How HRC’s Offerings Have Expanded Over Time
Darryl Criswell’s tenure stretches back to before the company was HRC Engineers. He joined the
organization back in 1999 when it was known as Clifford Hughes Surveying.
That was before Howard B. Ray, PE, combined forces with Cliff to create a company called Hughes Ray Company, offering comprehensive design services (civil engineering and landscape architecture) to complement its surveying services—and provide even more value to clients.
Back then, the company had five employees—including Darryl C.
It’s now a 35+-person firm, and continues to grow, serving clients in 15 states out of three locations
(the original Douglasville, Ga. office, plus offices in Sandy Springs/Atlanta, and Charleston, SC).
Fast forward 26 years, Darryl’s now HRC’s Director of Builder Services, applying his survey expertise
to provide production and custom home builders with planning services and permit-ready drawings needed for efficient, effective construction.
“We help clients ensure optimal land use with the Builder Services offering,” Darryl said. “Adding this
to our portfolio of services has been beneficial to us, and most importantly, to the clients we serve.”
The Atlanta-area native reflects on changes that have occurred since he started. “As a surveyor, I used to carry a field book, and recorded information in writing,” he said. “Now,” he added, “our survey
teams carry hand-held computers to collect data in real time.”
“The way surveying is done at HRC now, one person can do what it used to take three to five surveyors to do,” Darryl said.
He notes that demand for HRC survey services continues to grow and sees that as a testament to the quality of work provided over the years. When he joined, all the work was local (Douglasville). Now the company serves the seventh largest home builder in the nation, and is known as a strong regional provider of Builder Services. “We do our best to maintain good rapport with clients and keep them as happy as possible,” he said when asked what has enabled the company’s growth.
After Darryl had a health issue, the company accommodated this valued team member by creating HRC’s Builder Services division which has proven to be an in-demand offering that benefits clients, as well as the firm’s ability to operate efficiently.
Why does Darryl stay? “They treat me like family here,” he said.