Explore Samuel EPC’s evolution from a home-based consulting firm to a leading multidisciplinary EPFC provider
Over the last three decades, Samuel EPC (Samuel) has built a strong reputation for providing trusted engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction solutions across many industries. From its inception, the company’s commitment to quality, collaboration, and innovation has consistently driven successful project delivery. Samuel’s team of professionals delivers superior solutions to global challenges while remaining dedicated to a common mission: providing solutions to maintain and advance the modern way of life. We learn more about Samuel’s purpose from Curtis Stanley, President, Construction and Fabrication, and Josh Maida, President, Engineering.
“Samuel was established in May 1996 by Claudia Samuel, our Executive Chair. An electrical engineer by training, Claudia started the business as a one-person consulting firm. Her husband and our CEO, Everod Samuel, had been working for some of the largest ETC companies in the world before joining Samuel and transforming it into a multidisciplinary EPC company in 2000. Since then, we have evolved into a full-service provider, offering comprehensive engineering, procurement, fabrication, and construction, which we refer to as EPFC as it highlights our focus across the entire vertically integrated chain,” Josh opens.
“Specifically, we focus on modular fabrication, allowing us to bring construction into a more controlled environment within our fabrication shop. This approach enhances quality, improves schedules, promotes safety, and lowers costs. Given that we undertake projects in remote areas and locations facing significant climate challenges, modular construction is particularly beneficial. While most of our construction work is based in the continental US, we also provide engineering and fabrication services for complex projects across the world.”
Engineering solutions are at the heart of Samuel, supported by a team of over 300 professionals specializing in various disciplines, including chemical process engineering, mechanical, piping design, civil and structural engineering, electrical instrumentation, control system programming, and support functions such as project management, project controls, and procurement. This diverse expertise enables the company to handle projects of any size, from initial studies to full detailed design and execution. In addition, Samuel operates a 50,000-square-foot fabrication shop in West Texas, employing over 200 skilled members who specialize in process piping, spool production, steel pipe racks, supports, and process modules. Samuel employs over 500 people in the construction group and performs direct hire and subcontract construction, as well as general contractor services, across the US.
Projects
Equipped with this versatile expertise, Samuel is well-positioned to undertake projects across various sectors. Notably, the company has been involved in the energy transition initiatives for a long time, a topic Josh is keen to discuss further. “We were ahead of the solar boom in the early 2000s, launching our first solar project in 2006,” he says. “We now own and operate several solar assets around the country. This progress was driven not only by the type of work we do but also by our desire to learn how to effectively manage, finance, and operate similar assets, enabling us to design and build better plants for our clients. This experience translates into a variety of more recent cutting-edge projects such as EV battery component refining, sustainable aviation and modern fuels, waste heat to power, and environmentally friendly mineral processing.
“We have consistently stayed ahead of the curve since then. Many larger companies tend to shy away from energy transition projects due to their funding structures, smaller scope, and sometimes less straightforward nature compared to traditional projects. At Samuel, we thrive on providing innovative solutions to challenges and tackling endeavors that are new to the industry. I believe this mindset has significantly contributed to our success in the energy transition sector,” Josh continues.
This year, Samuel will celebrate its 30th anniversary, marking a journey defined by excellence and relentless innovation. As Curtis and Josh suggest, the primary factor driving the company’s continued success is its vision for longevity. “Part of the reason Claudia founded Samuel, and why our team came together, was their past experience working at large EPC companies, which they did not particularly enjoy as such businesses often operated under a hire-and-fire mentality with a short-term focus on quarterly financials, treating employees like numbers,” Curtis says. “At Samuel, we always aspired to create something completely different. We were founded with two core values, excellence and compassion, both of which we integrate into everything that we do. As a privately owned company, our vision is to be in business for hundreds of years, providing the solutions we are renowned for while continuing to invest in our employees and in our relationships with customers.”
The pair conclude: “Our commitment to longevity informs all our decisions, from choosing which industries to enter to our hiring practices. For example, during the pandemic, we did not lay off a single person due to lack of work, despite experiencing the same obstacles as everybody, like significantly reduced revenue. Instead, we maintained employment with benefits for our team members and their families throughout that challenging period, exemplifying our value of compassion. The individuals who work with us are part of our family, and this approach helped us keep our team together, many of whom have worked together for over ten years. As a result, when clients did reach out during the pandemic, we could quickly mobilize teams that had already worked together on similar projects. We did not have to recruit from outside and train new hires; everyone was ready to go. This vision for longevity remains our guiding principle and will continue to contribute to our success.”
For three decades, Samuel has maintained a steadfast commitment to excellence, innovation, and compassion. As the company celebrates its 30th year in operation, its holistic approach to engineering and sustainability, paired with its focus on creating strong relationships and fostering a cohesive team, positions it for continued growth in the evolving landscape of engineering, fabrication, and construction.