Fehr Graham grand opening a success in Freeport, Illinois

Fehr Graham, a leading Midwest engineering and environmental firm, on Wednesday celebrated the grand opening of its new Freeport office location at the former Fifth Third Bank building, which is owned by Freeport Centre, at 101 W. Stephenson St.

Adam Holder, Professional Engineer, Freeport native and one of the firm's eight owners, gave a speech to commemorate the occasion.

"We wouldn't have been able to do this without the support from our ownership group, our great staff and especially our clients," Holder said.

Holder said it was important to stay in the heart of Freeport and close to where the firm was founded nearly 48 years ago. More than 100 clients, local leaders and Fehr Graham employees and retirees attended the event that featured a ribbon-cutting led by the Greater Freeport Partnership and music and food on the building's parking deck.

The event date – Sept. 15 – was significant. It was exactly 48 years since Al Fehr and Joseph Graham joined forces after years of competing against each other to start the firm. The new space is five blocks from the office at 660 W. Stephenson St. that opened in 1973 with five employees.

In 2002, the Freeport office moved into the former administrative quarters of the historic Rawleigh building complex, at 221 E. Main St. Today, Fehr Graham has 10 offices in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin and employs more than 170 people firmwide.

Local vendors were a big part of the event's success. They were:

• Mr. Ed, music.
• Deininger Floral Shop, plants and planters.
• Country Girl Floral & Gifts, centerpieces.
• First Lutheran Church, parking and chairs.
• Brian Stewart and Ryan Becker, building help.
• Rent-It, tents.
• Freeport Septic Service, restrooms.
• Dream Day Design & Rental and Ken Thompson, linens and displays
• The food was a hit and featured gourmet cookies by Patty Chang, cupcakes from Cathy's Custom Cakery, cookies from The Cookie Jar, food from 3 Headed Monster, Rapped with Smoke and The Traveling Chef food trucks and drinks from Cub Foods. The office was cleaned by Steamgenie, and Jessey Taylor selected photos and helped with final touches before the event.

Several local businesses and contractors helped Fehr Graham relocate. Wagner's Business Products in Freeport provided new office furniture. Danlee Wood Products in Forreston made the custom workstations, and the company's Design Manager Lindsay Heitz helped revitalize the space. O'Mara Moving and Storage moved equipment and furniture.