients throughout South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia.

WithersRavenel works with municipalities, counties, utilities, state agencies, private developers, contractors, and nonprofit organizations. Whether it’s a new park, roadway, utility system, or mixed-use development, WithersRavenel tailors solutions to meet each client’s goals.

WithersRavenel provides a wide range of services, including:

• Civil engineering
• Surveying
• Subsurface Utility Engineering
• Unmanned Aerial Systems
• Planning
• Landscape architecture
• Funding
• Infrastructure asset management
• GIS
• Financial consulting
• Stormwater services
• Water treatment and distribution
• Sewer treatment and collection infrastructure
• Environmental services
• Construction administration

WithersRavenel is located in Cary, NC. There are also offices in Asheville, Charlotte, Greensboro, Pittsboro, Powells Point, Raleigh, and Wilmington. These locations allow us to serve clients throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, and beyond.

WithersRavenel is a multidisciplinary engineering, planning, and consulting firm headquartered in Cary, North Carolina. Since 1983, we have partnered with communities, businesses, and developers across the Southeast to design and deliver lasting infrastructure and environmental solutions.

Cary, NC

Acting as a trusted advisor and a representative of the client’s interests, WithersRavenel provides construction coordination, documentation, and monitoring. Our familiarity with the regulations and procedures of North Carolina jurisdictions enables us to manage project construction and closeout seamlessly. We work with clients and contractors to proactively identify potential issues in the field, including weather delays, utility conflicts, and limited material availability. Our creative problem-solving yields practical solutions that keep projects moving forward on schedule and within budget. 

Our team frequently works with regulations such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), Clean Water Act permitting, and state environmental permitting programs. 

Yes. WithersRavenel helps clients navigate environmental permitting requirements related to wetlands, streams, coastal regulations, and environmental compliance during development and infrastructure projects. 

From our branch offices in Wilmington and Powells Point, WithersRavenel’s environmental staff has been involved in a number of projects in coastal areas. This work, which has frequently involved Coastal Area Management Authority (CAMA) regulations, has accustomed our team to the challenges and opportunities of working on the North Carolina coast.  

In response to a demand for developing urban infill properties, WithersRavenel combines land development and environmental capabilities to deliver integrated solutions for Brownfields redevelopment projects. Our turnkey services enable landowners and developers to identify suitable sites, assess potential environmental risks, remediate or mitigate contamination and other concerns, and ultimately put property back into productive use. 

Our suite of environmental services includes assessments and investigations, brownfields, living shorelines, monitoring services, natural resources, NEPA documentation, Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments, remediation services, solid waste management, and wetlands and permitting services. 

WithersRavenel’s funding team provides funding administration services for many programs. WithersRavenel’s funding team works with engineers, contractors, and construction administration to maintain documentation and meet compliance requirements. 

WithersRavenel has decades of experience with federal funding programs, including Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), USDA, EDA, and FEMA.  

WithersRavenel and staff members have experience in:  

• North Carolina State Revolving Fund 
• North Carolina Asset Inventory and Assessment 
• North Carolina Parks and Recreation Trust Fund 
• North Carolina Golden LEAF Foundation  
• North Carolina Great Trails State Program 
• North Carolina Rural Center Economic Infrastructure and Economic Innovation 
• North Carolina Rural Center Building Reuse & Renovation 
• Economic and Infrastructure Grant Program (SEID) 
• South Carolina Economic Development Set-Aside Program 
• Georgia Transportation Infrastructure Bank (GTIB) Grant and Loan Program 
• Local Maintenance & Improvement Grant (LMIG) Program 
• OneGeorgia Authority Grant and Loan Program 
• South Carolina Department of Transportation “C” Program 
• South Carolina Transportation Infrastructure Bank (SCTIB) Grant and Loan Program 
• Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) 
• Clean Water Partners (NC Rural Center) 
• Georgia Fund Loan Program 
• LASII Stormwater (Planning, Construction) 
• Lead Service Line (LSL) 
• Low Interest SRF Loans for Utility Infrastructure 
• Merger & Regionalization Study Grants 
• South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority State Grants 
• Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program (GOSP) 
• Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) 
• North Carolina Land and Water Fund (NCLWF) 
• South Carolina Park & Recreation Development (PARD) Fund 

More than 90% of our clients receive at least one form of funding when we assist with the application process. WithersRavenel has a 95% success rate on funding application to award. 

To date, WithersRavenel has helped local governments obtain more than $1 billion in grants and loans.

WithersRavenel helps local governments create realistic and fundable strategies to pay for community and critical infrastructure projects.  

WithersRavenel serves as an extension of municipal staff to source funding options, apply for funding, and administer funding for critical infrastructure investments and public amenities in your community. 

Yes. Our geomatics teams use GPS equipment, LiDAR scanning, drone mapping technology, and ground-penetrating radar to collect precise spatial data for engineering and infrastructure projects. 

Subsurface utility engineering identifies and maps underground utilities before construction begins, helping reduce conflicts, improve safety, and prevent costly delays during infrastructure projects. 

WithersRavenel provides boundary surveys, topographic surveys, construction staking, subsurface utility engineering, aerial mapping, and LiDAR data collection.

GIS platforms can manage data related to water and sewer infrastructure, stormwater systems, transportation networks, public facilities, and land–use planning.

Yes. We assist communities with GIS implementation, database development, system integration, and staff training to ensure successful adoption. 

Yes. WithersRavenel integrates GIS with asset management platforms to help municipalities track infrastructure conditions, prioritize investments, and improve decision-making. 

WithersRavenel helps clients develop and implement GIS for mapping, modeling, and data storage. We provide the necessary support to make a successful GIS system, including purchasing and configuring software, establishing network and internet connections, and developing databases and workflows. We also provide extension-of-staff services, training, and on-call support to enable our clients to derive the greatest benefits from the systems they have adopted. 

GIS platforms allow municipalities to visualize asset locations, track infrastructure condition data, and integrate asset management systems for improved planning and decision-making.

Asset classes are different categories of infrastructure assets. Some examples of asset classes include: 

• Facilities  
• Water distribution systems 
• Wastewater collection systems 
• Water treatment 
• Wastewater treatment  
• Vertical assets 
• Stormwater collection systems  
• Pavement  

Lifecycle modeling helps local governments make informed infrastructure investment decisions. It identifies when and where infrastructure is most likely to fail, enabling leaders to plan proactive interventions rather than reactive fixes. Lifecycle models serve as strategic roadmaps, helping communities prevent failures before they occur. Lifecycle modeling can be applied to a wide range of public assets, including parks and recreation facilities, pavement, water and wastewater systems, stormwater infrastructure, public buildings, and sidewalks. (https://withersravenel.com/news/what-is-lifecycle-modeling/) (https://withersravenel.com/services/infrastructure-asset-management/lifecycle-modeling/) 

Our Asset Management team works closely with our Funding and Financial Services teams to deliver economically feasible investment strategies matched to the available resources and needs of our clients. This collaborative approach means clients receive guidance and support through every step of developing an asset management framework, from asset management policy and asset management plan development to data governance and GIS. Enabled by recent advances in lifecycle modeling software, we offer lifecycle planning across a range of asset categories, including pavement, bridges, stormwater structures, buildings, and more. Combined with our funding services, this planning—which can project asset and financial needs to a 20-year horizon—empowers our clients to secure the funding they need to meet their required or desired service level. 

Yes. WithersRavenel uses advanced hydrologic and hydraulic modeling tools to analyze watershed conditions, evaluate flood risks, and develop stormwater management solutions. 

Our stormwater services include drainage studies, stormwater system design, flood mitigation planning, watershed modeling, stormwater control measure design, and infrastructure rehabilitation.

Yes. WithersRavenel assists municipalities and developers in complying with federal, state, and local stormwater regulations, including NPDES permitting, stormwater control measures, and watershed protection strategies. 

WithersRavenel has designed and overseen the construction of thousands of compliant stormwater control measures (SCMs). Our expertise, ranging from small studies and conventional design to large and innovative solutions, enables us to provide designs that meet complex stormwater permitting requirements. In addition to delivering economical turn-key SCMs, we can help identify opportunities to transform SCMs into multi-functional features and amenities following green infrastructure and low-impact development principles. By considering costs, function, existing infrastructure, and the environment, we balance vision and budget within regulatory constraints. 

Hydraulic models reveal where water or wastewater systems may be leaking, experiencing inflow or infiltration, or losing pressure. Using existing water and wastewater utility data, WithersRavenel creates a variety of hydraulic models that can be used to solve complex problems. When limited, outdated, or no data exists, WithersRavenel leverages its in-house surveying and GIS personnel to collect and compile new data. With these models, we assist clients in identifying underperforming and vulnerable areas of their utility infrastructure and assessing the effectiveness of various potential solutions. 

Hydraulic models also demonstrate the potential effects of new development and the projected decline in performance of aging infrastructure. They can be used in what-if scenarios to determine possible repair, rehabilitation, and replacement strategies. (https://withersravenel.com/extended-period-hydraulic-modeling/) 

WithersRavenel provides facility planning, treatment process evaluations, permitting, design, contract documents, and construction administration services for wastewater treatment facilities. 

WithersRavenel provides facility planning, treatment process evaluations, permitting options, design services, construction plans and contract documents, and construction administration services to our clients with water treatment needs. 

WithersRavenel supports residential communities, mixed-use developments, commercial sites, industrial facilities, and public infrastructure projects that support economic growth.

Yes. WithersRavenel guides clients through local, state, and federal permitting processes to ensure projects meet regulatory requirements and proceed efficiently through approvals. 

Our team works with local governments and private developers to prepare sites for investment by evaluating infrastructure needs, coordinating permitting, supporting funding applications, and designing site development improvements.

Yes. WithersRavenel supports developers and economic development organizations by conducting feasibility studies, site evaluations, environmental assessments, and infrastructure capacity analyses to determine site readiness. 

Our team of engineers, surveyors, planners, and landscape architects offers a complete range of services to support your residential, office, or commercial development needs from feasibility analysis through construction. We can help balance environmental and financial considerations, public and private interests, practicality, and aesthetics. (https://withersravenel.com/services/land-site-development/) 

WithersRavenel supports projects involving: 

• Water and wastewater utilities 
• Stormwater systems 
• Pavement infrastructure 
• Parks and recreation facilities 
• Public buildings 
• Public facilities  
• Community development 

WithersRavenel helps communities assess the condition of their infrastructure, develop asset management plans, and prioritize investments. Using GIS, lifecycle modeling, and infrastructure assessments, we help municipalities make data-driven decisions to maintain service levels and reduce long-term costs. 

Yes. WithersRavenel frequently serves municipalities through on-call engineering contracts. These relationships allow communities to access engineering, planning, surveying, and funding expertise as needed for feasibility studies, design, permitting, and construction administration. 

WithersRavenel helps municipalities plan, design, and implement infrastructure improvements that support long-term community growth. Our team assists local governments with: 

• Capital improvement planning 
• Utility infrastructure planning 
• Stormwater management 
• Pavement management 
• Infrastructure asset management 
• Lifecycle modeling 

WithersRavenel works to implement solutions that allow local governments to focus on their core responsibility: the well-being of the community they serve. Many of our personnel have joined WithersRavenel from past positions with local government. They understand the budgeting and approval process, the need for transparency and accountability, and the value of clear and consistent communication both with local government leaders and with the public.  

WithersRavenel proudly serves municipalities across North Carolina on on-call and standalone contracts. Our clients often attest to our responsiveness, ability to stay on budget and schedule, and innovative techniques on projects. 

WithersRavenel has served and continues to serve as a consultant for municipal public clients throughout North Carolina on on-call and standalone contracts. Many of our relationships span more than 10 years and encompass a variety of disciplines and all phases of the project life cycle. These include: 

• Planning  
• Due diligence 
• Preliminary engineering reports 
• Capital improvement plans 
• Rate studies 
• Funding sourcing 
• Funding applications 
• Funding administration 
• Engineering design  
• Construction document development 
• Permitting 
• Construction management 
• Project close-out  

WithersRavenel serves city, town and village municipalities, counties, utility districts, tribal governments, and Council of Government agencies across the Southeastern United States.  

Yes. Our team has extensive experience navigating complex permitting requirements, including environmental permits, stormwater permits, and agency coordination necessary for infrastructure and development projects. 

WithersRavenel provides comprehensive support for federally funded projects, including project planning, environmental compliance, engineering design, funding administration, and documentation required for federal reimbursement and program compliance.

Yes. WithersRavenel routinely works with regulatory agencies such as the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT), FEMA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to ensure projects meet permitting and compliance requirements. 

WithersRavenel has performed environmental, engineering, solid waste, utilities, parks, and surveying projects for state governments since 1983. WithersRavenel has held several state on-call contracts in our four decades of operation. 

Our team has a thorough understanding of federal funding programs and their various types of opportunities 

• Infrastructure or Small Cities program 
• Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) 
• Economic Development Administration within the U.S. Department of Commerce 

WithersRavenel has the training and experience needed to implement, manage, and close out FEMA-funded projects. Our funding team has attended numerous FEMA training sessions and supported municipalities on projects funded by FEMA. 

WithersRavenel is registered with the NCDOT as a Private Consulting Firm. Our most recent prequalification was approved on December 8, 2025. 

WithersRavenel actively works with contractors, developers, and construction partners as part of design-build or alternative delivery teams.

WithersRavenel uses GIS mapping, LiDAR, drones, subsurface utility engineering (SUE), and advanced modeling software to deliver precise, efficient, and cost-effective solutions.

WithersRavenel identifies applicable grants, loans, and state/federal programs best aligned with your project. The WithersRavenel funding team handles the applications and compliance (if needed). Our track record includes securing millions of dollars each year for parks, water, sewer, stormwater, and transportation projects.

WithersRavenel’s community engagement process typically includes surveys, workshops, public meetings, and digital tools. Our goal is to bring residents into the planning process so projects reflect real community priorities.

WithersRavenel works with public clients include towns, counties, and utilities. WithersRavenel’s private clients range from residential developers to industrial and commercial property owners.

WithersRavenel begins by listening to your goals, challenges, and community needs. Then, we develop tailored solutions, align projects with funding opportunities, and guide implementation from planning through construction.

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